University Guidance Q & As

Table of Content The University Guidance Program 5  How does the university guidance program work?  What happens in guidance classes?  How do students learn about universities and programs?  What support do the university guidance counsellors provide?  What support does the guidance administrator provide?

Transcripts (Getting Grades to Universities and other Post-Secondary 6 Destinations)  What is a transcript?  What information is shown on a transcript?  What transcripts are needed for university or college?  My son or daughter attended high school outside of Ontario before coming to LCS. How do I get transcripts for them from their other schools?  How does LCS ensure that the marks on the LCS transcript are accurate?  How does the transcript get sent to universities and other post-secondary institutions?

Marks 7  What marks do universities consider?  If universities are looking at Grade 12 marks, what marks do they see (given that the student won’t have final marks until June)?  What happens if a student’s grades improve substantially after early February, when interim grades are submitted?  What happens if a student’s average drops considerably between February and June?

Applications 8  What is required, other than the student’s transcript, to apply to a university or college program?  How can a student keep organized about their applications?  My son or daughter needs to phone or email someone at a particular university. How should they do this?  What should a resume look like? What help is available to prepare a resume?  How will my son or daughter know that a portfolio, audition, or interview is required?  Who can help my son or daughter prepare a portfolio or get ready for an audition?

University Guidance Q & As

Applying to Ontario Universities 10  What is the process for applying to Ontario universities?  How many universities and programs can a student apply to within Ontario?  How long does it take to complete the OUAC application?  What happens after the OUAC application is submitted?  What if a student changes his mind and wants to apply to a different program after the application has been submitted?  May students apply to more than one program at the same university?  Are supplementary applications important? Why do the universities want all this information? Will anyone read it?  How important is the deadline on the supplementary application form? Does it really matter if it is submitted late?  When will Ontario universities let students know whether or not they have been accepted?  When will that conditional offer of admission become final? When can a student really be sure he is in?  How do Ontario universities know where to reach a student once he has left Lakefield?

Applying to Community Colleges 13  Why would a student want to apply to a community college?  What is the process for applying to a community college?

Applying to Out-of-Province Universities within Canada 13  Why would a student want to apply to a university outside of Ontario?  How does a student apply to an out-of-province institution?  How are students’ transcripts sent to an out-of-province institution?  Students applying to Ontario universities use their OUAC number when contacting universities. What reference number do they use when contacting out-of-province universities?  What else might be needed for an out-of province application?  What are the deadlines for out-of-province applications?  How do out-of-province universities get a student’s final transcript?

Applying to American Universities 15  What support does the Guidance Office offer for students applying to American universities?  How can a student arrange to write the SATs?  Where can parents find out more information about American schools?  What do American schools consider in the admissions process?  How do students apply to American schools?  What are the deadlines for American schools?

University Guidance Q & As

Applying to Schools in the United Kingdom 17  What support does the Guidance Office offer for students applying to universities in the United Kingdom?  Where can parents find more information about British schools?  What do British schools consider in the admissions process?  How do students apply to British schools?  What are the deadlines for applications to British schools?

Applying to Schools in Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and Other Countries 19  What is the process for applying to international universities outside the US and UK (for example, in Europe, Mexico, Australia/New Zealand, Korea)?

Applying for Scholarships 19  What average does a student need to earn a scholarship at a Canadian university?  How does a student apply for a scholarship?  How can a student find out about major scholarships that require applications?

Applying for Financial Aid (within Canada) 20  How does a student begin the process of seeking financial aid?

Applying for Residence 21  Is it important to live in residence during first year?  How does a student apply for residence?  Are there any students who get preferential treatment for residence? Or are spaces awarded on a first-come, first-served basis?  What if a student doesn’t get into residence?  What about living off campus, or at home?

Arranging/Taking a University Tour 22  Why should a student take a university tour?  How can a student book a university tour?  What should a student do on a campus tour?

Accepting a University Offer 24  How does a student accept an offer?  What if a student has several offers, and can’t decide which to choose by the deadline? What should she do?  How does a student ensure that a final transcript is sent to the university she has accepted?

University Guidance Q & As

 What if a student is placed on a wait list for her first choice? Or if a decision about her application is deferred until June grades are received?

Deferring a University Offer 26  Is it possible to defer an offer of admission until next year? How is this done?  What about any scholarships offered? Can a student take a year off and still keep a scholarship?  What if a student needs help getting transcripts to university or completing applications while taking a year off?

Taking a Gap Year 26  What if a student wants to take a year off? What options are available besides university?  What is the British Alumni Travelling Scholarship? How does a student apply?

University Guidance Q & As

The University Guidance Program

How does the university guidance program work? In their Grade 12 year, all LCS students are assigned to a guidance counsellor and to a guidance class. Students work with their guidance counsellor, both in guidance classes and in individual meetings, to research university and program choices and to apply to universities and other post-secondary institutions.

What happens in guidance classes? Guidance classes begin in September of the student’s Grade 12 year. The students:  are introduced to tools for exploring post-secondary schools and programs;  are provided with an overview of the application process;  are aided in the development of a list of schools/programs to which the student wishes to apply;  are supported in completing the applications (including applications to Ontario universities, Ontario community colleges, out-of-province universities and international universities);  are supported in completing any supplementary applications required.

How do students learn about universities and programs? There are many online tools available to investigate university options, and students are introduced to these tools in guidance class. There is also a substantial amount of print material (books, viewbooks, university calendars) available for students to peruse in the Guidance area of the Learning Commons.

Students are also required to participate in a one-day university visit, and to attend presentations offered at Lakefield by various Canadian, American, and British university recruiters.

What support do the university guidance counsellors provide? University guidance counsellors direct students toward resources, support them in the completion of their applications and supplementary applications, and counsel them individually on programs and universities. They review students’ marks with them on a regular basis to ensure that students will have the qualifications needed for the programs to which they have applied.

