Calendar of Important Dates (January)

2009 will soon be a thing of history, and I know things will get extremely busy for many of you once 2010 rolls around. Here are some important dates of note in the first month of 2010:

• Jan 4: School re-opens
• Jan 4: Self-reporting phase 2 opens for early admission at UVic
• Jan 5: Applications begin for entrance scholarships at Kwantlen
• Jan 10 - 11: Grad photo sessions at Artona
• Jan 11: Mental Health Workshops for Counsellors at VSB - I will not be in my office that morning
  
• Jan 12: Education and Career Fair at the Telus World of Science (aka Science World)
• Jan 15: Final application deadline for Emily Carr
• Jan 21: Counsellors Conference at Capilano University - I will not be in my office
  
• Jan 22: Lunch Envelopes due at school
  
• Jan 26 - 28: 3 blog nights at BCIT
• Jan 27 (tentative): Grades 8 - 11 Information Night at Templeton
• Jan 30: Super Tour at SFU

Before you know it, the new year will be here... 6 months to go until GRAD!

Update: UBC Self-reporting Process

I have just received an e-mail from Andrew Arida, associate director of enrolment at UBC.

In regards to self-reporting grades, as I have mentioned earlier, UBC will only accept grades from two sources: your self-reported grade from an actual report card, or grades that are sent to them by the Ministry of Education. A student asked earlier if you are supposed to report your first term grades, your second term grades, or a blended first-second term set of grades.

According to Mr. Arida, UBC wants its applicants to report their SECOND TERM GRADES, since those grades, barring errors, should match the grades sent to them through the Ministry of Education. So, to avoid any confusions or delays in your application process, please make sure that you self-report your second term percentages when you are prompted to do so in your UBC application (you can still apply to UBC prior to this date, of course, and should).

I hope this help clarifies the situation. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask me.

As for VLN grades, as I have said in my last post, please make sure you are at least 50% through the course by March 1. This is the condition that VLN has set for its teachers to do the paper work to submit your marks to the Ministry. Still, you must ask your VLN teacher to submit the interim grade on your behalf.

VLN Courses and Post-secondary

This is just a note for all students who are currently taking an online course with VLN:

Your first term marks have just been sent to the school. In reviewing them, I've noticed that many of you have a comment from your teacher that you have only completed 10% or 5% of the course. Some of you have not even started on your introductory unit.

Please note: if you are planning to use a VLN course for post-secondary application, VLN will ONLY be sending your interim marks to the Ministry of Education if you have completed 50% of the course by March 1, 2010. Most post-secondary institutions, including UBC, would only accept an interim mark for online courses if it is submitted through the Ministry of Education. What this means is: if you do not have your course half-completed by March 1, you would not be allowed to use that course in your application! This could mean you not having your online course's mark to be used in calculating your admission average, or it could mean that you just do not have a sufficient number of grade 12 provincially-examinable courses to meet the minimal admission requirements! It is a serious enough issue that I must bring to your attention.

Please discuss your progress with your VLN teacher(s), and try to rectify the situation as soon as possible. Remember: your online course must be 50% completed by March 1 for you to request VLN to submit that interim mark to the Ministry of Education.

Update: from the UBC Counsellor's Info Day (3)

(... continued from yesterday's entry)

Below you can find the admission averages for UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan. For each program, you will see two percentages - the first one is the actual admission averages from August 2009; the second one is the PROJECTED admission averages for September 2010 admission. Please note: that admission average is only for your reference - the actual admission averages may be higher or lower, depending on the marks of the applicants.

UBC Vancouver's Admission Averages

• Applied Biology: 83%, low to mid-80s
• Arts (as a 1st choice): 84%, mid 80s
• Arts (as a 2nd choice): 86%, mid to high 80s
• *Commerce: 84%; 84%
• *Dental Hygiene: 67%, min. 67%
• *Engineering: 83%, low to mid 80s
• Food, nutrition and health: 83%, mid to high 80s
• Forestry: 75 to 78%, guaranteed at 80%
• *Human Kinetics: 88%, high 80s to low 90s
• *Midwifery: 67%; min. 67%
• *Music: 83%; min. 67%
• *Science: 88%; high 80s to low 90s

