Parent Night

1. Welcome to College - University Parent Night

2. Graduation Requirements School Web Site

3. Financing School • Scholarships • Bursaries • Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) • Other

4. Scholarships There are (4) types of scholarships • Scholarships provided by Centennial These are scholarships that are awarded by Centennial’s scholarship committee. These scholarships are usually funded by local members of our community and have specific criteria . • Entrance Scholarships These are scholarships that are automatic, based upon an students entrance average.

5. Scholarships Scholarships You Must Apply For These are the vast majority of scholarships that are available out there. Students should be careful how much time and effort they put into these scholarships as they can take a lot of valuable time and energy. Students should look at there place of employment, parent’s place of employment, unions, etc. Athletic Financial Awards (AFA) a.k.a. Athletic Scholarships Athletic Scholarships are now becoming available in Ontario. There is a maximum amount that can be allowed and there is also an academic requirement. Visit OUA.CAfor more info. If you are interested in a (AFA) you should contact the head coach at the school you plan to attend. • There are scholarships out there for everyone. • Scholarships are awarded to students at all levels and in all disciplines and backgrounds.  Students with specific talents, hobbies, ethnic backgrounds, or family affiliations can meet award qualifications • Register for scholarship search engines such as studentawards.com, scholarshipscanada.com. • These are scholarship search engines. They will take your background information and search for scholarships that are relevant to you and return the information to you. DO NOT rely solely on these sites. Leg work is key for scholarship information.

6. Use the following site as a starting point for your scholarship research: dsbn.org/awards.  This is an invaluable sight with many local and national scholarships listed. The criteria for the scholarship, contact information and deadline dates for the scholarship is usually provided as well. The due dates for National Scholarships (high profile) tend to be earlier. Bursaries Bursaries are similar to scholarships but are not based on marks. They are usually based on financial need. Bursaries tend to be lesser known than scholarships, and therefore you may receive money you wouldn’t expect in some cases, as fewer students apply. For both bursaries and scholarships, students should spend time reviewing the STUDENT AWARDS web page for the institution they plan to attend. Here students will find scholarships and bursaries that are specific to the school and the program to which they are applying. Many schools now have (1) application to complete, in order to match students up with possible scholarships and bursaries for which they qualify.

7. OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) • OSAP : http://osap.gov.on.ca • OSAP provides the opportunity for students to receive grants and/or loans. • A grant is money provided to a student that is not required to be paid back. • A loan is money provided to a student that is required to be paid back. • Loan repayment is arranged after the student has left school. • Typically loans do not need to be repaid for at least 6 months after the student has left school, at which point, interest will begin to be charged. • You can not apply to OSAP until you have decided and accepted an offer of admissions to a post secondary school. • Be sure to apply to OSAP, whether you think you will qualify or not. Applying on line is FREE. • It will open a lot of financial options for you down the road. • Many bursaries etc. will stipulate only students who have applied to OSAP will qualify. • We will have a guest speaker dealing with OSAP at the school later in the spring. At this point many of you will have determined which college you plan to attend. Your OSAP questions are best asked to the guest speaker. • Brock’s OSAP slideshow is available for download on the Student Services website.

8. Other • 30% off Ontario Tuition • Family income (line 150) must be $160,000 or less • Be sure to apply for it when applying for OSAP • ~ $770 for college and $1680 for university • Registered Educational Savings Plan (RESP) • Parents • Grandparents • Student Loans • Interest is charged right away but usually at a lower rate. In Summary • Students are responsible for researching scholarship opportunities. We will help you and pass information along, but do not rely on us to be your only source of information. Do not rely on everything being announced. • Deadlines vary depending on the scholarship so be sure to pay close attention to due dates. • Do not approach someone for a reference letter and then say you need it tomorrow. Give them at least one week to put something together. • When asking anyone for a reference letter, it is always helpful if you provide them with a ‘brag’ sheet listing your various accomplishments and volunteer experience etc., that you would like them to highlight.

9. Admission Requirements • College • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). • ENG 4C or ENG 4U. The colleges do not distinguish between different levels. • ‘bonus’ marks are not given for studying at the university level. • Many college programs will have additional required courses. • Many programs will require math and/or science as well. (ie. Health programs, Engineering) • Do not assume that each program has the same requirements. • Be sure to investigate the requirement for each school/program. • University • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). • Admission averages will be based on a student’s top (6) gr. 12 U/M level courses. • Many students will take more than (6) as a precaution, in order to ensure (6) quality marks. • ENG 4U (university level English) will be included in the top (6). • Most schools will include required courses in the top (6). (ie. Engineering : ENG 4U, MHF 4U, MCV 4U, SPH 4U, SCH 4U, + the next best grade) • Some programs will have supplemental applications. • Do not assume that each program has the same requirements. • Be sure to investigate the requirement for each school/program.