University guidance counsellors work with the LCS guidance administrator to ensure that relevant documents (transcripts, TOEFL scores, etc) are sent to the appropriate institutions.

What support does the guidance administrator provide? The Guidance Administrator ensures that transcripts and other required documentation from LCS are sent to the institutions to which the student has applied. If a student is wondering about whether a particular document has been sent, he can check with the guidance administrator, who maintains a file for each student indicating what material has been mailed or couriered by the school.

University Guidance Q & As

Transcripts

What is a transcript? A transcript is a student’s personal academic record of all the courses she has successfully completed in secondary school. Universities and other post-secondary institutions nearly always require a student’s original transcript (with the school’s stamp and seal) to consider a student for admission.

What information is shown on a transcript? The Ontario transcript issued by LCS shows not only the student’s final marks, but also which courses were compulsory and the total number of credits and compulsory courses completed. A full transcript (30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits) is required before a student can receive an O.S.S.D., or Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The Ontario transcript also indicates whether a student has finished the required number of community service hours and has successfully passed the Ontario Literacy Test. These requirements must also be met before a student can receive an OSSD.

What transcripts are needed for university or college? Students who have attended high school from Grade 9 to 12 in Ontario will require only the LCS Ontario transcript.

Students who attended high school in another province or another country will receive equivalent credits for their academic work on the Ontario transcript. However, often universities will require transcripts from every high school the student has attended. These transcripts cannot be photocopies, but most be originals with the school’s stamp and seal.

What if a student attended high school outside of Ontario before coming to LCS? How do they get transcripts from their other schools? If a student attended high school outside of Ontario, the student (or his parents) must contact the school attended, and request that they forward 10 original transcripts to the Guidance Department, Lakefield College School, Lakefield ON K0L 2H0. The Guidance department will then forward the original transcript to the schools to which the student is applying. Ten should be adequate: the average number of institutions a student applies to is eight.

How does LCS ensure that the marks on the LCS transcript are accurate? One of our first discussion topics in university guidance classes is the transcript. Students are given a copy of their transcript, with grades through to the end of their Grade 11 summer. We ask students to review the information carefully with us, checking to ensure that the following information is correct:

University Guidance Q & As

 Courses and Course Codes  Final Marks  Total Credits  Total Compulsories  Individual Grade 12 Courses  Total Grade 12 Courses

We expect that students carefully examine the transcript for every detail and for accuracy. We also remind students that they may not graduate without at least 30 credits and the 18 compulsories required by the Ontario Ministry of Education, and we ask them to double-check to make sure they are taking the appropriate number of credits in Grade 12.

How does the transcript get sent to universities and other post-secondary institutions? The Guidance Office keeps careful record of the schools to which each student is applying, and sends the student’s initial transcript (to the end of Grade 11), and interim marks in Grade 12 (based on the student’s Grade 12 February report card) to those schools. The Guidance Office also sends the final transcript in June that shows awarding of the OSSD and the student’s final grades to the university or college at which the student has accepted an offer.

Transcripts are sent electronically (through systems such as the Ontario Universities Application Centre, the Common Application website, and the Ontario College Application Centre), or by regular mail.

The student should check regularly with his or her guidance counsellor to ensure that the Guidance Office is aware of all the institutions to which he has applied. If a student’s university application is not on file with the Guidance Office, then the appropriate schools might not receive the student’s transcript.

Marks

What marks do universities consider? Most Canadian universities focus on the student’s Top Six Grade 12 marks (that is, the marks in the six Grade 12 courses in which the student did best, including any courses that are prerequisites for the program to which the student has applied).

American and British universities tend to look at a student’s entire high school transcript, and place more emphasis on Grade 11 marks than do Canadian schools.

University Guidance Q & As

If universities are looking at Grade 12 marks, what marks do they see (given that the student won’t have final marks until June)? Universities request that high schools submit "interim marks", that is, marks in progress, or cumulative marks for each student. The interim marks submitted by Lakefield are the marks that parents would see on the February report card.

Universities use these interim marks in Grade 12 subjects, along with already completed Grade 12 course marks, to calculate the individual student’s admission average. Some universities use the 6 best Grade 12 marks (final and interim) to calculate this average; other universities use the 6 appropriate Grade 12 marks (including those in prerequisite subjects for the program to which the student has applied). Maritime universities often calculate the admission average on the basis of the student’s best five Grade 12 marks, completed and/or interim.

What happens if a student’s grades improve substantially after early February, when interim grades are submitted? Interim marks are submitted to Ontario universities and also to out-of-province universities again in April (based on the snapshot report parents receive in early April). If a student’s overall average improves during this period, the university will usually evaluate the student’s application based on April grades.

What happens if a student’s average drops considerably between February and June? Interim marks are not final marks. They never appear on a student's official transcript. They are used by universities exclusively for extending conditional offers. If a university accepts a student on the basis of interim and previously achieved final Grade 12 marks, the university indicates that the decision is conditional—conditional on a student's maintaining a reasonably close mark to the interim mark at the end of the year.

If a student’s grades drop a little, there is usually no need for alarm. However, if the student’s grades drop below the stated conditions, the student should contact the university immediately to find out what he needs to do to maintain the university’s offer.

Applications

What is required, other than the student’s transcript, to apply to a university or college program? University and college programs often require supplementary material: a resume, a completed questionnaire or test, a portfolio of the student’s work (for art/design programs, for example), an interview, an audition (for music, dance, or drama), and proof of fluency in English for international students (e.g., TOEFL or another test).

University Guidance Q & As

Applications also usually require an application fee, so a student should have credit card information available: Type of card, name on card, card number, expiry date, security number.

Students need to review all mail and email that they receive from the institutions to which they have applied to ensure that they are submitting all supplementary material requested.