* indicates a program where broad based admission is mandatory/optional

UBC Okanagan's Admission Averages

• Arts: 72%; guaranteed at 75%
• Engineering: 75%; guaranteed at 75%
• Fine Arts: 67%; min 67%
• Human Kinetics: 75%; high 70s to low 80s
• Management: 73%; mid to high 70s
• Nursing: 80%; low tomid 80s
• Pre-pharmacy: 73%; guaranteed at 75%
• Science: 73%; guaranteed at 75%

Once again, these averages are listed for your reference only. Be realistic when you are applying for a specific program (e.g. if you have mid-70s on your term 1 report card, it may be difficult for you to be admitted into UBC Vancouver's Faculty of Science), but don't lose heart if your averages are not high enough - some programs used broad based admission that would help the students who are outstanding in other areas. You may also want to consider university transfer programs if your grades are far below these listed admission averages.

For more information or assistance, please come in and see me.

Update: from the UBC Counsellor's Info Day (2)

(continued from yesterday's entry)

Program Updates:

• Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology: this new program is for students who enjoy biology, but does not want to be enrolled in the "traditional" science program where you have to complete first year physics courses. The program has an environmental, sustainability focus.
• Pre-med Alternative Path in Engineering: open to 25 students only, this Bachelor of Applied Science (Engineering) program would prepare you for applying for the Faculty of Medicine. Biology 12 is a requirement for application into this program, but the course can be completed in the summer of 2010, prior to your entry into the program in September of 2010.
• Faculty of Arts' new degree requirements: grade 12 language (or equivalent), 6 credits of literature, 6 credits of science, plus the new 6 credits of writing and research (to be done in Year 1 and 4). This replaces the 6 credits of first-year English requirement for all BA students (except if you will be majoring in English).

Self-Admission Process:

• Self-admission will begin in later March/early April
• UBC will only accept self-reporting from two sources: your term 2 report card and grades reported directly from the Ministry of Education
• UBC will not accept any grades from a distance-education course unless the grades are reported via one of the above two methods
• If you are taking an online course through the Vancouver Learning Network (VLN), you can ask your teacher to submit your mark to the Ministry of Education (thereby fulfilling the second requirement) ONLY IF you have completed over 50% of the course by March 1 (no exception!)
  
• Once your grades are reported, you will be immediately notified as to whether you have been admitted to UBC or not.
  
• UBC will request documents directly from you if discrepancy exists between your self-reported grades and the interim grades sent by the Ministry of Education.
  
• Offer of admission must be accepted by June 1, 2010 or your offer would be withdrawn
• Once you have accepted the admission offer, a registration date will be given to you around mid-June.
• Registration for courses in September 2010 starts in July 2010 - register early before the courses are filled up!

(...to be concluded)

Update: from the UBC Counsellor's Info Day (1)

There are quite a few pieces of information from UBC that may be of interest to you. I will try to organize them in a logical fashion. Feel free to contact me, or any of the academic advisors from UBC for more details and/or information.

Applying to UBC:

• General admission's application requirements: High school graduation; English 12 + 3 grade 12 courses (provincially examinable courses). Please note: program-specific requirements would be beyond this basic set of requirements.
  
• Admission average: would be calculated based on English 12 and the three grade 12 examinable courses. The courses UBC will look at differ from faculty to faculty.
• Broad Based Application: some programs use broad based admission, in which supplementary info about activities and achievements outside of the classroom is used in addition to academics to select qualified applicants. Broad based application is mandatory for some programs (e.g. Sauder School of Business, the school of performing arts) and optional for others (e.g. Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Human Kinetics). For more information, go to BBA's website: Click here
• English Language Admission Requirements (this is different from 1st year English proficiency requirements): you must have studied three years in a Canadian school OR meet the admission standard through an English proficiency tests (e.g. TOEFL), OR receive 70% or above from your English 12 PROVINCIAL EXAM to apply to UBC.
• 1st Year English Requirements: Almost all first year programs require 6 credits (= 2 courses) of first-year English. In order to take these courses, you must either achieve 75% in English 12 (blended mark OR school mark) OR obtain a level 5 from the LPI.
• For those of you who are confused about the difference between admission English requirements and first-year English requirements, go to this former entry for a more detailed explanation: Click Here
  
• Applying to UBC: can be done online (click here). Be sure you have your biographical information, 2 program choices, and your provincial examination number (PEN) ready.
• Choosing your program: priority would be given to students who have a specific program as their first choice - be mindful when you are declaring your 1st and 2nd choice.
  
