OCTOBER

Guidance sends first electronic submission to OUAC & OCAS

OUAC - ONTARIO UNIVERSITY APPLICATION CENTRE
Guidance sends student demographics, grade 11 marks and current grade 12 courses electronically to OUAC.
OUAC pin numbers and access codes are mailed to St. Mary shortly after this submission.

OCAS - ONTARIO COLLEGE APPLICATION SERVICES
Guidance sends student demographics, grade 11 marks and current grade 12 courses electronically to OCAS
Students will create their own logins & passwords for OCAS.

Attend the 1st post-secondary application workshop from Guidance

All grade 12 students will be give a time to come down with their class and go through the application process whether they are interested in applying to College or University. This information session will provide students with the following paperwork.
  1. OUAC Pin Numbers
    You will receive your Application Access Code Letter from your guidance counsellor with your school number, student number and temporary PIN. Keep this letter for your records. You will need this information to apply.
  2. ​EInfo Flyer
  3. Summary of Marks
  4. List of College & University Presentations

University bound?

Visit www.electronicinfo.ca
You can use this site to compare programs and degrees, find information about universities, admission requirements, search for scholarships. see entering averages, and much more. This site is a MUST for any student choosing to go to University.
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Attend the UIP on November 9 from 8:30-10:30 am @SMCSS
"UIP" is the acronym for University Information program. The UIP allows you to gather information about Ontario’s 21 universities, including programs, campus life and anything else that may help you make a decision about which Ontario university to chooseents are welcome and encouraged to attend!
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College bound?

Visit ontariocolleges.ca
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Learn about Ontario's colleges, search college programs and more. The Ontario College Application Service (OCAS), is the centralized application service for Ontario's 28 public colleges.​
Attend the CIP on one of our bus trips!
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"CIP" is the acronym for College Information Program. Each fall Guidance Counsellors take a bus to either Loyalist, Fleming or Durham Colleges to take part in the College Information Program that is hosted at all three of these schools. Don’t miss out on an awesome opportunity to meet with college reps and get the information you need to make your decision about post-secondary education.
  • Learn about all kinds of careers and the programs that will lead you into them
  • Discover unique programs that are only offered at Ontario’s colleges
  • Learn about pathways between college and university
  • Get all the information on how and when to apply (that’s why we’re there!)
  • Ask questions about campus life, housing and student services
  • Get great advice on how to pay for your college education

Students must pick up a permission form from Guidance to attend. Forms will be ready at the beginning of October and need to be returned prior to the trip to Mr. Dunn in Guidance.

Online College Application site opens

In early October, access to the Ontario College Application Services "OCAS" website becomes available for programs beginning in the following academic year (August to July). You may create an account and begin your application.​

Applying to schools in the US?

Any student wishing to apply to the States must write a generalized comprehensive test (SAT, ACT).
​The test will be scored and your score will be used as part of your admission procedure. See Mr. Dunn for more information.

Are you a varsity athlete?

If you are a varsity athlete and plan to continue your sport in post-secondary, talk to your coach/high school coach, or Mr. Dunn then contact the post-secondary athletic department at the schools you applied to.

Applying to Out-of-Province Universities?

If you intend on applying to a school in another Canadian province, please speak with Mr. Dunn in Guidance to help.

Click here to the website that lists all public Canadian Universities.
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The OUAC assists the following out-of-province universities with collecting academic data for Ontario high school students who have applied through the OUAC:
  • Acadia University
  • Bishop’s University
  • The University of British Columbia
  • The University of Calgary
  • Concordia University
  • Dalhousie University
  • *McGill University (transcripts must be uploaded through Minerva - McGill's system)
  • Saint Mary’s University
  • Simon Fraser University
  • The University of Victoria

Students who apply to these out-of-province universities can authorize the universities to request their academic information from the OUAC. To authorize, the applicant must include their 11-digit OUAC Reference Number on the institution’s application form.

Keep attending college/university presentations

Make sure to attend the main schools you are interested in. Come prepared to ask questions about the program you are interested in.

Visit campustours.ca

Students can tour all post-secondary education campuses in Canada online from their laptop, tablet or phone.  Watch the 'How to Use' Video

See more at: http://www.campustour.ca

Attend campus tours/open houses

Open Houses allow you to meet faculty, staff and students, tour the campus, see residence suites, explore programs and more! Open Houses are your best opportunity to experience the institutions for yourself. By visiting the schools you get a feel for life on campus. 

NOTE: Please be sure to attend the Open House event at the campus that offers the program(s) that interest you.

Do you need to write a personal statement of experience (PSE)?

Some schools request personal essays so now is the time to begin writing them. Click here to view an article on how to write a killer essay.

The Killer Essay

Keep using post-secondary organizer!

As you collect and/or are given information, keep on top of it by filing and organizing it regularly.

Keep focused on grades!

Keep focused until the end of June. Marks DO matter!
​You will struggle in post-secondary if you do not get a background knowledge and work ethics in place during high school.

Take a look at this article that could help you improve grades.
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14 ways to improve your grades if you're underperforming

 Keep researching scholarships!