New university students prepare for back to school

With new responsibilities and challenges they may have never experienced in high school or CEGEP, back to school time can be especially daunting for new university students. But what about young adults who will be continuing their education in a new city, or new country?

After attending both elementary and high school in the West Island and completing Honours Science at John Abbott College (JAC) this past summer, Phillip Grimm, 18, is now in Massachusetts preparing for his first semester at Harvard University. “JAC was worlds apart from my small, private high school and it forced me to adapt to a completely different academic environment. I quickly learned that at a school as large as John Abbott, it was up to me to take full responsibility for my academic pursuits,” Grimm said. “And that’s the same idea that led me to research different universities around the world, ultimately leading me towards Harvard.”

While Grimm has not decided on what he will be majoring in yet, he says he is looking forward to trying out many different courses that he has not yet had an opportunity to experience. While the ideas of dorm life, new friends, and the various extracurricular activities the university environment offers are all something Grimm is excited about, he says he can’t help but feel a little nervous. “To be honest, nervousness and excitement run hand in hand. Adjusting to dorm life, developing a new circle of friends, and getting used to a new standard of academic rigour are all among the things that I’m thrilled, yet worried about,” Grimm said, adding he has family in Boston. “I think moving away will be a whole new learning experience in itself. While a move to Boston isn’t a complete change of scenery, I’m still sure it will expose me to many new things – especially at an international institution like Harvard.

Pierrefonds resident Karin Clement just got back from two years of school in the United States. The 18-year-old is now preparing to start mathematics and biology at McGill University and says she is looking forward to going back to school in Montreal. “I’m very excited about coming back to Montreal to study, because being away has made me appreciate Montreal more,” Clement said. “Brewster Academy is located in a quaint, small town in New England, and it has given me a broader perspective and has made me appreciate the city of Montreal.”

Instead of continuing her education in a Quebec CEGEP after graduating from Riverdale High School, Clement went to prep school at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, where she took advanced placement course in both math and biology, which led to her course choices at McGill. While she does not yet know exactly what career she wants to pursue, Clement said she is definitely keeping graduate school in mind.

But, for her first semester in university, Clement’s feelings are much the same as Grimm’s: a mix of excitement and anxiety. “I am looking forward to having the freedom to choose the courses I take and to have the ability to study what interests me. I am also looking forward to meeting new people and facing new challenges,” she said. “I am a bit worried about the quantity of work I will have, but I am confident that Brewster has given me a solid foundation with which I will be able to handle the challenges ahead.