How can a student keep organized about their applications? Guidance counsellors encourage students to set up email folders to file all correspondence with universities: both emails they receive from universities and emails they send to universities. They also encourage students to save all username, passwords, and student id numbers in an electronic folder so that this information is readily available should they need to correspond with a university or check the status of an application.

My son or daughter needs to phone or email someone at a particular university. How should they do this? Email addresses and phone numbers for the departments an applicant would want to contact are readily available on most university websites. Students can contact a guidance counsellor for help in locating an email address or phone number, and can use a guidance office phone line to make a call.

Students are coached to include their applicant number in all correspondence, and to be sure to make a note of the name of the person to whom they spoke/wrote.

What should a resume look like? What help is available to prepare a resume? Students maintain a resume throughout their time at LCS as part of the Guidance/Advising process. This resume is automatically formatted, and can be exported as a Word document, pdf, or even as a web page.

How will my son or daughter know that a portfolio, audition, or interview is required? Programs in music, art, architecture, concurrent education, and journalism are among those which may require auditions, portfolios or interviews.

The application guidelines for these programs should provide general information: that a portfolio or interview is required, for example.

After the student has applied to the program, he usually receives an email or follow-up package outlining details about the portfolio, audition, or interview, including time lines and specific requirements. This information is also usually available online at the program webpage.

Who can help my son or daughter prepare a portfolio or get ready for an audition? The classroom teacher in the relevant subject is an excellent resource for portfolio or audition preparation. Preparing properly for either requires dozens of hours of extra work, so students are well advised to begin work for these programs very early.

University Guidance Q & As

Applying to Ontario Universities

What is the process for applying to Ontario universities? Students apply to all programs at all Ontario universities through the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC). The application is online, and available at the OUAC website at http://www.ouac.on.ca/.

In September, all high schools (including LCS) submit data about their graduating students, including their marks to the end of their Grade 11 year, biographical information, completion of literacy test and community service hours, etc. This information is processed by OUAC, and, by early November, the OUAC application centre will be ready to receive applications from Grade 12 students. At this point, LCS will be supplied with login information for each graduating student.

The students will be given login information from their guidance counsellor, and will receive detailed instruction about completing the application form in a guidance class.

After having researched programs and universities thoroughly, the student will complete their OUAC application (usually in the period between mid-November and the Christmas Break.

How many universities and programs can a student apply to within Ontario? Students may apply to as many Ontario universities/programs as they wish, but only the first three choices are covered by the $115 basic application fee. Each additional choice costs $38.

If the student’s mailing address is outside of Canada, an additional $10 surcharge is added.

How long does it take to complete the OUAC application? It takes only about an hour to complete the actual application. The time-consuming part of the process is researching the programs and universities—which must be done before the application can be completed!

What happens after the OUAC application is submitted? Once the application is submitted, the OUAC Application Centre will transmit to the student’s selected universities all academic and biographical information. Students will begin to receive email acknowledgments that the application has been received, information packages, and details about follow- up supplementary applications, interviews, etc. In the case of students with exceptionally high Grade 11 marks, they may even begin to receive conditional offers from a few schools.

What if a student changes his mind and wants to apply to a different program after the application has been submitted? No need to worry: OUAC has thought of everything.

Students can make changes at any time after completing the application simply by going online and editing. They may amend their choices more than once, but February 4, 2011 is the recommended date by which all program changes and additional choices should reach the Application Centre.

University Guidance Q & As

The student’s guidance counsellor will review the student’s academic achievement in January and will make suggestions to amend the application if he/she is concerned that the student may not achieve the average necessary for admission into the programs to which the student has applied.

Changes made after the early February deadline will be accepted and processed, but some universities will begin to make their admissions decisions based on the information received by that deadline.

May students apply to more than one program at the same university? Students may apply to a maximum of three programs at any university. The University of Toronto has a slightly different approach to choices, so students applying there should read their instructions carefully and discuss them with their guidance counsellor.

Are supplementary applications important? Why do the universities want all this information? Will anyone read it? Yes, supplementary applications are very important. If a university or program requests a supplementary application, it forms part of the student’s application, and universities consider it when making the decision about whether to extend an offer. Some universities (e.g., Queen’s) require the supplementary application for a student to be considered for admission, and will not consider the student for admission if the form is not submitted by the deadline.

In any case, the supplementary form is a chance for students to tell the institution more about themselves, and Lakefield students, who participate in a rich and varied array of activities, benefit from being able to provide more details about their experiences and accomplishments. University policies vary, but universities which, instead of requiring the form, offer students the opportunity to submit personal information about themselves, their extra-curricular experiences, leadership positions, and other activities, do use it in making admissions decisions. There are always students with marks below the cutoff averages who are admitted to programs on the basis of personal information forms who would not have been offered a place otherwise.

Some students may be reluctant to complete such forms for universities that are not a first choice. However, given that students cannot guarantee that they will be accepted at their first choice university (or that they will not change their mind!), students are expected to complete the supplementary application forms for all universities to which they apply unless they have written permission from their parents/guardians that indicates they do not have to complete the application.

How important is the deadline on the supplementary application form? Does it really matter if it is submitted late? A university application may well be rejected if the student does not submit the supplementary form by the due date. In our experience in recent years, some students have been informed by universities that because their supplementary forms were late, they would not be considered for programs. Queen's University, for example, will not consider applications from students who did not complete their supplementary forms by the stated deadline.

University Guidance Q & As

When will Ontario universities let students know whether or not they have been accepted? Some Ontario universities are now making conditional offers of admission as early as December for exceptionally qualified students, but the norm is that qualified students receive offers at some point between early March and May. Universities send offers in waves: the first wave, usually sent shortly after the university has reviewed interim grades, is sent to students with high averages, well above the cut-off for most programs. The second wave, sent usually after mid-April interim reports, will go out to students who meet the cut-off for this particular year.