• After you have submitted your application, you should receive an e-mail acknowledging that your application has been received. In the e-mail, you will be given a temporary UBC student number, as well as detailed directions to access UBC's student information system called the SSC.

(to be continued...)

Two Scholarship Opportunities

Two scholarship packages have arrived, from University Canada West and Vancouver College of Art and Design, respectively.

University of Canada West (UCAN) offers 500 scholarships for high school students. Students who meet the qualifications outlined in the scholarship entry form (you can see me for the form) can submit a 350 to 500-word essay detailing the value of learning in a multicultural environment. You would also need to submit your academic and community service history.

More details can be found on UCAN's scholarship program's website: Click here

Vancouver College of Art and Design offers over 50 scholarships to high school students. The scholarships include full-tuition scholarships, half-tuition scholarships, and 50 partial-tuition scholarships. Eligible entrants must meet the eligibility requirements and the individual program entry requirements that are outlined in the scholarship package (you can come see me for the package).

More details can be found of VCAD's scholarship program's website: Click here

Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program

The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program gives out twenty awards, valued at $5000 each, for students who have achieved excellence in academics and extra-curricular activities, and demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the environment.

Application forms and information can be found online: click here

Applications and supporting documents must be POSTMARKED by February 28, 2010 (the first version of this post said "received," which was an error - sorry for any confusion/mis-information).

Vancouver Education and Career Fair

The Education and Career Fairs are the Largest Career Planning Events in British Columbia. This year, the Vancouver Education and Career Fair will be held at the Telus World of Science (a.k.a. Science World) on January 12, 2010 (Tuesday).

The fair contains exhibits in a trade show format with feature areas along with seminars, and is designed to help attendees develop or change their career path. Institutions and private schools are in attendance from Alberta, Ontario, USA, and international. The Fair introduces a variety of post-secondary education choices, career and employment options and provide labour market information.

For a complete list of exhibitors and for more information, you can go to the fair's official website: click here

Templeton will be receiving a number of complimentary tickets for the afternoon. If you are interested in attending, please see Mr. Hayes at the Career Center.

Update from BCIT Information Day

The BCIT Counsellor's Day proved to be a very fruitful experience for me, and I hope it will be for you as well, especially if you don't know too much about BCIT to begin with.

First off, some pieces of information about BCIT that you may not know:

• Trades programs at BCIT have a non-competitive admission process. What that means as: as long as you meet the application requirements, you will be admitted into the program or into the program's waitlist.
  
• Some trades programs have a pre-entry test that you need to write. Sample tests can be found by clicking here.
• The technology programs at BCIT offer certificate, diploma, and degree options. Certificate programs usually last a year, diploma programs take two years to complete, and degree programs take 3/4 years to complete.
  
• Many technology programs allow you to enroll first into the "lower" option to start. Following its completion, you can choose to leave the program (but receive the certificate/diploma based on what course work you have completed) or to proceed to finish the "higher" option(s). For example, after a year in the certificate program, you can choose to stay one more year to finish your diploma, or you can graduate with your certificate - no time would be wasted!
• The successful employment rate for BCIT graduates is well renowned. For its degree programs, 98% of its students are successful in finding a job in the related field. Diploma graduates have a 82% successful employment rate in their area of study.
• Salaries for BCIT graduates are very competitive.
  

A lot of people have this notion that BCIT is not a post-secondary institution for high school graduates. While BCIT has a large proportion of students who did not enter straight out of high school, mature high school students who are willing to work hard can be very successful at BCIT as well. The recruiting officers describe a successful BCIT applicant (from high school) as one who is:

• a hard worker
• involved in campus communities
• willing to interact with staff/students
• willing to collaborate in learning
• knows how to use library and student resources
• has good supporting network
• has good mental activities (exercises, sports, hobbies)

I have a bunch of resources from the various BCIT programs for you to look through. Please pop by my office if you are interested.

