Alumni Experiences: What helped me choose Queen’s?

When it came time to choose a University back in March 2004, saying I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. “Make sure the program suits you”, “Check out the residence and tuition fees and make sure they’re what you expected” and “See if they have enough clubs and student groups for you” were all things told to me by friends, parents and guidance counsellors. How was I supposed to choose?  Being 18 and deciding my ENTIRE future seemed a daunting task, and apparently choosing a University was the first step of it all.  I was fortunate enough to have parents who wanted to come with me to visit many of the campuses I was interested in.

So, the road trip began and we saw a couple of schools.  I had my heart set on going to one University in particular, but after seeing their campus I was completely underwhelmed. Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t a bad campus or not beautiful.  It didn’t lack in facilities or teaching spaces.  For whatever reason, it just didn’t feel right. Next, we made it to Queen’s.  I was fortunate enough not only to get to see the University, but also had an amazing campus tour organized by the Undergraduate Admission office.  Our tour guide was incredible and the tour highlighted many aspects of the campus, including the closeness of the residences, the wonderful cafeteria food and all of that ‘important stuff’. Most importantly (to me) was the discovery of just how many student groups exist at Queen’s.  Knowing that these students were among some of the top in Canada academically but STILL had the chance (and the time!) to make up some of the best groups I had ever heard of sounded pretty promising. I was heavily involved in clubs and bands at my high school and I had hoped that those opportunities would let me do things other than just my academics.  From the Queen’s Lego Club and the Monty Python Appreciation Group to the Queen’s Symphony Orchestra and STRIVE (Students Taking Responsible Initiatives for a Viable Environment) – they had everything I could ever ask for.

Getting back to the campus tour – apart from knowing about these clubs, something just clicked when I walking around the historic campus.  I felt at home when at Queen’s.  Seeing the old limestone buildings, the relatively small size of campus and the students bustling from class to class – I could see myself spending four years there. And in the end, that’s what I chose.

I walked away from Queen’s in June 2008 with an Honours Bachelor degree in Biology and Religious studies, in what was likely the proudest day of my life.  Oh, and those clubs?  Well – I got used to getting involved outside of school and that’s why I’m currently becoming a Special Events Manager.

Margot – ArtSci ‘08

PS.  Feel free to leave comments here and I’ll do my best to answer any questions you might have!!

Campus Profile: Health, Counselling and Disability Services

G’day all!

One of the more frequent questions we see here in the office has to do with support facilities on campus.  Questions like “Where can I go if I get sick?” or “Is there anywhere to go to get stress-busting tips for exams?” come to my inbox regularly.  So today, I thought I’d let you know about one of the many support services we have here on campus: Health, Counselling and Disability Services or HCDS for short.

In my former days as a Queen’s Tour Guide, I would often describe HCDS as the place to go if you broke your hand or your broke your heart. While I obviously advocate a trip to the Emergency Room at Kingston General Hospital if you actually break a limb, there are many services at HCDS that you should feel free and encouraged to make use of.

First off, they have doctors and nurses on staff if you are not feeling well or need a checkup. Maybe you’ve got some travel plans for the summer after first year? You can get your immunizations taken care of right on campus. They also have counsellors on staff to speak with you regardless of why you might require someone to talk to. The counsellors are not just personal counsellors but can also speak about learning strategies and career development.

Last but not least, if you are a student with a permanent learning disability, HCDS provides support for you. They are able to arrange accomodations to help you reach your fullest potential.  Accomodations can range from note-takers in class to having extra time or a computer to write exams. Please note that if you have let us know about a learning disability to be taken into consideration with your application, we cannot pass that information on to HCDS due to privacy legislation. You should contact them in the summer or early fall to let them know of your particular circumstances.

The best part about HCDS is that it is located right on campus, very close to many of our residences. Please do not hesitate to make use of this fantastic service at any point during your stay here at Queen’s!  You can find out more information by visiting their webpage at http://www.queensu.ca/hcds.

Cheers!

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

Office Closed – April 10 to 12, 2009

Hello everyone,

Just a heads up that the University will be closed on Friday, April 10th and will re-open on Monday, April 13th for regular business hours.  Phones and emails will not be checked on the holiday, so please make sure you get in touch with us on Monday if you have any questions!

Have a great and safe long weekend!

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

New Feature @ the Queen’s Centre

Hello everyone!

As many of your know, we are currently undergoing construction on campus to finish up our brand spanking new student centre for your arrival in September 2009.  While construction is on schedule, I’m happy to let you know that today the University has announced plans to convert the existing Physical and Health Education Centre (PEC) into a multipurpose entertainment facility.  

Early conversion plans call for an IMAX movie theatre showing documentaries on the history of the Timber Run in the Ottawa Valley, an indoor skateboard park and paintball facility.  While no completion date was announced for the new conversion, we can only assume that construction will begin as soon as the current facility has been vacated in early 2014.

Happy April!!

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator