Post-Secondary Preparation

1. Post-Secondary Preparation • Stage I What to Study • Stage II Where to study • Stage III The Application • Stage IV Course Selection • Stage V Payment • Stage VI Let’s Get Started NOW

2. Why are you going to university? • Personal Development and Interest • Better Career Opportunities • Parental Pressure • Don’t Know What Else to Do • Is a GAP Year right for you? • Is another form of education better for you? • Trade? Professional School?

3. What do you want to study? Interest > program > faculty > university What can I do with a degree in… http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers Faculty Descriptions http://www.dal.ca/academics/undergraduate_programs.html 10 Top Careers http://careerbear.com/career-tips/article/10-hot-careers Career Quiz http://www.schoolfinder.com/careers/index.asp?StudyType=2

4. Which Universities Have Your Program? • Canada • http://oraweb.aucc.ca/ • http://www.electronicinfo.ca/en/index.php?j=1&flash=1 • United Kingdom • http://www.ucas.ac.uk/ • United States • http://www.collegeboard.org/ • http://www.collegeweeklive.com/ • http://www.theadmissiongame.com/ • All Three (meta-site) • http://www.peirceeducational.com/Links.html

5. What Are Your Credentials?Personal Statement, Supplemental Applications, Reference Letters • GPA or Admissions Average • Pre-requisites (Courses, Interview, Portfolio) • Standardized Testing (ACT, SAT, AP, IB) • Leadership, Service, Extra-curricular • Unique Characteristics (athlete, musician etc.) • Work or related experiences

6. Stage II Where to study!What questions should you ask? • Do I want to leave home? • Do I want to live on campus? • In what location do I want to live for 4 years? • Do I want a city or a suburb? • Do I want a residential campus or commuter campus? • Do I want to be anonymous or highly visible? • Small, medium or large? • Reputation (degree of selectivity)

7. List Potential Schools (up to 15) • Do all the schools meet your criteria? Affordable? Accessible? Attractive?

8. Evaluate Your Preferences Shorten Your List Stretch 5

9. Carefully Research Your Stretch 5 • Deadlines for application • Guaranteed Housing • Co-op • Pre-requisites • Major, Minor, Concentration, Double Major, Honours, Magnet Programs • Direct Entry, Non-Direct Entry • Campus Visits, Personal Contacts • Program Descriptions

10. Stage III The Application • Rolling Admissions vs Pooled Admissions • Campus Direct or Application Service • Application Fees • Limitation on number of choices • Documents and Information Required

11. Determine Application ‘Process’ • ONGOING • Initial application (personal information, academic history, payment) • Follow-up Establish account, periodically check for updates, to-do list READ THE DETAILS • Report academic progress at prescribed times • Complete supplemental portions of application by secondary deadlines • Do not apply if you have no intention of going. • Do not apply too early.

12. Application, Transcripts Self Reported - on-line self reporting School Reported - transcript mailed or attached to official site Ministry Reported – through PSI Choices form School of Record (on-line courses, external credits)

13. Application, Accepting an Offer • An offer must be accepted in order for you to be ‘enrolled’ at a PSI • There are rules for the number of PSIs you can accept • There is a non-refundable deposit required to accept an offer • Accepting an offer is a kind of ‘contract’

14. Stage IV Course Selection • Once you have applied, been made an offer, accepted the offer, and paid the deposit, you will be given a course registration date. • Plan your courses and make a mock timetable ahead of time so that when the portal opens you can select courses. • Select courses, build timetable.

15. Stage V Payment • How much does it cost? • Who is going to pay for it? • What contribution will you make? • What about scholarships?

