This Week In University Counselling: Grade 12
september 29-October 9
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!
Grade 12 University Counselling Orientation presentation - ONE LAST TIME
If you missed the Grade 12 University Counselling Orientation presentation, please take time to review the presentation slides. It is VERY IMPORTANT that ALL Grade 12s are aware of the messages about University Counselling processes, timelines, and deadlines.
Even if you were present last Monday, please take time to review the presentation slides again. In addition to being shared below, you can always go to the Presentations page on this website to find and review those slides.
Grade 12 UC Orientation 2023.pdfcourse changes
Now that we are well into the rhythm of the academic term, we hope you are feeling settled in your classes, and any course changes that you needed to make were taken care of last week.
If you still need to make changes to your courses, please make an appointment to see one of the University Counselling. You will need to go through a process whereby permissions from teachers, your Advisor, and your parents will need to be confirmed.
The deadline for all course changes will be October 6.
ALL Grade 12s Need to ‘Check-In’ with University Counselling by Thanksgiving... if not sooner!
We need to see all 159 of you by Thanksgiving to check-in and get an update of your post-secondary plans. It might be a quick meeting that confirms that your plans are exactly the same as they were in the spring of Grade 11, but more likely it will be a somewhat more detailed meeting during which we are able to discuss plans that have been refined over the summer. It is critical that this check-in happen so that we can ensure that you are on the right track with respect to course requirements, the application process, etc.
A solid majority of you have completed this task... Well done!
The following Grade 12s still need to come in for their Check-In:
Max A.
Martin B.
Luca B.
Samuel B.
Frazer C.
Isha C.
Estelle d.
Sebastian E.
Etienne F.
Cleo F.
Alex G.
Tedra G.
Zachary H.
Kennedy H.
Ella K.
Max K.
Lexi L.
Davis L.
Jake L.
Annika M.
Dylan M.
Kiara M.
Nirva M.
Cassidy N.
Koko O.
Romeo O.
Luke P.
Harper P.
Jordyn R.
Ben R.
Elliot S.
Christopher S.
Suhana V.
Isaac W.
Finn W.
Spencer W.
James W.
Mychael W.
Jonathan W.
William Z.
You might be thinking... "wait, I've been into University Counselling to discuss this or that..." Perhaps you have been to deal with a very specific application matter or a course change, for example, but we did not take the opportunity to capture the big-picture plan. Do us a favour and come back to confirm that we have the information we need; please go back to the University Counsellor you met with to discuss the matter.
University Counselling/CLC Blocks
Your University Counselling blocks continue! You are responsible for checking your My Schedule on MySchool to know when your University Counselling block is scheduled.
Applicants to UK Medicine/Dentistry/ Veterinary Medicine & OxFORD/CAMbridge (a.k.a. "OxBridge")
The submission deadline for your COMPLETE application, including REFERENCE is October 16 at 10 am.
THUS YOUR APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETE WELL IN ADVANCE, OR IT WILL NOT BE SUBMITTED AT ALL BY US!
So, you need to be getting things done:
UCAS application - if you haven’t already, go to the UCAS site to establish your account. Be sure to use our Guide to assist you through the registration steps and in filling out various sections: please find the Guide on our Application Guides page on this website.
YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT should be ready!
Choosing the schools to which you will be applying.
The other elements of the application process might include:
Planning for other admissions tests... the Registration Deadline for those is September 30.
We look forward to seeing you in University Counselling to assist you through the process and to review your application material!
Do dates/Due Dates
A reminder to your about our Application Policy: For any application that requires supplementary writing of any kind, you must have the application completed (your DO DATE) ONE MONTH BEFORE THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE (the DUE DATE).
Here are some key DO DATES/DUE DATES coming soon:
Ox-bridge/UK Medicine/Veterinary Medicine/Dentistry
DUE DATE = October 15th / YOUR DO DATE = AGES AGO!!