Update: Langara College

Here's some updated information from Langara College, from the information session for counsellors on December 2:

• Provincial Exam Requirements: English 12/English Literature 12 is the only provincially-examinable course where you must write your provincial exam for admission purposes. All other provincial exams are optional.
• Communications 12 and Admission: You can be admitted into Langara with Communications 12 credit. However, course registration would be restricted. You can waive the restrictions by taking the Langara English Test (LET) or the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) exam and performing up to admission standard.
  
• Nursing: There is a long wait-list for students who are applying for the nursing program. You are allowed to take arts/science courses that are a part of the program prior to admission to lessen your course load should you be admitted into nursing later.
  
• As discussed in the past, Langara's arts and science university transfer program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis. You should apply early to save yourself a seat.
• Course Planning Sessions: For students who will be on the university transfer program at Langara, Langara will be hosting course planning sessions from January to April in 2010. Most sessions run from 4:00 - 5:30, so you can commute to Langara after class to attend. You can sign up for these general sessions, then book an individual session to sit down with an academic advisor who can provide program-specific advice for you. For more information, click here.
• Social Media Contacts: Langara uses a variety of social media websites to get in touch with you. You can find Langara on Facebook (click here), Twitter (click here), or YouTube (click here). These are some great ways to learn more about Langara.
  

Graduation Transitions - Physical Activity Log

Students continue to ask about the expectations to the physical activity log. To the best of my knowledge, here are a few pieces of information that hopefully will help clear the confusion:

• The physical activity log is an ongoing piece of record that you need to fill out for terms 1, 2, and 3. You may use new forms when term 2 begins later this week, or you may continue to use your existing form until you run out of space.
• A physical activity log was collected last year - it fulfilled the daily physical activity requirement for your grade 11 year. You must continue to log your daily physical activities in your grade 12 year.
  
• The ministry of education has changed the recommended requirements for physical activities: instead of asking for 80 hours of physical activities for the year, you now have to engage in moderate to vigorous physical activities 150 minutes per week.
  
• Students currently taking PE 11/12 will have met the physical activity requirements - please ask your PE 11/12 teacher to sign your physical activity log.
  
• Students who took PE 11/12 last year cannot use last year's course credit to fulfill this year's physical activity requirements.
• The 150-minute number is the general amount of physical activities you are expected to engage in on a weekly basis. While it is acceptable (and understandable) that you may not be able to meet that 150-minute mark every week, you are expected to engage in, on average, 150 minutes of physical activities every week.
  

I hope this helps make the expectations of the physical activity log clear. If you still have any questions, please see Ms. Mogyorosi, Ms. Ward, or myself.

University of Waterloo Admission Information

I was at University of Waterloo's info session this past Saturday, and from the info session, I think there are some interesting facts that may be of interest to you:

• Waterloo has the largest co-op program in the world. Students can spend up to 6 terms working, creating networks for your career, while earning valuable income that could pay for your degree.
• You can apply to be in the co-op program when you apply to Waterloo - no need to wait for years 2 or 3 to begin.
  
• Waterloo guarantees a spot in the residence for all first year students who are offered admission
• Waterloo has an "independent studies" program which allows you to design your own degree and curriculum. More information can be found by clicking here.
• Admission requirement: 75% minimum for all faculties
• Courses: In addition to English 12, 4 grade 12 academic courses, which INCLUDES academic courses without a provincial exam such as Psychology 12 and Law 12. For more information on what grade 12 courses are considered academic, contact an academic advisor at UW directly. To find out who to contact, e-mail UW's recruitment officer Jocelyn Ridgway at j2ridgwa@uwaterloo.ca
  
• Waterloo does not look at repeated courses favourably. The Faculty of Mathematics will deduct 1% off from your admission averages if you are repeating a course; the Faculty of Engineering would deduct 3% off your admission averages if you are repeating a course.
• Automatic Scholarships for certain admission averages: $1000 for students with 85% or above; $2000 for students with 90% or above, and more for students with a 95% average.
• The Ministry of Education will send your term 2 marks in automatically, but this will NOT arrive in time for the admission process; therefore, you MUST ask the school to send an official transcript to UW before March 31.
  
