Wilfrid Laurier University (reviews)

Listen. Music school isn’t for everyone. It’s an incredibly specific degree with not a lot of uses – and that’s okay! If you want to specifically be an academic in musicology, a music therapist, a music educator, or a performance student I could recommend this program. Especially if you would like to go on to a master’s degree. But in general, over my time at WLU I watched the quality of the music faculty go down significantly.

The shrinking of the woodwind/brass/percussion departments to be managed by one full-time flute professor who really hates non-woodwinds. The constant quartet drama from the PSQ for string students. The shuttering of the ancient and baroque music history and theory classes and ensemble. Many, many classes taught my professors who were just, generally culturally insensitive or voyeuristic. (Have you ever had a contemporary music history class that only spent one two-hour lecture on the ENTIRE history of jazz and improvisation?) Constant administrative and executive pushback from student diversity initiatives. The lack of support for students who experience things like sport injuries from playing and performing. I just, really don’t have a lot to say. I got a degree. It wasn’t the right choice for me. But I recognize the school might be for others out there who don’t get injured and are there for a specific academic program or private music teacher that can really support them and help them grow.
Also the campus is kind of small, but the location is decent, even if the train doesn’t go there directly.

Overall, I had a really positive experience in the Biology program at Wilfrid Laurier University. The first few years especially were very engaging, and I found the lab components to be one of the strongest parts of the program. The invertebrate and animal science courses stood out the most to me, both because of the course content and the quality of the instructors in both lecture and lab settings.

The lab instructors were consistently supportive, approachable, and genuinely passionate about teaching, which made a huge difference in my learning experience.

I also really enjoyed the science building and the atmosphere within the biology department. The building is beautiful and always busy with students, which creates a strong sense of community within the sciences.

One thing I did notice toward the end of my degree was that upper-year course options started to feel somewhat limited depending on your interests. As someone more interested in health and life sciences, I would have liked to see more anatomy- or physiology-focused biology courses, as well as more upper-year courses with lab components since that’s the environment I learn best in. I also found some of the plant biology courses to overlap quite a bit in structure and content, which made parts of the program feel repetitive.

Overall, I would definitely recommend the program, especially for students interested in ecology, environmental biology, animal sciences, and plant sciences. There are a lot of strong options in those areas, excellent instructors, and a very welcoming science community.

The spirit of Wilfrid Laurier is unmatched to any other school. In terms of inclusion, Laurier has a huge number of Clubs and Associations that are constantly recruiting anybody and everybody. As a communications major, I find my programme particularly amazing. As a student that did not have one specific aspiration post high-school graduation, enrolling in communications was one of the best decisions I’ve made. With a degree as diverse as communications, I’ve opened an eye toward positions in Public Relations, Marketing, Media, and Human Resources. The faculty of the school is always excited to support your success, and it equipped with incredible resources for all students.

I loved my Master of Education program at Wilfrid Laurier University. The content was engaging and meaningful, though the program was rigorous and at times exhausting. One course in particular pushed me to my limits, but ultimately contributed to my growth. What stood out most were the dedicated professors who clearly love what they do and genuinely value their students as intelligent and capable learners. My thinking was constantly challenged, pushing me to reflect on what it truly means to be an educator and to understand the practice of education more deeply. I especially appreciated the opportunity to take psychology courses and learn from perspectives beyond a solely Eurocentric framework. The emphasis on seminars rather than traditional lectures created a lively, engaging classroom environment. Overall, this program made me a more thoughtful person and fundamentally changed how I understand and share knowledge.