Le Canada, Montreal and theMcGill UniversityLaetitia had been dreaming of going to university since 10th grade. After graduating with honors from her Baccalauréat général, she fulfilled this dream and entered the famous Canadian university of McGill. As a first-year Bachelor of Arts and Science student in the Faculty of Science, she shares her experience with us.
Profile
FIRST NAME : Laetitia
NATIONALITY : French
NAME OF COURSE FOLLOWED : Bachelor of Arts and Science, Double major Biology-Mathematics
UNIVERSITY NAME : McGill University
HOME SCHOOL Lycée Marcelin Berthelot, Saint-Maur-des-Fossés (94)
TYPE OF BACCALAUREAT OBTAINED Baccalauréat général mention Très Bien, specializing in Mathematics, Expert Mathematics, Sciences and Life of the Earth (SVT)
Study abroad
Why did you decide to study abroad?
I’d had this project in mind since secondary school. One of the main reasons is that I’d like to work in biology research combined with mathematics in the future. But this professional field involves working with international teams. English is essential for publishing scientific papers. So, even though my level of English was already pretty good, I really wanted to study in English. Studying in Canada was my first choice. I’d always thought it was a country I’d really like. But I also applied to universities in England and was accepted at Imperial, UCL and Scotland.
Why did you choose McGill?
I chose McGill because it’s an English-speaking university in Quebec, whereas most of the universities in the region are French-speaking. This is important, as it means I can attend a school where my classes are in English, but where I benefit from Canadian tuition fees, as there’s a financial agreement between McGill and France. It’s a great advantage and that’s why there are so many French students at McGill. It’s also a prestigious university because it’s 27th in the world ranking (QS ranking).
Certaines personnes l’appellent même le « Harvard canadien ».
McGill offre aussi une grande variété de cours.
Le nombre de programmes et de majeures proposé est impressionnant.
La pédagogie est aussi différente par rapport à la France.
Ici, il y a une approche “nord-américaine” où les étudiant·e·s ont un voire deux ans pour déclarer leur majeure et se spécialiser.
The admission process and administrative procedures
What was the admissions and selection process like?
McGill selects applicants on the basis of academic results obtained from 1ère to Terminale and doesn’t require a cover letter. I didn’t really know how demanding admission to McGill was, but I did know that my results from 1ère and Terminale would qualify me. That said, you should be aware that in the admissions process you can now apply for two majors instead of one. So I applied for the Biology major (Bachelor of Science) and a double major in Biology-Mathematics (Bachelor of Arts and Science), which is much more selective. I was accepted for both, so I chose the double major. I applied for two majors in the Faculty of Science, but it’s perfectly possible to choose one major in the Faculty of Science and one in the Faculty of Arts, for example.
What administrative steps have you taken?
It was really complicated! The process to obtain my student permit was long with the Canadian administration. If you want to get into McGill, you have to be careful because admissions for McGill start in October (deadline for sending in your application is January 15) and the response times can be late. I got my answer at the beginning of April. That’s before the Parcoursup results, so it’s ideal. On the other hand, you have to wait until you’ve been accepted before you can start the immigration process. I recommend preparing the documents for the study permit application in advance. It really saves time, and once the admission letter has been received, everything can be sent off. I sent in my application on June 11 and didn’t get a reply until August 26. There’s also the Certification d’Admission au Québec (CAQ), which is essential, but the application takes less time. You also have to take care of health insurance. There is a possibility of obtaining Quebec health insurance, but you have to do it well in advance before arriving in Canada, or health insurance is offered by McGill.
Which health insurance plan have you chosen?
I wanted to take out Quebec health insurance because it was cheaper, but the problem was that I couldn’t do it without my study permit. As I didn’t get it until very late, I had to go straight to Canada. So I couldn’t sort out the administrative problems with the insurance and I took the one offered by McGill.
Did you have to take any steps to get on-campus housing?
Once you’ve accepted the offer of admission to McGill, you have to decide whether you want to live in residence or off-campus. The great thing about McGill is that all first-year students are guaranteed a place in residence. You have to rank the residences you want and then you’re drawn at random. I was on the waiting list for two months because, due to Covid, the residences were running at 70% capacity and some rooms were closed. McGill therefore had to acquire new buildings and I was placed in one of these residences.
