Applying to
UniversityThe
Process
The York School
2013-2014
The York School
Student ServicesGrades 9 – 12
POST-SECODARY PLANNING
Post-SecondaryAdmissions
Counselling &Applications
Course Planningfor IB
Diploma Program
Orientation &Exit
Programs
IndividualCounselling
Personal / SocialCounselling
AcademicCounselling
Career StudiesCurriculum
ParentInformation
Sessions
Career Exploration
Peer Mentors
StudentServicesGrades
9-12
Peer Tutoring
StudySkills
Group / GradeMeetings
FutureGoals
We are here to work with You
CHOOSING A UNIVERSITY
We are here to work with You
RESEARCHING A UNIVERSITY
We are here to work with You
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
We are here to work with You
PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES
We are here to work with You
COUNSELLORS RESPONSIBILITIES
We will discuss…Naviance / Family ConnectionApplying to Canadian UniversitiesApplying overseas (U.K)Applying to U.S. UniversitiesHow to become a strong applicantFactors to consider when choosingIB grades vs. Ontario gradesScholarship opportunitiesCounselling Support / Resources
Using Naviance / Family Connection
Preparing for University
The Student Services department at The York School proactively supports you in this process through:◦Individual planning (each year) ◦Monitoring academic progress◦Meetings with student groups every cycle◦Evening Presentations◦Drop in times / request to see counsellor◦YOU ARE IN GOOD HANDS!
We are connected International Baccalaureate Organization, IBO; IB Schools of
Ontario, IBSO; Ontario Ministry of Education Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario, CIS; Canadian
Association of Independent Schools, CAIS Ontario Council of Universities, Ontario Universities Application
Centre, OUAC; Ontario Colleges Application Service, OCAS Association of Universities and Colleges Canada, AUCC University and College Application Service, UCAS (U.K.) Ontario School Counsellors Association, OSCA; National
Association of College Admission Counsellors, NACAC (U.S.)
NAFSA: Association of International Educators Visits to campuses and University Admission Offices
Recognize your strengths and weaknessesAnalyze your interests and valuesKnow Your Reasons for Higher Education?:
To achieve a personal goalTo increase your earning powerTo prepare for a career and expand learningTo participate in extracurricular activities and
social life
Know Yourself and Your Reasons for Attending UniversityApplication
101
What makes a “good” university?
A subjective question◦ You must be aware of your own goals, preferences,
interests, and values
Do Rankings matter?◦Toronto, Queens, McGill, Oxford, Harvard,
Yale, Trent, etc.or
◦Mt. Allison, Brock, Union College, Truman State, etc.
So …. What makes a good university?
The Best Fit !!!Majors & educational programsType of school & degrees offeredAdmission policyLocation & sizeOpportunities for SuccessCosts & financial aidCampus activitiesSupport services
List, Compare and Visit Universities Compile information from several resources:
– Internet / Websites
– Naviance / Family Connection
– College catalogs, viewbooks, videos, and computer-based services
– College representatives and college fairs
– Counsellors and teachers
– Parents, students, and alumni
– Visit, Visit, Visit
Remember, decision making is a PROCESS, not an event.
Applying to
Ontario
Universities
Applying to Ontario Universities1
OUAC (Ontario Universities Application Centre)
$130.00 for 3 choices◦$44.00 each additional choice
E- Info for programsand requirements
OUAC DATES
January 15, 2014Deadline for you to submit completed applications to the OUAC.
Note: Applications received after this date will still be processed by the OUAC and distributed to the universities. However, specific university deadlines will apply.
The original application procedure will include the collection of all final grades from previously completed Grade 11 and 12 courses and a list of all current-year courses in progress.
February 13, 2014Deadline for the OUAC to receive, from Ontario secondary schools, all final first-semester grades and current full-year November grades for 4U/M courses.
March 3, 2014Target date for Ontario universities to receive (from the OUAC) all final first-semester grades and current full-year November grades for 4U/M courses.
April 24, 2014Deadline date for Ontario secondary schools to report, to the OUAC, midterm grades for second‑semester courses and interim grades for full-year courses. Grades that the OUAC receives earlier will be transmitted to Ontario universities when received.
May 6, 2014Target date for Ontario universities to receive, from the OUAC, second-semester midterm grades and interim grades for full-year courses. Grades that the OUAC receives earlier will be transmitted to Ontario universities when received.
May 29, 2014The latest date by which you can expect a response from an Ontario university. Such a response will be one of:
an offer of admission; a refusal; or a deferral pending the receipt of specific additional information. June 2, 2014
The earliest date by which Ontario universities may require a response to an offer of admission and a financial commitment of any kind(e.g., registration deposit, residence deposit, etc.) from an Ontario secondary school student. All other admissions‑related elements including scholarships, other forms of student assistance or financial incentives, and offers of residence are considered part of the offer of admission. Therefore, a student may accept these other offers prior to June 2, 2014, but Ontario universities shall not compel a student in any way to make an earlier decision.
July 8, 2014Deadline for the OUAC to receive final grades for current semester/year courses from Ontario secondary schools.
July 17, 2014Target date for the OUAC to transmit all remaining final grades to the universities. By this date, the OUAC will have attempted to contact all schools that have not provided their grades.
August 1-29, 2014The OUAC collects summer school grades from Ontario secondary schools and boards.