US Early Decision/Early Action (Nov 1st)
DUE DATE = November 1st / YOUR DO DATE = October 1st
US Early Decision/Early Action (Nov 15th)
DUE DATE = November 15th / YOUR DO DATE = October 15th
University of Washington
DUE DATE = November 15th / YOUR DO DATE = October 15th
University of California/California State Universities
DUE DATE = November 30th / YOUR DO DATE = October 31st
University of British Columbia Early Admission/Scholarship Consideration
DUE DATE = December 1st / YOUR DO DATE = November 1st
University of Texas, University of San Diego
DUE DATE = December 1st / YOUR DO DATE = November 1st
MOST US Regular Decision (Jan 1st)
DUE DATE = December 15th - January 1st / YOUR DO DATE = November 15th
University of British Columbia
DUE DATE = January 15th / YOUR DO DATE = November 24th
Richard Ivey School of Business HBA Application
DUE DATE = January 15th / YOUR DO DATE = November 24th
University of Toronto Engineering Supplement
DUE DATE = January 15th / YOUR DO DATE = November 24th
University of Waterloo Admission Information Form (AIF): Early Consideration for Engineering Applicants
DUE DATE = January 15th / YOUR DO DATE = November 24th
UK
DUE DATE = January 31st / YOUR DO DATE = December 8th
University of Victoria Commerce Application
DUE DATE = January 31st / YOUR DO DATE = December 8th
University of Toronto Supplements for Commerce, Computer Science, Architecture, Kinesiology
DUE DATE = Ferbuary 1st / YOUR DO DATE = December 9th
US College Fair - Tuesday, October 3 @ SMUS
The Vancouver Island College Event, "VICE", is a US college fair hosted at St. Micheals University Schools in Victoria on Tuesday, October 3.
For those who signed up, the bus will run at 3:00 pm from CROOKS HALL so that students can attend the fair between 4:00-5:00 pm. Please be in #1 dress.
The following students are signed up to go to SMUS on Tuesday for the VICE Fair:
Julian B.
Addison C.
Megan C.
Ophelia C.
Isha C.
Bena D.
Amy D.
Peter D.
Georgia E.
Elena F.
Paolo F.
Theo G.
Abheirr G.
Sienna G.
Hamish G.
Ainose I.
Abby K.
Liana K.
Myra L.
Aisha L.
Morgan L.
Dara M.
Shunsuke N.
Tyson N.
Pearl N.
Toni O.
Eliza P.
Stella P.
Isaac R.
Angel S.
Sophie S.
Sloane S.
Grace S.
Maria S.
Mea T.
Kevin V.
Edith W.
Hinano Y.
Zheng Y.
Kyle Y.
If you are no longer able to attend, please EMAIL MRS. HALL ASAP. There are a few spots left... SEE MRS. HALL TO GRAB THOSE SPOTS.
university visits
We are excited to welcome our colleagues from universities to present to Brentwood students this fall!
Here are some UPCOMING visits that have been scheduled. Click on the School Name links for more information about them and their programs:
A "MINI" US College Fair - Monday, October 2 @ 2:00 pm - Foote Field House
These and more presentations are scheduled, as you can see in the Calendar below:
For university presentations, you MUST SIGN UP to attend...
Procedure for Signing-Up for University Presentations:
If they occur during a sport or fine art, you MUST get permission from your coach/instructor to attend the Presentation. You must do this AHEAD OF TIME.
Once you have permission from your coach/instructor, if required, Email University Counselling to request to be signed up for a presentation, and be specific about which one it is.
You must Email University Counselling with your request no later than the night before the day of the presentation. Last minute requests are not permitted.
US Applicants
University of California: Personal Insight Questions Workshop
Our dear friend Lisa Przekop, the Executive Director of Admissions at University of California, Santa Barbara, is coming to Brentwood to offer a PIQ Workshop to 12s who will be completing the UC application... and that's a lot of you!! It will run during Cookie Break/Tutorial, this Tuesday, October 3. So please go immediately from your first block class to the Field House as the workshop will start at 9:40 am, sharp! No need to sign-up, just be there ready to learn how to best approach the all important PIQs!
Early Applications: Your DO DATE Approaches!
