Unlike some people, I did not have a specific country or university in mind when I first started high school. However, I attended a school trip during the summer break of my sophomore year that helped me decide where I wanted to study.
As part of the trip, we visited Toronto and were all registered at an English language school. For a month, I had the chance to practice my English and experience student life in Canada. After that school trip, I decided to study in Canada and, in particular, Toronto.
When the time came, I applied to four universities in Ontario and one in Quebec. During my application process from Turkey, I collaborated with a university consultancy company that provides legal help (visa, immigration, or university application) for people who want to live/study/work in Canada.
They closely monitored the required documents for my university applications and my important legal documents such as my student visa. This meant, compared to other students, my application process was a smooth one. A few months after the universities processed my applications, I started to receive the results.
Fortunately, I was admitted to all the universities I had applied to and I was planning to choose the University of Toronto.
Even though I had been to Canada before, when I first arrived in Montreal, the differences between my home (Istanbul) and Montreal were clear. Firstly, the most significant difference was the bilingual environment in Montreal. Seeing the signs and menus in restaurants in French shocked me. Since I was taking Spanish classes in high school, I did not know a word of French.
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However, people are bilingual in Montreal, so I could also speak English. The other difference I noticed was the city planning and the easy accessibility to parks and public transportation services. Back home, due to the high population and poor urban planning, we do not have easy access to these services. However, it was incredible to know that everywhere in Montreal was within walking distance, so you did not have to drive for almost an hour to visit a museum or park.
After spending two weeks sightseeing and exploring the city with my parents, I started my degree unaware of the challenges ahead of me. When university started, slowly, I became aware of them all.
The biggest challenge I had in my first year was feeling homesick. Due to different time zones, my parents in Istanbul were eight hours ahead of Montreal. Combined with my busy schedule as a full-time student, it was challenging to communicate with my family. However, as time passed, I got used to my university and eventually made new friends. We were all experiencing the same adaptation period, so this common struggle brought us closer.
Now I am in my last semester, and I think I have made the best decision by choosing my current university. What I love the most about McGill University is the presence of various services for international students. I can quickly get an appointment or advice from these services, whether it is about academic planning or personal questions.
The other reason I love studying at McGill is the students’ friendly attitude, as it was very easy to approach people and make new friends. In addition to interacting with new people, I suggest new students join clubs in their universities.
The most crucial part of McGill University for me is the professors. Back in Turkey, professors are seen as unapproachable people. In contrast, here, I find it easy to go to my professor’s office and get advice for my concerns. Do not hesitate to contact your professors or teaching assistants if you need help.
For the international students who plan to study in Montreal, I recommend you go out of your university bubble to explore the city, museums, parks, festivals and concerts. Montreal is a multicultural city with diverse neighbourhoods and attractions.
If you want to feel more integrated in the university community, I recommend you spend at least one summer break in Montreal. By doing this, you will feel more integrated into the city, which will make it easier for you to make new friends outside university. Also, for the students who know French, Montreal is the best place to practice. Of course, these recommendations about Montreal are valid for other cities; in the end, students will feel more adapted to their environment by spending time in the city where they study.
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