What brought you to UPEI? In other words, why did you choose to study here?

One of my high school teachers said to me, "a big University makes you small, while a small university makes you big". After coming to UPEI, I felt exactly what he meant by that sentence. PEI is very different than the environment I grew up in—there's a small community vibe and it's easy to relate to things happening around the university and in the community.

What kinds of support have you received during your time here from UPEI staff and faculty members?

In my first year at UPEI, I wasn't meeting assignment dates and didn't have the motivation to study. I joined UPEI's Gateway Program, and received help from a lot of people. They helped me find the right balance of studying and social life.

Thanks to the Gateway Program, I expanded my academic resources and social contacts in my first year, which is vital for any university student!

What kinds of specific skills did the Gateway Program help you with? What kinds of activities did the Program offer to help you academically?

The Gateway Program workshops and student mentors helped me with learning strategies and provided advice on planning, writing, and editing papers and assignments. I gained a better understanding of what the expectations and requirements were for my university career.

My mentor also helped me in many other ways than just academics. She introduced me to activities and intramural sports with UPEI's Athletics and Recreation department, and helped me identify student jobs on campus. Thanks to the Gateway Program, I expanded my academic resources and social contacts in my first year, which is vital for any university student!

What kinds of opportunities have you experienced because you're studying at UPEI, or because of the Island location?

Many. Because I'm studying at UPEI, I’m able to receive a lot of help. The favourable student-to-faculty ratio has really benefited me a lot because I can reach out to my professors easily. It was also simpler to find student job opportunities on campus. I found a student job and started working on campus in my second year, and now I am working three positions on campus: as a student mentor, as a student assistant in Accessibility Services, and with UPEI Athletics and Recreation.

What would you tell a high school student considering a UPEI program?

You’re definitely going to get hep when you need it studying here. I have been able to improve my grades every year because of the amount of help I receive from my professors. Time is a luxury when you're a student, and you will definitely appreciate your professors' availability and quick replies to your emails!