Guidance and the Graduating Student
Welcome to your graduating year. Preparing for your future is an exciting time. This year will be one of challenges, questions and decisions for your future. This booklet contains important timelines and procedures that if followed will enable you to meet your deadlines and be successful in your desired destination.
We look forward to working with you.
Contents
Guidance Department StaffWorkplace/Apprenticeship
Application to Ontario Colleges
Application to Ontario Universities
Preparing myself for University/College
Out of Province
Scholarships
OSAP
Credit Courses outside TDSB
Request For Letter of Reference
Guidance Department Staff
Welcome to the 2009/10 school year from your Guidance Department.| Councellors: | |
|---|---|
| L. Pengelly | Surname beginning A - F & Visa Students |
| M. Burstein | Surname beginning G - L |
| L. Czudnochowsky | Surname beginning M - Z |
| R. Ullah | Special Programs Students |
| I.B Coordinator: | |
|---|---|
| S. Usprech | I.B Students |
| Administrative Assistants: | |
|---|---|
| L. Dale | Administrative Assistant Demographic data |
| D. Fitzpatrick | Administrative Assistant Guidance reception OUAC/OCAS marks changes |
In addition to ongoing counselling, counsellors have the following specific responsibilities for our graduating students:
| R. Ullah | Ontario Universities English Language Proficiency Tests (e.g. TOEFL / YELT) |
| M. Burstein | Ontario Colleges Universities outside Ontario S.A.T.’s |
| L. Czudnochowsky | Ontario Colleges Apprenticeships |
| L. Pengelly | Scholarships Ontario Colleges O.S.A.P. |
Workplace/Apprenticeship
If you are considering the option of direct entry to the workplace or apprenticeship, please contact your counsellor who will share with available resources and contact information.
Application to Ontario Colleges
| October 21, 2009 | Assembly introduction to the College Application Process: Choosing a college and a program plus hand out of the Ontario College Guide |
| October 27, 2009 | Ontario College Information Fair |
| November 5, 2009 8:45 - 11:30 | College Day at Victoria Park with representatives from the five GTA colleges |
| November/December, 2009 | College Application Workshops(during classes & at lunchtime) |
| February 1, 2010 | College application deadline |
| May 3, 2010 | Deadline to confirm attendance |
Application to Ontario Universities
| Date | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| September 25-27 | University Fair @ Metro Toronto Convention Center | |
| October 3 | 11:40 | Huron Uni/College |
| October 7 | 3:15 | Queen's |
| October 8 | 11:40 | University of Calgary |
| October 9 | 11:40 | Kings/Brescia/Huron |
| October 10 | 11:40 | University of Ontario |
| October 15 | 3:15 | Schulich School of Business |
| October 20 | 11:40 | Guelph/Humber |
| October 21 | 3:15 | York |
| October 22 | 3:15 | Ryerson |
| October 23 | 3:15 | Wilfred Laurier |
| October 27 | College Fair | |
| October 28 | 3:15 | McMaster |
| October 29 | 11:40 | Carleton |
| October 30 | 3:15 | Western |
| November 5 | 3:15 | Concordia |
| November 6 | College Day | |
| November 6 | 3:15 | Waterloo |
| November 10 | 11:40 | Trent |
| November 11 | 3:15 | University of Toronto |
| November 12 | 11:40 | Ivey School of Business |
| November 13 | 3:15 | Dalhousie |
| November 17 | 11:40 | Guelph |
| November 18 | 3:15 | Lakehead University |
| November 19 | 11:40 | Brock |
| November 20 | 11:40 | Royal Military |
| November 20 | 3:15 | McGill |
* Students attending the University information workshops are to remain seated for the full presentation. You may leave when the question and answer session begins.
English Language Requirements for Ontario Universities
Applicants whose first language is not English are usually required to present proof of English competency. Most universities accept the results of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or MELAB (Michigan English Language Assessment Battery) for admission purposes. See individual universities for specific English requirements.
Visit the TOEFL website at www.ets.org/toefl for up-to-date information.