Note that nearly all offers are "conditional." Students’ admission is conditional upon completing all courses satisfactorily and maintaining an average very close to the average at the time the student applied. Some universities will state in the conditional offer exactly what average must be maintained, and will name certain courses (usually English and Math) where the mark must be above a certain grade.

May 30, 2011 is the date by which all Ontario universities must respond to an applicant. Their response will be one of the following: an offer of admission, a refusal, or a deferral based on the university's request for additional information.

When must a student let the Ontario universities know whether they accept or decline a conditional offer of admission? The letter offering conditional admission will state the date by which the student must accept the offer (or it will be assumed that the student is declining).

 This date is June 2, 2011 for Ontario universities.

When will that conditional offer of admission become final? When can a student really be sure he is in? Lakefield will send the student’s final transcript for this year to the Application Centre by mid-July, and the universities will have them by late July. The universities will then confirm by letter that their admission decision on the application is no longer conditional, but final!

In most cases, the student will know from the conditional offer and her own knowledge of her final marks that everything is okay, so no need to spend the summer worrying. If there is any concern, the student should contact the Admissions Office at the university as soon as she knows her grades. Often, universities will permit students to re-take courses over the summer to improve their average so that they can maintain the university offer.

How do Ontario universities know where to reach a student once he has left Lakefield? Students should change their email address and mailing address in OUAC (by logging in and updating address information) when they graduate. That way, letters and other information from the universities will reach them directly and promptly, after they have left the school.

University Guidance Q & As

Applying to Community Colleges

Why would a student want to apply to a community college? Students interested in very specific hands-on programs (e.g., advertising, graphic design, film production, animation, fashion design) often will find the programs they are looking for at community colleges rather than at universities. Community colleges now offer applied degrees in certain subjects, and students can often take community college credits earned and apply them toward a university degree.

While some programs at community colleges have relatively low admission standards, many programs are highly competitive, and have very few spaces available. Students should not assume that getting into a community college program will be an easy alternative to university admission.

What is the process for applying to community colleges? A student who wants to apply to a community college should speak with his or her guidance counsellor, who will offer individual support to complete the application. Applications to Ontario community colleges are all completed through a central online service, the Ontario College Application Service: http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/portal/page/portal/ONTCOL/Home.

Deadline for applications is usually February 1: while the deadline is fairly flexible for many programs, students are strongly encouraged to submit their application prior to the Christmas Break.

Applying to Out-of-Province Universities within Canada

Why would a student want to apply to a university outside of Ontario? Many students are confident that they would like to attend university in Ontario, and for these students, there is no need to apply elsewhere.

However, some students want to experience a different part of the country; some students are actually moving closer to "home" by attending university in Quebec or the Atlantic provinces or BC. Others find unique programs or small schools that aren’t available in Ontario.

How does a student apply to an out-of-province institution? Each out-of-province university requires a separate application form, and an application fee. Each will set its own admission requirements for students from Ontario schools. Each will require an original of the student’s transcript. The deadlines vary from university to university, so students must check the deadline on the relevant university website. Out-of-province universities sometimes extend early offers of admission, so it is worthwhile to apply early.

University Guidance Q & As

Virtually all out-of-province applications are submitted online, and payment of the application fee can usually be made by credit card.

Students will begin working with their guidance counsellor on out-of-province applications after the Ontario university applications have been submitted. (Often, large universities like McGill, Dalhousie, and UBC pull their data from OUAC, so the student needs to have the Ontario application completed first.)

How are students’ transcripts sent to an out-of-province institution? The Guidance Office sends transcripts, interim marks, and final grades to all out-of-province schools. Students applying out of province must print a copy of their confirmation of application and bring it to the Guidance Office so that the Guidance Administrator knows that transcripts need to be sent.

Students applying to Ontario universities use their OUAC number when contacting universities. What reference number do they use when contacting out-of-province universities? Students are usually given an applicant number when they complete an application. The student should record this number, store it carefully so that it can be found if they need to contact the university about their file, and send it on to the Guidance Office.

What else might be needed for an out-of-province application? Some programs and some universities ask students to have letters of reference submitted from teachers who know them well. Quebec universities will ask for proof of birthplace, because these schools charge different fees depending on whether or not the student was born or has residency status in Quebec. Students need to send the Quebec schools a copy of their birth certificate. It is absolutely an essential element of the application.

What are the deadlines for out-of-province applications? Some out-of-province application deadlines are as early as January (e.g., McGill); some have rolling admissions and begin to make decisions as applications come in (University of King's College, Halifax, for example). Many are in February (UBC) or March (Dalhousie). Check the relevant university website for the most accurate information. Lakefield guidance counsellors encourage students to complete all out-of- applications by the end of January, regardless of actual deadline.

How do out-of-province universities get a student’s final transcript? A student who plans to attend an out-of-province university should complete a Transcript Request Form in mid-May and submit it to the Guidance Administrator. Students will be prompted to submit this form by the Guidance department.

Students should also inform any out-of-province university that they plan to attend of their summer mailing address, so that all mail sent after Closing will reach them promptly.

University Guidance Q & As

Applying to American Universities

What support does the Guidance Office offer for students applying to American universities? Guidance counsellors begin working with students who are interested in American colleges as early as Grade 9, particularly if the student is interested in an athletic scholarship or wishes to apply to a very prestigious American school (for example, one of the Ivy League schools). Careful attention needs to be paid to course selection (as American schools consider the entire high school transcript), extracurricular, and summer plans, so that students present in the best light possible.

If a student is interested in applying to an American university, or if his parents are interested in this route, an important first step would be meeting with a guidance counsellor to discuss plans. Once the guidance department knows of a student’s interest in this area, a counsellor can continue to work with that student throughout his time at Lakefield.

