UoN vs McGill

I was warned that McGill was very different to Nottingham but I shook it off. How different can two unis be? They're all teaching the same thing aren't they? 

I've never been so wrong. 

From day one it was apparent that this year is going to be very different. The workload has increased, it's a lot tougher, and you actually have to contribute in lectures (except they're not called lectures, they're classes with about 40 people in, as opposed to the 200+ I'm used to). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's just taking a bit of getting used to. Last year I did some of the reading and most of the work and still did well, here I switch off in a class for five minutes and I may as well have skipped the lecture - I'm lost. You have to do the reading, the homework and the group assignments else you lose part of your grade, and class participation and attendance is mandatory. Add a couple of midterms and times it by five for my five classes and you have my current situation - it's overwhelming. 

This all sounds negative, and though there are days when I wish I was back at Notts as an anonymous face in a lecture theatre, most of the time I feel really engaged in class and as if I am actually learning something (except finance, I'm allergic to numbers). 

Participation has proven a bit of an issue for me, as I'm generally not one for getting involved in class discussions, so this is something I am trying to work on. It's pretty daunting sitting in a room full of eloquent Canadians who form perfect sentences and make points you never would have thought of, especially when you speak your accent already differentiates you from them, but I'm working on it. I still don't think you should be graded on participation as some people just don't like to speak in a group, but it's the norm here and I'm sure I will learn to love it (one can hope!)

Midterms. There's no such thing as midterms in the UK so the thought of sitting an exam in a class I have only been in for 4 or 5 weeks is slightly terrifying. The positive thing is it has made me stay on top of work (for the most part, there is an exception to every rule and mine is always finance). It also takes a bit of pressure off in the final exam as it is not 100% of my grade, and it's rare to even have a final worth over 50% because of the continuous assessment. 

That's another thing, I am working towards my grade every single week, whether it be 1000 words reports worth 5% of my grade, a group project or even just attending a class. At home I was used to the odd group project and then a month or so of revision for the exam. I'm not sure which one I prefer yet, but I can say without a doubt that I felt a lot less stressed at home, although I do quite like having to stay up to date and on top of work as I feel like I am actually getting somewhere. 

The Canadian school year ends in April, 6-8 weeks earlier than in the UK and it must be because of the intensity. In October alone I have 3 midterms, 3 group projects due including 2 presentations, and weekly essays for one class, not to mention the fact that I have 3 trips planned and my family are coming to Montreal, so I am going to be very stretched for time. It's intense but also stimulating, and it's pretty cool to be able to see how it works in other countries. 

I never expected it to be so different but here we are, 3 weeks in and I am already feeling the pressure. It's hard to say who wins between Notts and McGill this early on, I love them both for very different reasons and I guess only time (and grades) will tell. Check back with me in April!