McGill ranks high in student poll

By Neale McDevitt

McGill garnered high marks among students in the Globe and Mail's annual University Report Card, published on Oct. 16. The extensive survey polled some 43,000 students from 53 Canadian universities. It asked them to grade their school in a variety of categories ranging from quality of education to campus green space.

In the 79 categories in which students were asked to assign letter grades, McGill ranked first or second among large institutions (over 22,000 students) in 36 of them. The university was particularly strong in areas such as faculty members' knowledge of subjects (A+), overall academic reputation (A+), reputation among employers (A+) and opportunities for off-campus fun (A+). The four A+ grades are in contrast to such institutions as University of Toronto, Université de Montréal, University of British Columbia and University of Alberta, whose students didn't see fit to give them even a single such top mark.

McGill also ranked first or tied for first nationwide in such diverse categories as services for international students, tolerance for diverse opinions and ideas, on-campus wireless network and its ability to attract top-notch faculty and guest lecturers. McGill's library services are particularly esteemed by students. The university ranked first or second in the nation in seven library categories.