Columbia International College - Review #2

Attending CIC was like being handed a compass and learning how to navigate both life and studies. From the start, I appreciated CIC’s Total Care Education System which doesn’t just focus on grades, but on your holistic growth. When I arrived, adjusting wasn’t easy, but the mentorship, peer networks, and student support programs made me feel seen. CIC’s diverse student body, people from many countries, all striving for excellence, gave me a sense that I was part of something bigger than myself. Another unique thing is CIC’s blending of rigorous international curricula (IGCSE, AP, etc.) with real-world skill building like communication, time management, leadership all helped me not only master academics but grow confidence.

The best thing that happened at CIC was discovering parts of myself I didn’t know such as leadership, resilience, communication, and also learning that being “from somewhere else” isn’t a disadvantage but it’s a perspective. Achieving good academic results, helping others, and realizing university admission was possible all gave me confidence.

If I could do something differently, I’d push into leadership earlier maybe lead a club or mentor in Grade 10 instead of waiting. Also, don’t shy away from speaking up, even when unsure. My advice is embrace newness, lean into discomfort, ask for help, because that’s where growth happens.

If I have to pick one thing, it’s how CIC treated me like more than a student. I felt welcomed, capable, and encouraged to aim high while being human in academic, social, and emotional ways.

Be brave. Use every resource available. Find people, teachers, friends, staff, who support you. Don’t isolate yourself. Celebrate your culture and background because they’re strengths. Also, find a space on campus that gives you peace, you’ll need it.

What I loved most about CIC’s academics was how demanding it was but also how supportive. My teachers would push us to explore, to go beyond rote memorization. In my STEM courses, projects weren’t just about right answers; they asked why and how. That kind of thinking helped me later in university when I encountered unfamiliar methods or concepts. Also, regular feedback was incredibly helpful. I remember when Ms. Nguyen sat with me after a tough exam and helped me see not just where I went wrong, but how to structure my thinking differently. That changed how I studied.

I wasn’t aiming to be a varsity athlete, but participating in athletics made a difference. Intramural games, fitness classes, sometimes weekend sports, those moments were essential to keep me grounded. They helped me stay physically healthy, relieve stress, and build friendships outside academic circles. What I appreciated was that CIC encouraged fitness and sport participation for everyone not only the competitive students. The coaches and staff understood that sport is part of student well-being, not just performance.

Although I wasn’t in a major arts role, these programs enriched my CIC experience. I enjoyed attending theatre nights, art shows, music performances. It was inspiring to see peers express themselves creatively, often in multiple languages or backgrounds. I also helped with poster design or stage setup sometimes, which was small but meaningful seeing the work behind productions taught me a lot about teamwork, time management, and respect for artistic effort.

The volunteer and club life at CIC gave me space to grow beyond classes. I volunteered in events, helped new international students, and sometimes joined clubs around leadership or public speaking. These roles were where I made lasting friendships and improved self-confidence. What I valued most was that these were considered parts of the school’s culture. You’re encouraged to join, to lead, to give back. That helped me develop not just as a student, but as a human who cares about others.

Though I was not a boarder, my time in residence during certain semesters showed me how much dorm life adds to the CIC experience. Shared studies, roommate conversations about every-day challenges, pulling together when people got homesick, all that made us a small, supportive community. Having dorm mentors who checked in, meals shared with friends from different backgrounds, learning how to organize life (sleep, meals, study) without constant supervision all of which helped me become more independent.

Food always felt like a home anchor. The cafeteria offered a good mix of local, international, sometimes special request items for students missing home. Lunch or dinner times were heavily social. When days were hard, sitting down with friends over a meal could reset everything. On exam days, I appreciated when the staff made sure there were comforting options, sometimes extended hours or snacks. These little things meant more than they seem.

Located in the Hamilton / Ontario area , CIC’s location strikes a nice balance of not too overwhelming like a big city, but close enough to Toronto or other urban centres for opportunities like cultural events, university fairs, internships. On weekends, exploring nearby neighbourhoods, parks, or just walking and talking with friends helped me recharge. Also good access to resources like libraries, study centres, and shops made day-to-day easier.

My social life at CIC was rich and layered. I made friends from many different countries, cultures, and perspectives. Initially, it was intimidating to join groups, but once I opened up, I found people who shared similar ambitions and values. School events such as cultural nights, dances, sports matches, study groups were places where friendships were built. There were ups and downs of moments of homesickness, cultural miscommunications but overall, the friendships, laughs, and shared goals made things joyful and meaningful.