Planning for Post-Secondary Education

There are scores of post-secondary institutions to which students can apply when they complete high school. Each of these institutions has unique admission standards. Some general guidelines are as follows:

Universities

• All universities in Canada and the United States require the successful completion of English 30-1.
• Math 30-1 is required for admission to programs in university that require calculus. Math 30-2 is acceptable for non calculus based programs. Consultation with the counsellor is suggested.
• In the past, the average needed for admission to most universities in Alberta has been 70 - 80% in the required courses but these averages have been increasing in high demand faculties. When students want to leave the province, they often require an average of 80% or higher
• Universities have direct admission to most faculties. This means that students need to have a clearer direction in mind as they plan for University.

Colleges and Technical Institutes

Colleges often require five Grade 12 courses but which courses are accepted vary for diploma, university transfer, applied degree or bachelor degree programs. Technical institutes, i.e. SAIT, have different admission requirements for each program. Some programs require English 30-1 and Math 30-1. Others require a high school diploma. Many programs at these institutions accept English 30 -2 and Math 30-2. This means students must find out about these requirements early in high school and choose courses appropriately.

For further information on Post-Secondary Education visit the ALIS Website at www.alis.gov.ab.ca.

Links

The Internet has a wealth of information about high school, career planning and post-secondary education.The following Websites are useful:

Calgary Board of Education

Alberta Leaning Information Service. This is a Government of Alberta website. It includes links to information on:

• Careers
• Scholarships
• OccInfo: Occupational Profiles (detailed profiles of over 500 careers including high school and post-secondary requirements, salary, future prospects)
• EdInfo: Educational Information on high school programs (High School Program of Studies) and Post-secondary Information

For links to all Post-Secondary Institutions in Canada, visit: http://publications.gc.ca/Collection/Statcan/81-582-X/institution.pdf.

Post-Secondary Requirements

Ensure that you have met the post-secondary requirements for technical school, college, trade school or university. This leads to another set of questions:

• What do I want to study?
• What institution should I attend?
• What are the entrance requirements for that institution? What high school courses do I need? What is the
• required admission average? Are there entrance examinations I must write or is there a portfolio requirement?
• When should I apply?
• How do I apply?
• What is the application deadline for my chosen program?
• What are the costs and how do I meet them?

All post-secondary institutions may require a high school transcript prior to processing your application. One supplied by Student Services will satisfy this requirement. However, all post-secondary institutions will require an official transcript from Alberta Education showing all of your high school courses. These transcripts will be sent automatically to schools in Alberta at no cost to you.

If you are applying to schools outside of Alberta you must request an official transcript to be sent by Alberta Education as soon as second semester final grades are available. Request forms are available online or in Student Services ($10.00 fee per transcript payable to the Minister of Finance).

For assistance with any of the items above, YOU are encouraged to make an appointment with your counsellor. Plan these appointments well in advance as the counsellor’s calendars fill up quickly.

General Timeline

October

• Scholarship applications begin in September. Should be completed well in advance. Many require reference letters and take time to organize. Deadline dates are firm.
• Listen to/read the daily bulletin, Western's web site and/or the notices posted in Guidance to stay informed about
• post-secondary and scholarship information.
• Plan to tour institutions of choice whenever possible.
• Apply on-line to Apply Alberta for Alberta institutions at: www.applyalberta.ca .
• Canadian, American and over-seas university applications are available on-line
• Apply online to the Ontario University Application Centre for Ontario Universities at: www.ouac.on.ca.
• October 29 - Western's Coast-to-Coast Canadian Post-secondary Fair. (See details on last page.)
• SAlT's application period begins October 15. Conditional acceptance offered as qualified applications are received. Check selection criteria for your program at sait.ca

November

• November 1 University of Calgary Open House

December

• December 15 - Deadline for University of Calgary Chancellor's Club, Seymour Schulich Scholarships and the Awards for International Students.

January

• University applications - Submit Canadian university applications if you have not already done so. Refer to specific university web sites for up-to-date information.
• Canadian college applications - The basic requirements are a high school diploma or 18 years of age. Some programs require additional items, i.e. interviews, portfolios, medical certificates, volunteer work experience.
• January 15 - ROTP (paid education) application deadline. Check www.forces.ca
• Auditions or portfolios - Check deadline dates.
• Unofficial school transcripts - If post-secondary institutions request a record of your marks, you may obtain a school transcript in Guidance at $1.00 per copy.
• January 31- UBC application deadline

February

• February 1 – ACAD Early admission deadline; February 15 – ACAD Portfolio deadline.
• February 1 – U of A application deadline for Nursing
• February 1 – McGill, Queen’s Ryerson, Toronto (engineering), &York Universities applications deadline,
• Final credit check for Graduation List including Semester 1 final marks.
• February 28 – UVic & SFU application deadline

March

• Early Admission Decisions – the first report card of second Semester is March 17. Request transcripts in Guidance. Ensure your mid-term marks for early admission decisions have been sent before the end of March.
• March 1 – U of T & U of L (early admission) application deadline.
• March 1 – U of C application deadline to all programs
• March 11 – Grad List posted outside guidance office
• March 31 - U of Waterloo application deadline.

April

• April 22 – Scholarship Meeting

May

• Graduation Exercises, Banquet and Dance

June

• Student Loans – Apply for student loans through the Student Aid Alberta. Apply online at alis.alberta.ca/. NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE MAY.
• Remember to request Alberta Education send your official transcript of your final high school marks to the post-secondary institutions of your choices, outside the province either online at studentaide.alberta.ca. THIS IS A MUST! If you neglect to do so, universities will delete your application. There is a cost of $10.00 per transcript. There is no need to request official transcripts for Alberta schools. They will be sent automatically.