WHS

Class of 2027!

Graduation & Beyond

Presented by Mrs. Williams, Miss Cameron & Ms. Dempster

Student Services

Google Classroom

All grade 12 students were invited to the Classroom. Please let your counsellor know if you think you did not get the information email from us or the classroom invitation, or use the code below to join:

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It’s okay to be nervous

or unsure

• Ask questions- this is all new!
• Work on getting more comfortable with being uncomfortable
• Talk to others who can help
• Make decisions that you think are right for you- not for your friends, parents, etc.
• It’s “normal” to not have it all figured out, and changing gears is okay

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Credit Check and Grad List

• The school counsellors will check each student’s graduation status, but it remains the responsibility of you and your parents/guardians to ensure that all graduation requirements are met.
• The Potential Grad List is the list of all grade 12 students who are on track to graduate in June 2027. It will be posted at the end of February. The list posted the day before graduation is the actual Graduation List.
• The Potential Grad List is meant to show students what the school has on record as their full legal name in order to prepare graduation diplomas. The diploma must be the full legal name.
• Full IB students need to meet IB requirements, and so the PSP requirements do not apply

Sample Credit Check

Don’t use MyBlueprint to check your credits!

Planning for After High School

• Check out “myBlueprint”

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• Access it through your gnspes launch page

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• Use your “gnspes.ca” username information to set up an account and explore the site. The site can be used to explore and compare occupations, university/college programs across Canada and more!
• MyNSFuture.ca also has lots of great career exploration tools and information

What Are the Options After High School?

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• Go directly to work
• Gap year experience- travel, work, volunteer
• Apprenticeship (formal on-the-job training program for “Red Seal Trades”)
• Community College (NSCC in Nova Scotia)
• Military Training and Employment
• Private Career College: Business, Cosmetology, Computer, Services etc.
• University – public, private (US), religious

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What Information Do You Need?

• Find programs & occupations that match your skills & interests

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• Research institutions that offer the training/study programs

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• Make sure you have the high school course requirements and grades necessary to apply for the programs. Remember that these can vary among institutions

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• Consider which institutions are a good fit (e.g. location, online or in-person, environment, stay at home or residence, length of program, cost- including textbooks, travel etc.)

Finding Post-Secondary Information

• *Go on-line to the institutions’ websites*
• Look at the School Counselling & Student Services links to Post-Secondary info on our school website
• Many institutions’ printed brochures and calendars are available from the institution. Email or call to request these, or check Student Services
• Call the Admissions Office of the institution- they’re glad to help
• Attend presentations by visiting institutions that take place at Woodlawn High School, including the AARAO fair Oct. 15
• Attend Open Houses at the institutions: virtual or in-person
• Take part in webinars offered by various institutions
• Visit your School Counsellor
• Check out MyNSFuture and Use myBlueprint through your gnspes Launch Page

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Meeting Requirements

• Training programs, degrees, diplomas, certification, etc. (e.g. paramedicine, welding, pharmacy)
• Completion of an assessment (e.g. medical school - aptitude test for Halifax Regional Police) as part of the admissions process.
• Completion of an undergraduate university degree before applying (e.g. Education, Law)
• A year/two in an undergraduate program - meeting specific requirements before you apply for the program itself (e.g - Dentist or Social Work)
• A license or permit showing that you have met the industry’s standards, usually requiring training or an exam (e.g. cosmetology, realtor)
• Recommended specific training that may be helpful in getting hired, but isn’t required (e.g. firefighter)
• Relevant work/life experience
• Networking can be very helpful!

Here are some of the types of requirements for different kinds of work/study:

Sample Transcript

Requesting Transcripts

Transcripts are a record of all your passing high school courses & grades

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• 11 post-secondary institutions in NS are now part of the MyTranscripts system. This provides these institutions in with transcripts for students automatically, using their 10 digit student identification number. For more info, visit the MyNSFuture-MyTranscripts: https://www.mynsfuture.ca/mytranscripts.
• If applying outside of NS, request a transcript in Student Services. Students are responsible for mailing transcripts to the post-secondary institutions, or ensuring they are emailed from WHS.

