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
• S.R.F. , P.R.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

• Many 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 (online) will require essays,
  teacher recommendations and checklists, SSRs, and
  extracurricular profile
• Must write SAT I and SAT II, and TOEFL?
• Each university will indicate what is required
  scores, specific tests
• You must be well prepared!

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What about medicine or law?

• Direct Entry from high school into these programs
  in North America is not possible
• ? course prerequisites and GPAs 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
  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 university personnel
  from different universities

• The Internet virtually every university has its
  own website and many permit your son to download
  the information AND apply online
• www.electronicinfo.ca

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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 ?
University 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.
21 Regular Decision app.s started SAT
testing/course begins UK October 1st Oxford or
Cambridge Medicine / Veterinary Medicine
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December/January
ONTARIO Applications DEADLINE (January) CANADA
(Out of Province) Applications on-going, some
applications due Feb. 1 U.S. Dec. 1st
DEADLINE for all applications, school reports
(marks), reference letters to be completed.
U.K. January 15th DEADLINE for applications to
completed and sent in
February
Interim marks collected for ALL
universities Mid-Year Reports sent to U.S.
March
Early offers begin to arrive
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April/May
2nd Set of Marks go in to OUAC Offers
(Conditional) arriving Mid May is the 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 a University Counsellor