Kyle McRae

Statistics allowed Kyle McRae to explore different communities and opportunities for his career at Concordia.

Studying Statistics expanded Kyle McRae’s horizons. At Concordia, he was able to explore different worlds far from math and science while still following his academic goals. Whether it was through his Co-op terms working at Bombardier or getting involved with the Statistical Society of Canada, Kyle has been test-driving what a future career could look like.

What is the Statistics program like?

Statistics has been great. What I really enjoy about the program is that I get to experiment in many fields related to Statistics and Computer Science. When I applied to Concordia, I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I knew that in high school I really liked math, so Statistics felt like a natural transition. There’s something very satisfying about problem solving to me.

Are you working on any special projects?

I'm doing my Honours project with some professors in the Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering at Concordia. It’s a great opportunity for me to decide whether I enjoy research enough to do grad school. I’m interested in urban studies, city planning and running 5-10k races. I’m combining these interests together with statistics to explore how you can design a marathon route that's as scenic as possible while minimizing traffic disruptions caused by the route design.

What’s been the best part of your time at Concordia?

The best thing about my Concordia experience is that I got to try out different things outside of my program. Before I switched into a Computer Science minor, I had a minor in Sustainability Studies and was learning about the environment. I took a class in Applied Human Sciences last semester, which was an eye-opening experience. I’ve taken so many technical math classes that there’s a part of my brain that I don’t use as often. We sat in a circle talking about our feelings, interpersonal communication and relationships, which is the opposite of my normal classes. The professor was amazing, and I learned so much about myself and how I interact with people.

Do you have a favorite part about Montreal?

I’m from Vaudreuil-Dorion, which is a 45-minute drive from Concordia. But I feel like I only started experiencing Montreal when I started university, and it’s an amazing city. There’s so much to explore. You can walk down any street and discover a new restaurant or cool park. I love the metro system and how it can take you anywhere in the blink of an eye. One end of the green line to another is a completely different world.

I really like going to food festivals in Montreal. During the summer, they’ll have tons of food festivals in the Old Port area, whether it’s a poutine festival or a multicultural food festival. I went with a group of students from my department, which was a good way to stay in touch over the summer and outside of the classroom.

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