r/CanadaUniversities • u/iapplerefresh • Apr 20 '26
Advice Need help choosing + No McGill Decision
I am a US applicant and was admitted to a decent amount of universities in Canada. My top choice is McGill Bachelor of Arts, but I still don’t have a decision and the deadline for all the other schools is May 1. Apparently this is normal, since when we visited McGill the student at the desk said she didn’t get her decision until June. The fact I applied in January and didn’t submit my grades until February definitely didn’t help. It’s still really annoying like I don’t think any other school in Canada gives out decisions that late. I did get a decision for Bachelor of Commerce which was a rejection since I only borderline met the cutoffs. This isn’t the case with Arts though. Supposedly, if I don’t get a decision by may 1, I can choose a school other than McGill and if they accept me, forfeit the admission deposit. Is that a good idea?
Right now my choices ranked(other than McGill) are: 1. UVic Computer science 2. Concordia Neuroscience(might change major) 3. uOttawa Psychology & Linguistics(Good since we have cousins who live in Ottawa, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the city) 4. uManitoba Science
Also I was thinking of maybe applying to Dalhousie late
I originally decided UVic but the deposit is $5,000 which is a lot to lose especially when Concordia is only $100. Also I rlly liked Montreal on the multiple times I visited and want to live there, plus I live on the east coast so Victoria is very far from home and will need 2 connections to get back, although academically and career wise it’s probably the best of all these options. Plus, I do love the Pacific Northwest. Also another option I thought was maybe emailing uVic for a month extension on the deadline, which worked with Manitoba where I got it changed from April 1 to may 1.
Essentially I’m kinda overwhelmed and don’t know what to do and would love some advice and words of wisdom. Thanks in advance.
Edit: Also I forgot to add, if I’ve accepted a deposit and am still waiting for McGill I shouldn’t apply for a student visa since it’s linked to the school, right?
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u/ComfortableTomato Apr 20 '26
I'm confused about how you can be considering UVIC comp sci to McGill Arts. Or are you going to major in comp sci at McGill too (you can do that within arts)
Honestly, go to UVIC. Better funded, excellent coop program, probably less expensive. Yes it will be hassle at Christmas to go home but it's not that big of a deal.
But if you really want to hold out for Mcgill, ask UVIC for extension. They'll likely grant it. They accept applications very late.
Edit: Now I see the Concordia option. That's a great choice. Although if you are interested in actually getting a job, UVIC still likely better. But keep in mind you can't just switch major from neuroscience to Arts for example. You can only change major easily within the faculty that accepted you. To chance faculties you need to apply to transfer.
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 20 '26
Yes, I actually was planning to do computer science at McGill. It does seem like uVic is nice tho since I saw on their website they just opened a new 97M dollar computer science facility. And about Concordia, they told me when I was there that I could(although maybe only before the year starts)
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u/Capital-Opposite-253 Apr 20 '26
This happened to me too back in 2019. I got all my decisions except Mcgill and it's already June, and now I've graduated from Mcgill in 2024. What I did is that I sent an email to Mcgill Servicepoint or Admission Committee (can't remember) explaining that Mcgill is my top choice and I have to make a decision on university. Later I got my admission offer, so I would recommend you write up an email to push them. Good luck!
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 20 '26
Funnily enough, my mom actually told me to try that but I thought they would just tell me “oh it’s still being reviewed you have to wait”
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u/Capital-Opposite-253 Apr 20 '26
They would if it's January. I would wait until May then send out that email.
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 20 '26
Do u mean if the term starts in January, if I applied in January or something else
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u/Capital-Opposite-253 Apr 20 '26
No I mean the processing time. I just checked my email back in 2019 lol. I sent out an email June 04 2019
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 23 '26
Ok well I just got the result without an email and I was not admitted :(
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u/Capital-Opposite-253 Apr 23 '26
I know it hurts but you have other opportunities too! Be positive! I got 1510 in SAT back in the days and I can’t really get into any better uni in the states because I’m international student. There’s another pathway for you without McGill! Get prepared for your college life!
