Columbia International College - Review #4

When I first arrived at CIC, I was struck by how seriously they take both academic performance and personal growth. Everything from orientation, mentoring, and counselling made it clear. They want students not just to succeed in grades, but to develop confidence, resilience, and cross-cultural understanding. What made CIC unique for me was its ability to combine coursework IGCSE / AP with real-life skills like time management, communication, leadership. Another aspect that stands out is how being surrounded by peers from all over the world broadened my worldview early on. Conversations with classmates about their experiences made me more open, curious, and humble, traits I now realize are as valuable as academic achievement.

The best thing that happened to me was seeing how far I could stretch academically, socially, personally and realizing I was capable of more than I believed.

If I could do something differently, I’d take on leadership roles earlier; ask more questions; not be afraid of being wrong. My advice to new students is push yourself, but also be kind to yourself. Seek support, build friendships, use every opportunity even those that feel small, they are building blocks.

What I enjoyed most about CIC was how they treated me as more than test scores. The academics, yes, but the friendships, the mentors, the chance to discover myself, not just academically but who I am. That holistic environment matters.

Be curious, be brave. Join clubs even if you’re unsure; talk to teachers; let small challenges become chances to grow. Find your reset space and don’t neglect simple things like sleep, healthy food, laughter. Those build your capacity more than you think.

CIC’s academic standards were high. I liked most how teachers didn’t just teach content, they taught thinking. For example, in subjects like Computer Science, assignments required application, not just recall. Lab-based work, project assignments, group work, all of that contributed deeply to my understanding. Also, feedback was meaningful. I remember Mrs Patel giving me detailed comments that helped me improve not just for the moment but in how I study and approach problems now. The workload could get intense, but that pressure taught me discipline, prioritization, and how to keep pushing.

Though sports weren’t my biggest focus, having them available at CIC meant having balance. I participated in tennis or joined fitness / wellness programs. The coaches and staff were encouraging, they didn’t demand perfection, they encouraged growth. These athletic times offered stress relief, energy, friendships, and the chance to learn resilience. I appreciated that even students with less experience were welcomed to participate and improve.

While I was more on the academic/tech side, I valued the arts offerings greatly. Attending theatre productions or cultural performances opened me up in different ways. Helping backstage, designing posters or artistic elements for events also taught collaboration, creativity, and organizational skills.It felt like expression was respected at CIC: arts weren’t afterthoughts. They were part of building identity, confidence, and culture.

Being involved outside class made CIC feel more like home. I volunteered for events like community cleanups or peer tutoring, helped with club leadership, and sometimes participated in inter-club competitions. These extra-curriculars helped me build a network, develop soft skills like communication, organization and feel more confident speaking or leading.

Dorm life taught me a lot such as sharing space, being part of a small community, managing daily routines (study, sleep, chores). Study sessions and roommate conversations were tough, but growth happened there. Residence mentors played an important role by checking in, helping with schedules, making sure students felt included.

Dining times were moments to pause, connect, decompress. The variety in the cafeteria helped, especially when missing flavors or comfort food from home. Social conversation during meals, informal study breaks, bonding over trays, those meals are some of my best memories.

CIC is located in a region that allows both focused school life and access to urban resources. On weekends, exploring nearby towns and those breaks were essential for mental refresh. Also, being close enough to larger centers meant being able to attend lectures/workshops, internships or community events outside school, which expanded my perspective of what was possible.

My social life was rich in diversity. I made friends from many backgrounds; we supported each other academically, emotionally. Events like sports, group projects and informal gatherings gave multiple opportunities to connect. It wasn’t always smooth, sometimes cultural differences or academic stress crept in but CIC’s support systems (counselors, peers, mentors) helped smooth out difficulties.