What extracurriculars look good for McGill?

For McGill, strong extracurriculars demonstrate leadership, initiative, commitment, and a well-rounded personality, with key areas including volunteering, leadership roles (student government/clubs), sports, arts, work/internships, and academic teams, with quality and impact (like spearheading initiatives or national awards) often valued over quantity, showing how you've developed skills and impacted your community.

Does McGill look at extracurricular?

Generally speaking, extracurricular activities are not significant in the admission decision, although they are an important factor in the awarding of certain entrance scholarships. Admission to McGill is competitive and students who present the minimum requirements are not guaranteed acceptance.

What makes a McGill application stand out?

The Most Important Part of Your McGill Application

This is your opportunity to share your unique story with the admissions committee and demonstrate why you would be a perfect fit for McGill. Therefore, you must take the time to craft a personal supplementary application that is both honest and engaging.

What extracurriculars look best on a college application?

Here's a few to check out: Mock Trial Team, Yearbook, Theater/Drama Club or Choir, National Honor Society, Dance Teams (hip-hop, ballet, contemporary or whatever your school may offer), Volunteering clubs or volunteering on your own with individual non-profit organizations, Young Democrats and/or Republicans.

Can I get into McGill with a 93 average?

McGill only accepts students with a 95% average.

Fact: Cut-offs can fluctuate from year to year and vary widely from faculty to faculty.

Week in the Life of a Med Student - McGill University [April 2022]

Does McGill only look at top 6?

You will be considered for admission based on your high school 'Top 6' average and, if admitted, you may be granted advanced standing credits based on your final AP exam results.

Does McGill care about AP?

AP exams already written, as well as AP exams you intend to write, must be declared on the McGill application. Admitted students must make arrangements to have all AP results sent to Enrolment Services directly from the College Board. McGill's institutional code with the College Board is 0935-00.

What are Tier 1 extracurriculars?

Tier 1 extracurriculars are highly prestigious activities that reflect exceptional leadership, commitment, and achievement, significantly enhancing a student's application to selective colleges. These activities are often characterized by their rarity and substantial impact.

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

Is 7 extracurriculars enough?

While applying to colleges, many students wonder whether their involvement in extracurricular activities will be sufficient. To this, we say: quality over quantity. There are no cookie-cutter criteria from a college or university about extracurricular expectations.

What is the hardest program to get into McGill?

McGill's hardest programs to get into generally include Engineering (especially Mechanical), Computer Science, Finance (Commerce), Neuroscience, and sometimes Arts & Science (B.A. & Sc.), requiring very high averages (often 95%+ for Eng/CS) and strong applications, with Medicine being exceptionally competitive due to interviews and French requirements. The specific "hardest" can shift yearly, but STEM and business consistently demand top marks and profiles, notes this GrantMe article and Reddit users. 

What is the #1 ranked university in Canada?

There isn't one single "number 1" university as rankings vary, but the University of Toronto (U of T), McGill University, and the University of British Columbia (UBC) consistently top lists, with U of T often #1 in Canada for research, McGill #1 by QS World Rankings (2026), and U of T or UBC frequently leading national reputational surveys like Maclean's. 

Is McGill like an Ivy League?

No, McGill University is not an Ivy League school because the Ivy League is a specific athletic conference of eight private universities in the Northeastern U.S.; however, McGill is a highly prestigious Canadian university often called the "Canadian Harvard" or considered a "Canadian Ivy" due to its elite status, strong academics, and reputation, similar to top US schools like the Ivies.
 

Does McGill look at grade 11 grades?

Grades 10, 11 and 12 academic results will be considered, including prerequisites for the program to which you applied. All results are taken into consideration in determining admission, including those for failed or repeated courses.

What is the best example of extra-curricular activities?

6 Best Extracurricular Activities for Your Resume

• Sports. Doing sports can demonstrate a bunch of soft skills, including dedication, teamwork, and work ethic.
• Government and leadership. ...
• Cultural and language. ...
• Volunteering activities. ...
• Academic. ...
• Political interest and social activism.

How hard is it to get into McGill as an American?

Getting into McGill University as an American is competitive but achievable, requiring a very strong academic profile (around a 3.85+ GPA, top grades in relevant subjects, high SAT/ACT scores if submitting) and meeting specific prerequisites, with admissions heavily weighted on grades, especially for popular programs like Engineering or CS, while factoring in a new, higher international tuition for US students. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of families disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth College, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Brown University, Duke University, Stanford University, and Princeton University, with studies showing over 20% of students at some of these schools come from the top 1% of the income ladder, often more than from the entire bottom 60% combined. Other affluent institutions like Washington University in St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, Georgetown University, and Bowdoin College also have significant representation from the wealthiest families.
 

What is the #1 party school?

For 2026, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), is widely ranked as the #1 party school by sources like Niche, based on student surveys about campus party scenes, access to nightlife, and Greek life, followed by schools like Florida State and Tulane. Other strong contenders often mentioned include the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USC, and the University of Alabama, with rankings varying slightly by publication and criteria.
 

What extracurriculars do colleges value the most?

Colleges favor extracurriculars showing passion, leadership, and commitment, like founding a club or significant community service, alongside strong involvement in STEM (robotics, research), arts (music, theater, visual arts), athletics (team captaincy), or debate/academic teams, alongside real-world experience from internships or jobs, demonstrating skills like innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving. The best activities are deep, impactful, and align with your interests, rather than just joining many superficial groups.
 

Is 7 activities enough for a Common App?

Seven activities can be enough for the Common App if they are meaningful and show strong commitment, but it's generally better to use more slots (up to 10) to showcase depth, focusing on quality, impact, and genuine passion rather than just filling space, as colleges value significant involvement over a long, superficial list. While some top schools might expect most slots filled with high achievements, quality always trumps quantity. 

What are the 5 D's of college essays?

The "5 Ds" of college essays are common, overused topics that often make it difficult for students to stand out, including Death, Divorce, Disease, Drugs, and Dating (or Drama)**, with many counselors suggesting avoiding them because they're hard to handle authentically and often lead to clichés, though the focus should always be on you (the writer) rather than just the event itself. 

Is McGill losing its reputation?

McGill dropped in a new global university ranking but it's still in the top 50. It's way behind the University of Toronto. Canada's top schools just got their report cards, and Montreal's McGill University didn't exactly make the dean's list.

What are failing courses at McGill?

Procedure to Follow in Cases of Failure

• write a supplemental examination (if academic unit (departmental) policy permits); or.
• retake the failed course; or.
• substitute the failed course by completing an equivalent course.

What is a 75% at McGill?

At McGill University, a 75% falls within the B+ range, specifically 75-79%, earning 3.3 Grade Points, which is considered a strong, good grade, generally above average, though its perception can vary by department and course curve. It's a solid achievement, translating to a good GPA.