US Applicants, particularly those who are applying ED/EA, your DO DATE is October 1 (or October 15)... so you should be done and ready to have your application material reviewed!
For those who were unable to attend the USA Sundays workshop on September 17, please review the presentations slides about the application work ahead. Find them on the Presentations page of the website.
Confirm Your Plans!
As Mr. Rodrigues outlined during the last USA Sunday workshop, you need to share your plans for any ED/EA applications. You MUST NOT surprise us with an application before the deadline. To support you fully, we need to know well ahead of time.
See Mr. Rodrigues as soon as possible to confirm your ED/EA plans if you have not already.
Appointments for US Applicants
A disappointingly small number of US applicants took advantage of the Sunday appointments Mr. Rodrigues ran on the 17th... There will not be any Sunday appointments until after Thanksgiving, which is beyond your DO DATE for ED/EA applications. Plan ahead and get your butts into University Counselling early and often!
Current US Applicants List
Presently, this is our official list of US Applicants:
Max A.
Nathan C.
Isha C.
Estelle d.
Xavier D.
Amy D.
Mimi D.
Gillian D.
Nicolas E.
Taylor E.
Joshua F.
Thomas F.
Paolo F.
Jed G.
Eshwaan G.
Aiden H.
Sophia H.
Ko H.
Zachary H.
Kennedy H.
Serena H.
Ezgi K.
Nathan K.
Fareena K.
Sam K.
Morgan L.
April L.
Jake L.
Bern M.
Katelyn M.
Cassidy N.
Eliza P.
Anya P.
Hana R.
Hugo S.
Sophie S.
Indira S.
Charli S.
Florence T.
Mea T.
Mason W.
Edith W.
Hinano Y.
Maggie Z.
Yude Z.
Are you no longer applying and should be removed from this list? Are you missing from this list because you are new to 12 or have decided to apply to US colleges? Whatever the reason, if this list needs to be corrected, please email Mr. Rodrigues immediately.
Recommendation Letters
Most US schools will require the submission of Recommendations Letters from Teachers and a Counsellor.
Come into University Counselling to discuss which teachers you would like to ask for a Recommendation Letter. We can then discuss the process of requesting and inviting them to do so. You will need to fill out a Student Request Form for EACH Teacher from whom you are seeking a Recommendation Letter, and you will see those teachers IN PERSON to make you request, offer this form, and discuss what the information you provided. The form is below or hard copies are available in the University Counselling office.
Student Request Form_Teacher Recommendations.pdfIn the CommonApp, please Invite Mr. Rodrigues for the Counsellor Recommendation and Invite and Assign the Teachers who agree to provide Letters. Come into University Counselling for assistance if you need it.
There are no Recommendation Letters required for your UC application... that is the notable exception!
Applicant Autobiography
All applicants who must have a Counsellor Recommendation Letter submitted will need to complete the Applicant Autobiography process.
The CommonApp
Your Common Application should be almost completely filled in by now, and you certainly have added schools and discovered what supplemental writing you need to complete. Get on with scheduling the tasks ahead!
Please share your login credentials by entering them into the University Counselling Logins Form.
Early Decision/Early Action
If you are planning on submitting an Early Decision or Early Action application that has a November 1st as its Due Date, then make sure your DO DATE for completing all of your application material is October 1st. Then you will have plenty of time to have it all thoroughly reviewed in the University Counselling office before we submit it with you.
And ED/EA applications with a November 15th Due Date will have a DO DATE of October 15th.
You MUST ensure that Mr. Rodrigues knows about your ED/EA plan by your DO DATE, otherwise University Counselling cannot support your application properly!
Other Applications
If you are applying to one or more University of California campuses, you need to complete their own application: My UC Application. Get registered and start filling it out ASAP!
There are many other separate applications to think about... you should already know what application platforms you need to set up accounts with and be completing.
Please share your login credentials by entering them into the University Counselling Logins Form.
