SchoolFinder Group © 2011 EDge Interactive - SchoolFinder.com / School Application Strategies...

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© 2011 EDge Interactive - SchoolFinder.com / “School Application Strategies” Presentation 2011 1

“School Application Strategies” PresentationNovember 2011

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The EDge Team

www.SchoolFinder.com www.ScholarshipsCanada.com www.StudyinCanada.com www.GradSchoolFinder.com

2,000+ college and university profiles33,000+ Diploma, Bachelor, Master’s and Doctorate programs23,000+ scholarships

© 2011 EDge Interactive - SchoolFinder.com / “School Application Strategies” Presentation 2011

http://www.schoolfinder.com/

http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/

http://www.studyincanada.com/

http://www.gradschoolfinder.com/

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The EDge Mission

“Helping students find schools and schools find students...

because our survival and prosperity depends on an educated planet”


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Sandie Matheson - Educator


Sandie Matheson is an educator with 20 years of diverse experience as a teacher, professional tutor, guidance counsellor and career counsellor. Sandie’s career path has included working in Saskatchewan and Manitoba in both the private and public school systems. Now based out of Saskatoon, it is Sandie’s passion to assist high school students with career planning, scholarship applications and university advisement. Sandie holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and has studied post-graduate courses in counselling and adolescent psychology.

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Lauri Aesoph – ApplyBC


Lauri Aesoph is Manager of Operations for BCcampus, a systemic service that supports BC's public post-secondary institutions by meeting their students' learning needs through innovative and effective uses of educational technologies.

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1. Searching for schools recap

2. How to apply:• Applying through a centralized system or directly to the school • Writing personal statements, creating portfolios and collecting transcripts

3. Ranking: • Does ranking school/program choices in your application matter?

4. Plan B:• Is it important to choose a safety school?• Considering other options for your education

5. Funding your studies: • Scholarships and other financial aid options

Overview - Steps to School Application Success


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1. Searching for Schools - Considering Your Priorities


The search for schools can seem like a daunting task.

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1. Searching for Schools - Consider Your Priorities

8© 2011 EDge Interactive - SchoolFinder.com / “School Application Strategies” Presentation 2011

• Field of Study - Is the program you’re interested offered at this school?

• Proximity to Home - Do you want to live at home, in residence, or in off-campus housing?

• Location and Accessibility of School - Do you like the city, is there a public transportation route, or will you drive to campus?

• Campus Size and Classroom Size - Do you prefer a large, a medium or a small campus? Are you interested in personalized attention?

• Financial Aid and Scholarships - Does your school of interest offer scholarships, bursaries, or awards? Will you be using government loans or bank loans?

• Community and Student Life - Are there student clubs, student unions, and opportunities for you to engage with other students outside of class?

• Activities and Facilities – Are musical or drama societies, sports teams, communities or clubs that interest you? Is there a gym, sports facility or library?

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1. Searching for Schools – Pre-requisites


Prerequisites

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1. Searching for Schools - Research and Ratings of Schools and Programs


Additional tools to help students with the decision making process:

• MacLean’s Magazine annual university ratings www.macleans.ca • The Globe and Mail Canadian University report www.globeandmail.com/education

• Association of Canadian Universities and Colleges in Canada www.aucc.ca

• The Student’s Guide to Canadian Universities by Christine Ibarra and Blair Trudell: The fundamental guide to choosing a university in Canada. Compiled by two university students and a network of fellow students, this essential handbook is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to 42 different universities across Canada. Organized from west to east, every university is discussed in detail by the people who know best - the students themselves.

http://www.globeandmail.com/education

http://www.aucc.ca/

http://www.schoolfinder.com/

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1. Searching for Schools - Research and Ratings of Schools and Programs


SchoolFinder.com provides comprehensive information on college and university tuition, facilities, programs, admission requirements and deadlines. You will also find information on scholarships and financial aid, events and careers. www.schoolfinder.com

http://www.ouac.on.ca/

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2. How to Apply - Online Application Preparation


On-line applications vary from province to province and university to university, but they are very straight forward. Here are some points to aid you with the process:

• Do your homework

• Know when to apply. Pay attention to application deadlines on the university and college websites. Many post-secondary institutions offer advance or early admission starting in October or November (based on Grade 11 Grades). Apply early.

• Research requirements and supporting documents. You will probably require a high school transcript. Some universities require letters of reference, personal statements or letters of intent, or resumes. Plan ahead.

• Pay attention to prerequisites for your selected program. The university websites and view books provide these details. Pay attention, also, to admission averages.

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2. How to Apply - Online Application Procedures


Submitting your application

When you start to apply online, look for links on the website such as:• Apply for undergraduate admission • New student or secondary school student admissions

• You will need to create an account and a username and password. Keep a record of this information. You will use it each time to access your account such as when you choose classes at a later date.

• Be prepared to pay the non-refundable application fee to register online. Fees usually range from $50.00 to $100.00. A credit card payment online is preferred.

• Complete the application. Print a copy for your records file for future reference.

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2. How to Apply - Applying to Schools in Canada


Application procedures vary from province to province. Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia postsecondary institutions utilize central application agencies.

