This Week In University Counselling: Grade 12
february 2-midterm
Appointments to see a university counsellor
To see one of the University Counsellors, you must make an appointment using our on-line booking system.
To book an appointment, you need to be logged into the Brentwood system through your school email account. Also, you must ensure that you have opened your Google Calendar at least once to ensure that the times between the two systems are in sync.
To access our on-line appointment system, click HERE to go to the correct page on the University Counselling website...
Although we shouldn’t have to tell you, do not make an appointment during a class—academic, arts or athletics—you cannot skip to attend a University Counselling appointment!
clc coursework
Ms Beausoleil has laid out the work that you should have completed by now... a cursory scan of some students' MyBlueprint accounts show that the degree of completion is sporadic, at best. In a few cases, we see that students have done almost nothing! We will be alerting Advisors soon about the state of things... and we will employ Saturday Night Prep if it comes to it!
The coursework needs to be complete before you get on with your Capstone Projects! You will be assessed on this work and your mark in CLC will depend on it.
uiniversity correspondence
PLEASE READ THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT THEY SEND YOU, AND ACT WHEN THEY ASK YOU TO!
It is clear that many of you are not carefully reading the emails you are receiving. This is how universities work... they function on email.
They may have specific tasks for you to complete, and deadlines associated with them, so be sure to review what you receive carefully. If all they say is that you need to arrange for your transcript to be sent, know that we have you covered and will make arrangements for that to happen… that’s why we insisted that you applied with us!
Get your Application Accounts set up and submit your login credentials on the UC Logins Form (see below) so that we have them handy.
Please share correspondence with us that you may not understand. For example, if you receive letters or emails that tell you that universities are missing some documents or information, please DON’T PANIC, but do come to see us. With so many items arriving at each admissions office, inevitably some things go astray and need to be re-submitted.
University Counselling's ONE Commandment
At this stage of the year, it is time to remind EVERYONE—students and PARENTS—of the First (and only) Commandment of Brentwood University Counselling:
“Thou shall not submit any university application anywhere else except in the University Counselling office with one of the Brentwood University Counsellors.”
This is a commandment that applies to both Students and Parents... and some of you have already been guilty of breaking this commandment!!
It is critical that this commandment is followed, otherwise the potential is high that either mistakes on applications will be made, or transcripts will not be sent because we are unaware of where applications are sent. By submitting with us, the best possible applications are submitted, and the required follow-up is completed. Our system works, so please use it effectively!
canadian university applications
There is still plenty of time to submit your applications to Canadian universities, but you want to get moving!
Application Deadlines!
The deadline has passed at universities including: Toronto, UBC, Victoria, Simon Fraser, McGill, McMaster, Queen's.
While late applications are generally not possible, there may be specific programs at some of these schools that remain open...
McMaster: many of their program options remain OPEN!
Queen's: many of their program options remain OPEN!
Toronto: most of the program options at the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses remain OPEN!
UVic: most of their program options remain OPEN!
March 1 - All other universities and colleges*
* While there are deadlines throughout the winter and spring, we want to ensure that ALL applications are submitted by March 1.
ApplyAlberta
All universities in Alberta use the ApplyAlberta application.
Click HERE to access the ApplyAlberta.
Sign Up for your ApplyAlberta account.
Once you have established your OUAC account, please submit it to us using the UC Logins Form.
British Columbia Universities - Education Planner BC
ALL universities in British Columbia have now adopted the Education Planner BC application.
Click HERE to access Education Planner BC.
Sign Up for your Education Planner BC account IF YOU DID NOT DO SO ALREADY IN YOUR CLC BLOCK!
Once you have established your Education Planner BC account, please submit it to us using the UC Logins Form.
Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC)
All universities in Ontario use the OUAC application.
Click HERE to access the OUAC application registration page IF YOU DID NOT DO SO ALREADY IN YOUR CLC BLOCK!
Once you have established your OUAC account, please submit it to us using the UC Logins Form.
ALL Other Canadian Universities Applications
The application systems for other Canadian universities are either:
straightforward enough that we can easily get the applications set up (and even completed) during a regular University Counselling appointment, or
complicated enough that it is inadvisable for you to do any set up of it on your own; we must work through the process carefully with you during an appointment (or probably two).
supplemental applications - Canadian Universities
While most Canadian universities have very simply applications, initially, many of them do require supplemental material to complete the application process. It is critical that you review the communication that they initiate with you to ensure that you fully understand the supplemental requirements and associated deadlines.
Here are JUST A FEW of the notables...
McMaster University
For Health Sciences: the Supplementary Application system will open in February and be due a few days later.
Queen's University
The deadline for the Supplementary Essays required for Commerce and Health Sciences and strongly recommended for Nursing is February 15th.
University of Waterloo
The deadline for the Admission Information Form is February 16th.
University of Calgary
The deadline for the Supplementary Application required for the Health Sciences programs is March 1st.
If you are uncertain whether the program that you applied has a supplemental application, please review its admission requirements carefully and look out for instructions from the university. If you are still uncertain, come and see us in University Counselling.
Time to Self-Report marks? ...Should I be worrying about marks?!
Reporting/Self-Reporting of Marks
If you have applied to some Canadian universities, you may be getting instructions about next steps, including the Self-Reporting of marks. With your Fall term marks available, we can proceed with these universities:
University of Alberta ...Starting February 12th
Carleton University
Concordia University
McGill University ...opens MARCH 1st
McMaster University
University of Ottawa
University of Toronto ...WAS DUE: FEBRUARY 1st
University of Waterloo ...DUE: FEBRUARY 15th
Western University ...DUE: FEBRUARY 16th
You are NOT to complete the process of Self-Reporting on your own. Make an appointment with one of the University Counsellors for assistance.
