Surviving the University Maze

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Surviving the University Maze
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How do I decide?

• Program
• Does it offer the program?
• Ambience
• How do I feel about the place? Size? Location?
  Residence?
• Will I be admitted
• Prerequisites? Averages?

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What do all the Buzzwords mean?

• Undergraduate vs. Graduate
• Arts vs. Science vs. Commerce/Business
  Administration
• Major vs. Minor
• P.I.F. , OUAC,
• UCAS, SAT...

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Application Process?
ONTARIO

• ONLINE common application submitted to the
  Ontario University Application Centre
• Fee of 100.00 which includes choices of up to
  three universities
• Additional 33.00 for each additional university
  choice
• Final application is made in January - changes
  can be made up until April

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Application Process?
OUT OF PROVINCE

• Applications for Canadian universities are
  available on the Internet
• Fees start at 25.00
• Each university requires a separate application -
  deadlines and requirements will vary
• Christmas break is a great time to work on
  applications - applications will be submitted in
  January February.

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Application Process?
USA

• Fees are usually in the 100.00 range
• Applications (found online) will require essays,
  teacher recommendations, references, and
  extracurricular profile
• Must write SAT I and/or SAT II, and/or TOEFL
• Each university will indicate what is required in
  terms of the tests scores, specific
  achievement tests
• You must be well prepared!

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What about medicine or law?

• Acceptance into these programs requires an
  undergraduate degree
• ? course prerequisites are crucial ?

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Other Hurdles
TOEFL will be required if

• I have not attended an English Language School
  for a minimum of 3 years
• or
• English is NOT my first language
• Contact the University Counselling Office if you
  are uncertain of your status

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• They all do it differently...
• Some universities guarantee residence to
• first year students with the initial offer
• Others require a separate application
• residence required must be indicated on the
  initial application

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Where do I get more information?

• STUDENTS MUST
• Visit the University Counselling Office
• Read
• Attend sessions run by the liaison personnel from
  different universities

• The Internet virtually every university has its
  own website and many permit you to download the
  information AND applications

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Where do I get more information?
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Where do I get more information?
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APPLICATIONS CALENDAR

• THE YEAR AT-A-GLANCE

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September/October/November
? University Meeting - Students Parents ?
Liaison Visits Begin ? TOEFL Registrations
Ontario Online application info. handed out in
November Canada Begin completing app.s (Out of
Province) US Early Decision app.s due Oct.
14 Regular Decision app.s started SAT
testing/course begins UK Begin completing app.s
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December/January
ONTARIO Applications DEADLINE (January) CANADA
(Out of Province) Applications on-going, some
applications due Feb. 1 U.S. DEADLINE for all
applications, school reports (marks), reference
letters to be completed and sent in to
universities U.K. DEADLINE for applications
to completed and sent in
February
Interim marks collected for ALL universities
March
Early offers begin to arrive
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April/May
Offers (Conditional) arriving May 13th earliest
response date
June
ONTARIO All offers (conditional) in by June
3rd Response to offers ongoing Final marks
submitted U.S. Final marks submitted U.K. Fin
al marks submitted Canada (Out of Province)
Final marks submitted (Out of Province)
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Any Last Pearls of Wisdom?

• READ
• EVERYTHING!

MEET ALL DEADLINES!
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FINALLY...

• EVERYTHING must be handled through the University
  Counselling Office
• DO NOT SUBMIT
• anything before consulting your University
  Counsellor