SEPTEMBER
DEFINITIONS:
What is the OUAC and what does it do?
What is the OCAS and what does it do?
What is the OUAC and what does it do?
- "OUAC” is the acronym for the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre.
- The OUAC is a centralized processing office for applications for undergraduate admission to the universities of Ontario. The OUAC, which is located in Guelph, Ontario, receives your application, processes it and transfers the information to the universities you have selected. The OUAC does not make admission decisions. That is the universities’ responsibility.
What is the OCAS and what does it do?
- The Ontario College Application Service "OCAS" is a non-profit corporation created by the Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning in the province of Ontario, Canada.
- The Ontario College Application Service provides centralized application-to-college services in English and French through its applicant website and a centralized data warehouse of applicant information for colleges, high schools and government. OCAS is located in Guelph, Ontario.
Involve your parents!
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Speak with a Guidance Counsellor
CAREER COUNSELLING IS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING:
PRE-REQUISITES
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Start a post-secondary information organizer/planner
Having a place to keep everything organized will help keep you on the right track to making this process smoother. Begin a file for each school, OCAS, OUAC and any other paperwork you may need. A lot of information is handed out and may seem over whelming, but keeping it organized from the beginning makes it a lot less stressful.
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Sign-up for the grade 12 "Remind" text messages from Guidance and the front office
All grade 12's must sign-up for "REMIND" Grade 12 text messages. Important grade 12 information such as: graduation night information, scholarship opportunities, important deadlines, post-secondary and application information, and much more are sent out by Guidance and the front office. Parents are encouraged to sign up as well!
If you haven't already done so, follow these instructions: PDF Instructions |
Sign up for 5 - College/University presentations
Students should sign up in Guidance to attend 5 university and/or college presentations. These presentations range from 45 min to an hour and cover the different admission requirements, programs, scholarships, residence, the application process, campus life and much more. They are designed to assist graduating high school students make an informed decision before they apply.
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Toronto Ontario Universities' Fair
The OUF is September 28-30, 2018, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and admission is free.
The OUF is the only event where you can see all 21 Ontario universities in one place! It's a once-a-year, free event where attendees can talk directly with senior university faculty and representatives. The OUF takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Admission is free. Visit: www.ouf.ca Twitter: @OntarioUniFair Facebook: www.facebook.com/OntarioUFair/ |
Update your resume
Ask for reference letters
Choose which teachers, bosses, coaches etc. you will ask to write you a reference letter. Be sure to ask them as early as possible and give them a copy of your latest resume, an addressed, stamped envelope for each scholarship you are applying for and a copy of the scholarship information. Keep a copy of these letters in your post-secondary organizer.
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Volunteer at placements that reflect career path
Start researching scholarships/bursaries
If you haven't started researching scholarships, now is the time to begin. The research part is up to you and your parents.
A great place to start is the Financial Aid drop down menu on this site! It will provide you with options on where to look, criteria, deadlines and links to applications. If no online application is available, come to Guidance for a copy. Mr. Dunn is also available to help direct you and help complete applications properly. |
Do you need to prepare a design portfolio?
If you are hoping to pursue an Arts or Design career, look into preparing your portfolio. OCAD has portfolio days where experts critique and give you advice on your portfolio. Visit www.ocad.ca and speak to Mr. Dunn for more information.
Your art/communication tech teachers are also a great source of advice. |