Marks from Ministry Transcripts
Right after Canadian applications are submitted, the University Counsellors have been working with you to get your Ministry Transcripts ordered because many universities make their decisions using data from those transcripts exclusively. Be sure that you have ordered your Transcripts!
US Colleges
Midyear Reports have already been sent to US colleges.
UK Universities
Predicted Marks were submitted with your UCAS applications.
additional requirement for ubc
English Language Admission Standard (ELAS)
If you attended a school at any time from Grade 9 onward where English was NOT the primary language of instruction, then you will need meet UBC's minimum English Language Admission Standard (ELAS). The ways to meets the requirement are found here. The deadline to submit documentations showing you meet the ELAS is February 15.
University of victoria: Scholarship OFFERS
Entrance Scholarship Offers
If you receive a UVic Scholarship, you MUST ACCEPT IT NOW, regardless of whether you intend to accept UVic offer of admission or not. If you don't accept it before their (short) deadline and then decide to attend UVic, the scholarship will be LOST.
It is a ridiculous system, we know, but it is what you must do. Follow the instructions on accepting the scholarship, or come see us in University Counselling for assistance.
...And one more thing... UVic's application for additional scholarships (beyond those based on marks) is now open! See one of the University Counsellors for help on accessing these scholarship resources. Note: the application closed April 30th.
US Applicants
Just about all US applications have now been submitted, the exception being any that have an application deadline that falls on February 1 or later… and those are few and far between!
If you have any outstanding applications to US universities that have not yet been reviewed for submission, please make appointments to review your applications with the University Counsellors.
For those of you who have already submitted your applications…
Universities may be contacting you with requests for further information, or to notify you about missing documentation. Be sure to read the correspondence and act on requests ASAP. We want to ensure that your application files are complete and ready for review, and often materials can go missing in busy Admissions Offices.
You will be getting emails from universities reminding you to arrange to have Midyear Reports submitted. Rest assured that we will be completing that process by month’s end when they are typically due.
UC Logins Form
While you are always advised to protect your login credentials for websites on which you establish accounts, it is vital that you share those credentials with University Counselling so that we can fully support your applications. We do promise absolute discretion in protecting your credentials... you can put your trust is us!
To easily share your Application Account Login Credentials, please use this Form:
Admission Decisions
Whether it's good or bad news, PLEASE let us know when you receive admission information from your university choices. We require this information from you: 1) to have a complete picture of what is happening with applications, 2) to promote your achievements! 3) it helps us understand how universities are making their decisions.
HOUSING: Canadian universities
While most universities will guarantee housing to you if you receive an offer, there are some schools which require further action to confirm your interest in campus housing and others where a separate application for residence is required. These schools include: Alberta, UBC, Calgary, Lethbridge, Simon Fraser, Toronto, Victoria. In some cases, the applications for housing are open now (Alberta, UBC) and in others the application will open later in the term.
Lethbridge, Simon Fraser - housing is NOT guaranteed for any student... you should apply for housing ASAP to increase your chances of getting a place in housing.
Toronto - you must complete their housing profile (StarRez) via your JoinUofT account by March 31st to secure a place in residence.
Alberta, Calgary - the deadline to submit your application for housing to be guaranteed a place = April 30th
UBC, UVic - you must submit your housing application by May 1st to be guaranteed a place in residence.
If you have questions regarding university residence, please see one of the university counsellors.
International Students whose First Language is Not English
Students whose first language is one other than English, you may very well have to prove your English proficiency to universities by means of a test like TOEFL or IELTS. If you have been at Brentwood since Grade 9, that is often enough for many Canadian universities. If you have been at Brentwood for 3 years or less, and/or you are planning to apply to universities outside of Canada, you must come in to review the Proof of English Proficiency policies of your universities of choice. These policies can vary wildly, and if require a test at even one university on your list, then we need to make plans for you to write TOEFL or IELTS sooner rather than later.
TOEFL and IELTS tests are available locally in Victoria, Nanaimo, and Vancouver, as well at locations around the world. Please come in to discuss options. If you are in doubt about whether you will need to write, come in. IF ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE, COME IN TO CONFIRM REGARDLESS!
Major Scholarships
For now, the scholarships that are most relevant are considered to be Major awards—usually national awards that are tough to get. Most of you will be automatically considered for Entrance awards to the universities you apply to, without a separate application.
Between those are other scholarships that need to be found by looking at resources such as the following sites: scholarshipscanada.com and yconic.com. On these sites, you need to set up a profile and search through matched awards.
If you think you would be a suitable candidate, be sure to investigate the Major Entrance Scholarship process for the schools to which you are applying. Each will have a different process for scholarships, so better to do your research now to ensure you know what exactly to do and when to submit!
There are some major scholarship programs that require work to be done and application submitted early this fall. Here is a list of scholarship opportunities, and information about the work you need to do to apply.
This year we are once again offering (40) $1,000 bursaries to grade 12 students.
This program was established by RE/MAX of Western Canada to recognize the success and ongoing pursuits of Western Canadian students in regards to leadership and community contribution initiatives. Students can enter online HERE.
2023 Quest for Excellence program is open for submissions until March 13. Only online entries will be accepted.