Canadian University Information Session

Michelle Embury

Brian McDonald

Holly Schofield

Where are they ? Acadia University

Bishop’s University

University of Alberta

British Columbia Institute

of Technology

University of British

Columbia, Vancouver

University of British

Columbia, Okanagan

University of Calgary

Camosun College

Capilano University

Carleton University

University College of the

Fraser Valley

Concordia University

Corpus Christi College

Dalhousie University

Emily Carr University of

Art & Design

University of Guelph

Huron University College

University of King’s

College

Kwantlen College

Langara College

Mount Allison University

Queen’s University

McMaster University

Ryerson University

Simon Fraser University

Thompson Rivers

University

University of Toronto

University of Victoria

Waterloo University

York University

A few brief notes…

• Undergraduate studies – university studies leading to a

first degree – in Canada, a bachelor’s degree

• Graduate studies – university studies leading to a higher-

level degree such as a master’s or doctorate

•Standardized admissions tests – Canadian universities do

not require students to write any admissions tests (SAT or

ACT) when applying for an undergraduate program

• Naviance – web-based university application management

software

•SAT – US

•PSAT – Preliminary SAT used to familiarize students with format

and content of the SAT and determine National Merit Scholarship

winners (US citizens only)

•SAT Subject Tests – 60 minute tests in any one of 20 subjects

•ACT – US-based college admissions test administered by ACT,

Inc., a private US Company

Canadian Post-Secondary Education at

a Glance

•Programs typically require 4 years of full-time

study

•Students receive a bachelor’s degree

•Students usually apply directly to their faculty or school of choice (Science,

Commerce, Engineering, Arts)

•Some faculties do not always permit direct entry (Nursing, Kinesiology,

Education)

•Students may enter graduate studies or professional programs (law, medicine,

dentistry and pharmacy) after successful completion of undergraduate studies

Types of Universities There are two main approaches to classifying Canadian

universities:

By Size (The Globe and Mail)

• Large (Enrollment over 22,000 students)

• McGill, Toronto, Western, Ryerson, Alberta, Calgary and

UBC

Types of Universities

• Medium (Enrollment between 12,000 and 22,000 students)

• Queen’s, Carleton, Simon Fraser and Victoria

Types of Universities Small (Enrollment between 4,000 and 12,000 students)

• Dalhousie, Saint Mary’s

Trent and Laurentian

Types of Universities

Very Small (Enrollment under 4,000

students )

• Mount Allison University,

• Trinity Western University,

• Bishop’s University

Types of Universities

By nature and range of programs offered (Maclean’s magazine)

• Medical/Doctoral

• McGill, Toronto, Queen’s, Western, Dalhousie, McMaster,

Alberta, Calgary and UBC

• Comprehensive

• Waterloo, Simon Fraser, Concordia, York and Victoria

• Primarily Undergraduate

• Mount Allison, Acadia, Bishop’s and Ryerson

Athletics

Student Life

What about quality?

Overall quality of Canadian universities is very good. The range

in quality is also much smaller when compared to US

universities.

While validity of absolute rankings is questionable at best,

many Canadian universities are consistently ranked in the top

200 in the World. For example consider these 2011 rankings:

Times Higher Shanghai Consulting QS World

Toronto 19 26 23

UBC 22 37 51

McGill 28 64 17

McMaster 65 89 78

Alberta 100 102-150 159

What are the steps to applying to a Canadian University?

1. List each university in Naviance Account

2. Submit online application(s)

3. Submit any supplemental materials (if necessary)

4. Submit midterm transcripts or self-report marks to each university

5. Continually check emails for correspondence!!

6. Receive offer of acceptance (and accept!) – check emails!

7. Apply for residence (timing varies university to university)

8. Submit final transcripts (through BC Post-Secondary Choices form)

The Application - Ontario • Ontario – all applications for study at one of Ontario’s 21 universities are completed online through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. (www.ouac.ca)

• Students may apply to as many as 3 programs per university with no limit to the number of universities a student may apply to, but…

• While a student’s first 3 applications cost $130, each university adds additional fees that quickly increase the total cost

• Each university makes application decisions independently

• Each university sets how midterm marks are to be submitted (hardcopy by mail or are self-reported)

The Application The “Others”

•All other university applications are made directly through each university’s website.

•Fees vary from university to university (Acadia - $25, UBC - $60, Calgary - $115)

•Final Grade 11 and midterm Grade 12 marks are self-reported

•Application deadlines for housing vary from university to university

•Each university makes application decisions independently

•Each university sets how and when midterm marks are to be submitted (mail, fax or electronically)

The Common Application

The Common Application

The Cost of a US College Education

The Cost of a US College Education

I’ve applied – How do I get in? Marks, Marks, Marks!

• Admission to Canadian universities is mostly based on a student’s

average in their top 4, 5 or 6 grade 12 academic courses

•Students must meet both the University’s general admission criteria as

well as any program-specific criteria

• English 12 is always included in your average

• What is considered an “academic” course varies from university to

university

• Some universities (UBC & UVic) also have grade 11 course requirements

even though the mark is not used to determine admissability

• Some programs (Queen’s PSE, for example) require supplemental

supporting materials

How to get into Engineering

• Victoria

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, Physics 12 and 1 other academic course

(Chemistry 12 preferred)

• UBC

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12 PLUS English 11,

Principles of Math 11, Chemistry 11, Physics 11, a Grade 11 second language,

Social Studies 11

• Queen’s

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (or Calculus), Physics 12 and Chemistry 12

• Western

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, Calculus 12, Physics 12, Chemistry 12

• McGill

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (or Calculus), Chemistry 12, Physics 12 and 1

other academic course

How to get into Commerce

• Victoria

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, and 2 other approved Grade 12 courses PLUS

