Post Secondary Planning

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Mr. Greg Accili

Mr Brian Taggart

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Agenda - After Vancouver College

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• What do you want to do?
• Where do you want to go?
• Is it realistic?
• Are you planning your next step
• Are you helping yourself this summer?
• Post high school research
• Scholarships
• Do you have a solid local backup?

Post Secondary �Planning

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Questions for Reflection

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• What have you done to date e.g. Planning and personal research/visits?

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• How familiar are you with the process of researching and planning?

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• What messages are you receiving about what you should do?

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• What are your ideas about what you want to study and where or what other plans you may have after high school?

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Post Secondary �Planning

Grade 11, including the summer afterwards, is a very important year to achieve academically, be involved in extracurriculars, community service and the school in general, and to establish yourself as an individual with solid character, a strong work ethic, maturity, self-discipline, and responsibility. Last full year before application.

Grade 11 is also a very important year to complete most of your post secondary research and planning in order to take the pressure off of your grade 12 year.

Post Secondary �Planning

Many resources and search engines on the web which make beginning/continuing/refining your research simple and less daunting.

Exposure forms our preferences – that’s why it doesn’t really ‘work’ if someone else does it for you!

There is only one you – what appeals to you as you read or hear about it will be unique to you.

Student Role

Independent, comprehensive research.

Awareness of and adherence to deadlines and procedures.

Consistent effort, organization, and focus.

Realistic selections which represent a breadth of options.

Parent Role

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• Allow your son to do his own research, develop his own preferences and goals, and rationalize his choices to you. This is essential in building confidence and surety.

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• Do not compare, or rely on rankings or non-direct advice. Be supportive and encouraging through this stressful time.

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• Include him in all meetings discussing his post-secondary plans – recognize him for the young man that he is.

Counsellor Role

Information provision – Presentations, lessons, Student Services memos, postings online and on boards, etc.

Events & Resources: university, college, and institute presentations, post-secondary fair, print materials, web links and online tools e.g. Career Cruising.

General guidance.

One-on-one counselling.

Research: �Search Engines

Xello- login: Go to your inbox for your school email and click on Google Apps. The Xello icon is at the bottom and they click on that to login.

. Search by subject, area of study, and/or career.

Education Planner - http://www.educationplanner.ca/ (BC)

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada -

https://www.univcan.ca/

UBC Career Services

https://students.ubc.ca/

Research:�Search Engines

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• Other PSI websites – search by major and program.

https://www.universitystudy.ca/search-programs/

https://www.schoolfinder.com/Index.aspx

• Big Future: www.bigfuture.collegeboard.com (US).

Personality and preference surveys, lots of majors

and career information.

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• My Road - https://collegeboard.roadtripnation.com/ (US)
• Ontario Universities Info
• Canadian Universities Event (CUE)

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Creating Your List�Important Considerations

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• Admissions requirements – Courses, entrance averages, supplementary materials, admits from previous year.

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• Selectivity (Freshman Profile).

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• Program and faculty details – Requirements, facilities, opportunities.

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Creating Your List�Important Considerations

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• Unique programs or opportunities – Cooperative education, undergraduate research, combined studies, cohort programs, etc.

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• Class size – Contact with instructor and classmates.

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• Culture of university, college or institute, city, and distance from supports.

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• Religious, athletic, and extracurricular activities.

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Creating Your List�Important Considerations

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• Compare institutions and programs by courses and structure – How are they the same and how are they different?

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• Which institutions are you highly likely to get into and which are you less likely to get into.

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• What are your backup plans, typically local, should your circumstances change?

General �Considerations

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• Use the time you have in grade 11 and the summer following prior to the intensity of grade 12 to do comprehensive research.

• Grade 12 should be about finalizing choices and applying, not beginning from scratch. This will save you a lot of stress!

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General �Considerations

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• Avoid easy answers (e.g. rankings, letting someone else decide for you, deciding based on superficial things). Independent counsellors and workshops may affect ownership, confidence & connection.

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• Conduct your own research to expose yourself to what is out there – this will shape your preferences – you need to ‘own’ this process as it is the biggest decision you will make in your life at this age.

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General �Considerations

We support and embrace all post-secondary plans at VC whether they are university, college, institute, apprenticeship, work or volunteering!

Focus on the concept of match – getting in and thriving.

Make your own decisions– choose the places that are best for you.

General Considerations

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• Create a broad plan with back up – never assume anything – you, your grades, your finances, your interests – lots and lots of things will change by the time you are finishing grade 12.

General �Considerations

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• University transfer – Thinking of attending university later? Not sure you have the grades to get into university? Enroll in a university transfer program – you will take the same courses and earn the same credits, then have the opportunity to transfer to a university after first or second year.

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• Academic upgrading – Don’t have the courses or grades you need? Upgrade at a local college or university e.g. Capilano University, University of the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Community College, etc.

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General �Considerations

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• UBC Vocational Testing – Career testing and counselling package at a low cost tailored to high school students.

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• Specific versus general studies – Not ready to decide what to study? Pick a PSI that suits you and take general studies until you feel a direction.

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BC Post Secondary �Institutions

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• Smaller universities: Emily Carr University, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Vancouver Island University, Capilano University, etc. offering degrees and university transfer.

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• Colleges ‘like’ universities, e.g. Douglas College, Langara College – called colleges but offering four year degrees as well as university transfer.

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• Colleges that offer university transfer and/or associate degrees e.g. Corpus Christi College, etc.