OUAC
Applying to Ontario Universities2
•Some offers come earlier than others•Additional information?:
• Personal profile• Audition• Portfolio
•Confirm offer by June 1st•Residence: application or guaranteed or both?
IB grades vs Ontario grades
Universities will compare and use the scores that put the student in the best position
Applying to
Other Provinces
Applying to Other Provinces
•Individual applications and fees•Different dates, different processes•For Atlantic universities: only require five 4U/M credits. $35-100 depending on university.•Watch deadlines: •UBC – Jan 31, •McGill February 1.•Many get grades from OUAC •(e.g. McGill, UBC, Dalhousie, Concordia, Bishop’s, Calgary)
Scholarshipswww.studentawards.comwww.scholarshipscanada.comAdmission scholarshipsMerit scholarshipsBursaries and grantsStudent Awards Offices and
publications at each university … check websites
Applying
Overseas
Applying OverseasUnited Kingdom:
UCAS.com• Over 300 schools, over 50,000 courses• Apply by mid-January
• Mid-October for Medical, Dental and Veterinary programs, Oxford or Cambridge
• Personal Statement: 4000 characters; why?, reasons, evidence of understanding, interests, experiences and abilities
Applying To non US/UK Universities
◦individual university application
– check websites
Applying to U.S.
Universities
So many choices …..
3,800+ degree granting post-secondary educational institutions in the U.S.◦2,629 four-year colleges
Colleges and universities may be more or less selective, depending on the institutional mission that each college individually determines.
Ivy League vs. others Ivy League schools are not the only
schools of stature and quality Ivies:
– Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Penn, Brown, Cornell, Columbia
HiddenIvies:– Stanford, Chicago, Duke, Georgetown,
Johns Hopkins, MIT, USC, Notre Dame …etc!
IV
Applying to U.S. Universities
Much more involved◦Application and fee◦Essay◦Letters of Recommendation
Teacher Recommendations Counsellor Recommendation
◦Transcript◦SAT or ACT (or Test Optional)◦Interview? (On-Campus or Alumni)
Early Decision Nov. 1 (binding)Early ActionRegular Decision (Jan. 1)
The application process (from their perspective)
Becoming a Strong Applicant
What are the most important factors for college admissions?• SAT/ACT scores. Universities will take either score.
Super scoring.• SAT II Subject tests• Rigor of secondary school record• Academic GPA (from grade 9-12)• Volunteerism/Extra Curricular Activities• Application essay• Recommendation letters
Becoming a Strong ApplicantWork to improve your IB levelsBalance your lifeDiscover and develop your strengths and
interestsCommit to what you are interested in
(Scouts, Sports, Music Lessons, Model UN, Debate)
Give back: Volunteer / Service opportunitiesGo beyond the minimum: commit to 3-4
years of same class/club/etc.
Admission FactorsPercentage of Colleges Reporting “Considerable Importance”Source: 2007 NACAC State of College Admissions
1. Grades in university prep courses (along with Strength of Curriculum) 76 %
2. Standardized admission tests 60 %3. Grades in all courses 51 %4. Essay or writing sample 28 %5. Class rank 23 %6. Student’s interests 21 %7. Counsellor recommendation 21 %8. Teacher recommendation 20 %9. Interview 10 %10. Work/extra curricular activities 8 %
Test Prep Courses ?
Become familiar with the test content and format
Review academic results to identify weaknesses
Learn appropriate test-taking strategiesUse Naviance / Family Connection online
test preparation programTake practice testsSee your counsellor for other
test preparation materials
THE BEST PREPARATION IS A SOLID HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Check Subject Requirements for Schools
Naviance / Family Connection
Other School
Check Subject Requirements for Schools
Collegeboard.com
Other School
The Changing Landscape of U.S. College Admissions
I am Perfect! So why am I not accepted?
– As the number of high school graduates grows, so, too, does the number of applications they are submitting to the nation’s four-year colleges and universities
– The increasing number of applications students submit contributes to a more complicated admission environment
– Other trends• Continued Increase in number of High School
Graduates.• post-secondary education has become the standard
for economic advancement • Admission Offices identify Grades, High School
Curriculum and Test Scores as Top Factors
U.S. universities fill their needsDiversity mandated by Federal Gov’tInstitutional need: fill each program /
facultyGenderAgeRacial / EthnicSocio-economicFirst generation studentsSpecial talentsLegacyState / National diversityInternational by region
Acceptance rates in the U.S.Some schools admit less than 10% of
applicantsHighly selective < 25%Moderately selective, 25% - 50%
(Only 17 percent of four-year colleges in the U.S. admit fewer than 50 percent of applicants.)
Apply for Admission and Observe Deadlines
Narrow your choicesReview college admission test requirements
(including the optional Writing Test)Know application fees and deadlinesSubmit application materials (paper/electronic)
–Application for admission–High school transcript–Recommendations–Admission test results
Know scholarship requirements
The York School Supports
PSAT’s, SAT preparation workshops Naviance / Family Connection Representatives’ visits Teacher letters of recommendation School / Counsellor report Monitoring application submissions Keeping students on deadlines Counsellor support and guidance
IMPORTANT!Keep your communication
lines open.
Finish Strong!
Q & A
Thank you !
www.ouac.on.cawww.electronicinfo.ca
www.ucas.comwww.collegeboard.com
www.studentawards.comwww.scholarshipscanada.com