Of course, many students (and parents) do not know as early as Grade 9 what the child would like to do. By the mid-year point in Grade 11, however, planning for US applications begins in earnest:

 Students are encouraged to write the SATs in the spring of their Grade 11 year  Students attend evening sessions throughout the spring term on the American application process, where they learn about the tools available to research American colleges and programs, and are educated on the American application process.  Students are encouraged to visit the American colleges that interest them in the summer of their Grade 11 year. Universities tend to look more favourably upon applicants who have visited their campus.

How can a student arrange to write SATs? Most students will want to write the SATs twice, and may also need to write SAT Subject tests (which cannot be written on the same day as SATs). Accordingly, students may need to register for as many as three SAT tests. In 2010/11 SATs may be written at Lakefield in November, December, and May. Students can also make arrangements to write on other test dates (October, January, June) at another centre.

Students registering to write SATs for the first time may do so at www.collegeboard.com. Students create an account (they should be sure to save their username and password, as they will need to access this account repeatedly to register for another sitting, to see their scores, and to send their scores to colleges), and then may register for the exams they wish to write. There is a fee to be paid online, so the student must have access to credit card information. The deadline to register is usually about six weeks prior to the date of the test.

Students who miss the registration deadline may ask to be placed on a standby list at any centre, including Lakefield.

University Guidance Q & As

Should a student need to contact the College Board by telephone to re-register for a test, change a test date or test centre, to send additional score reports to universities or to RUSH score reports to universities, the telephone number is 609-771-7600. However many of these arrangements can also be made online via the student’s College Board account.

Students may need the following information if they do phone the College Board:

 Their 7-digit Registration No. ______(this number is only available from the Guidance Office if the student has previously written SATs)  The 5-digit Test Centre Code. Lakefield College School’s Test Centre Code is 96-375.  Lakefield College School’s College Board Reference is 826294

Students writing the SATs in order to submit their scores to universities in the U.S. as part of the admissions process should take advantage of materials in the Guidance Office which will help them prepare. These include sample tests provided by the College Board, test study books and computer programs. Research indicates that students can improve their test scores considerably by writing practice tests and being thoroughly familiar in advance with the test format, types of questions, and timing.

Where can parents find out more information about American schools?

Buy a reliable guide to the best U.S. universities—Princeton Review, Barron's, etc., or check out a guide to U.S. universities on the internet. Peterson’s Guide to Four-Year Colleges, for example, is on the Web at http:\\www.petersons.com.

The US News publishes its America’s Best Colleges Guide annually, and it is available at any large bookstore. While its ranking system is by no means the full story about any school, the categories provide a good idea of the selectivity of a school and the admissions requirements. America’s Best Colleges also supplies information about tuition fees—a factor that many parents consider.

What do American schools consider in the admissions process? Although the list of items considered can vary from school to school, most American colleges consider the following:

1) Marks—from Grade 9 to 12. American schools like to see steady improvement as the student progresses through school. AP courses are looked upon favourably as an indication that the student is willing to challenge himself. 2) Standardized test scores. SATs or ACTs are required by many, but not all US universities. www.fairtest.org lists schools that do not ask for standardized test scores. Students must check individually for each school to which they are applying to determine whether SAT Subject test scores are also required. 3) Personal Statement. Most American schools require students to write at least one short essay. 4) Extracurricular Activities, part-time and summer work, community service. 5) Particular talents (e.g., athletic ability at the provincial or national level; musical or artistic talent).

University Guidance Q & As

6) Legacy factor. Some schools look favourably upon candidates whose parents or siblings attended the same school. 7) Letters of reference from teachers and the school counsellor. Most schools require references from 2 teachers and one school counsellor.

A well done university application to a school in the United States may take as long as twenty hours to complete, and could include several short essays as well as the items mentioned above.

How do students apply to American schools? As with Canadian schools, most American schools have online applications. Many schools permit students to submit through the Common Application website (www.commonapp.org) which allows students to submit the same application to a variety of universities.

As with out-of-province schools, transcripts and other supporting documents (letters of reference, etc.) are sent by the Guidance Office.

Students themselves must take responsibility for sending their standardized test scores. The SATs may be sent electronically: students can order them to be sent to the schools to which they applied by logging in at the College Board website (www.collegeboard.com).

Likewise, students who need to submit TOEFL or ACT scores must request that these results be sent to individual universities.

What are the deadlines for American schools? If a student wishes to apply for Early Decision or Early Action at an American school, the deadline may be as early as November 1. Deadlines for regular decision at most American universities fall between December 1 and January 1, although some schools’ deadlines are slightly earlier. Students should check on the school website for the date for each institution to which they are applying.

Applying to Schools in the UK

What support does the Guidance Office offer for students applying to universities in the United Kingdom? Students considering applying to universities in the United Kingdom are encouraged to attend information sessions during the spring of their Grade 11 year. In these sessions, a guidance counsellor outlines the process for applying to schools in Scotland and England, and acquaints students with research tools that will help them learn more about universities and programs available, and admissions requirements.

Students considering applying to very competitive schools such as Oxford or Cambridge must begin planning early, as it is particularly important that these students take an appropriate number of Advanced Placement credits in order to earn the credentials needed for admission to such schools.

University Guidance Q & As

During their Grade 12 year, students meet individually and in small groups with a guidance counsellor to prepare applications, write personal statements, etc.

Where can parents find out more information about British schools? The UCAS website offers an excellent search engine that will allow users to research programs, universities, and entry requirements: http://www.ucas.com/students/coursesearch/.

On the UCAS website is a link to UniStat, which offers results of the National Student Satisfaction surveys for UK universities, and also provides information on career prospects: http://unistats.direct.gov.uk/.

The How2UK website offers information on university and program rankings: http://www.how2uk.com/index.php.

What do British schools consider in the admissions process? British schools consider marks, teacher references, a written personal statement, and in some cases, scores on Advanced Placement exams.

