McGill, St. Andrew’s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McGill employs a GPA cut-off in order to have your application read. It differs by major so look it up but usually you need above an A- in the subjects core to your major. This GPA cut-off serves as a way to weed out on the front end lots of applications that would normally get reviewed in the US. Since McGill prevents those from going in the pile, they have a higher admission rate than comparable schools in the US but that's because they use GPA to reduce the pool on the front-end so that they're only spending time reading qualified applications.

So don't mistake their seemingly higher application rate for it being of lower academic standard. It's not. They just only allow applications for qualified applicants (not 3.3 gpa "hail mary" applications allowed like at the ivies). Secondly for public unis like McGill, Canada has increased seats at their most sought after schools. As a result, classes are large and similar to big, public state schools in the US.

+1

[Anonymous]

I posted on the long St Andrew’s thread the patently obviously true fact that it’s not real selective for USA students and is a haven for boarding school and private school kids who can’t get into top USA privates. I apparently offended folks by saying this and my post was reported and deleted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Lol you again

NP - I had the exact same thought. Elliot School Mom, so glad your kid found his place. The rankings you keep citing are worthless. And honestly no one looks at an IR degree from GW and says wow that's special. It's a fine degree, no better or worse than an IR degree from any other respectable but not elite school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both schools have relatively high admissions rates. Over 45%!

This is not relevant outside of the USA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted on the long St Andrew’s thread the patently obviously true fact that it’s not real selective for USA students and is a haven for boarding school and private school kids who can’t get into top USA privates. I apparently offended folks by saying this and my post was reported and deleted.

No way. That's pathetic they got it deleted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Lol you again

What's funny about a poster answering OP's question? There are several posters on this board who have kids doing international affairs at Georgetown and George Washington, are you sure you recognized the right poster?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Lol you again

NP - I had the exact same thought. Elliot School Mom, so glad your kid found his place. The rankings you keep citing are worthless. And honestly no one looks at an IR degree from GW and says wow that's special. It's a fine degree, no better or worse than an IR degree from any other respectable but not elite school.

Strongly disagree.

For future employers in that specific field, the general ranking of the college doesn't matter, but the reputation of the program matters a lot. You're not going to study international affairs at MIT. International Affairs at Columbia, Georgetown, GW, AU, and a handful of other places are the ones to attend, above even some other Ivies that do not specialize in that degree.

It's OK that you don't know that.

It's not OK to claim that this is not true.

And I'm going to go out on a limb here and surmise that this holds true for other specialties - if the college you're looking at has a great reputation in a specific major, then regardless of their general ranking, it's worth looking at if your kid knows for sure that this is what they want to do.

[Anonymous]

It boggles my mind that on this site, if you post too often for certain posters, even if you say something completely innocuous and informative about your or your kids' experience, these posters will bite your head off.

If you don't agree with an opinion, just say so nicely, instead of "UGH, IT'S X MOM AGAIN."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Actually, MIT would be a GREATplace to study international relations. They have a top 10 PhD program (I strongly doubt GW does) and amazing faculty. Given the small number f undergrads in Course 17, they get much more attention than many MIT undergrads. They have great employment and grad school experience exmission.
Lol you again

NP - I had the exact same thought. Elliot School Mom, so glad your kid found his place. The rankings you keep citing are worthless. And honestly no one looks at an IR degree from GW and says wow that's special. It's a fine degree, no better or worse than an IR degree from any other respectable but not elite school.

Strongly disagree.

For future employers in that specific field, the general ranking of the college doesn't matter, but the reputation of the program matters a lot. You're not going to study international affairs at MIT. International Affairs at Columbia, Georgetown, GW, AU, and a handful of other places are the ones to attend, above even some other Ivies that do not specialize in that degree.

It's OK that you don't know that.

It's not OK to claim that this is not true.

And I'm going to go out on a limb here and surmise that this holds true for other specialties - if the college you're looking at has a great reputation in a specific major, then regardless of their general ranking, it's worth looking at if your kid knows for sure that this is what they want to do.

[Anonymous]

kids at our HS this year picked st Andrews over vended and another picked McGill over Northwestern. Both money decisions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Lol you again

NP - I had the exact same thought. Elliot School Mom, so glad your kid found his place. The rankings you keep citing are worthless. And honestly no one looks at an IR degree from GW and says wow that's special. It's a fine degree, no better or worse than an IR degree from any other respectable but not elite school.

Strongly disagree.

For future employers in that specific field, the general ranking of the college doesn't matter, but the reputation of the program matters a lot. You're not going to study international affairs at MIT. International Affairs at Columbia, Georgetown, GW, AU, and a handful of other places are the ones to attend, above even some other Ivies that do not specialize in that degree.

It's OK that you don't know that.

It's not OK to claim that this is not true.

And I'm going to go out on a limb here and surmise that this holds true for other specialties - if the college you're looking at has a great reputation in a specific major, then regardless of their general ranking, it's worth looking at if your kid knows for sure that this is what they want to do.

it's okay if you dont know that the St Andrews IR department is strongest in UK and in top 5 globally. it's their top program, arguably.

I have no kids at GW or St Andrews, but I know they're both terrific for this degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Lol you again

Yeah, this poster manages to talk about her DS in every other thread (making sure to mention that GW IA is top 10!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These school IMO appeal to really smart kids who don’t have great ECs so they get shut out of the T20 and would otherwise end up at schools like bates, BC, BU, macalester level colleges.

I agree. My son is twice exceptional (high IQ, low processing speed) and had a very thin EC list, but very high stats. He was accepted to McGill and St Andrew's no problem, but then got cold feet and decided to go to George Washington, at the Elliott School of International Affairs (he was also accepted at schools like W&M, from out of state). GW itself isn't ranked all that high, but their IA school is in the top 10. He loves the urban campus and is very happy. Ironically, now he's all excited to study at Sciences Po in Paris. It just took a couple of years for him to get used to the idea of going abroad

Lol you again

NP - I had the exact same thought. Elliot School Mom, so glad your kid found his place. The rankings you keep citing are worthless. And honestly no one looks at an IR degree from GW and says wow that's special. It's a fine degree, no better or worse than an IR degree from any other respectable but not elite school.

Strongly disagree.

For future employers in that specific field, the general ranking of the college doesn't matter, but the reputation of the program matters a lot. You're not going to study international affairs at MIT. International Affairs at Columbia, Georgetown, GW, AU, and a handful of other places are the ones to attend, above even some other Ivies that do not specialize in that degree.

It's OK that you don't know that.

It's not OK to claim that this is not true.

And I'm going to go out on a limb here and surmise that this holds true for other specialties - if the college you're looking at has a great reputation in a specific major, then regardless of their general ranking, it's worth looking at if your kid knows for sure that this is what they want to do.

Actually, MIT would be a GREATplace to study international relations. They have a top 10 PhD program and amazing faculty. Given the small number f undergrads in Course 17, they get much more attention than many MIT undergrads. They have great employment and grad school experience exmission.

But GW is also a fine school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I posted on the long St Andrew’s thread the patently obviously true fact that it’s not real selective for USA students and is a haven for boarding school and private school kids who can’t get into top USA privates. I apparently offended folks by saying this and my post was reported and deleted.

No way. That's pathetic they got it deleted.

Yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted on the long St Andrew’s thread the patently obviously true fact that it’s not real selective for USA students and is a haven for boarding school and private school kids who can’t get into top USA privates. I apparently offended folks by saying this and my post was reported and deleted.

that is because you completely ignored the dozens of parents who posted that their kids selected St Andrews anyway despite gaining admission to t30 us schools.