English 11, Pre-calculus 11, Social Studies 11 and a science 11 (and

supplement)

• UBC

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, 2 other approved Grade 12 courses PLUS

English 11, Pre-calculus 11, a Grade 11 second language, a science 11 and

Social Studies 11 (and supplement)

• Queen’s

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (or Calculus), 2 other approved Grade 12 courses,

each chosen from a different category and not a second English

• Western (Richard Ivey)

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, 2 other approved Grade 12 courses, 90% overall

average in Grade 12 (and supplement)

• McGill

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (or Calculus 12), 3 other approved grade 12

courses

How to get into Sciences

• Victoria

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12, and 2 of Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Geography

12, Geology 12, Physics 12 PLUS Physics 11 and Chemistry 11

• UBC

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (minimum 67%), 2 other approved Grade 12

courses including 1 of Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Geology 12, Physics 12

PLUS Physics 11 and Chemistry 11, English 11, Social Studies 11 and a Grade

11 second language

• Queen’s

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (or Calculus), plus 2 of Biology 12, Calculus 12,

Chemistry 12, Physics 12 (Calculus 12 is recommended).

• Western

•English 12, Calculus 12, plus 2 of Biology 12, Chemistry 12, Physics 12 or

Pre-calculus 12 (Pre-calculus 12 is highly recommended)

• McGill

•English 12, Pre-calculus 12 (or Calculus 12), plus 2 of Biology 12, Chemistry

12 or Physics 12 and 1 other approved Grade 12 course

How to get into Arts

• Victoria

•English 12, 3 other approved Grade 12 courses, English 11, Pre-calculus 11 of

Foundations of Math 11, Social Studies 11, a Grade 11 science

• UBC

•English 12, 3 other approved Grade 12 courses, English 11, Pre-calculus 11*,

a Grade 11 science , a Grade 11 second language, and a Grade 11 social

studies

• Queen’s

•English 12 and 3 other approved Grade 12 courses

• Western

•English 12 and 3 other approved Grade 12 courses

• McGill

•English 12 and 4 other approved Grade 12 courses

* UBC also accepts Foundations of Math 11 & 12 as an equivalent of Pre-calculus 11

How Competitive is it?

McGill Queen’s * Calgary Victoria

Engineering 90.5% 88.7% 80% 77%

Arts 86.8% 86% 72% 75%

Science 92.7% 89.3% 80% 75%

Commerce 92% 90.7% 80% 84%^

UBC UBC - O

Engineering 85% 75%

Arts 85% 75%

Science 93% 75%

Commerce 85%** 87%+

* Queen’s Averages for the 2011 entering class – some students will enter with lower grades ** Commerce at UBC has a lower average due to the “Broad-Based” admissions policy ^ U Vic Commerce considers supplementary materials

How much does it cost?

McGill Queen’s UBC

Tuition (Science) $5,858 $5,482 $5,069

Room & Board $11,320 - $14,200 $11,000 Varies

Student Fees $1,600 $1,035 $826

Books & Supplies $1,000 $1,100 $1,300

Travel $1,500 $1,500 $0

Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 $2,000

Total $23,278 - $26,158 $21,317 $9,195

Tuition for some faculties is substantially higher – Engineering ($10,000) and Commerce ($13,000) or Richard Ivey years 1 & 2 $21,499 per year.

Scholarships – “Free Money” There are three general types of scholarships:

1. University Entrance Scholarships - these scholarships are awarded on the basis of a

student’s entering average. They are typically tiered with larger and larger awards for

progressively higher averages. Many are automatic and do not require a student to

submit an application.

For example, take Carleton’s automatic entrance scholarships:

95 -100% $4,000.00 per year for 4 years

90 – 94.9% $3,000.00 per year for 4 years

85 – 89.9% $2,000.00 per year for 4 years

80 – 84.9% $1,000.00 per year for 4 years

2. University Application-based Scholarships – these scholarships require a student to

make an application and often supplementary materials. While they require more

effort, the value of these awards can be significant.

3. Non-specific Application-based Scholarships – there are a large number of

scholarships offered by third parties for students either studying particular subjects, at

certain universities, or who meet other criteria. These can range from a couple

hundred dollars to several thousand. Loran Scholarship is worth $75,000 in total.

A Canadian University Timeline

October 1 – Canadian university applications start to become available

October – November 30 – applications considered for early acceptance with

reporting of Grade 11 final marks and self-reporting of Grade 12 midterm marks

December 1 – all applications must be submitted (supporting transcripts to follow)

December – request paper transcripts through Naviance to be sent to universities

that accept Term One marks.

January 6th – February 1st – Self-reporting of grades is open for McGill

February – Self-reporting phase two opens for University of Victoria

March – Self-reporting system opens to report Term Two marks for UBC and McGill

March through May – complete BC Ministry of Education Post-Secondary Choices

Form (PSI) to send electronic copies of transcripts to selected universities

UPCOMING UNIVERSITY VISITS

University of Victoria, October 20th, 1:20 – 2:00, University Guidance

Huron University College, October 28th, 1:20 – 2:00, University Guidance

Carleton University, November 2nd, 10:45 – 11:05, University Guidance

McGill University, November 2nd, 1:20 – 2:00, University Guidance

University of Alberta, November 15th, 1:20 – 2:00, University Guidance

McMaster University, November 16th, 10:45 – 11:05, University Guidance

Ryerson University, November 17th, 9:30 – 10:00, University Guidance

Queen’s University, November 18th, 1:20 – 2:00, University Guidance

University of Guelph, November 21st, 1:20 – 2:00, University Guidance