They say you can’t choose your family, but that’s exactly what six graduates of Halifax Grammar School did when they decided to attend Acadia University in September 2013. Each student has different interests and plans for the future, but each agrees that they found the right fit in Acadia’s family.

New student insights

Seventeen-year-old Soleil Chahine from Halifax, NS had a lot to consider when it came to universities. With significant scholarship offers from five institutions (Queen’s, Memorial, Saint Mary’s, Dalhousie, and Acadia) it came down to what current Acadia students and alumni had to say about their experience, and the vibe she felt during her visit to campus.

“The main thing that made Acadia an easy decision is the small, tight-knit environment,” Chahine says. “Since classes are smaller, and so are the residences, it will be a lot easier to get involved, build relationships, and actually know my professors, which are the top three priorities for me.”

Chahine plans to jump into student government, volunteering, and club activities while studying sciences (Chemistry) at Acadia. Her plan is to pursue a medical career.

David Langley spent a weekend on campus with friends and says he knew then that Acadia was the right school for him. “I liked the sense of community as well as the great facilities,” he says.

The 17-year-old from Halifax, NS chose to follow his father’s footsteps and enter Acadia’s School of Business Administration. “I knew the program was great from my father’s experience and the school was exactly what I needed out of an undergraduate school.”

Langley is keeping his options for the future open as he considers law, property development, and becoming an entrepreneur after graduation from Acadia.

Katie Ross, 17, of Bedford, NS, was attracted to Acadia for its reputation in the classroom and in the sports arena. The multiple-scholarship recipient will be busy when she arrives on campus studying Kinesiology and playing varsity soccer and basketball. “Being able to compete with both teams and to be part of Acadia’s small, tight-knit community was a huge opportunity for me. “

It’s no surprise Ross is considering post-graduate studies and a career in physiotherapy.

(Photo from left: Fashorant, Langley, Chahine, Ross, Morris, and Attenborough.)

Eighteen-year-old Patrick Morris of Halifax, NS is concentrating on getting involved and active on campus when he arrives this fall. He based his decision to attend Acadia on recommendations from current students. But geography also played a role.

“I like how Acadia is away from home, but at the same time if I need or want to come home, it’s only an hour away,” he says.

As for the future, Morris is focusing on the now. His advice to high school students considering their university options: “Pick the school that is a right fit for you and think about where you could see yourself for the next four years of your life.”

Grammar classmates John Attenborough and Oluwatosin Fashorant will also attend Acadia this fall.

Guiding the big decision

Halifax Grammar School is a small institution that provides a supportive environment to its students. Its Grade 12 grad class of 39 carefully selected their post-secondary options with guidance from Laura Brock, the school’s international baccalaureate diploma program coordinator, and academic and university counsellor. Coincidentally, Brock is an Acadia grad from the Class of 1993, and says the university’s small size and supportive faculty created a fantastic experience for her in its School of Education. When she counsels high school students on selecting a university experience, she stresses that they keep their options open.

“Some students plan to apply to only one school, but I encourage them to compare programs, types of schools, to visit campus, and to speak with Grammar grads who are attending universities,” she says. “It is important for them to find a school that fits them personally.”

She believes the Grammar grads at Acadia weighed their options carefully. “Each of our graduates attending Acadia this fall has their own interests, whether it is academics, athletics, service, or leadership,” she says. “They had the opportunity to explore their interests at Halifax Grammar and I am confident that these same students will have every opportunity to develop their passions while at Acadia.”

She sites earlier Grammar grads currently attending Acadia who have had exceptional experiences. Pelham Flowerdew is able to combine an interest in chemistry and theology; Hannah Price continued her love of international service trips; and Matthew Bluteau had the opportunity to intern at CERN to pursue his interest in particle physics.

“These opportunities may not exist at a larger school that lacks a focus on, or belief in, their undergraduates,” Brock explains.

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Learn more about Halifax Grammar School.

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