REVIEW OF Ontario Virtual School BY student, Jasmine Jasmine

(5) Student Experience

My experience at Ontario Virtual School was mind-blowing. I genuinely loved it. There is pretty much nothing that I would want to change about the school. The only small thing I wish was different is having each complete lesson integrated into one video instead of several shorter videos. One thing I wish I had known before enrolling was that I could complete my Math credit within a month, and that it would be just as challenging and engaging as day school. If I had known about the school earlier, I would have definitely completed all of Grades 11 and 12 here. I never felt the emptiness of not going to school because it was equally intellectual and broadened my thinking abilities and skills.

The Best Part

The best part of being a student at this school is the support that my teacher provided me throughout my course. I would, with my whole heart, say that she was the best. Although she wasn't supposed to reply to my emails on weekends, she went out of her way to help me, even on Sundays. Whenever I was stuck, my mind immediately went to my teacher. I was confident because I knew I had her with me.

Suggested Improvements

One thing, as I shared earlier, that I wish were different is the use of multiple short videos within a single lesson. Although this has the advantage of making the lessons easier to navigate and take notes on, it can sometimes be a drawback because the videos take longer to load. However, it is completely fine and easy to overlook, as the quality of education is not compromised.

Hidden Details

Something that might surprise a new student about this school is that, even though it is virtual, it still has an orientation video that helps you understand how to navigate the course. Even basic things, such as how to write an email to the teacher, are taught during the orientation to help students avoid any difficulties they might face.

(5) School Leadership

My teacher helped me a lot. I would give her credit for my 98% in the course because she replied to my questions within hours. She also graded my assignments before the expected waiting time and stayed connected with me by email throughout the course. She gave me my midterm report card the very next day after I completed my assignments, and my final report card within two days. Her feedback on my tests helped me clearly identify my weak areas and improve them the next time. There was not a single moment when I felt unsatisfied.

(5) Teaching

The teachers ask exactly as much as is required for a student to succeed. I feel that I know what my teacher expects from me when she talks about success. For example, at the end of each lesson, my teacher clearly states the learning outcomes and key takeaways from the lecture, and the required homework is also outlined to help transfer the concepts into long-term memory. The e-book provided in the course, along with its real-life examples, has also played a big part in my success. In addition, the constructive feedback from my teacher and the areas for improvement listed in my gradebook have helped me understand what she expects from me. For example, initially, I was not very good at graphs, but when my teacher pointed this out, I started paying more attention to them and eventually mastered them.

(5) Academics

To be honest, the work is somewhat challenging, but it becomes manageable when you put in the effort. For instance, in my course, I completed the lesson, then the e-book examples and exercises, and finally the homework. Although some of the activities are optional, completing them definitely helps you think in different ways and teaches you how to deal with things you haven't encountered before. I definitely think what I am learning will be useful to me later in life. I am passionate about getting into medical school, and I think everything I have learned will help me there. I now know all the basics required for medical school. More importantly, this school has helped me learn the power of self-discipline and how a task that is meant to take four months can be completed in just one month with consistent effort.

(4.5) School Life

Since my school is a virtual school, I can't really comment on school life. However, I never felt that I was alone in the course. It didn't completely feel like attending a traditional school, but it wasn't anything less. The leaderboard helped keep me motivated and reminded me that other students were working on the same things. I always felt a desire to work harder by looking at the points that other students had earned. There is also an option to challenge your fellow students on a topic that you have mastered and earn points. This made me feel surrounded by people despite being in a virtual school. The way my teacher stayed connected with me through email also helped me never feel alone.

(5) Admissions

The admissions process was really smooth. It only took two emails for me to get into my course. All I had to do was submit my previous transcripts to verify my prerequisites and then pay the fee. The application process was actually kind of fun because I was amazed by how easy it was to get in. One piece of advice I would give to someone planning to apply is: don't waste your time overthinking it, just go for it. My school has one of the smoothest admissions processes and one of the shortest wait times for enrolling in a course. One thing I know now is that even if you dedicate just four hours a day, that adds up to 120 hours in a month, which exceeds the required instructional time to earn a credit. So, all in all, go for it!