OUAC Timeline
(Ontario Universities’ Application Centre)| January 13, 2010 | Deadline for Ontario secondary students to submit completed on-line applications to the OUAC. The fee for application is: $105 for 3 choices ($38 for each additional choice). |
| February , 2010 | RECOMMENDED last date for students to submit all information to the OUAC, including university and program changes, as well as additional active choices to be eligible for consideration for early admission. *This is not a deadline date. Changes will be accepted and processed by the OUAC at any time. |
| May 25, 2010 | The latest date by which all secondary school applicants shall expect one of the following responses from an Ontario university: 1) an offer of admission 2) a refusal, or 3) a deferral pending the receipt of specific additional information. |
| May 28, 2010 | Earliest date by which Ontario universities may require a response to an offer of admission from an Ontario secondary student. |
Preparing myself for University/College
- Attend the College/University Fairs
- Attend College/University information sessions at Victoria Park C.I.
- Speak to a counsellor in the Guidance office
- View materials in the Guidance office and Career Centre
- Research possibilities outside of Ontario
- Investigate joint/collaborative/applied degree programs
- Visit college/university websites
- Visit the colleges and universities to compare the following:
- Program
- Location
- Campus
- Residence and Meal Plans
- Financial
- Social
- Extracurricular Interests
- Admission requirements
- Meet all deadlines
Application To Post Secondary Institutions Outside Of Ontario
Students applying to any university/college outside of Ontario must complete an OUT OF PROVINCE /COUNTRY FORM. These forms refer to all applications you made to another Canadian university/college, American and/or International university. Please obtain a form from the Guidance office.
Students will be responsible to provide the necessary postage for all documents being mailed.
Applying to American/International universities/colleges may involve writing the SAT 1 (Reasoning Test) and /or SAT 2 (Subject Specific Tests).
Additional information on SAT at www.collegeboard.com
Scholarships
The key to a successful scholarship application is hard work, organization and persistence. Keep in mind that you will send out several scholarship applications and hopefully one of those applications will be successful.
Generally speaking you should have the following information ready:
- An up-to-date copy of your resume
- Copies of various awards, certificates
- Reference letters from community agencies at which you have volunteered
- Reference letters from teachers you have had in the past
- An original copy of your most recent transcript
What makes a successful scholarship applicant?
- Academic achievement
- Volunteer work - more than the mandatory 40 hours
- Community involvement and service - e.g. charity, environment, race relations
- Extracurricular activities - sports, clubs
- Student government
- Part-time jobs
What types of scholarships are available?
- Scholarships that don’t require an application: These are entrance scholarships given by universities based on academic achievement. Students with averages above 80% are generally given scholarships proportionate to their averages.
- Scholarships that require an application:
There are many scholarships in this category. Some are offered by universities for special programs. Some are offered by different granting institutions such as the government, banks, businesses and ethnic organizations. Many of these scholarships are for university and college applicants. - Scholarships that require a school nomination:
These are scholarships for which you should secure the school’s nomination before you apply. Usually one or two students are nominated. If you are interested in being nominated for one of these scholarships, you MUST fill out a yellow scholarship form as early as possible in the year. This form can be obtained from Mrs. Lewy in the Guidance office. The earliest deadline for one of these scholarships is during the first week of October.
- Websites:
- Guidance Department: The Guidance department receives notification of many scholarships. These are posted on one of the Guidance department bulletin boards and a copy is put in the Blue Scholarship Binder. This is kept behind Mrs. Lewy’s desk in the Guidance office.
- University and College websites
Bursaries
While scholarships are based on academic achievement, bursaries are based on financial need. Bursaries are granted by universities and colleges to their own students. Therefore, students apply for bursaries after they have accepted an offer of admission from a college or university, most likely in September.OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program)
OSAP’s objective is to help students from lower-income families meet the costs of post-secondary education. It is intended to provide financial assistance for educational costs and basic living expenses. The purpose of OSAP is to supplement, not replace, the financial resources that you and your family are expected to contribute.
OSAP is based on financial need as determined through your application. Educational costs and your family’s resources are taken into consideration.
An OSAP loan is funded by the provincial government and the federal government. To be eligible for OSAP you must be enrolled in a public university or college anywhere in Canada or an approved private college in Ontario. If you want to study abroad, you can apply for the federal portion of the loan.
Application forms for OSAP are available on-line in April or May at www.osap.gov.on.ca Your OSAP application is processed by the financial aid office of the college or university that you will attend. Therefore, the process does not start until you have accepted an offer of admission.
Queen Elizabeth II Aiming for the Top Scholarship
This is a scholarship given to successful OSAP applicants who excel academically. You apply for this scholarship when applying for OSAP on-line. The deadline is around June 20th.Request For Letter of Reference
PLEASE ALLOW THREE WEEKS FOR THE REFERENCE LETTER TO BE PREPARED.
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