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BC Post Secondary �Institutions

• Benefit from much smaller classes, focus on teaching (not research), similar environment, lower admission requirements, university transfer or full degree options, unique and highly specialized programs, diversity of programs, home locations.

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• BC Transfer Student Study: Transfer students earn higher grades than students in receiving institutions except SFU.

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Vancouver Sun Article

Vancouver Sun Article

Smaller institutions are focused on teaching and learning, not research.

Easier to get into.

Only province in Canada with fully articulated agreement between PSI’s

Excellent transition for high school students.

Vancouver Sun Article

• Andrew Arida, Director of Undergraduate Admission, UBC, “All our studies show that the outcomes are the same, so it’s a great way to go”.

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• UBC reserves a full one third of their upper level new student seats for Transfer students

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• BC Transfer Students: Profile and Performance Report: “Overall, transfer students’ graduation GPA was higher than direct entry students’ graduation GPA for all receiving institutions, except SFU”.

�Application & Admission�BC & Canada�

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• Generally calculate admission average on four+ grade 12 approved courses (from each PSI’s list) that are needed for both general admission and program admission. Minimum GPA’s published are not enough!

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• Some universities are now looking at grade 11 grades as well. (UBC 2019, U of T 2019, SFU 2020 - Just to name a few.)

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�Application & Admission�BC & Canada. �

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• Many universities and programs now require a supplemental application.

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• This asks you to provide information about things like your work and volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, accomplishments, recognitions and awards, and leadership experiences.

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Application & Admission�BC & Canada

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• BC and Canada – application deadlines ~ mid January - February 28^th, but many are first come, first serve. Apply on www.applybc.ca , www.ouac.on.ca, or individual post-secondary websites.
• Recommend applying as soon as application opens, therefore need to be ‘ready to roll’ in the fall of grade 12.

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Application & Admission�BC & Canada

Sending Grades

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• Students self-report completed grade 12 grades/first term grades, or send paper transcripts if requested (some out-of-province), with application.

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• Self-report mid-year (post-exam) grades, or send paper transcripts, in February/March.

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Application & Admission�BC & Canada

Sending Grades

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• Students self-report second term grades from Jan - April. These grades are also sent directly to PSIs from the Ministry of Education as interim grades through the PSCF in May. (earlier for UBC & SFU)

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• Conditional offers made as early as December and as late as the summer.

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US Universities �& Colleges

Admissions

• Admissions based on grades in 9 – 12 (grade 11 of greatest importance) & academic program, student profile, SAT scores, letters of recommendation from teachers and a counsellor, essays, etc.

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• Student profile: extracurricular history, leadership experiences, community service, achievements, awards and recognitions, enrichment experiences.

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US Universities �& Colleges

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Admissions – SAT

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• Students write PSAT (practice version) at VC (SSD for learning exceptionalities must be completed well in advance). Registration by September 30^th.

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• Students register for SATs online at www.collegeboard.com well in advance of test dates.

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• SAT not the most important aspect. Freshman Profile provides a snapshot of admitted freshman the previous year.

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US Universities �& Colleges

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Admissions – SAT

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• Some competitive universities require one SAT 1 and some SAT 2 or subject tests.

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• Students can prepare using comprehensive online program offered by Khan/College Board.

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• Application deadlines as early as Nov. 1. Most are January 1^st.

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UK & International �Universities

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• Direct entry, focused programs of study, typically no liberal arts or pre-professional programs.
• Some agreements with local institutions, e.g. Douglas College & Swiss Hotel Management School.
• Less time to earn degree(s).
• Some deadlines for application extremely early, e.g. October.
• Little or no flexibility if change mind or interests.
• Very far from home.
• Different culture.
• Deadlines as early as October.

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� Student Athletes �

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Student athletes must go through all the same application steps as other applicants, in addition to communication with coaches.

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Students must carefully read and follow rules for communication with coaches as per the Usports and NCAA guidelines. Remember: SFU is NCAA!

https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/

https://usports.ca/en

Financial Aid &�Scholarships

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• Many search engines available to assist in finding suitable scholarships: affiliation, athletic, governmental, institution-based (see Student Services link on VC website).
• Be realistic with respect to eligibility.
• Apply early and apply for many.
• Financial aid available through BC government – websites and information on Web VC Student Services.
• https://www.vc.bc.ca/student-life/student-services/post-secondary-planning/post-secondary-scholarships-and-financial-aid

Transcripts

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• Ordering Vancouver College transcripts well before deadlines for receipt for out-of-province programs is the responsibility of students using the Transcript Request Form available online.
• Ordering Ministry of Education transfer of grades and final transcripts by completing the Post Secondary Institutions Form online is the responsibility of students.
• https://www.vc.bc.ca/student-life/student-services/post-secondary-planning/transcripts

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Resources at VC

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• Classroom lessons – Religion 12 classes.

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• Evening presentations to students and parents.

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• VC post-secondary pamphlets.

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• Large library of print materials for post secondary institutions.

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• Extensive info on WebVC: Student Services > Post-Secondary.

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Resources at VC

One-on-one guidance and counselling with Mr. Accili. and Mr Taggart

Student Services web link.

https://www.vc.bc.ca/student-life/student-services

Individual university and college presentations at VC or in Vancouver.

PSIBC & CUE Fair: Open to VC students. Locations will be in the newsletter and information on when and where will be posted around VC.

Contact Information

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Mr. Greg Accili:

gaccili@mail.vc.bc.ca

Last names: A - M

Mr Brian Taggart:

btaggart@mail.vc.bc.ca

Last names: N - Z