Requesting Transcripts (cont’d)

• Note that transcripts cannot be emailed directly to students.
• Students can request up to 3 transcripts at a time.
• Full IB students should request PSP and IB transcripts
• In your graduation package, there will be three official/sealed transcripts, one of which must be sent to the post-secondary institution the student will attend in the fall.
• After graduation year, there is a $5.00 fee for transcripts.

Entrance Requirements for Post-Secondary Study cont’d.

• Check the Student Services site’s “Post Secondary” link for details about many of the schools our students commonly consider
• All institutions have their own set of entrance requirements that student need to meet for admission. It is your responsibility to check these for the schools & programs you’re interested in. We can help. They may be looking for a specific average (we don’t calculate these) and/or specific courses (e.g. Pre-Calculus)
• If applying outside of the Atlantic Province (i.e Ontario or western Canada) the universities have set requirements that may not align with Atlantic Canada. For example, some courses do not count for admissions in Ontario but will count in N.S.
• Admission Requirements for Non-Atlantic schools

Entrance Requirements for Post-Secondary Study

• As a general rule, schools will look at your top 5 grade 12 academic-level courses for admission, including English. Not all schools accept the same courses (e.g. Co-Op).
• Many universities will also look at your grade 11 marks as an indicator of how well you have done in a course that is needed for your application.
• Some institutions require only high school graduation or equivalent.
• Some don’t look at marks, but you may need to have specific credits (e.g. academic-level math)
• Meeting minimum entrance requirements does not mean you’ll get in. Some programs are more competitive than others
• Some programs are also wait-listed

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University Degree

Bachelor’s Degree: Also known an as “undergraduate degree”; typically completed in 3 or 4 years of full-time study. Here are a few common ones:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA): may major in history, philosophy, political science, English, international development, psychology, criminology, etc.
• Bachelor of Science (BSc): chemistry, biology, math, geology, etc.
• Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm): accounting, economics, marketing, etc. May sometimes be referred to as a Business degree.
• Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng): civil, electrical, mechanical, etc.

Students usually select a major and minor, typically in their 2nd year of study.

• Bachelor of Social Work

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NSCC And More

• NSCC and other institutions offer training programs of different lengths (generally ranging from 19 weeks to 2.5 years). When finished, students may receive a
• Diploma
• Advanced diploma
• Certificate
• Graduate certificate

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• You may also be able to combine college programs with degree-granting programs . A two-year NSCC diploma may be recognized for up to two years of a four-year university degree. e.g. Complete the Social Services program at NSCC and use it towards a Bachelor of Arts at Acadia

Academic Upgrading & Skills Development

• After graduation, there are opportunities to
• upgrade your marks
• pick up required high school or university credits
• get a headstart in earning program credits
• improve your English or build other skills
• study with an Afrocentric or Indigenous focus
• prepare for formal assessments like GMAT

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These opportunities are offered through NSCC, Dalhousie Transition Year program, Saint Mary’s UPrep program and other institutions

• Most are not free, but funding help may be available
• It may also be possible to get/upgrade some high school credits as a WHS returning grad, but this depends on space & course availability.

What is an Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a post-secondary pathway that leads to certification in a skilled trade. 80% of an apprentice’s time is spent on-the-job training where aspects of a chosen trade are learned directly from a certified journeyperson. The remaining 20% is spent in technical training which is delivered at a college, vocational school or union training centre.

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As a registered apprentice, you are, in fact, an employee and will be paid while you are on the job learning. This means much less student debt and an increase in wages as you move through each level of your apprenticeship.

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https://www.nsapprenticeship.ca/

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Skilled Trades with Apprenticeship Opportunities:

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Construction (e.g carpenter, boilermaker, construction electrician, tower crane operator, sheet metal worker)

Manufacturing (e.g. metal fabricator, machinist, tool and die maker)

Transportation (e.g. automotive paint technician, heavy equipment operator

Service (e.g. baker, hairstylist, horticulturist, appliance service technician)

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Some trades require classroom learning before you can begin your on-site apprenticeship, but you can start most right after graduation or even before.

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Youth Apprenticeship: Students and youth who are 16 to 19 years of age and employed in a skilled trade while in high school may register as a youth apprentice. A registered youth apprentice can continue as a student while they work part-time getting paid, accumulating hours and experience toward trade certification.

