Reviews of Conrad Grebel University College (University)

ian peers

Their courses on conflict management are the best! I've read a lot but once you get into their classes the application is amazing. Plus the food in the cafeteria is out of this world!

Selah Woelk

A wonderful community and atmosphere to live and study in! Choosing to live in residence at Conrad Grebel University College was one of the best decisions of my life. Not only have I met some of my dearest friends here, but have learnt so much while exploring a field I am passionate about in the Peace and Conflict Studies program. So grateful for my experiences here at Grebel!

Kayla Burmaster

Your home away from home ❤

Marisa Duncan

Best people. Best food. Best bread.

Aaron Neufeld

Amazing place to live and study, and to attend public lectures. Food is excellent, made on site, a great campus destination.

Claire Verdeaux

(Translated) I spent a month at this college in 1968 during a CISV summer camp and I have fond memories of it (Original) J'ai passé un mois dans ce collège en 1968 lors d'un camp d'été du CISV et j'en garde un excellent souvenir

Lexi Hagens

As a recent music major graduate and former resident, I will never be able to fully express my gratitude for Grebel. It is everything of which a family is comprised: Grebel community is loving others and encouraging differences, it is kind support in the midst of difficulty, it is appreciating growth and change, it is having disagreements and learning to forgive, it is working hard side by side, it is respecting and cherishing the home in which you live, it is amazing food and amazing stories and amazing people. In their music program, Grebel’s community focus continued to be a fundamental feature. My professors in the music department were some of the kindest individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. They not only strive for excellence in their classrooms, but they care for the individual wellbeing of their students. I graduated university with a much greater depth of musical knowledge and a sincere appreciation for the dedication and passion of those who taught me. If you’re looking for beautiful rooms with the best windows on campus, go to Grebel. If you’re looking for full plates of incredible homemade food, go to Grebel. If you’re looking for musical inspiration, go to Grebel. If you’re looking for outstanding professors and academic excellence, go to Grebel. If you’re looking for a home and family, go to Grebel.

J Van Caulart

#Grebelisthebestplacetoliveoncampus

Kyle F

My time at Conrad Grebel was probably the best thing that happened to me in university during the pandemic. Through different intentional happenings around the college and residence, I've gotten to meet so many new and vastly unique students and also make a handful of really strong friendships that I am confident will last me a lifetime. Whether it was being welcomed to sit with new aquaintences at a meal, playing in the games lounge, joining impromptu volleyball matches or having neighbours stop by my dorm room just to say Hi and make small talk, I always felt connected and welcomed in an environment that quickly becolame "Home" to me. On top of social things, I can confidently say that I found my room to be a fantastic study space regardless of the highly social atmosphere. As an engineering student, I also found that the college has many extremely productive areas such as the Milton Good library and the designated quiet study room; which we amusingly call "The Morgue" since it's so quiet. Regardless of what year you're in (I'm in 2nd), I would 120% recommend Grebel as a place to live and make connections and experiences that may realistically change your life.

Keith Little

If you can choose: choose Grebel. Best food on campus and best friends you'll ever make.

Kristen Bonney

Choosing to live at Grebel was one of the best decisions I ever made! It really shaped my University experience, and many of my closest friendships were formed there. It is also a great environment to explore faith and spirituality with plenty of opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives through respectful and inclusive dialogue.

Natasha Moes

Great sense of community, wonderful place to live and study.

John Fish

Grebel has the best food of any residence, I would argue. The rooming arrangements aren't ideal for everyone but they grow on most. The staff are awesome, and they run a lot of awesome community events.

Elizabeth A Kennedy

Very beautiful colored glass windows in the modern architecture chapel. Enjoyable and informative community events.

Benjamin Wiebe

It is a awesome place to be at

Joshua Rampersad

Great community! Had a very positive experience. The food was good and the people are friendly.

Nigel Paul

When I was a student at U of Waterloo, I was part of the Chamber Choir connected with Conrad Grebel and it was a very positive experience.

Brian Cheney

So many quality graduates that I've met from here

PM

completely agree with all the other negative experiences that other reviewers have already posted. wish I went to laurier instead

Pml

conservative school with religious influences. not for liberal-minded students

Peter Brown

Stayed in the residence while at UW, it was a great place to live. Great community, and it was nice knowing there will always be good food ready at mealtimes

kevin t

Lack of community

M.S.

Complete lack of integrity to remain unbiased in student affairs. The staff don't stand by student safety.

Rebekah DeJong

Grebel was a game changer for me. Academically, as a Peace and Conflict Studies grad, socially, having lived in the residence, and professionally, I currently work at Grebel. To quickly break it down... I was inspired in classes, and appreciated my professors knowing my name, and deeply caring about my learning. The friends I met in residence are with me for life. I will forever look back at our University shenanigans fondly. I am grateful for the ways the Grebel community helped me make it through some of the tough days in undergrad. It's true that you do meet everyone in residence while living at Grebel. I am bias, I will admit it....but if you don't at least check out Grebel's residence, you might be missing out on something REALLY great! Professionally, for you job seekers out there... if a Grebel job pops up, be sure to apply! It is such a welcoming place to work! 10/10 would recommend!