British universities will request that students report all grades received since Grade 9. They will also ask the student’s guidance counsellor to make a written prediction of what the student’s average will be at the end of Grade 12. Based on their review of grades earned up to the end of Grade 11, the university will issue a conditional offer, stating what the student’s average must be at the end of Grade 12 (and sometimes what score the student must earn on selected Advanced Placement exams). If the student does not meet these conditions, the offer is automatically withdrawn.

Students are required to submit one teacher reference with their application, and are also required to write a one-page personal statement outlining their interest in the subject they are pursuing, their plans for the future, and any other information relevant to their strength as a scholar.

How do students apply to British schools? Students apply to all British schools online through the UCAS website. Through this website, they submit their biographical information, their university and program choices, their teacher reference, and their personal statement. The Guidance Office sends official transcripts directly to the schools to which the student has applied.

Students are permitted to apply to a maximum of five British schools/programs through UCAS.

What are the deadlines for applications to British schools? The deadline for most British university applications is January 1, with a few important exceptions. Oxford, Cambridge, British medical and veterinary schools have a deadline of October 15.

As international students, Canadians may apply to all regular programs (but not med school, Cambridge/Oxford, etc.) later than January 1, but this is an ill-advised strategy. Students who apply later

University Guidance Q & As

than January 1 run the risk of not being able to get a space, as their application will be received after all the British and EU applications have been submitted.

Applying to Schools in Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and other countries

What is the process for applying to international universities outside the US and UK (for example, in Europe, Mexico, Australia/New Zealand, Korea)?

Students applying to universities where the language of instruction is not English (e.g., universities in Germany, Spain, Austria, Korea, Mexico) will be supported in their applications to these schools individually by a guidance counsellor. The guidance counsellor will need to seek the parents’ advice on matters related to the application (requirements, deadlines, fees, where to send transcripts, etc.), as the counsellor will not necessarily be fluent in the language used at the university in question.

Students interested in applying to international universities where English is the language of instruction will work individually with their guidance counsellor on applications. For students applying to Australia and New Zealand, there is an excellent resource available: the AustraLearn program: http://www.australearn.org/Default.aspx. The helpful staff at this organization will guide the student through the application process.

Applying for Scholarships

What average does a student need to earn a scholarship at a Canadian university? The average needed for a scholarship to a Canadian university varies widely from school to school. A student with a Grade 12 average in the high 80s or above may well be offered an admission scholarship automatically by some of the universities to which he or she has applied. Every university has its own scholarship program, however, and prints lists of available scholarships and the criteria for these awards. Some universities have very little scholarship money available; others have a great deal.

How does a student apply for a scholarship? Most universities consider students automatically for a wide variety of scholarships. However, in order to attract the "best" students from across Canada, several universities now have National Scholarship Programs that may well cover the full amount of tuition for four years, and sometimes residence as well. These scholarships need to be applied for through an individual process. Often, the student needs to be nominated by the school’s principal or head of guidance (often following a selection process within the school), after which the student competes at a regional and, if fortunate, a national level. The student’s part of the application for such an award is, not surprisingly, lengthy, time-consuming, and very important.

University Guidance Q & As

Often, an outstanding academic achievement in the area of the student’s special interest must be documented and submitted, as well as evidence of leadership, extensive community service, and other forms of initiative.

How can a student find out about major scholarships that require applications? A list of some of the principal scholarships available to Canadian students, and the deadlines for applications is shown on the Calendar of Important Dates and Deadlines schedule. The Guidance Office also has up-to-date handbooks which list all the university scholarships available in Canada. There are several relevant websites as well, and the key links are on the Guidance webpage. Scholarships Canada probably has the best search engine for scholarships: http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/.

It is the responsibility of the individual student who is interested in applying for scholarships to research what is available and to submit applications—on time! The applications may require personal essays and resumes; some require students to submit a previously submitted and marked essay from a high school course.

Mr. Milburn provides support for students submitting scholarship applications. Students wishing to explore scholarship possibilities should make an appointment with him.

Applying for Financial Aid (within Canada)

How does a student begin the process of seeking financial aid? The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is the financial aid program for students who are residents of Ontario. The OSAP web site (http://osap.gov.on.ca) contains a wealth of information about the program, including a financial aid estimator and the OSAP application.

Students cannot apply for OSAP until they have accepted a university or college offer. Once they have proof that they have accepted a university offer, they may (with their parents or guardians) begin to complete the forms. Students should expect to do this in June of their graduating year, in order to have funds in place for September. Please note: Students must have a valid permanent Social Insurance Number for the OSAP application to be processed.

Another key source of financial aid at Canadian universities is bursary funding. Most universities offer some form of student bursary. Students usually apply for these bursaries after they have made the initial application to the school. Students should check the Financial Aid section of each university website to learn about the bursary application process.

University Guidance Q & As

Applying for Residence

Is it important to live in residence during first year? The decision about university residence is a personal one. We always encourage students to consider living on campus, in university housing, for the first year. While a student may think he has had enough of dorm life at Lakefield, he will get to know other students and begin to fit in much more quickly and easily—in most cases—if he lives in residence. We encourage all students to check the box requesting residential information on their Ontario application form. We also encourage students to request residence information and application forms for the universities outside Ontario to which they apply.

How does a student apply for residence? For Ontario universities (if students have checked the box mentioned above), the student will automatically receive information about the different types of housing available and about the process for applying to residence.

In most cases, students apply for residence immediately after accepting a university offer. Often, residence applications are due by the end of May, so it is important to apply as soon as the student knows which university he or she plans to attend. Some universities require significant residence deposits, so the student will not want to save a residence space at all his university choices.

Residence applications can usually be found and completed online. Students will need to know what type of housing they prefer, what meal plan they want, and whether they have a specific roommate request. We encourage students to complete residence applications with their parents when possible, so that parents are fully apprised of the financial commitment. A word of warning, though: not all university residences accept online payments, so the residence deposit may need to be submitted through online banking or by regular mail. Be sure to leave enough time to meet all deadlines.