10. Research College & University: • Make sure you research the programs and schools that you are interested in. DO NOT wait until the month before the deadline. • WE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS, but cannot make decisions for you. It is your future and as such, you need to do what makes YOU happy. • Remember, you will spend the better part of 30 to 40 years in this field of study. Make sure it is something that you enjoy. • If at all possible visit the school(s) that you are interested in. Every school will give you a tour. Would you purchase a car without a test drive? College and/or university will be also be a large investment. • College bound students should use www.ontariocolleges.ca as there starting point. • University bound students should use www.electronicinfo.ca as their starting point.

11. Where Do I Start? College: www.ontariocolleges.ca Select the FIND option to research the programs that interest you. Type in the name of the program you are interested in. When you find the programs that interest you, simply click VISITin order to view the website for that program. • Pay Close Attention To: • The courses that you will be taking in a that program. If you are not interested in the courses, there is a very good chance the program may not be for you • Start date: Most programs start in Sept., but some have additional start dates in Jan., & May • Campus Location: Many Schools have multiple campuses and programs may be offered at only one location. Each campus is considered one choice. Make sure you know the campus you are applying to. (ie. Business: NOTL, Health Care: Welland) • Wait Listed: All programs have a limited number of seats. If a program has too many applicants for the seats available, it will be shown as waitlisted after the deadline to apply has passed. • Open/Closed: If a program is no longer accepting applications it is considered closed. Open indicates that they are still accepting applications. This is the case for many programs, even after the final date to apply. As long as it remains open you can still apply. • Competitive: This type of program is extremely popular and cannot accommodate all the applicants. It is also known as oversubscribed.

12. Where Do I Start? University: Electronic Info (eINFO) www.electronicinfo.ca Select the ACCOUNT tab. Create an account if this is your first time. This will allow you to record and track your research. Research Your Programs by PROGRAM or UNIVERSITY. Creating an account allows you to save your research and comparisons etc. Pay Close Attention To IMPORTANT INFORMATION tab. Here you can find important admissions information for each school. Read the schools policies on prerequisites, offers of admissions etc. Look at the additional admission criteria. (auditions, supplemental applications etc.) Multiple Offers: Some schools will give you more than (1) offer. (ie. Apply to Western for 2 programs, and you could possibly be offered acceptance into both, but apply 2 Brock for the same 2 programs and you will be offered acceptance to no more than 1) Alternate Offers: If a student applies to only 1 program at a school and is not admitted, the school may offer them admission to an alternate program. (Brock may offer accounting in place of accounting coop)

13. It’s Time To Apply This truly is the easy part! • College: www.ontariocolleges.ca • Select APPLY. The first time you log on you are considered a ‘New Customer’. • Click SIGN UP and create a user profile, by answering questions. • You will then need to activate the account. • In order to apply you will need your Ontario Education Number (OEN). • Your OEN can be found on your report card, timetable, credit counselling summary etc. • See Mrs. Thompson in guidance if you can not find yours. • You are allowed 5 program choices on your application, but no more than (3) choices at any one particular college. Rank them in order of preference. • Most of you will be applying for programs beginning August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014. • Fee: $95.00 • Payment Methods: Online: (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) Best Method

14. It’s Time To Apply This truly is the easy part! • University: Ontario University Application Centre: (OUAC) ouac.on.ca • Done in mid November, once your receive your PIN #. • You will apply using the OUAC 101 application. (This is for students still in high school) • PIN # ‘s are distributed through the guidance office. Stop by to pick them up once you hear the announcements. • Write down your PIN# and password, do not lose it! Record it somewhere safe AT HOME. • Applying is the 1st. step in the process. You should be researching through the eINFO site, and by going to the website at each university for the programs you are interested in. Physically visit the university if at all possible. • This site will also provide specific information about each school/program (alternate offers, multiple offers, etc.) • Fee: $130.00 This entitles you to 3 university programs • $44.00 Fee charged for each additional university program selected after the initial 3 selections. (ie. 5 choices: $130.00 + $88.00 = $218.00) • Payment Methods: Online: (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) Best Method

15. Important Dates College December 21, 2012 Date that Student Services recommends you complete your application by. February 1, 2013 Final date to submit your application to OCAS in order to be given equal consideration by the colleges. The system can and has crashed on the last day so do not wait until then. You will be out of luck. May 1, 2013Applicants must confirm their acceptance by this date. Accept earlier if you have the option. Offers made after May 1, may have a slightly different acceptance date. Read your letters thoroughly. June 17, 2013 The earliest colleges may require a tuition payment. University December 21, 2012 Date that Student Services recommends you complete your application by. Changes can still be made up to the 5thof February, 2013. January 16, 2013 Final date to submit your application to OUAC. The system can and has crashed. You will be out of luck. Do not wait until this day. Apply early, you can change your mind up to the 5th of February, 2013. February 5, 2013 Final date to make any changes to your application for processing. May 29, 2013 The latest date that universities will issue a response. June 3, 2013 The earliest date an acceptance is required. (You can and are encouraged to accept earlier)

16. Ask the Experts Peter Manning Melissa Coleman