• Still want to find out more, take a virtual tour at UW's campus (Click here) or request for a variety of brochures (click here)
• I also have some pamphlets, postcards, and brochures in my office. Feel free to come by to look at them.
  

Emily Carr's National Portfolio Day

For students who are planning to go to an art and design college and/or university such as Emily Carr, an admission portfolio is almost always a must. Emily Carr is offering an opportunity for you to bring your work forward for reviews and critical feedback when they host the National Portfolio Day on December 5 (Saturday) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.

For those of you who don't know, the National Portfolio Days are recruitment events sponsored by the National Portfolio Day Association (NPDA), consisting of representatives from accredited art & design colleges and universities from across Canada and the United States. National Portfolio Days help promote the artistic development of artists and designers by bringing together experienced art and design school representatives who review the work of prospective students and offer critical feedback about their admission portfolio.

In this year's event at Emily Carr, 21 NPDA member schools will be represented from both Canada and the United States.

For more information on the event, click here.

Calendar of Important Dates (December)

December is fast-approaching, and there are some important dates in December that you want to be mindful of:

Upcoming December Dates:

• Dec 2: Langara Counsellor's Information Day: I will not be in school that day
• Dec 2: Term 1 Ends (attendance for Term 1 ends this day; marks "cut-off" may have happened already
  
• Dec 3: BCIT Counsellor's Information Day: I will not be in school from 8:00 to 2:30 p.m.
• Dec 3: LPI Templeton Sitting - Location: Library; Time: 3:20 p.m. to 5:50 p.m.
  
• Dec 5: Emily Carr's National Portfolio Day: from 12 - 4 p.m.
• Dec 7: UBC Counsellor's Information Day: I will not be in school that day
• Dec 9: Report cards will be printed and reviewed
• Dec 11: Non-instructional Day - school not in session
• Dec 15: UNBC Leadership Award's Application Deadline
• Dec 15: SFU Self-reporting portal opens
• Dec 18: Last day of class in 2009
• Dec 19 to Jan 3, 2010: Christmas/Winter Vacation

Term 1 is ending, and so is 2009. As many post-secondary/scholarship applications are beginning, you are going to be very busy, in spite of the two-week break. I hope your break is restful and fun, but I also hope you will use it wisely in preparation for the final six months of your high school life.

York University's Info Session in Vancouver

York University from Toronto, Ontario, will be hosting an information session this upcoming Monday, November 30, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (655 Burrard Street, Vancouver) from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m..

If you are interested in York University, or just wish to find out more about York, you can use this session to chat with an admissions representative to learn more about programs, scholarships, bursaries, residence, campus life and more.

You must register for this event. Registration can be done by clicking here.

More UBC Vancouver Viewbooks Have Arrived

For those of you who attended the UBC information session last week, but did not receive a UBC Vancouver viewbook, another 50 copies have arrived. Mr. Hayes is holding the bulk of the copies, and I have about 10 in my office. Please come to see one of us if you want to pick up this viewbook.

The viewbook can also be looked at online. You can click on the following link to view it virtually:
Click here

Most of the viewbook's information can also be found online. Click here for more details.

The admission portion of the Vancouver viewbook can also be downloaded. Click here for the .pdf file.

Term 1 Grad Transitions Assignments

Remember: Your GT (Grad Transitions) assignments for Term 1 are due December 2 (Wednesday). For term 1, you need to submit the following:

• Healthy Living Plan (blue sheet)
• Physical Activity Log (green sheet)

There has been some confusion about the physical activity log. So, here are some points for clarification:

• Activities should be recorded by the week, and not by the day. (e.g. instead of recording your physical activities for Nov 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29 individually, just record all the physical activities for the period of Nov 23 - 29 - see below, click the image to see an enlarged version of it)
• If you have started on an old form from last year, you do NOT have to copy everything onto the new form. Just continue from the old form for your term 1's physical activities; or, staple a new form onto the old form, and continue with your term 1's activities.
• Term 2 and 3's physical activities should be recorded onto the new forms
• If you are taking PE 11/12, a signature from your PE teacher to verify that you are taking the course fulfills the physical activity requirement.

