Coaching Canadian TCKs, Part Two: University Entrance

[author]  [author_info]This is the second part of a series from guest blogger Lorna Jacobson, MK Care & Education Coordinator with SIM Canada and TCK Coordinator with SIM International. You can find the first part here. She resources and encourages SIM people involved in TCK work around the world, and serves as an advocate for TCKs within SIM International.[/author_info] [/author]

In coaching high school students through the process of application to Canadian universities, there are a number of aspects of Canadian university culture that education consultants need to be aware of. One American student attending a Canadian university writes: “Americans who apply to an elite Canadian school should expect an admissions process different from but equally as challenging as that of an elite school in the States. Although the school may not want your SAT scores, it is quite possible that it will demand transcripts from every place you ever studied, whether the classes you took apply to your current academic program or not. On the other hand, even if you are a transfer student, they may ask to see your SAT scores.”

With respect to SAT or IGCSE results, from my experience with Canadian TCKs educated overseas and applying to Canadian universities, admissions offices are looking for the strongest possible version of whatever system those students are coming from – strong SAT scores and a number of AP courses if it is a diploma from an American-system school, for example. Though Canadian universities do not generally request SAT results, it is one way in which they can assess the standards of overseas schools when considering applicants.

Gaining admission: Canadian universities rely mostly on an applicant’s high school grades for admission. High school English and Math courses are considered foundational for almost every university program, so students should be encouraged to aim high in choosing their high school courses, especially in those two areas and in any prerequisites for the programs they are considering.

Universities in Canada each set their own admission requirements. Once overseas students have decided where to apply, they and their parents should contact the registrar or admissions office at each institution to find out exactly what’s required in their application package. Most Canadian universities provide this information online, and usually have a special website section for students applying from overseas schools (Canadian students but with international diplomas). Each university has cut-off grades for its various programs. Even though grades are so critical, students are still advised to have a good background of job experience, volunteer opportunities, extracurricular activities, and leadership experience on their resumes.

Canadian university costs will look somewhat less expensive than American school costs, especially in public universities (by far the majority), as costs are subsidized. However, scholarships are relatively few and hard to come by. They are especially limited for students entering from overseas high schools. Most scholarships are based almost entirely on academic results. These are generally awarded by the university along with an offer of admission to the program the student has applied for; no special scholarship application is required. There are other scholarships listed on each university’s website which will require specific applications; students should be encouraged to thoroughly review the scholarship and financial aid sections of the website to be sure that they are applying for any relevant scholarships and are aware of provincial student loan policies and deadlines as well. Sports scholarships are rare at the vast majority of universities in Canada. Some universities offer co-op programs in some programs (alternating study semesters with work semesters in relevant jobs); they lengthen the program but enable students to pay their way and to get job experience that often leads to employment.

Application deadlines are most often in late fall/early winter of the student’s grade 12 year. Students should carefully check the websites for any universities that they are considering applying to so that they meet all application and scholarship deadlines. Early admission may be communicated as early as April, but admission offers are received into May and June, sometimes even later. Application procedures differ from school to school and from province to province. For example, in Ontario, all applications are made through a central application office (Ontario Universities’ Application Centre) and students can apply to up to three schools or programs for one fee, with each additional school or program adding an additional fee.

Helpful resources:
MacLean’s magazine publishes a yearly review of Canadian universities.
The Education Planner is a booklet (40 pages) that walks families and their high schoolers through a basic assessment of their vision for their future and their academic strengths and successes thus far. It provides an overview of how their strengths and interests fit into 16 core areas of study, an overview of the kinds of programs available in Canadian universities and colleges, and sample college and university research worksheets to get them started on the process of narrowing down their choices.

Christian vs. secular universities: There are relatively few Christian universities in Canada, but this list contains a number that do exist. Many TCKs will expect to attend and will be applying to public secular universities. Some attend a year or more at a Bible college first to make the transition to post-secondary education and to acquire a firm spiritual foundation before going on to university. Canadian universities, including secular ones, tend to have a variety of Christian student organizations on campus, including InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Power to Change, Navigators, and Athletes in Action.

Other helpful websites for exploring higher education options in Canada include:
Schools in Canada: especially aimed at international students
Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
Canadian Universities and Colleges
Canadian parents should be encouraged early in their parenting to start saving for their children’s university education. An excellent program to invest in is the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) with its government matching component. This site is another good source for university and college information.

© 2012-2023 PACE
All rights reserved