As this year comes to an end, we can set our sights high for next year and start making preparations. For prospective post-secondary students, those preparations start now. The deadlines for submitting university applications are looming, and that can be a scary thought. With our help, not only will you meet the deadlines, but colleges and universities will be begging you to attend. Let’s get started!
Finding the Perfect School for You
There are tons of post-secondary schools out there, so it’s good to narrow them down. This is where those career education courses really pay off! If you haven’t yet done so, now’s a great time to make a list of all the things you enjoy. Couple this with a list of all your current skills to help you decide what you would like to do for a career. This can be harder than it sounds, so feel free to ask a loved one (or a tutor!) for help.
Once you have a better understanding of your interests, you can match them with a post-secondary pathway. WorkBC has some career quizzes to help you turn your passions into a career. You can also use the career search tool to reveal average salaries and future prospects for each career, as well as highlighting colleges and universities that offer programs in your chosen field.
Once you know what you’d like to do after graduation, you can look for an appropriate post-secondary school. To explore what BC has to offer, you can check out Education Planner BC. Clicking different programs on the left-hand side of the website will show you which schools offer those programs. This feature can help you decide which school best suits your needs.
Meeting the Deadline
Most post-secondary schools in Canada require applications for September sessions to be submitted by the end of January. It seems strange to apply without knowing your final grades, but that’s a normal part of university applications. Just report your best guess based on the grades you currently have. You’ll have another opportunity to report your final grades later in the year.
Each college and university will have their own deadlines, so check their websites to make sure you’re on time. The application deadlines for some popular universities are listed below.
| College/University | Application Deadline |
| University of Victoria (UVic) | January 31 |
| University of British Columbia (UBC) | January 15 |
| British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) | Varies (applications for September open October 1 and remain open until the program is full) |
| Vancouver Island University (VIU) | March 31 for most programs |
| University of Alberta (U of A) | March 1 |
| University of Toronto (U of T) | January 12 |
| McGill University | February 1 |
If you can’t make the deadline for this year, it’s not the end of the world! Taking a break from school to gain more life experience is a wise decision. Travel around, try new things, and, most importantly, learn! The things you do during that extra year can become valuable additions to your future university applications.
How to Rise to the Top in a Sea of University Applications
Some colleges and universities accept students based solely on grades, but many want something more. If your school of choice requires something extra, you’ll want to make sure your application stands out.
Show Yourself
University applications often ask for some sort of personal profile. This is your chance to reveal all the traits, hobbies, and passions that define who you are. Post-secondary schools are deeply interested in what makes you unique, so don’t spare any details!
When crafting your university application, nothing is irrelevant. Feel free to mention how you moderate an Instagram page dedicated to chameleons, describe your passion for sustainable energy sources, and discuss your experience working at McDonald’s. These things might seem ridiculous, but they all demonstrate your confidence in who you are. When it comes to university applications, confidence in yourself is absolutely paramount.
Skills Pay Bills…and Tuition Fees
Post-secondary schools love hearing about your skills and how you developed them. Perhaps your part-time job taught you problem-solving skills you can apply to your engineering program. Maybe you obtained an eye for design while volunteering at the museum, and now you intend to use it as you complete your fine arts degree.
You can talk about any skill, no matter how minor it seems. Learning is all about making connections, and universities will be thrilled to see you making connections between your skills and the courses they offer.
Talk in Your Sleep
Let the world hear your dreams! Post-secondary schools love to learn about their students’ aspirations. The best university applications include a piece about goals, dreams, and plans for the future. If you show a desire for achievement, schools will take note, especially if you mention how their program is integral to your plan.
Craft the Perfect Scholarship Résumé
In addition to submitting the personal profile, many post-secondary schools will accept scholarship résumés. When applying to a college or university, you can often submit a scholarship résumé under the ‘other materials’ section. Scholarship résumés aren’t mandatory, so including one will ensure your application stands out.
A scholarship résumé is similar to a résumé you would submit to a prospective employer. If you’re struggling to include all the information from the sections above, a scholarship résumé is a fantastic way to do it. You can include all your relevant work and volunteer experience, involvement in clubs and organizations, and a summary of your skills. Presenting these points in a well-organized format will impress colleges and universities and help you get accepted.
Before you start sending applications, make sure your scholarship résumé is tailored to each individual school. You can create a generic template in your favourite word processor, but make sure to modify it based on which school will be receiving it. You can do this with the rest of your application as well. Setting up a template provides you with a document you can edit at any time and streamlines the application process.
We Can Help with University Applications
Even with the best tips, applying to post-secondary schools can be stressful. Fortunately, we’re here to support you. Our twisted tutors are familiar with the university applications process, and they’ll help you every step of the way.
No matter how ambitious your goals (the more the better!), we’ll help you craft the perfect application. Working one on one with a tutor can help your best self shine, allowing you to see how remarkable you really are. Once you believe it, it’s a cinch to get universities to believe it too!
Our twisted tutors can assist with getting started, editing, building confidence, choosing a program, and even writing reference letters. No matter where you’re at in your journey to post-secondary school, we’ve got you covered. If you think you could benefit from all the ‘twist’ has to offer, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’d love to hear from you, and we’d love to rejoice in your success once you get that degree!
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