First-year courses
How do you choose your first-year courses?
I am a double major Biology–Mathematics.
C’est une majeure très lourde donc je vais sûrement devoir faire mon Bachelor en quatre ans.
Je suis en U1 but as I have a lot ofU0 it’s as if I were in U0. It’s a way of working that’s specific to the Faculty of Science because they have a freshman program (first-year program)very strict, with 30 credits to be completed in the first year.
Early June is when the demand for courses begins. It’s important to note that Canadians have access to the platform before us, so places are already taken. You need to do this as soon as the platform opens and choose courses for both semesters, even if you can change them later. As far as courses are concerned, the first thing to know is that as a holder of the French Baccalauréat, there are some courses to which we don’t have access and which we can already validate as pre-requisites. There is a page on the McGill website which mentions its exemptions according to the specialties chosen in Terminale. So, for example, as I took the Mathematics speciality in Terminale I was entitled to be exempted from Mathematics 140 (Mathematics and Statistics, Calculus 1). This means I can go straight on to Mathematics 141 (Mathematics and Statistics, Calculus 2).
Which courses have you chosen?
I had to choose my courses within the freshman program.
Toutes les personnes qui sont en première année de la Faculté de Sciences ont presque les mêmes cours.
C’est un grand avantage car cela renforce la cohésion et la solidarité au sein de la classe.
Il y a toujours des groupes avec des personnes pour s’entraider.
Les cours que j’ai choisis sont le cours Mathématiques 133 (algèbre) et le cours Mathématiques 141 (intégration), c’est la suite de ce que l’on fait en Terminale.
J’ai aussi un cours d’introduction à la physique.
Je ne voulais pas faire de la physique mais pour prendre les cours de Biologie qui sont requis pour ma majeure, il faut au moins avoir validé un cours.
De plus, j’aimerais faire un transfert en programme de neurosciences à la fin de l’année dans lequel je suis certaine d’avoir besoin de la physique.
When requesting courses, it’s very important to send an e-mail to your academic advisor. During the summer, don’t hesitate to contact him or her to explain what you’ve chosen and check that your choices are consistent with your major.
Did you find it difficult to adapt to the Canadian education system?
Yes and no. Most of the difficulties I encounter here are the same that I would have encountered in this type of curriculum in France. It has nothing to do with the fact that I’m studying in English or at McGill. It’s just that it’s a university, so obviously the working methods require you to be autonomous, independent and to study the courses on your own. The other difficulty is the physics course, as I hadn’t chosen this speciality in Terminale. As far as English is concerned, I don’t have any particular problems. Sometimes there are words I don’t understand because I didn’t study science in English. However, I have online lessons and all the teachers provide subtitles. If you think you’re not bilingual enough and won’t make it at McGill, you’re wrong. Almost half of McGill students are international! You don’t feel isolated at all, and you never think: “I’m in the middle of Americans and Canadians, I’m not going to understand anything”. The professors are accommodating, and we’re allowed to take all our exams in French, which can be useful during the transition phase.
Do you have a lot of online courses?
Right now, there are a lot of online courses. In Canada, Covid is very strict, especially at McGill. I have online courses because in the first year of the Faculty of Science, there are so many of us in class. Sometimes there are almost a thousand of us. However, it depends on the faculty, and some have very few online courses. On the other hand, I don’t feel any negative effects at all from having distance courses. On the contrary, I find that when I start studying in English, it’s almost an advantage to have online courses, because there are subtitles and you can watch the recording several times. It’s useful for adapting. The only drawback is that you meet fewer people.
How many hours of lessons do you have a week?
I have eleven hours of lecture, five hours of laboratory and three hours of group work (TD), so a total of nineteen hours a week. To be honest, when you go from high school to this schedule, it’s a lot less hectic! What’s more, most classes last an hour. I’m able to concentrate well. I like my timetable and I love the fact that I’ve been able to tailor it to my interests.
How do you organize your personal work?