If you have any further questions regarding your GT forms, please come in to see me, Ms. Mogyorosi, or Ms. Ward.

VCC Career Programs Info Sessions

There are four upcoming info sessions for several career programs at Vancouver Community College (VCC) that I want to bring to your attention of:

• Part-time ASL and Deaf Studies: Wednesday, November 25 at 6:00 p.m. in Room 2559 at VCC's Broadway Campus
• Culinary Arts Program: Friday, November 27 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 305 B at VCC's downtown campus
• Hospitality Management Diploma Program: Saturday, November 28 at 11 a.m. in Room 420 at VCC's downtown campus
• Baking and Pastry Arts: Wednesday, December 2 at 10:30 a.m. in Room 216 at VCC's downtown campus

Now, I understand that you can only attend two of these four sessions, but if these programs interest you in any way, you can always call VCC to find out more about these programs. For more information, you can visit VCC's website (click here), or call 604-443-8453.

VCC's Downtown Address: 200-block, Dunsmuir at Hamilton (two blocks west of Stadium Sky Train Station)
VCC's Broadway Address: 1155 East Broadway, Vancouver

University of Western Ontario's National Scholarship Program

For students who are applying to the University of Western Ontario, you may be interested in one of the following major entrance scholarships the school is offering:

• the President's Entrance Schloarship ($6000/year + up to $10000 award towards residence and board costs)
• the Faculty Entrance Scholarship ($4000/year + first year residence room)
• the Beryl Ivey Continuing Entrance Award ($16000/academic year)
• National Merit Award ($2000 for one year)

The above awards are by nominations ONLY. Each school in Canada can nominate no more than 4 students for these awards. Nomination and application packages can be found in my office. If you are interested, please come by and see me.

The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award

The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award is given to students who demonstrates the highest ideals and qualities of citizenship through involvement in humanitarian services and participation in sport, fitness, and community services. It is a prestigious award that pays up to $7000 annually for a maximum of four years or until a first degree is earned.

If you are interested in applying for this award, I have a couple of brochures in my office. More information, as well as the award's application form, can also be found online (Click here).

Application forms, complete with supporting documents must be post-marked by February 1st, 2010.

Vancouver Police Department Student Challenge

The deadline to apply for the VPD Student Challenge has passed. However, thanks to Constable Feenan, if you are really keen of joining this competition, you can still see him to be placed onto the wait-list for this great opportunity.
The VPD Student Challenge will take place from April 3 to April 10, 2010. It is a 8-day police camp that would provide you some important training not just if you have aspirations to become a police officer, but for other fields as well.

See Constable Feenan ASAP before your last opportunity passes!

SFU's Solutions for the Future Competition

For students applying to SFU, here's a competition that could earn you a $2000 SFU tuition award, a laptop computer, or a t-shirt.

The SFU Solutions for the Future competition requires you to explore the programs that SFU offers, and submit a short paragraph to tell how their programs can combine to solve a problem or play a role in what you think the future needs.For more information, go to the "Solutions for the Future" website by clicking here.

University of Waterloo's +Business Program

University of Waterloo is now offering a hybrid business program called +Business. Basically, the program allows you to combine one of arts, environment, recreation, or science programs with the business program to create a more comprehensive learning experience for aspiring business students who also have other academic interests.

You can learn more about the +Business program by visiting its website: Click here. Or, to request a brochure, click here.

IMPORTANT: Update on UBC's Language Requirements

I hope most of you were in attendance this afternoon when representatives from UBC came to speak to us. In case you were not there, or in case you did not understand/missed this piece of information, I am repeating it here because changes have been made for students applying for admission in September 2010. It pertains the language requirements both for admission and to take first-year English courses.

English Language Requirement for Admission (you must meet one of the following criteria to have your application considered for admission):

• Three consecutive years of full-time education in English in Canada, including BC grade 12 English (or its equivalence), OR
• Four or more consecutive years at an eligible international secondary school that uses English as the language of instruction, OR
• A minimum 70% on the provincial exam of either English 12 or English Literature 12, OR
• Reaching the competence level in one of the UBC-recognized language admission tests (click here for more details)

Following admission, most first-year UBC students are required to take 6 credits of English courses (each course is worth 3 credits). To do so, UBC also has a language proficiency requirement, which can be waived if:

• You have a best mark of 75% or above in English 12 (formerly, the mark is 80%; this lower requirement is new for this year).
• You have achieved a level 5 on the Language Proficiency Index (LPI) exam.
  

