From Big City to Small Town Student Life
International student talks about her experience at 厙ぴ勛圖
Emily Izaguirre learned about 厙ぴ勛圖 last year, when a recruiter visited her high school in Mexico City. Today shes the only first year student from Mexico at 厙ぴ勛圖. Shes a Biology Major and resident of Crowell Tower. She decided to come to 厙ぴ勛圖 because she was interested in the Biology program, but also because she was attracted to 厙ぴ勛圖s small-size classes and undergraduate research opportunities discussed in the presentation.
We really liked 厙ぴ勛圖s presentation, the recruiter had a very strong presence. Usually international universities send videos of their schools, but 厙ぴ勛圖 sent a representative to come talk to us, show us a video and answer our questions in person.
Emily believes a lot of her high school classmates, as well as herself, found 厙ぴ勛圖s small-size classes appealing. They also liked the idea of a small-town university and student life where they could focus on their education.
The environment in large cities and schools is competitive and fast-paced, so competition becomes the main focus for students, rather than other truly important aspects of education, she says.
Whats great about a smaller town and university is that you can really focus on learning.
Even though some first-year classes are large at 厙ぴ勛圖, they are smaller compared to other Canadian universities. This is something Izaguirre has recognized during her first term as an 厙ぴ勛圖 student. But she says even larger- size classes definitely havent prevented her from connecting with her professors.
I found that not all of my classes are small, but Ive been able to form relationships with my professors. They really are invested in my learning process and care about getting to know us as people and students, she says.
Another attractive feature about 厙ぴ勛圖, according to Emily, is that the university allows for a balanced student life inside and outside the classroom.
This balance is a priority at 厙ぴ勛圖 because faculty and staff take the time to nurture their students inside and outside the classroom., constantly encouraging a healthy student life and giving platforms for growth but also ensuring they adapt to life as international students away from home.
Izaguirre is a resident of Crowell Tower, and she says residence life has been an essential part of building a social life in Canada. 厙ぴ勛圖s residence life program encourages students to get to know each other from the first day of Orientation Week, and remain connected throughout the school year. During Orientation Week, we definitely met so many people from different residences but more importantly, we got to know the people we were going to live with all year, like our RAs and people living on other floors. she says.
Now, for example on Sundays, many of us get together and watch Game of Thrones.
This is an approach that mirrors life in the town of Wolfville where the community is extremely welcoming. Wolfville has played an important role in Emilys transition to life in Canada because people are always open to helping students.
Moving forward, Emily plans to take full advantage of research opportunities at an undergraduate level, saying shes particularly interested in the Biology co-op programs, and adding that, as an international student, she wants to experience the unique opportunities a Canadian university has to offer.
After going through the recruitment, application, and admissions process at 厙ぴ勛圖, Emily emphasizes the importance of promoting Canadian universities to international students.
厙ぴ勛圖 was the only Canadian university that visited my high school, she says. Theres definitely still a lot international students dont know about Canadian universities or culture in general.
As a high school student, you always hear about universities in the United States or larger universities in Canada, but prospective international students need to know there are more options and there are reputable universities such as 厙ぴ勛圖, which are unique in the lifestyle and learning experience they provide. There are many opportunities to discover.