If I’m being completely honest, I was expecting a lot more work. At the beginning of the year, I told myself that my workload was lighter than in Terminale! However, you have to be careful because it’s not uncommon for everything to happen at once. We mustn’t think that the homework we’re given is the only thing we have to do. You have to constantly organize and plan, because teachers don’t give reminders. My technique is that every day I make a summary of what’s going on in each subject I’ve got, what I’ve got to hand in and whether I’ve understood the course properly. The most important thing is not to fall behind, especially with online courses. It’s true that I work regularly, the courses are difficult but I acquired a great capacity for work in high school so I’m able to adapt. I also have time to enjoy university life and discover the city of Montreal.
How do the exams work?
There are midterms and mid-term exams. Most first-year teachers don’t make midterms in the middle of the semester but at the beginning. I had one on September 25, for example. I think it’s useful because it means there’s less content to assimilate, but on the other hand you have to be aware that exams come quickly. I’ve also had midterms in October. The final exams are on December 7, 8 and 9, with the last one on December 20.
Student life on campus
What’s student life like on campus? Have you managed to fit in?
Residence life makes it easy to socialize. We have a cafeteria, a gym and regular events. Each floor has a floor fellow, which is very useful. My floor fellow organizes events for the students on our floor and this creates a sense of cohesion. However, it’s true that online courses and Covid restrictions complicate things… However, the campus is beautiful. There are squirrels everywhere. The buildings are beautiful and impressive. It’s a classic yet modern campus with large lawns. What’s more, Montreal is a great place to live. It’s a lively city and an ideal environment for students. As a McGill student, for example, you have a student card that is accepted in many places, such as restaurants, and entitles you to discounts. For those who fear having to speak in English, it’s possible to speak French almost everywhere.
What’s it like to be part of an association?
There really is a wide choice of associations and it’s a great way to meet people! But while community life is important, I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily necessary to fit in. I personally prefer to take time out to go to the gym and do other activities. For example, I’ve applied to volunteer at the local SPCA. You also have to bear in mind that many students have student jobs, so they don’t all belong to associations. There are jobs available on campus and all over Montreal. It’s pretty easy to find a job. As a French person, you can’t work full-time, you’re limited to twenty hours a week.
What do you like best about McGill, and what would you like to see improved?
What I like most about McGill is that it’s cosmopolitan and I get to be with people from all faculties. I like the fact that it’s a university committed to progress. It’s a fairly liberal university. Some people might think that’s politically correct, but I think it has enormous advantages for students. For example, compared with France, it’s easier to tackle certain subjects such as mental health. All the teachers talk about it and are very attentive to it. We’re constantly reassured and there are resources everywhere to help us, so we don’t feel isolated. It’s a very good working environment. You can also choose the first name you want to be called and change it on your student card. It’s an environment in which you feel accepted; for example, there are lots of LGBTQ+ associations, associations for all nationalities (Chinese, French-speaking club, etc.): there’s a place for everyone.
I’m not sure what I could change, I love life at McGill. It’s true that it’s more expensive than an education in France, but you have to figure that it’s one of the best deals for French students who want to study abroad, especially after the Brexit. One small disadvantage would be the vacations. We don’t realize how many we have in France! Here I only have a week’s vacation at Christmas and three days at Thanksgiving. That can be frustrating for some people.
Into the future
What are your plans for the future?
First of all, I don’t regret taking the Biology-Mathematics double major at all. If I could transfer to a Neuroscience major I would, even though the program is very selective. Since I’d like to do research and teach, that means I’d have to go all the way to a PhD. I don’t know yet whether I’ll stay for several years, University College London (UCL) also has very good research programs, for example.
Do you have any recommendations or advice for students who want to get into McGill?
My most important piece of advice is to know yourself, to be sure you’re ready to leave your parents’ home, to live far from France and independently. You have to be aware that it’s a complicated transition. You also have to like English, and not just be good at it. You also need to be prepared to work hard. For those who fear the selection of marks, comments also count and they look a lot at the Terminale year. However, it’s important to keep your options open and make sure you make choices on Parcoursup or at other universities abroad.
If, like Laetitia, you’re interested in attending McGill University or a university inuniversity in Canadadon’t hesitate to >contact us atto discuss your plans!
