Pickering College

” I attended Pickering College from 2005 to 2009. My experience there left a lasting and deeply negative impact on my confidence in academics, something I still struggle with today. The quality of teaching during my time was poor, and several teachers were outright discouraging. My biology teacher (same one from grade 10-12) told me I should think hard about university altogether, stay away from science, especially genetics, and “just become a rich stay-at-home wife.” That kind of “advice,” along with the general attitude of many staff, significantly undermined my academic self-worth at a critical time in my life. Before coming to Pickering, I was in public school and consistently one of the top students in my math class. I was frustrated if I scored below 90% on a test. After transferring to Pickering, my math grades dropped to the 60s, and I was told the issue was mine, no support, no encouragement. That continued through grades 9 to 11. It wasn’t until I took summer school elsewhere and earned a 92% that I realized it wasn’t me…. It was the teaching. Despite the discouragement I received at Pickering, I went on to complete an undergraduate degree in science, a master’s degree in genetics, and became a veterinarian – the goal I had all along, and the one that several of my teachers tried to steer me away from. I am also an author on several peer-reviewed journal articles, including in the field of genetics — the very subject I was told to avoid. Looking back, my academic success came not because of Pickering, but in spite of it. The support I received in university, from friends and professors, helped rebuild what had been torn down in high school. I should have entered post-secondary with confidence and preparation, but instead I entered with doubt, and had to work hard to undo the damage. I’ll also note that during my time at Pickering, there was a significant drug problem among students, I wouldn’t be surprised if that hasn’t changed. I could go on about the environment at this place, but my message is clear, please don’t send your children here. “

” This school lacks discipline, my niece and nephew both atteneded and both were pulled out by their parents because the kids were consistently bullied. Racial slurs and violence regularly. There was never any consequences. All they did was have the kids “talk it out”. There are vapes and drugs easily availble to the kids living on campus. Both have been pulled from the school. “

” Just went to an Open House and extremely disappointed. As a school that is meant to be so reputable, I couldn’t wait to leave. The students seemed to be very entitled. As a tour guide, should you not be taught to guide? “You can ask the questions.” Then turning around and going on their cell phone. What kind of tour guide is this? Definitely not a school I would want my kids to go to if this is the type of student they prefer. Overall, the Open House was very disorganized. The teachers were not engaging. Facility is nice enough, but that’s about it. This is in direct comparison to visiting 3 other schools within the last 2 weeks. “

” This is a great school that has provided my children with an excellent education, particularly fostering their confidence and self-motivation. The teachers here are very supportive, offering significant assistance during the college application process. My children participated in many extracurricular activities, such as the soccer team, basketball, volleyball school teams, and the school band, winning many national and international awards. These experiences have made their school life more enjoyable and memorable. Eight years ago, we chose Pickering College because of its warm atmosphere and understated feeling, and now we are thrilled with the new changes at PC. We hope Pickering College continues to be better and better. “

” Do not send ur kids here if they aren’t Chinese or White. I am so glad I am not a student here anymore. The culture at this school is so racist and exclusive and the teachers are horribly uncultured and not accommodating in the slightest. There are teachers at this school who have been here since the 80s and all the problematic and condescending things that they say and do are brushed under the rug because the school is too scared to let them go. Not to mention these teachers are the worst at teaching and read off the PowerPoint without answering any questions. The school never listens to the students and whenever they express concerns the students are always told “It is too difficult accomplish or change that” or “we don’t have the budget for that” but the school seems to have the budget to build a whole new school and arena??? These people are EXTREMELY money hungry and instead of nurturing differences and uplifting their diverse students, they take pictures of them for promotions and use them to trap more students into this sad depressing school that will never care about them. One Black kid came to the school and within a week they were put on at least 5 different promotional posts and the tragic part is that the same Black kid left the school that same year because of all the micro aggressions and utter lack of support from Pickering College. Absolutely disgusting and hypocritical. The school has curated such a terrible culture that none of the student body is passionate about making change (unlike whatever PC likes to say/advertise) and most of the kids in leadership positions are in them just to put on university applications. That is why there are sports and arts club but no MSA or Black students association or even an East Asian club when majority of the schools population is Asian. No one cares enough to support marginalized students – especially the people running Pickering College. When one student had left to attend a cultural festival for a week and had to catch up on schoolwork when they came back, the student was berated by the teacher and told “Well if you had internet there you could have done the work at your ‘festival”. This is what I mean by culturally insensitive teachers who, god forbid, do more work than what is required of them. Back when I was a student, there was a group of female students wanted a home ec/cooking course, they were not taken seriously and the teacher ignored their whole presentation and asked if there were any boys interested in the subject as well and then did nothing to help those students. Not only is Pickering College racist, greedy and ignorant, but they are also misogynistic. So if you can, do not send your kids here. They are probably WAY better off at a Montessori or catholic school or at an another private school that will actually support and listen to your children and foster a healthy environment for them to learn in. Pickering College does not do any of this. Pickering College do better. “