Remaining Provinces• Students apply directly to the school of choice (university or college) in

other provinces in Canada. • AUCC, the Association of Canadian Universities and Colleges website is a

useful tool to explore post-secondary institutions in any province. • www.aucc.ca

http://www.ouac.on.ca/faq/how-i-number-my-choices/

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2. How to Apply - Applying to Schools in Canada


OUAC - Ontario Universities’ Application Centre

• Instead of applying directly to a university in Ontario, you must first submit an application to OUAC – the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.

• OUAC is a centralized application service for applicants to Ontario universities. • The OUAC Council of Ontario facilitates the process of applying to first-year undergraduate

programs (bachelor’s degrees) and to advanced standing in these programs. • The base application fee is $125.00. • www.ouac.on.ca

http://www.ocas.ca/

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2. How to Apply - Online Applications


OCAS - Ontario College Application Service

• Students applying to Ontario colleges have access to OCAS. • OCAS serves as a centralized, one-stop, processing centre. • OCAS also serves applicants by transmitting (and in some cases collecting) their grades so

that they no longer need to supply multiple colleges with transcripts. • OCAS is affiliated with 28 colleges in Ontario. • The application fee is $95.00. • www.ocas.ca

http://www.applyalberta.ca/

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Apply Alberta – Alberta Post-Secondary Application System

• ApplyAlberta is a web-based post-secondary application and transcript transfer system offered to students applying to post-secondary institutions in the province.

• First time students use ApplyAlberta to create a profile with their personal and academic history. This information is filled in automatically on each of their Alberta post-secondary applications.

• Students using ApplyAlberta authorize post-secondary institutions to request the transfer of their Alberta high school and/or post-secondary transcripts.

• Students do not pay a fee for transcripts transferred through ApplyAlberta but do pay the application fee required by the school(s) of choice.

• 22 schools (colleges, universities, university/ colleges are affiliated with ApplyAlberta. • Students apply through the application centre for the participating schools, otherwise applications are sent

to the schools directly. • www.applyalberta.ca

http://www.applybc.ca/

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ApplyBC – British Columbia Post- Secondary Application Service

• ApplyBC is an online tool that lets students anywhere in the world apply to B.C.'s 25 public post-secondary institutions through a single portal.

• ApplyBC collects the applicant's basic personal information and submits it as a common form to institutions of the applicant's choice, beginning the application process.

• Prospective students may apply to any of the province’s 25 post-secondary institutions, which include colleges, universities and institutes. (For more information, go to http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/publicpsed/welcome.htm).

• https://applybc.ca

http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/publicpsed/welcome.htm

https://applybc.ca/

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What happens next?

• Most institutions send an acknowledgement letter and /or offer of admission (pending documentation) within a few weeks of receipt of your application by the admissions office.

• Keep this letter for your records. To check the status of your application, contact the

admissions department of the institution you’ve applied to. There may be an option to check your application status online through the institution’s website.

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3. Ranking Program Choices


When using a centralized application service, for example, OUAC, one application allows for 3 program choices.

“Your numbered list of choices does provide valuable information to the university admission offices. This is particularly true for limited enrolment programs. Admission officials use this data to project the number of applicants who are likely to accept offers of admission, so that the university can plan its resources accordingly.”- OUAC, Common Questions

Source: http://www.ouac.on.ca/faq/how-i-number-my-choices/

https://www.facebook.com/

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4. Plan B - School Application Strategy


• Look beyond your "dream school”, even if you think there cannot possibly be another school worth considering.

• By narrowing your choices to only one school or only applying to schools with low admission rates/highly selective admissions process, you are limiting your options.

• Even with excellent grades and test scores, admission averages change from year to year and so does eligibility criteria. Good grades are important, but for some programs, additional requirements are assessed.

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4. Plan B - School Application Strategy


Build your foundation by looking at the following:

• Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Take a realistic look and think about what you need to be happy and successful during your post secondary school experience.

• Identify some schools where you have a good chance of admission. These are the schools where your grades put you in the top of accepted students, or schools that accept a large percentage of applicants.

• Fall in love with at least one school where you have a good chance of admission before you move on to choose more selective schools. Working from the bottom up, allows you to go through your school search and applications with an open mind.

• Once you’ve laid your foundation, you'll be able to start writing your applications knowing that ALL of the schools you're applying to, including your "safety" schools, are ones where you would be happy attending (the hard part will be choosing which offers to accept)!

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5. Funding your studies - Calculate the cost

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5. Funding your Studies - ScholarshipsCanada.com


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SchoolFinder.com Twitter

Facebook, Twitter and other Social Media platforms are other ways of accessing information. Follow, Like and subscribe for quick tips and reminders.

@myschoolfinder

Social Media

- Updates on schools and events across Canada- Insider information on study tips and school

applications- News on student life, careers, and technology

SchoolFinder.com Facebook

- Highlights on news in education and careers- Discussion and poll questions

Facebook.com/myschoolfinder

ScholarshipsCanada.com Twitter@scholarshipsca

- #TakeCharge2011 Twitter contest- Insider information on study tips and

scholarships- Money saving tips with #GetMoneyWise

ScholarshipsCanada.com Facebook

- Highlights on news in education and scholarship applications tips

- Discussion and poll questions

Facebook.com/scholarshipscanada

http://www.twitter.com/myschoolfinder

https://www.facebook.com/myschoolfinder

http://www.twitter.com/scholarshipsca

https://www.facebook.com/scholarshipscanada

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