Application Process

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• Post-secondary applications are all made online. They almost all involve:
• creating an account with the institution and filling in basic information about you and the program you are applying for.
• If you have created an account and you need to return to the application - you can log back in but as a returning user - not by creating a new account.
• You haven’t officially actually applied until you have paid the application fee (look for opportunities to waive this). You’ll usually need a credit card #
• The school will then send you an email confirming your application and telling you about next steps
• Many institutions within the Atlantic provinces have a March 2027 deadline to be considered for Entrance Scholarships based on marks. Please note there are universities with deadlines in mid January for limited-entry programs.

Application Process (cont’d)

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• Early Admission: Applying for early admission can be a good idea if you have some grade 12-level courses from last year, and if your marks from last year are strong. Otherwise, waiting for your mid-term marks in November may be a better plan.
• Outside the Atlantic provinces, the dates vary- usually earlier than above. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the school of their choice.
• Ontario has one central application centre (OUAC) for all of their post-secondary institutions
• NSCC –Apply NOW!

Completing Your Application After Graduation

• In all cases, final marks must be sent to the institution following graduation in June.

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• It is your responsibility to deliver the final transcript to the institution.

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• You will pick your actual courses and schedules in the spring or summer before the fall semester begins; this is done online or at the institution. Saint Mary’s & Dal usually comes to our school to offer help with this

Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries

• Money is available, but requires research & work! Check out MyNSFuture.ca for more information.

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• Scholarship opportunities that WHS is made aware of are posted to the Google classroom and/or listed on the school counselling website (under “Our School”), and posted to bulletin boards around the school

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• Awards are often based on a student’s academic achievements, as well as school and community involvement.

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• There are also monetary awards/bursaries based on financial need, leadership, volunteerism, family situation, etc.

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Scholarships, Awards & Bursaries (cont’d)

• Award types include:

- Entrance scholarships and Renewable scholarships given by the institution

- Sports scholarships (usually not initiated by students)

- Community/corporate scholarships and bursaries

- WHS-specific awards (online application in the spring)

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• These can be based on marks, financial need, community involvement, cultural background, and more!

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• Taking a gap year may be the right thing for you. However, many scholarships are not “deferrable”, and so you need to be prepared for that

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Important Dates

• Some private institutions accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis
• Some have no specific application deadlines (e.g. Atlantic Flight Attendant Academy, Medavie Health Ed. paramedicine training)
• NSCC- They have many programs starting in January and September, and spots fill up, so applying in the fall, after mid-term marks are out, is advisable. Some programs are waitlisted, and so you may not get in right away. Local Universities: by first of March for entrance scholarships (University or specific program deadlines may vary)
• Nova Scotia Student Assistance (Student Loans) Applications for September 2027 will be available online May 2027

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Key Points to Remember

• Have conversations with your support systems and or your school counsellor regarding your plans for next year if you are unsure.
• Do your research - this includes specific requirements for different programs (remember - some schools may not accept certain academic courses e.g - Co-Op 12)
• If applying for university, double check…do you have 5 grade 12 academic courses that meet the application requirements for your program of choice? This is very important if applying for schools in Ontario.
• If applying for scholarships, make sure you have the following….
• Transcripts (get them from student services).
• Reference letters (teacher or community)
• Letter of Intent (some scholarships will ask for this, having a general

one helps the application process).

• Keep up to date with google classroom, the announcements and school visits and guests.
• Remember: we are here to help!

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Other Things to Consider…

• All experiences matter and can help you end up working in a world you love. Transferable skills are learned in various places, like jobs, school, sports or other activities, chores, and more. They can include:
• Communication and people skills
• problem-solving, planning and organizational skills
• Adaptability and curiosity
• Following directions and taking the initiative
• Most people don’t take a straight line into one occupation and stay there. This is “normal” and can actually enrich your experience and make you better at different jobs.
• Don’t underestimate the value of networking and forging good relationships with others who can help you.
• Volunteer experience is very important for post-secondary applications and scholarships. Be actively involved in your community and school.

THANK YOU

We may host another session in the spring to help with post-secondary course selections, student loans and more

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QUESTIONS?

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PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH

Mrs. Williams (A-I)

Ms. Dempster (J-R)

OR

Miss Cameron (S-Z)