16. Scholarships • Ministry – Exam Scholarship, Dogwood Scholarship, Passport to Education • Meadowridge- Dr. Michael Orser, Mick McLaughlin, Greg Moore, Alumni, Board of Governors • PSI – Entrance Scholarships, Merit Scholarships, Athletic Stipends • External Scholarships – • http://www.studentawards.com • http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/ • http://www.canlearn.ca/eng/postsec/index.shtml • http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/awards/

17. Upcoming Planning Events • UBC Tour • September 13th 8:30-3:30pm @ UBC Vancouver • Go Global Expo (work, study, volunteer abroad) • September 16th 1:00pm-5:00pm @ The Olympic Village • IVY Plus • September 19th 7:00pm @St. George’s School • Study & Go Abroad Fair • September 22nd 1:00pm-5:00pm @ Vancouver Convention Centre

18. More Planning Events • Atlantic Canada (St. FX & Acadia) • October 10th morning @ Meadowridge • VAIS Fair (US Colleges) • October 24th 1:00pm-3:00pm West Point Grey Academy • Canadian Universities Event • October 25th 6:30pm-8:00pm @ Meadowridge School • University of Toronto • November 24th or 25th 7:00pm Meadowridge School • Art & Design Fair • November 29th @ St. John’s School, Vancouver

19. Stage VI Get started Now • Verify Transcript • Note PEN • Set up account on Student Secure Website • https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/tsw/tsw/student/welcome.jsp • Complete Reference Letter Request Form (or other similar assessment) • Identify Supplemental Requirements (College Essay, Personal Statement) • Complete ‘Graduating Student Profile’ form for Mr. Graveson • Read Student, Counsellor, & Family Responsibilities (understand your role) • Put Planning Events in your calendar

20. Student Responsibilities • Develop and research an initial list of approximately five to fifteen universities you might be interested in attending. • Be aware of admission requirements and deadlines, including residence and housing. • Research scholarships; a good site is www.studentawards.com. Many scholarship applications are due in the fall of Grade 12. • Write a resume and personal statement. • Ask teachers early for letters of recommendation. Give them a copy of your resume and personal statement as supporting documents. Students, not the university counsellor, are responsible for teacher recommendations. • Register well before the deadlines for all college admissions tests i.e. SAT, ACT, TOEFL. • Arrange to have admissions tests results sent directly to the universities. • Complete all American university applications by late October for early admissions decisions and by December for regular admissions decisions. • Complete all UCAS (British) applications in the fall (Oxford and Cambridge are due Oct 15th) • Request and report grades as required by your institution. • Notify the University Counsellor of acceptances or denials, and which university you will attend. • Inform the universities of your intentions to accept or deny an offer of admission. • Continue to work hard in your classes. • Don’t let an admissions officer, test score, or course grade determine what you’re worth.

21. Counsellor Responsibilities • Inform students and parents of the university application process. • Meet with students and parents individually and in groups as part of the • university application process. • Advise students and parents of appropriate universities, given each student’s • grades, test scores, interests, abilities, educational goals and financial status. • Maintain a university and college resource and test information library. • Arrange opportunities for on-campus visits by university and college • representatives. • Process all related school records (transcripts), secondary school reports, • teacher and counsellor recommendations and school profiles in a timely • manner. • Correspond with university and college admissions officers in support of student applications.

22. Family Responsibilities • Assist and support your son/daughter through the university application process. • Resist the urge to take over and do it for them; do not become a “helicopter parent.” • Remember there is not one perfect university for your child. • Check the university calendar each month to see if your son/daughter is on track. • Be aware of deadlines for test registration and university applications. • Know the list of universities and chances of acceptance. • Be discerning about everything you hear, from neighbours to McLean’s University report/ US News and World Report • Have a realistic talk about how much you can afford for university; assist in searching for scholarships. • Assess your need for financial aid. • Provide necessary financial statements for university applications. • Provide fees for university application costs. • Encourage continued studying. • Be prepared for ups and downs of acceptances/rejections • For the most part, let the student make the decision of where he/she will go. • Obtain visas and travel documents as required for university outside of Canada. • Keep a sense of humour, an open mind, open heart and open wallet!