Occasionally, as in the case of UBC, the student is expected to apply to residence prior to being accepted at the university. Students need to read their residence application material carefully to ensure they meet deadlines.

Are there any students who get preferential treatment for residence? Or are spaces awarded on a first- come, first-served basis? Each university has its own regulations regarding on-campus housing for students. In general, preference for residential places is given to first-year students, often to students from the greatest distance. Some universities guarantee residence places to students with high averages and use this guarantee as an incentive to encourage students to accept their offers.

Many universities award residence rooms to first-year students by lottery: provided the student has applied to residence by the appropriate due date, her name will be placed in a lottery, and she will be awarded her

University Guidance Q & As

accommodation preference (e.g., single room, suite-style residence, etc.) depending on what space is available when her name is drawn.

What if a student doesn’t get into residence? First of all, don’t despair! If a student really wants to be in residence, she needs to be persistent. The first step is to ensure that the student’s name is on the waiting list for residence, and the next step is to check frequently by phone, fax or email to emphasize interest.

Meanwhile, the student should make alternative plans, at least for the first few days or weeks. Contact the Off-Campus Housing Office. They will undoubtedly be familiar with this problem and will be able to suggest alternatives. If you can go to the university early to find a place, so much the better. But keep that place on the waiting list to be in residence alive; places often become available after students arrive. Perhaps someone accepted a spot in residence and even paid the deposit, but changed her or his mind. Also, unfortunate as it seems, some students arrive but only stay for a few days or weeks, and drop out. Their places in residence become available.

The main thing to remember is that if a student really wants to be in residence, he will probably get a place—so it is not advisable to sign a long-term lease.

What about living off-campus, or at home? Sometimes there are good reasons why a student chooses to live off campus, in an apartment with other students, or at home. University residence is expensive, and it can be a challenge for students with special dietary needs. Often students who take a gap year do not want to live in residence when they begin university, as they are older than most students in residence.

Students who choose to live at home or off campus need to remember to make every effort to build a community of friends for academic and personal support. Often fellow Lakefield grads can be a huge help in this situation.

Arranging/Taking a University Tour

Why should a student take a university tour? All universities encourage students to visit. They know how important it is for students to see and experience, first-hand, the campus, classes, residences, food, fun, sports and other facilities — the overall "atmosphere" of the university—its looks, smells, noises, spaces, everything! There is no substitute for being there! Many universities find that they have a higher retention rate for students who have visited their campus.

University Guidance Q & As

How can ASTUDENT book a university tour? Most universities have an online system for booking campus tours. Just visit the university admissions website, and look for Campus Tours. If online booking isn’t available, the phone number and email to arrange university tours will be there. Guidance counsellors are available to help students whenever needed.

The long weekend breaks are good times for university visits—try to visit the university on a weekday, however, to see its academic as well as its social side!

What should a student do on a campus tour? Of course, a student can just turn up on a university campus and meet a friend, or wander around on her own. But if a student is seriously taking the time to visit a university, and trying to weigh its pros and cons in comparison with others, she may well want to plan the visit ahead of time, carefully.

Planning ahead may allow the student to be able to sit in on classes, have an individualized tour to the areas of key interest to her, and schedule an appointment with admissions personnel or a faculty member in the program that interests her.

Here is some advice we offer students:

Participate actively in your campus tour Your tour guide will usually be an upper-year university student and will know the university inside out. Take him or her off script and ask detailed questions. Afterward, explore on your own: go where students are: talk to them — ask them what they like, or dislike. Don't just ask your friends — get some other points of view. Is this university difficult to get into? Competitive once you’re there? If so, would you like this? Is there time for extracurriculars? For fun? Look at the whole package.

Go to a class Plan this one ahead — be on time, be sure you know what's going on, listen, watch the other students, check out the size of the class, the "interest" level, the professor, the interaction with students, or lack of — all the things which would affect you if you were in the class. After the class, ask some students what the course is like.

Check out the residences What do you like? Co-ed? Single Sex? Co-ed, by floors? Are there other options? What about noise? The "atmosphere"? Again, what do you like?

Check out where and what students eat/drink Meal plans? Quality of the food? How many options are there? How convenient are they to get to? What are their hours?

University Guidance Q & As

Check out transportation Is this a university you can get around on foot? If not, are you going to have a car? Are there buses? Are there problems about security? Is it friendly? Is there a "spirit"?

Consider making a list of all the questions you can think of—and ask as many as you can. Take time after your visit to write down your gut reactions, while they're fresh. They will help you compare this place with other ones.

Accepting a University Offer

How does a student accept an offer? If a student wishes to accept an offer from an Ontario university or community college, the process is simple: the student needs to log into OUAC (or OCAS, for a community college offer) and check the "Yes, I accept" box for the relevant institution.

For out-of-province universities, once again, students can accept the offer online, but almost always have to pay a deposit as well. Usually the deposit can be paid online with a credit card, but for some schools, this would be the time for parents to set up online banking arrangements so that they can pay expenses from their own accounts. If necessary, the student may arrange for LCS to send a cheque, but our strong preference at this point is for the family to begin to make banking arrangements.

Students accepting British offers can accept them online through UCAS; American school acceptance is usually either done online through the institution or by mailing back an acceptance card.

What if a student has several offers, and can’t decide which to choose by the deadline? What should she do? A student who is not ready to accept an offer should contact the university ahead of the deadline and ask if she may have an extension and for how long. Sometimes universities will give extra time (the student should be sure to ask for a deadline on residence and scholarship offers as well).

