Grade 12 University Planning Info Session (May 2017)Luke LawsonJoyce TangLeah Verdone

What We Do… ● Meet with you on a regular basis, both individually

and as a group to discuss university plans. ● Provide personal support with applications,

interviews, scholarship applications, admissions and deferral decisions.

● Hold essay writing sessions for university applications, as they are now needed for many programmes and universities.

● Inform and remind you of university visits and fairs:○ UK University Fair - September 25○ Canadian University Event - late September○ VAIS (American University Fair) - Oct 12

What we won’t do...

● Apply to universities for you● Choose universities/college for students● Write application essays● Register for standardised exams for students (such as

SAT/ACT)

Planning for the Future

Three step process in university admissions:1. Researching and gathering information (you should

have already started this!)

Focus of this presentation is:2. Applying - deadlines, scholarships, transcripts,

reference letters, residence (September - December)3. Acceptances and Deciding (January- June)

Gathering Information

● Visit the university campus of your choice.● Attend university visits, presentations / fairs. ● Speak to family members, friends, university

alumnus, teachers for their perspectives.● Do research, including exploring university websites.● Review your list of features for a “best fit” university.

What to consider for “best fit”?

● Class size, campus size & student population● Size and location of town - urban or suburban?● Close to family? Far, far away?● Climate? Geography?● Are specific facilities important to me?● Pursuit of athletics?● Scholarship opportunities? Financial Aid?● Study Abroad programme?● Co-op / work experience / internship?

Applying to UniversityDates to Remember:● UK Oxford/Cambridge/Medicine Deadline - Oct 15● USA ED/EA Deadline (ED/EA) - Nov 1*; UC Nov 30● All university applications deadline - December 5

Canada:● All application sites (OUAC, ApplyBC, ApplyAlberta,

etc) are open by October at the very latest.● Some applications (Engineering, Business, UBC)

require supplementary essays / videos.● Must request transcripts (Family Connection).

* There may be some exceptions. It is important to check the university website for exact deadlines.

Applying con’t...United Kingdom:● All applications submitted through UCAS.● Request “buzzword” from Mr. Lawson in late May.● Required - Personal Statement related to field of

study● Oxford / Cambridge / Medicine / Law - Admissions

Tests required. Many written at Mulgrave on Nov. 2nd (exceptions: LNAT and UKCAT).

● Can only apply to Oxford or Cambridge - not both!● Maximum number is five universities● Reference - joint letter from teachers and Mr.

Lawson● Offers of Admissions - Conditional

Applying con’t...

United States:● Very detailed/time consuming process - start now!● Very important to attend presentations/fairs and

meet with visiting admissions representatives. ● Application Site - Common Application (most widely

known and used). ● Essays are very important!

○ Common App essays for 2017-18 available.● SAT/ACT Exam Scores - remember to send to

universities that you apply to. ● Applications reviewed holistically.

Applying con’t...United States (con’t):● Essentials to your Application:

○ Academic performance, rigour of programme.○ Personal essays and statements.○ Academic references (usually two)○ Counsellor written evaluation○ Extra-curricular / Leadership involvement.○ Standardised test scores (SAT/ACT/SAT Subject)

- keep in mind, scores are usually weighted less for international students. Not all universities require standardised test scores.

● Test Optional Listing - www.fairtest.org

Transcripts and Anticipated Grades● Two official documents are sent to most universities:

○ IB Anticipated Grades Transcript○ Mulgrave Transcript (Grade 9-12 courses, marks)

● Delivery Methods:○ Electronic (when available)

■ UK - UCAS■ USA Common App - as a school package

○ Posted by mail (using Canada Post)● Students must request transcripts through Family

Connection for all Canadian universities.

Reference Letters

What is the process for requesting reference letters?1. Student and Counsellor meet to discuss applications,

goals and which referees would be the best choice. 2. Students need to personally ask teacher(s) for the

reference letter and include a copy of a request form. Please give your teachers four weeks’ notice (min).

3. Request letter through Family Connection.4. Reference letter will be mailed by Mulgrave.5. Remember to thank your teachers. A ‘thank you’ card

would be greatly appreciated.

Scholarships Benefits:● Prestige (looks good on your resume and profile)● Avoiding the school-work dilemma. Free money!Different Types of Scholarships:● Automatic Entrance Scholarships● University-based scholarships with applications.● Nomination scholarships - Loran Award, Schulich,

Western National, University of Toronto, Queen’s Chancellor, BC Excellence, etc.

● External scholarships not affiliated to a university.Class of 2017 - record amount of scholarship money awarded! Over $1.25 million!

Acceptances and DecidingGeneral: all offers of admissions are conditional.● Respond by May 1 (latest June 1 for Canada).Canada:● Most universities - “rolling” admissions. ● Majority of offers - February - May. United Kingdom:● Most are “Rolling” admissions/offers● Can only keep 2 offers - “firm” and “insurance” (May)United States:● Early offers available mid-December.● Regular offers available in late March.

Acceptances (Class of 2017)Canada:● Acadia University● Bishop’s University● Capilano University● Carleton University● Dalhousie University● Emily Carr University of Art &

Design● Langara College● McGill University● McMaster University● Queen’s University● Ryerson University● Simon Fraser University● University of Alberta● University of British Columbia● University of Calgary● University of Guelph

● University of New Brunswick● University of Ottawa● University of Toronto● University of Victoria● University of Waterloo● Western University● Wilfrid Laurier University

Acceptances (Class of 2017)United States:● American University● Amherst College● Art Center College of Design● Bates College● Boston College● Boston University● California College of the Arts● California Institute of the Arts● Carnegie Mellon University● Case Western Reserve University● Chapman University● Claremont McKenna College● Colby College● College of William & Mary● Colorado School of Mines● DePaul University

● Dartmouth College● Duke University● Elon University● Emerson College● Emory University● Hamilton College● Maryland Institute College of Art● New York University● Northeastern University● Northwestern University● Oberlin College of Arts &

Sciences● Rice University● Santa Clara University● School of the Art Institute of

Chicago

Acceptances (Class of 2017)United States (con’t):● Stanford University● The New School - Parsons

School of Design● Tufts University● University of California

○ Berkeley○ Davis○ Los Angeles○ Santa Barbara○ San Diego

● University of Chicago● University of Michigan● University of North Carolina

School of the Arts● University of Pennsylvania● University of Puget Sound

● University of Southern California● University of Virginia● University of Washington● Washington University in St.

Louis● Wesleyan University● Yale University

Acceptances (Class of 2017)International:● Australian National University● Durham University● King’s College London● Newcastle University● University College London● University College Maastricht● University of Aberdeen● University of Bath● University of Edinburgh● University of Glasgow● University of Manchester● University of Oxford● University of St. Andrews● University of Warwick● Yokohama National University