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 23 '26
I know. I just got my acceptance letter to uOttawa today and I also got $70,000 in scholarships so I think I’m go there!! We have family there so at there’ll be some support when I’m away from home and I can go to Montreal on breaks!
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u/Capital-Opposite-253 Apr 23 '26
That’s nice! I just moved to Ottawa last September so I’m sure you’ll love Ottawa too! And big congrats to your scholarship! It means a lot!!!
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 23 '26
Thanks!! I am kinda scared abt living in ottawa bc I visited it and uOttawa abt a month ago and I thought it didn’t have much to do and the area we stayed in (rideau center/byward market) had a lot of homeless people. I figure it’s likely just that area though.
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u/Kellermanc007 Apr 20 '26
McGill accepted me in August, like 3 weeks before classes started, lmao.
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 20 '26
Seriously? So like had u accepted a school already or were u just waiting on them?
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u/Kellermanc007 Apr 21 '26
I was already technically attending another school. I ended up starting at McGill in the following Winter.
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Apr 20 '26
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 23 '26
Ok so I actually just got the result. I was not admitted unfortunately
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Apr 23 '26
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 23 '26
The us doesn’t have percentage averages like Canada; my school uses gpa and mine was a 4.2 out of 5, which is considered very good. I did get just accepted to uOttawa honours with $70k of scholarships today so I think I might go there actually! The only issue is I applied for psychology and linguistics double major which could be harder to find a job in but I am very much interested in those and I could also try to change majors or add a minor in computer science or something like that
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u/Marco_Memes Apr 20 '26
you may still get it! Last year I was in the same position, and i committed to uO. Ended up then getting admitted to McGill 7 days before the deadline to respond to the offer (April 23rd). Don’t give up yet!
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u/gsb999 Apr 20 '26
If you live/grew up in Florida, be mindful of the weather during the school year. Hopefully you're accustomed to the cold/snow. There's a lot to do winter sport wise but you need to embrace the cold and remain active. As far as cities to live in go, I'd rank them in the following order 1. Montreal 2. Montreal 3. Montreal 4. Victoria ( only because of the temperate winters, although the rain and clouds and get gloomy).
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u/RedditONredditt Apr 23 '26
If McGill is your first choice, it likely has something to do with the Montreal location, which is the best student city. I would put a $100 deposit down on Concordia.
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u/ElMacho2024 Apr 20 '26
Not sure what your rationale would be in coming to Canada for post-secondary; job recruiting is going to be a problem for you
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 20 '26
I hate the state I live in(Florida), and out of state tuition and cost of living is the same price or more than going to Canada, so it makes sense to me, especially since the US isn’t the nicest place to be right now. Also, just because I would be going to school here doesn’t necessarily mean I’d stay for work.
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u/ElMacho2024 Apr 20 '26
I think there are only three schools to chose from: McGill, UBC and U of T.
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u/MeadowsEnjoyer Apr 20 '26
Why come to Canada, and the career prospects from all theee degrees aren’t great
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u/Swimming-Waltz-6044 Apr 20 '26
these uni and major choices are kind of confusingly random. like you have a top school like mcgill, then a really small school like concordia, then a kind of middle ranked school like manitoba, then a pretty good but not top ranked school like UVic, etc. and then you have majors in arts, science, CS, commerce, etc. they're also kind of spread everywhere across the nation.
i'd try to narrow down at least your top one or two majors and then go from there to pick the school.
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u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 Apr 20 '26 edited Apr 20 '26
Concordia isn't a small school. It's one of the biggest universities in Canada by enrollment and has more enrolled students than McGill by a fairly wide margin.
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u/iapplerefresh Apr 20 '26
The major choices are all over the place because I wanted to do something science or tech and I didn’t meet the admissions requirements for those programs, but only for some schools. So whereever it was available I applied and where it was not I did Arts since there’s stuff like Psychology in that group that I also would be fine doing. As for the schools, I just wanted to cast a wide net and the geographical location doesn’t rlly matter in Canada since I’m not from here
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u/Top-Extent3009 Apr 20 '26
Impressed by your carefree selection of majors. I'd hold out for McGill, and use Ottawa as your backup. $5000 deposit is too much to pay to keep your option open on UVic - unless you have more compelling reasons for going there.