Advice for CÉGEP Applicants to McGill Law?

[goldie]

Hi, I am an incoming CÉGEP student and I'm very interested in McGill's BCL/JD program! I was looking at their 2023 class profile (found here); 20% of their 180 students were admitted directly from CÉGEP, which is 36 students, I'm wondering why so few of them made it. How hard is it to get into McGill Law right after CÉGEP? To those who did, would you have any advice?

I'm entering a Science program in CÉGEP this fall (because it opens up a lot of doors if I don't get into law school) and I attended all of high school in French. Assuming I am able to get ~36 R-score and an average personal statement as an average interviewee, what are my chances of getting in?

Thank you!

Edited April 8 by goldie

[GreyDude]

Cégep is a time to explore. The best advice I can come up with is to have fun in Cégep, study hard, and get the best r-score you can. Aim for the university programs that look good to you, but don’t set your heart too hard on just one. First, you don’t know for sure that you’ll get in, and second, there might just be a career you live waiting to be discovered that isn’t law. You don’t want to be so focussed on the one thing that you can’t see anything else. 

I was a Cégep prof for almost 30 years, and in that time I rarely saw a student arrive with a career idea that didn’t change. Look around. Try stuff out.

Finally, from what I know of McGill’s admissions process, what they look for in Cégep admits, aside from academic excellence, is that they be mature, well-rounded people. I have seen evidence that this can sometimes be more important than grades (though the grades still have to be really good). The advice I’m giving here will help you achieve that, should you still be on the same path two years from now. 
 

Edited April 9 by GreyDude

[goldie]

@GreyDude Thanks for your reply! I'm just scared that I might not do so well at the interview stage, as my grades are unlikely to be a problem... Thanks for your advice!

[GreyDude]

18 hours ago, goldie said:

@GreyDude Thanks for your reply! I'm just scared that I might not do so well at the interview stage, as my grades are unlikely to be a problem... Thanks for your advice!

That whole "well-rounded person" thing is what helps you do well at the interview (remembering that if you got the interview, the other stuff is already there). At that stage, if you get in it won't be because you have a lot of activities or accomplishments on your CV (most law applicants will have that), but because you are genuinely interested in the world around you (or some part of it, at least) and you are mature for your age, which being well-rounded helps to foster. Don't just be a gunner -- be someone people want to have around because you are excellent at something or particularly passionate about something, or whatever. Then, even if you don't get into McGill Law (most people don't), you will still be someone people want to have around. And that fact is easily as important as having good grades or "soft" skills (though those are important too) for entering and getting established in any career. It's also a good approach if you want to enjoy your life more in general. The fact that you're not "all law, all the time" is actually a good thing, especially before law school starts. 

So good luck, and have fun in College! 

Edited April 10 by GreyDude