Lakefield College School review by McGill University student.
Lakefield prepared me extremely well for university. In my opinion, one of the school's biggest strengths is their Social Science department. I saw very good grades on my papers and written assignments throughout my first year at McGill because of Lakefield's stellar instruction on essay writing and document based questions. Anyone going into the Humanities or Social Sciences will quickly realize that the ability to interpret documents and write about them clearly and with purpose is what separates the wheat from the chaff in first year. When it comes to competing for spaces in a Political Science major or whatever you may be interested in, your papers are what will really impress your professors. The small class sizes at Lakefield and the way teachers frequently use discussion as a teaching method also helped me immeasurably. Conferences and tutorials can be absolutely painful in first year university, because students are so used to the teacher telling them what to think that when a TA asks them to discuss what they've read, they have no idea how to come up with their own thoughts. In most of my courses, participation in conference counts for a good chunk of your mark, so this is something a university student needs to be prepared for. If your TA likes you and thinks you're smart, it goes a long way. One of the best things about Lakefield is the opportunities that are available. Talk to any of your teachers after class and they can help you learn so much more about what you're interested in than just what's on the syllabus. Most teachers hold extra help sessions at least once a week if not more, and these are great because if you're having trouble with the material you can get help, and if you want to discuss topics or learn more about a certain subject, they are more than happy to talk. Especially in the upper years, teachers become more like colleagues. The atmosphere at Lakefield is much more relaxed than any other private school I've been to, and for me it really encouraged learning and growth. The best thing about Lakefield is that the teachers allow you to find your niche and encourage you to follow your passions.
The Guidance program at Lakefield places you in a "guidance class" in Grade 12, so.... Get the real inside story on college counseling at Lakefield College School as experienced by former pupil and McGill University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on college counseling
They have contacts at most of the major universities and feel perfectly comfortable picking up the phone and advocating for a student to get accepted somewhere they feel is a good fit for that student. However, these counselors are certainly not magic bullets. They cannot guarantee that a student will get into an Ivy League university...
For those wishing to move on to Oxford or Cambridge, the provision is second-to-none. In the months running up to application and interview, every subject faculty offers classes (often run by former Oxbridge tutors) exploring further areas of their subject as well as offering advice on personal statements, interview technique and more...
After submitting your report card, a teacher recommendation (which Lakefield has you give to your.... Get in-depth insights and personal advice on admissions to Lakefield College School by former pupil and McGill University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review
Sample insights on admissions
For the interview, dress conservatively. Try to be very clean and put together. Also, I was a tour guide for two years and at the end of every tour, we were asked to evaluate the candidate so if you think the tour is not apart of the process, you are very wrong. Ask questions and be interested. Also, tip for the parents: the kids speak on the tour. Do not ask their questions for them...
Most younger siblings have an easy time in the admissions process. I can only think of one case of a younger sibling not being admitted. About half of the students who entered with me had come from public schools. The remainder came from private K-6 schools, or had transferred from other New York private schools The Elizabeth Morrow School and St. Bernard were two of the larger feeder schools...
The teachers and students at Lakefield are mostly liberal, although there are always enough conservatives to provide for good discussion. Community service, debates and presentations about social justice and current affairs are ingrained in the student culture and are frequently the subject of Chapel (Lakefield's morning assembly takes place in the Chapel). There are many wealthy families represented in the student body, but most are not super-rich or snobby, and typically the students have a distaste for overt class-based bigotry, owing mostly to the liberal leanings of the campus. Personally I think that the school's approach to discipline is at.... Get the real inside story on quality of school life and extracurricular offerings at Lakefield College School as experienced by former pupil and McGill University student — Login or Sign Up to access full review