– Shirley Shen (grade 12) from Luwan BCOS
This semester, students in grade 12 started to apply to their future university, which is quite important for them. This is a complicated process where students have to collect the information and prepare all the materials by themselves. Their choices for programs and subjects roughly represent their future direction.
Grade 12 students need to pay attention to applying for university in September. Some students even researched a lot of information online during the summer vacation. Furthermore, our school has a course called Grad Transitions to provide help for students to learn more about choosing and applying to university. Every student gets a booklet that lists all the preparations we should finish before we enter university, including planning for our future, finding our personal values and job prospects for different university programs.
In October, most students in grade 12 sent their applications to the universities. They can apply to all universities in Ontario through a website called OUAC, and other universities on their official websites. It’s not a difficult process, but it’s important to make sure the detailed information on the application is correct. Different schools have different requirements. Some of them need students to self-report theirs marks and some universities make you apply for residence at the same time.
In the next several months, the grade 12s should check their email very frequently and read them carefully because universities ask students for materials they need. If the deadline passed and students haven’t sent them, they will have no chance to get into the school. Usually, universities require student transcripts and an IELTS mark. Some programs also require a portfolio or essay. The deadline for IELTS is usually January or the beginning of February. Some people choose a bridging program if they didn’t high enough marks. If students apply to universities in America, the process is different. They use a website called “Common Application.”
All students in grade 12 have applied to universities. Four students have already received an offer or even a scholarship. Nevertheless, top ranked universities haven’t begun to send their offers yet.
In conclusion, having an agent may help you a bit during this process, but the key in applying to universities is student’s ability and marks. University means a lot for a student’s life. Every student needs to seriously consider it.