Timeline for Graduating Students Planning to Attend Post-Secondary

Sept - Oct

• Research alternatives: careers, programs, schools
• Talk to your Guidance Counsellor, Career Practitioner, people who know you
• Attend college/university presentations at school 
• Visit the websites of various post-secondary institutions for information about programs, admission requirements, deadline dates
• Investigate scholarships, student loans 
• Begin the application process by going online and creating an account and log-in username/password, most online applications go live in October 
• Check the admission section and the “How To Apply” and the “Application Process” on each institution’s website for details. 
• Apply Alberta - applying to post- secondary institutions in Alberta
• EducationPlannerBC - British Columbia’s Post-secondary Application Service
• OUAC - Ontario Universities’ Application Centre
• The Common Application – Apply to over 500 universities & colleges in the United States 
• For others, go directly to the institution’s website

NOTE: The downside of applying too early or to too many schools is the application fee is non- refundable. However, if you wait too long, it may be too late to gain admission.

Nov - Jan

• Go online and complete the online applications for admission (or a paper one if applicable) 
• Check to see if reference letters, personal profiles, portfolios or supplemental applications are required 
• Be sure to include Interim, Final and/or predicted grades for ALL Grade 12, 30 level courses you have taken or are taking in Sem 1 and 2 if they require them at this stage 
• Some applications will ask for final Grade 11, 20 level marks if final Grade 12, 30 level marks are unavailable, check the requirements carefully 
• Attend post-secondary information sessions at the school and Open Houses 
• Continue to investigate scholarships & bursaries and apply well before the deadlines 
• You can submit your applications once you have your first set of Sem 1 marks and/or your final Grade 11 marks if they were exceptional 
• If you are still undecided or your marks are not where they should be for admission purposes speak to your Guidance Counsellor and/or Career Practitioner about what you can do

This stage is determined by the deadline date of each institution. Keep referring to the institutions’ website for details.

Feb - Jun

• Many institutions outside of Alberta will require an unofficial school transcript to be uploaded, mailed, or faxed after final marks from Sem 1 and/or first report card marks in Sem 2 become available – check your “to do” list for each institution. 
• Complete and upload any reference letters, personal profiles/statements, supplemental applications, portfolios that are required for admission 
• Conditional Admission is based on the marks they have to date (final and interim) and conditional upon your final marks being at or above the  average required for that program/institution 
• Final Admission is given once the institution has received your Official Transcripts in July with ALL of your Grade 12 marks and you are at or above the required final average in the 5 Grade 12 courses required for admission 
• If you are planning to attend an institution outside of Alberta order your Official Transcripts by the end of June online from Alberta Education (be sure to specify that finals marks are to be sent after June exams) 
• You may also need to order an Official Transcript for certain scholarships 
• After receiving acceptance (conditional), you may be asked to pay a deposit (which may be non- refundable and be applied to your tuition) in order to register in courses for your first year. The institution will notify you about the process for registering in courses. 
• Once you have made a final decision, notify your choice of your decision and pay the deposit to hold your spot and confirm your acceptance and notify the other schools that you applied to, that you will not be attending

School Finders

• Alis - Educational programs - Find out about post-secondary schools and programs in Alberta and distance learning programs available in Western Canada.
• Career Cruising - See Counselor or Career Practitioner for username/password - Find information on more than 1,700 universities, colleges and career colleges in Canada, including admission requirements, costs, programs and contact details.
• School Finder

Universities / Colleges and Technical Schools

Calgary 

• University of Calgary 
  • Admission Requirements
• SAIT 
  • Admission Requirements
• ACAD
  • Academic Admission Requirements (Portfolio also required) 
• Mount Royal University
  • Admission Requirements
• St Mary’s University College
  • Admission Requirements 
• Ambrose University College
  • Admission Requirements
• Bow Valley College
  • Admission Requirements

Other Canadian Schools 

• UBC, Vancouver
  • General and Degree-Specific Admission Requirements
• UBC, Okanagan
  • General and Degree-Specific Admission Requirements
• U Vic. Victoria
  • Admission and Deadlines
• University of Regina
  • Admission Requirements
• University of Alberta, Edmonton
  • General Admission Requirements 
  • Program Specific Admission Requirements 
• U of Lethbridge 
  • Admission Requirements 
  • Career paths 
• U of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
  • Admission Requirements 
• University of Manitoba
• Queens University, Ontario
  • Admission Requirements
  • Competitive Averages
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology
  • Admission Requirements
• U of Toronto
  • Admission Requirements
  • Career paths
• Ryerson University (Toronto)
  • Admission Requirements
• U of Ottawa
  • Admission Requirements
  • Career paths
• University of Waterloo
  • Admission Requirements
• York University
  • Admission Requirements
• McGill University, Quebec
  • Admission Requirements
  • Alberta Admission
• Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Institute (Ottawa)
• Carleton University 
  • Admission Requirements
• University of New Brunswick (Fredericton)
  • Admission Requirements
• Dalhousie University
  • Admission Requirements
• St Francis Xavier University, Nova S
  • Admission Requirements
• Acadia University, Nova Scotia
  • Admission Requirements
• Mount Allison University, Nova Scotia 
  • Admission Requirements

USA

• Study in USA - Get information from top USA universities, colleges and schools sent to you, a free service for international students wanting to study in the USA.
• College Board - Information on SAT’s and ACT’s.
• US Schools Awarding Financial Aid - Many colleges and universities in the US offer financial aid to international students. Here is a list of the US schools that offer international aid, searchable by state, and also showing the number of students that receive aid and the average award.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

• Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) - We represent 92 Canadian public and private not-for-profit universities and university-degree level colleges. Apply for higher education scholarships.
• Education Matters - Lists awards for Calgary and area students attending a Post-Secondary Institution.
• Scholarships Canada - Canada's most comprehensive scholarship portal. Search through our extensive database to find scholarships, student awards, bursaries and grants. You'll also find information about student loans, applications and budget planning.
• yconic - Match you to thousands of scholarships, bursaries and cash awards.
• Alis - Loans and Grants - for Alberta Students applying to post- secondary/apprenticeship programs
• Canada Student Financial Assistance - Information and tools designed to help you save, plan and pay for post-secondary education.