Sarah

No accountability for instructors nor issues that students report. One instructor routinely shows up late and unprepared to lessons - without their instrument nor a lesson plan. I literally had to bring my own lesson plans otherwise he wouldn't teach me anything. When I had to add another course to my load at the very beginning of the semester, it conflicted with our lesson time so I requested that it be shifted. He refused to even engage in that conversation. Any time I explained that I have another class at the same time we had our lessons, he ignored me with a 'not my problem' shrug - even though he had the ability and availability to reschedule. He then had the audacity make a complaint to the Director that I was "ungrateful" for his time, and that "I am lucky to even be able to study under him" - instead of simply communicating with me directly. I learned about his feelings when, out of the blue, I received a long nasty email in the middle of the night from the Director accusing me of 'cancelling' lessons and being ungracious for his presence. In reality, I made every effort to have open and ongoing communication with this instructor while he ignored every email I sent throughout the semester, as well as these conversations I tried to have in-person. As time went on I was left with no choice but to request to cancel 1 to 2 lessons only to attend my other class - a position I wouldn't have been in if the instructor had just scheduled a mutually beneficial lesson time in the first place. His complaint was not only untrue but also ironic considering he had cancelled countless lessons on me, without notice. The way the Director handled this was also ironic since she herself confided in me about how he was so difficult to work with since he's unwilling to make himself available to the school, does not communicate his schedule well with them, and comes and goes whenever he pleases. The content of her acidic email was a personal attack on my character as a student, which was completely unfair and unnecessary, considering she could have instead asked me about the situation and spoken with me calmly. She had the position to find out what was really happening and mediate, but instead reacted emotionally and jumped to conclusions which only further contorted the situation. The attempts I made to communicate with her were ignored or shut down. The instructor was hellbent on remaining inflexible just to make a point, based on ego. He expected me to skip my other class for his lesson - which he felt was more important. One time he even took a 20 minute coffee break in the middle of our lesson, and never made up for any lesson time. He had every opportunity to work with me and teach me, but his priorities were elsewhere - a well known fact amongst professionals in the broader music community. Although I remained professional in my conduct throughout this experience and received a good grade for the course, I would not recommend this school for the lack of professionalism and quality of education by some of the staff. I attended that class to learn from, be inspired by, and work well with the staff - not to be set up for failure, judged, and verbally punished. Problems like this happen when you give power to someone who's own self interests and status comes before the education of students. It was a very simple thing that could've and should've been done - schedule a lesson time that works for both the instructor and student; hold the instructor accountable. There are many great staff, but some who are just like this - power tripping. This program overall has high turnover in instructors. Choose another school.

Melissa

Jazz ensemble instruction is not very good. Parking is more expensive than anywhere else on campus. Practice rooms are tiny. Not enough lockers

Keren Rashish

Love it. There's room at the table for everyone. :) #Community #CommiSupBread #Peace #Conflict #Music #QuAQ

Bermuda Kelp

Most major professors in the music faculty are quite conservative and aren't open-minded to people who are different than themselves, like minority students. I'm not happy with studying music here.

Sebastian Lingertat

Very good place

Emma V

My time at Conrad Grebel was by far one of the worst experiences of my life. It is the most toxic environment I have ever been a part of. The majority of the people there were some of the worst people I have ever come in contact with. Grebel has this mentality that either you completely conform to every single belief or ideal that they push upon you or you will spend the entirety of your stay there as an outcast. Either you choose to join the cult that is Grebel or you can choose the rest of the university...you can NOT have friends or spend any time in both places. Living in Grebel is a very large step back from the experience that starting university is supposed to bring. As a resident at Grebel, you are given an extensive list of rules, guidelines, and strict schedules to adhere to - much like living at home with your parents. Alongside the constant invasive check ins and 'mandatory interviews or meetings', there is never a moment of peace. The 'community centric' ideals of Grebel make it very difficult to both work or get a single moment to yourself. I would recommend literally removing yourself from the residence to get any work done. If you aren't trying to find space to be alone or productive, you are wrapped up - either voluntary or involuntarily - in constant gossip orchestrated by an entire residence of the fakest people you will ever meet. Get ready to return to middle school drama as the people you consider your 'friends' are always ready to turn around and belittle you behind your back to anyone who will listen. If that wasn't enough, the facilities and living conditions of Grebel are some of the worst across campus. For such an expensive residence, I would rate the living conditions of Grebel very low compared to other residences. I personally think that every other residence is in better condition than Grebel...including REV and V1 (honestly the bathrooms, lounge areas, and cafeterias are so much better than Grebel). If you are looking for a residence, I would recommend staying away from Grebel and if you don't it would be in your best interest not to even tell people that you are part of the residence. I mean literally every other person on campus thinks that Grebel is a cult...they can't ALL be wrong.

Brendon Martin

Great place, great people. I have attended various events that Grebel has hosted and each event has been well organized and meaningful.

ian miedema

Fantastic people. Fantastic residence. Just overall fantastic.