Carleton University continually tops the list for student satisfaction among Canadian universities. Millie Close, a 2021 health sciences graduate, provides a first-hand account of the key reasons Carleton excels in this regard.

The transition from high school to university-level courses can be very challenging. In Millie’s case, she was concerned about writing lab reports for the first time. Fortunately, Millie had the support of the Carleton Science Student Success Centre, which offers sessions for science undergrads to help them with tasks they find particularly difficult or unfamiliar. 

“I received targeted support for lab report writing, coding and using certain software and materials that you don’t often get exposed to in high school but are required for university,” she says.

Another resource Millie tapped into is peer-assisted study sessions hosted by upper-level students a few times a week. “They would do mock midterms and mock exams,” she recalls. “They’d sit down with you and read through long-answer questions to pick out what was working and what could be improved.”

With more than 200 academic programs, students will find an area of study that’s right for them. However, critical learning experiences also happen outside the classroom, through interactions with real-world specialists and professionals. For example, Millie assisted with research at an immunology lab, and shadowed a hand surgeon at work.

As a communications minor, she also worked with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, writing for their national practice magazine as part of her capstone field project.

“I got exposure to so many different careers in healthcare that I didn't know existed,” she explains.

To help students with the affordability of tuition and cost of living, Carleton offers one of the most generous scholarship and bursary programs in Canada. Last year, more than 15,700 scholarships and bursaries totalling more than $31.9 million were awarded to undergraduate students.

In Millie’s case, she was able to secure a $2,000 scholarship renewable each year of her undergraduate degree. There were also bursaries and awards available to her.

“I was able to receive considerable funding,” she says.

Mental health and wellness are critical to students’ enjoyment of university life and success in their studies. At Carleton, there are many services available to all students.

Millie found the support she needed during her first year. “I had been diagnosed with a learning disability right as I left high school,” she explains. “I didn’t know what to do with that information.” Millie took advantage of residence counselling services. “[The counsellor] pointed out that there were resources for students to receive accommodations in the classrooms,” Millie says. “That honestly made my life so much easier and less stressful.”

Millie describes the Carleton campus, bordered by the Rideau Canal and the Rideau River, as "nestled in nature."

“I absolutely loved being able to step outside into some nature and feel like you’re not in the middle of a city,” Millie says. “It was really quite helpful for my own feelings of wellness.”

She also enjoyed exploring all that Ottawa and the surrounding region had to offer. In her free time, Millie would check out the cafés and bakeries in Little Italy, just north of the campus, or venture over to the Byward Market and downtown Ottawa. Millie also took advantage of Gatineau Park for picturesque hikes.

“When you get to the top of the mountain there, you can see for miles and miles,” Millie says of Gatineau Park.

Learn more about Carleton University’s undergraduate programs and life on campus at carleton.ca/discover.