Students may accept only one Ontario university offer, but it is possible to accept an offer and change one’s mind (provided the change is made before the end of May). Occasionally students accept an offer within Ontario and another outside Ontario to give themselves a bit more time to reflect. However, by June, some institutions are asking students to register for courses, so the student cannot delay too long: we advise this course of action only when a student has a genuine reason for needing more time, such as wanting to visit the universities before making a final decision. Also, in all fairness to other students, the student should try to make her final decision as quickly as possible, so that the university she doesn’t choose can open a space for another student. It may be helpful to telephone the university about residence, scholarships, or other questions before deciding.

University Guidance Q & As

How does a student ensure that a final transcript is sent to the university she has accepted? All Ontario universities receive final transcripts automatically through OUAC. In mid-May, students should complete a transcript request form for any out-of-province schools they are considering attending (including American, British, and other international schools). These should include any university whose offer they have provisionally accepted, and any universities which are "top" schools for them from which they may not have heard.

What if a student is placed on a wait list for her first choice? Or if a decision about her application is deferred until June grades are received? Universities such as Ryerson frequently place students on wait lists for popular programs, and occasionally a decision on a student’s application may be deferred until the final marks are received.

Guidance counsellors will have worked with students throughout the year to ensure that a student has applied to schools where she will receive offers, so the first thing to do is accept a back-up choice.

Another alternative is to submit additional applications. Although at this point the application deadline for most universities has passed, sometimes universities will still accept applications for undersubscribed programs. The student should work with her guidance counsellor to identify any attractive possibilities. University admissions offices will close their decision-making function while the students to whom they made offers are replying — until approximately July 1st. At that point students may contact any Ontario university or the Application Centre by telephone and ask where places are still available. The OUAC website also lists all programs and universities in Ontario still accepting students at this point.

Meanwhile, the student should stay in touch with his or first choice. If a university deferred a decision on a student’s application for final marks, it means just that. The student’s interim marks average did not meet their cut-off average, but it was close enough that the student was not rejected. The possibility that this may happen is one reason we place such stress on the importance of final marks in June—including that last set of exams!—because the final marks matter most of all. Often, phoning frequently about a wait list or deferred decision, or asking a guidance counsellor to write a letter of support, can be helpful.

University Guidance Q & As

Deferring a University Offer

Is it possible to defer an offer of admission until next year? How is this done? The best source of information on policies regarding deferred offers of admissions and scholarships is the university itself. The policies vary greatly from university to university, and from program to program: so, for example, while it may be possible to defer an offer from Humanities at the University of Toronto, it may not be possible to defer a Trinity One offer from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. Some universities will defer only if the student has a clear reason for not wanting to begin university in the fall; others do not expect a reason to be provided.

In any case, students must first accept the university offer, and then request a deferral. Some universities have a form to complete: the student should work with his or her guidance counsellor to uncover the procedure for a particular university.

Please also note: even when a deferral is granted, the university is likely to ask the student to submit a new application prior to April 1 of the following year to reactivate her application.

What about ANY scholarshipS offered? Can ASTUDENT take a year off and still keep ASCHOLARSHIP? Students should investigate the matter of scholarships very carefully. Often, schools will grant a deferral on admission, but not on a scholarship offer—so suddenly taking a year off has significant financial implications. Furthermore, sometimes when students re-apply after having been away a year, they are no longer eligible for many scholarships, which are often awarded only to students coming directly from high school.

What if a student needs help getting transcripts to university or completing applications while taking a year off? Guidance office staff will be happy to support students who need transcripts sent or who need to complete applications. We are only an email address away!

Taking a Gap Year

What if a student wants to take a year off? What options are available besides university? The GAP year is a term much more familiar to students in the U.K. than to students in Canada; most students in England take a year out following the completion of their A Levels before proceeding to university. Many of them work in other countries during this year, some in schools, assisting with sports programs and residential life. Lakefield has had a few students who have participated in the GAP program, spending the year in England. Students who are interested in a GAP placement, in England or elsewhere, should talk to Mr. Milburn. There are application forms and, again, deadlines!

University Guidance Q & As

There are a number of organizations which offer opportunities for students to spend several months to as much as a year in volunteer service projects in developing countries. Print information about such projects can be found in the Guidance Office resources, and also on the Guidance webpage in Lotus. Students will also want to do a great deal of research on their own. Often students participating in such projects are expected to fund-raise in advance to cover their own travel and expenses. Application forms, interviews, and letters of recommendation will be required, so students need to start investigations early!

Another type of opportunity is to become a "student assistant" (the name varies) in a boarding school in another country. Round Square schools in Australia and South Africa, for example, have welcomed some Lakefield graduates who possessed skills and interests that they could share with younger students, assisting with coaching, games, residential life, tripping, etc. Mr. Bird is the best contact for students to find out more about opportunities in these schools and also about international service projects, mentioned above.

We strongly encourage students who are considering taking a year off to apply to universities regardless. In our experience, students often change their minds mid-year about plans, and therefore keeping options open is definitely the best course of action.

What is the British Alumni Travelling Scholarship? How does a student apply? The British Alumni Travelling Scholarship is awarded each year to a student in the Graduating Year. This scholarship has been in existence since 1980 and is supported by British Alumni of Lakefield College School. The scholarship provides round-trip airfare to London, and a stipend to assist with living costs during the year.

The expectation is that the student who receives the award will find accommodation and a job in London, supplement the living allowance, and spend part of the year travelling in England and abroad. The terms of the scholarship provide that the student will attend alumni functions in England and represent Lakefield College School well, and that the student will submit a written report at the end of the year to the British Alumni and to the school library, for reference by future students. Dr. Tim Ward and his wife Veronica Ward have hosted the Travelling Scholar in their home in the initial weeks while he or she has become settled and found accommodation and a job. The Wards have had much to do with the continued success of this scholarship program and the enthusiastic response of all the recipients to their hospitality, support and continued friendship.

Students interested in applying must write a letter of application, stating why they would benefit from the scholarship, what they plan to do, and why they would represent Lakefield well. Dr. Avery can assist students with developing their applications. The deadline for letters of application each year is January 31.