Music Education at Wilfrid Laurier University
Updated: Jul 1, 2020
Doran (Year 3)
@doranleung
What made you choose this institution over all others? Did the university exceed your expectations?
I chose Laurier because of the sense of community and their focus on a healthy and balanced student life, instead of some schools which are overwhelming in academics. From meeting with some of the professors in the music faculty specifically beforehand, I could tell that they were very genuine and cared about the students' growth. I am happy with my school life and the school has met my expectations.
Do you have any lingering thoughts or regrets in your year as a whole (ex; application process, mistakes going into first year). If so, describe them.
While I met a lot of people already through living on res or just in class, I do wish that I joined more clubs and met people there too. Overall in my first year, I had a good time and enjoyed myself.
Briefly describe the academic rigour of your program (in terms of competitiveness, courses, professors, etc.)
The music program requires a lot of time management skills. Although classes such as orchestra and masterclass don't really have much "homework," the rehearsals can be very draining and take up a lot of time. On top of that, finding time to squeeze in practice on my own can be difficult.
Courses such as music theory and music skills are very different from anything in high school, so they can be especially difficult at the beginning. The professor's however are very genuine and friendly and always happy to help. The music program features smaller classes than usual, which is something I really like, as your profs can get to know you and help you better.
To me, the program is of medium difficulty. As long as you can grasp the concepts, there is not too much work, but would not call it an easy program.
Describe the social life at your campus based on your own experiences (making friends, clubs + extracurriculars, party culture etc.)
The social life on campus has been great. Everyone is very exceptionally friendly and helpful. Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to join many clubs or extracurriculars so I can't really comment on those.
What are some of the best and worst parts of your university experience so far?
The best parts have been working with a great variety of other students and profs that all bring their unique experiences to the table. The worst would probably be when I missed my midterm - you really gotta look out for yourself out here!
List three effective study techniques and/or habits:
The friendly classmates and upper years that have helped me out.
Showing up for class and paying attention.
Keeping a calendar with all my due dates
List pieces of advice for first-year students:
Wash your dishes and don't be a bad roommate.
Don't forget to eat properly and spend time to stay healthy.