McGill University in Montreal offers a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm) within its prestigious Desautels Faculty of Management.
This program has been ranked 4th best Bachelor of Commerce in the world for its “sustainable development” dimension by media company Corporate Knights in 2020.
The reputation and quality of the training convinced Sacha, a French student in her first year of the Bachelor’s program, to join McGill University.
She talks to us about her academic experience and life in Montreal.
Profile
FIRST NAME : Sacha
NATIONALITY : French
NAME OF COURSE : Bachelor of Commerce
UNIVERSITY NAME : McGill University
ORIGINAL HIGH SCHOOL Lycée Pasteur, Neuilly-sur-Seine
TYPE OF BACCALAUREAT OBTAINED Baccalauréat général with specialization in Mathematics and Economic and Social Sciences (SES) in Terminale
Study abroad
Why did you decide to study abroad after the baccalauréat?
I had the opportunity to go on two school exchanges to England, to Canterbury in 5th grade and then to Exeter in 2nd grade, which enabled me to learn English.
I’d always wanted to study abroad, not least because I really liked the Anglo-Saxon education system.
However, following the Brexit and the high cost of education, England was no longer my first choice for higher education, so I turned to other courses, notably McGill in Quebec.
What were your career choices?
I had started working with SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) to get into Bocconi University in Première.
I took the tests several times with the help of Adam from >YourDream School who helped me a lot and put me in touch with some very good teachers.
However, I couldn’t get into Bocconi University.
So I applied to other universities such as IE in Madrid, the University of Rotterdam, McGill University, Trinity College and College University Dublin.
I was accepted into the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce programs at McGill University, and chose the commerce stream, which seemed to suit me better.
Why did you choose McGill University?
McGill University was my first choice because the Bachelor’s degree offered was better ranked than other Canadian universities and could offer me more professional opportunities, particularly in the legal sector in North America.
What was your admission and selection process like?
The process was quick compared to that required by other universities.
To apply to McGill, you have to submit an online application form, then send in your 3 1ère and 1st Terminale report cards, your French Bac transcript and obtain a minimum score on an English test (TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge or Duolingo in particular).
I decided to take the Duolingo test.
Once admitted to McGill, I still maintained a good grade point average throughout my final year.
1st year courses
Which Bachelor are you in and why did you make this choice?
I am in Bachelor of Commerce at McGill University’s Desautels Faculty.
This is the University’s Faculty of Management.
I chose the Finance major and the Environment and Strategic Management.
J’ai choisi la Finance car j’aimerais, par la suite, faire un Master en droit des affaires et me spécaliser dans le M&A (fusions et acquisitions).
La première année regroupe surtout des general and introductory subjects to all the majors, such as Introduction to Financial Accounting, Business Statistics, Introduction to Finance, Principles of Marketing and International Business.
These aren’t necessarily the subjects I’m most passionate about, but they’re still interesting and useful for the rest of our career.
How would you describe the academic atmosphere at the Bachelor’s?
It’s a fairly competitive Bachelor’s program.
In the first year, we are a large group of students. ⸱e⸱s francophones and there’s a lot of solidarity among us.
We were almost all ⸱e⸱s in the same residence.
However, this is not necessarily the case for the rest of the students. ⸱e⸱s who don’t seem to help each other much.
The Bachelor’s values are really “work hard, play hard”: generally, you spend all day working in the library and then go out at night!
I think it’s important to have a good, close-knit group of friends.
Did you find it difficult to adapt to the educational system in the first year of your Bachelor’s program?
I didn’t find it difficult to adapt to the educational system, but rather to the way of life.
I had to create new habits and my daily life is quite different from the one I had in France (especially when it comes to food).
It can be difficult to find your feet and feel alone. ⸱e at times, especially when you’re close to your family.
However, once you’ve managed to find your group of friends ⸱e⸱s and its activities, adaptation and integration come quickly!
Do you have a lot of personal work?
I’d say that there’s an enormous amount of work to be done, and that you need to get into a steady academic rhythm by learning your courses regularly.
The work required differs depending on the subject and the Bachelor’s program.
In Bachelor of Commerce, we have essays to write, but less than in Bachelor of Arts, for example.
You also need to pay attention to your GPA (Grade Point Average) from the first semester onwards, because even if you think you’ll be able to catch up in the following semester, it’s not always easy, and your GPA follows you throughout your four years.
So it would be a shame to see your GPA drop because of introductory subjects in the first year.
So I had to work hard to get my GPA above 3 this year.
How do the exams work?
We have mid-term and final exams.
All exams take place during the same week and account for around 30-40% of the final grade.
The workload is considerable, which is why it’s a good idea to have assimilated your coursework well beforehand.
In addition to exams, we also have assessments throughout the semester, such as quizzes, homework and presentations.
These assessments can help us to catch up or compensate for our exam performance.
Student life on campus
What’s student life like on the McGill campus?
The university atmosphere is great.
McGill has a very large and beautiful campus in the heart of Montreal.
There’s plenty of infrastructure available to students, including student residences and even gyms.
It’s the ideal setting for a fulfilling student life!
What do you like best about McGill and Montreal, and what would you like to see improved?
What I really like at McGill, being of the Jewish faith, is the University Chabad.
I spent a lot of time there and it really helped me find a balance and a regular rhythm.
Whenever I had a problem, I went there.
La city of Montreal is very pleasant and student-oriented, with many excellent restaurants.
There are ski resorts less than an hour from Montreal, we’re a 45-minute plane ride from New York and three hours from Mexico.
So it’s ideal for weekend and vacation travel.
However, what I’d like to see improved is access to care.
Having had the Covid in Montreal, I had limited access to good medicines, and these are often not reimbursed.
My advice to future ⸱e⸱s student⸱e⸱s to try to obtain the contact of a doctor in Montreal and to be able to call this person in case of emergency or illness.
Since I didn’t have this option, I had to wait nearly ten hours in a clinic waiting room before being taken care of…
Does the university support students⸱e⸱s with their health and housing needs?
There is McGill health insurance, but it doesn’t cover all types of care.
There is also a medical and dental center within the University.
When it comes to housing, McGill emails students⸱e⸱first-year students to help them choose their accommodation. student residence.
Toutes différentes, ces résidences regroupent souvent les étudiant ⸱e⸱s by nationality.
For example, mine was French-speaking and had single rooms.
What’s it like to be part of an association?
There are lots of associations.
I’m part of the “Nourris International” association.
I’m in charge of Impacting Investing, which involves analyzing investment funds and working closely with companies.
This activity is interesting for me because it’s linked to my major in Finance and my minor on the Environment.
Associations make integration much easier, as they offer a wide range of events and get-togethers.
Into the future
What are your plans for the future?
My goal after my Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Finance is to pursue a Master’s degree in Business Law.
I’m not sure in which country yet, but I’d like to do it in the United States or France.
I’d also love to do a university exchange in Singapore or Mexico.
Do you have any recommendations or advice for students wishing to enter McGill University?
I think it’s necessary to work on your English before arriving in Canada.
I’d say it’s also important to be pragmatic and not hesitate to reach out to others to make choices, adapt and integrate well into the University.
If, like Sacha, you’d like to join McGill University or a university in Canadadon’t hesitate to >contact us at to discuss your plans!
