Merrick Preparatory School - Review #1

The location of Merrick Preparatory School is part of its unique features because it is located in a beautiful town that is quite safe and charming. The campus has space to play soccer, basketball, badminton, hockey. There is also a game room in the building where you can work out, play badminton, pool, or card/board games, or just hang out with your friends. The classes are not crowded which allows for support by the instructors. All of the instructors are able to pay attention to each student and help them individually. It is nice for the school to provide volunteer opportunities throughout the year where you get to connect with different people and make a contribution to the community.

I realized that during my time there, I became a more confident individual. Being away from my parents, I had to make my own decisions. I was able to speak English without hesitating. I realized how much impact I can make on people to encourage them to join activities and sports. I was able to improve myself both socially and academically and took an upper-level year class in my second term there.

Something I could have done differently is not to worry so much. It was frustrating to leave my family at first, and be in this new environment where I didn't know anyone. However, I realized that I liked spending time at Merrickville and I remember not being super enthusiastic about going back home for the Christmas break. The students were friendly, I made so many friends already on my first day, teachers and staff were also nice and helpful, which made it easier to connect and later on encouraged me to learn as much as possible.

First of all, I really appreciate the fact that this school has contributed to me so much both academically and socially. I made long-lasting friendships with students from all over the world. I was able to learn a lot and practice my English mainly because I was comfortable. It felt like I was part of the community and we were a big family. I felt the support from each and everyone, thus it was easier to thrive academically. University applications can be confusing and overwhelming, but instructors support you individually which is why I never felt alone or overwhelmed.

Studying at Merrickville Preparatory School will be one of your unforgettable memories. Don't be shy and talk to people and don't forget to check out the game room!

Instructors are very knowledgeable and there is a friendly environment created and supported by instructors. Students are encouraged to be a part of it. Classes are not crowded which is a good thing because this allows for instructors to be more involved individually. The workload is pretty tolerable, just a decent amount of work for you to practice and show what you learned, and they are not overwhelming.

There is a diversity of sports available: a space for people to play soccer, basketball, badminton, hockey, slack-lining... School provides all the equipment, so it's really hard to get bored during free time. For example, I never even heard of slack-lining before, it was my first time trying at the school and I really enjoyed it. I also tried playing baseball for the first time for one of the activities we had at the school ( I remember when we came back from baseball, there were snacks prepared for us to eat.) Every year students and staff at the school are divided into three groups and competitions are organized. It is so much fun because you get to compete against the staff and participation is mandatory.

I like that opportunities are provided to students who are interested in different areas. There is an electric piano available at the school for students who like the music area.

There are different clubs available for students to join including hockey, soccer, yearbook, running, etc. Also, there are volunteer opportunities constantly, so every student is able to satisfy their required hours.

I like that rooms are big enough for two people to accommodate, including the bathroom. We had enough individual space to store our belongings. There is a desk, queen-sized bed, closet for each student in the room. They are co-ed dorms and there is a curfew. You cannot leave your room after a certain time. Rooms are air-conditioned and wifi is available until a certain time. Rooms and roommates are assigned randomly, however, when there is a problem, the school tries to find a solution immediately.

Students are randomly assigned to tables and sit at the table they are assigned. There is always fruit or snacks available to students. There is good quality and diversified food, so you are always able to find something to eat. One thing I liked the most is if you are homesick and want to eat a certain food, you can talk to the kitchen staff and you can either give the recipe to them and they will try to make it. Therefore, everyone in the school will be trying your traditional food!

Merrickville town was one of the best parts of my journey at the school. The town is not super big, it's gorgeous with its adorable stores, delicious restaurants, fascinating view by the water, nice vintage stores, and friendly locals. They have this store that sells the most delicious ice cream ever. Downtown is around 40-45 minutes away and I never felt unsafe during my time there. However, there is no bus that goes to the city center, so no transportation available except uber.

I liked that we were always active. Always doing something such as going for walks, playing badminton or volleyball, spending some time reading books or listening to music at the beach. It's nice that during your free time, you can do or play anything you want because you have the opportunity and equipment given. Sometimes we would just go out and explore the town or try different restaurants. School is also organizing a bunch of different trips during the year such as watching an ice hockey match live, ice skating, or some fun activities to do on Halloween.