Debt-free (McGill poli sci) versus Ivy League (Cornell Brooks)
Hi all! High school senior with Canadian dual citizenship here. I’ve narrowed down my choices to McGill and Cornell, as these are my most competitive offers, McGill is my cheapest option (and was my dream school before I got into Cornell), and I’d commit instantly to Cornell if the cost was similar to McGill’s.
I am looking to major in political science or public policy, likely on a pre-law track. I am not 100% certain which field of law I want to go into yet, but administrative, environmental, and labor are options, and I wouldn’t at all be opposed to holding a position as some sort of government official. I am planning to aim for a T14 law school.
Cost is the main deciding factor. We are upper middle class. My parents have saved a significant amount of money for college, for which I’m eternally grateful, but not enough to keep me out of debt if I commit anywhere other than McGill or possibly one of my in-state safety schools (Colorado State, CU Denver, CU Boulder, or the University of Denver).
Weather and location preferences are not huge considerations; I knew from the start that I’d go to a school in the northeast with horrible weather and a huge hill on campus (I just didn’t expect the possibility that such a school could be Cornell, not McGill). I like the diversity of living in a big city, but as an introvert, I’d be perfectly content with living in the middle of nowhere.
McGill University (Montreal, Quebec)
Global rank: 27
My CoA: ~$24,000 for the first semester (because I procrastinated on getting my Canadian citizenship shit together), ~$2,000 for all subsequent semesters; total CoA of $32,600 to $38,000
Big fish in a big pond
Pros:
- Would graduate debt-free with some money left over for law school! + I can splurge on a single dorm
- Possibility of graduating up to a year early
- Lots of things to do nearby, plus the drinking age is 18
- They’ve given me a scholarship, and my first semester tuition can be further discounted if I take French classes
- Canada might be a smart move, considering I’m visibly a person of color and queer
- Already spent an extensive time daydreaming about going here
Cons:
- Slight language barrier (classes are in English, but Montreal is very French-heavy; my French sucks)
- Less prestige factor, esp. outside Canada
- Sink or swim environment with huge classes
- Unsure about Canadian poli sci to US law school pathway
- Will have to be more proactive about seeking out internship and research opportunities
- Huge NYU-esque school in a big city; some people complain about nonexistent campus culture because of the city, others say it’s great
- My dad really, really hates McGill (partly because they rejected him)
Cornell University (Ithaca, New York)
Global rank: 16
My CoA: ~$80,000, in talks with finaid office to drag it down a little more; total CoA of ~$360,000
Small fish in a big pond
Pros:
- Ivy League name on resume might do me some favors (plus my Desi tiger dad is a prestige whore, so he approves)
- Entire school hyper-focused on public policy, rather than a single major
- Stronger ROI (most noticeable if I take a gap year before law school)
- Stronger campus culture
- Possibly a direct feeder into T14 law schools
- Abundant programs that work directly with the NY state government and federal government; high-profile resume building and networking
Cons:
- Debt, debt, and more debt (~$60-100k?), plus law school debt…
- Will cause some financial strain; uncomfortable, but not unbearable
- Impostor syndrome (no clue how I got in)
- Possibly full of chuds