English Proficiency
If your first language is not English, regardless of your citizenship, you inevitably will have to do a test of English Proficiency as part of the admissions process. That would be TOEFL or IELTS... but it might be the much better, cheaper, and easier-to-access Duolingo. Regardless, it is critical that we review the English Proficiency requirements of EACH of your schools to ensure that you have a plan to meet their requirements.
International Certification of Finances
Any non-US citizen will, at some point, have to demonstrate that they have financial resources to pay for at least a year's expenses to attend school in the United States. Some schools require you to submit an International Certification of Finances (official proof of available funds from a financial institution) as part of the admissions process, while others only require it after you are admitted. It is critical that we review the requirements of EACH of your schools to ensure that you have a plan to meet their requirements. Your parents need to stand by to acquire and provide that financial documentation.
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:
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
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.
Loran Scholarship
From the Loran Scholars Foundation website:
"The selection of a Loran Scholar is unique in its attention to a young person’s character. We believe that integrity, courage, grit and personal autonomy are better indicators of overall potential than standard academic measures. To discover these traits, we administer the most comprehensive and thorough scholarship selection process in Canada. Tenable at 25 partner universities, the Loran Award is valued at more than $100,000 over four years, including mentorship, funding for summer work experiences and participation in an extensive network of past and present scholars. This year, we are offering up to 36 Loran Awards. In addition, we are granting up to 124 Finalist and Provincial & Territorial Awards ($6,000 or $2,000 each, respectively) to promising candidates.
In 2022/23, we conducted 1,604 interviews with students from across the country and invited 90 finalists to participate in national interviews. Students describe the process as an opportunity to reflect on their motivations and to imagine the lives they want to live. Whether or not they are selected for an award, many students come away from interviews with new connections, friendships and ideas.
The Awards are renewable for up to four years, with a total value of $100,000, each Loran Award includes:
An annual stipend of $11,000
A tuition waiver of up to $11,000 annually from one of 25 partner universities
Personal mentorship from a Canadian leader
Experiential learning through summer work experiences in three different sectors with funding up to $14,000
An orientation expedition through Algonquin Park
Annual retreats and scholar gatherings
Lifelong membership in a community of values-driven individuals
We also grant up to 124 finalist and provincial awards to promising candidates who are not selected as Loran Scholars. Read more about our different awards."
The Due Date for submitting a complete Loran Scholarship is October 11 @ 5:00 pm.
“Unique in Canada, the TD Scholarships for Community Leadership are designed to recognize the achievements of youth who are making a difference and help them realize their educational goals. After all, today’s community-minded students are tomorrow’s leaders. Have you made your community a better place? Then we want to hear from you. You may qualify for one of our Community Scholarships.”
The Due Date for submitting a complete application for the TD Scholarship, which includes a letter of recommendation from the School, is November 15, thus students must submit a completed application for review by University Counselling by the DO DATE of October 15.
The National Scholarship rewards original, creative and committed Canadian secondary school students. These are students who demonstrate superior academic performance, original and creative thought, and exceptional achievement in a broad context. They excel in academic pursuits, demonstrate enthusiasm for intellectual exploration and have a strong involvement in the lives of their schools and communities. Each year approximately ten students are named National Scholars (winners) and ten are named Arbor Scholars (runners-up).
Eligibility Criteria:
an original and creative thinker committed to school and community
a high achiever in academic and creative pursuits
enthusiastic about learning and intellectual exploration
a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person currently in your final year of Canadian secondary school or first-year CEGEP intending to begin university the following academic year
a National Book Award nominee or self-identify as meeting the criteria above
Deadline to Apply: October 19
Value/Amount: The National Scholarship covers tuition, incidental and residence fees for up to four years of study. Finalists not designated as National Scholars receive Arbor Scholarships at a value of $7,500 in the first year and $1,500 per year for three additional years of undergraduate study. The scholarship is tenable only at the University of Toronto.
How to Apply: Click here to apply to the 2024 National Scholarship Program. You will be prompted to create an account before proceeding to the application form. Please remember your username and password.
British Columbia Scholarships
Click HERE to see what scholarship/award/grant opportunities are available to students who attend a school here in British Columbia.