Failure to meet the first-year English requirements does NOT affect your admission to UBC. However, you would have to take either non-credit courses to improve your English competency, or re-write the LPI until you have a level 5.

This information is new for applicants for the September 2010 term. If you are not clear on this information, please come and see me, or ask the recruitment officer at UBC (I have her contact information).

University Profile Information Package

I have just received a resource package from Mr. Hayes titled "Institution Profile Booklet and Counsellor Resource." In it are contact information, introduction, and brief descriptions of programs that are offered from universities across Canada.

For BC's universities, you have probably gathered information that are much more detailed that what this package contains; however, if you are planning to attend a university in the Atlantic provinces, the prairie provinces, Ontario, or Quebec, this resource is still very valuable.

The package contains over 90 pages, and you may only need a few pages from it, so I am not going to be printing out the package to give to you. However, if you want to take a look at the package, I can e-mail that to you as a .pdf file. Also, if you want specific information about a school, I can print out the specific page(s).

e-mail me at eleung@vsb.bc.ca, or come to my office to ask for a specific page(s) printed.

BCIT Updates

For those of you who were not able to talk to/listen to the BCIT representatives on post-secondary day, here are some important updated information that may be of interests to you:

• BCIT is hosting ongoing campus tours for you to "get a feel" of campus life. Registration for groups (18 people or more) and individuals can be processed through BCIT's online tour registration system. You can either register on line (click here) or call 604-432-8583.
• BCIT also hosts an event called "Spend-A-Day" where you can actually spend a day to test out a program that interests you to see if BCIT is really a good fit for your educational aspirations. To find out more, go to the "Spend-A-Day" website (click here).
• Provincial Exams Requirements: For programs that require either English or Communications 12, provincial exams must be written. For programs that require grade 12 math and science courses, provincial exams are optional.
  
• Application for all of BCIT's trades program: applications are accepted and processed on an ongoing basis.
  
• Application for the technology programs: most programs began accepting applications on October 1. BCIT will continue to accept applications until the program is full. (Implication: apply ASAP)

There are a number of ways that students can learn more information about BCIT and its programs:

• Leave your name and number with student information and enrollment services at 604-434-1610. Someone will return your call.
• View the information yourself at the program advising website (click here)
• Submit an e-mail to an enrollment officer at the "Ask an Advisor" website (click here)
• For financial aid and awards information, go to the financial aid's website (click here)
  

University of Alberta Early Admission Workshop

For students interested in going to the University of Alberta in Edmonton, an early admission workshop/info session will be held on December 5, 2009 (Saturday) at the Four Seasons Hotel in Vancouver (791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver).

During the workshop, you and your family can book a one-on-one appointment with a U of A advisor. The advisor will help you complete and submit your application forms for admission. Qualified students may be offered on-the-spot early admission.

If you want to attend this event, you must book an appointment with an academic advisor. Reservations can be made prior to November 27 on this website (click here).

For more information about the event, you can contact U of A's recruitment officer Kelly Park for more details at 780-492-1956, or via e-mail at kelly.park@ualberta.ca

UVic Blackpress Scholarship

For students who are interested in applying at U Vic's Business program, you may qualify for a $5000 scholarship.

The scholarship, called the Black Press Scholarship, is awarded to 37 students across BC. Scholarships will be awarded based on "academic merit, leadership, and a demonstrated desire to make a positive difference in the world" (from the information poster).

Further information on the Black Press Scholarship can be found at the following website (click here).

Please note: this scholarship is restricted to students who are applying to U. Vic Business.

A check-list of application process can also be found in Mr. Leung's office.

New Info from Kwantlen Polytechnic University

I have just received a bulletin from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and you may be interested in a few of the following:

• Applications for Kwantlen for the September 2010 semester have begun. You can register online via the Kwantlen's website (click here), or you can apply in person in any of Kwantlen's campuses (in Richmond, Surrey, Langley, and Cloverdale - click here for more details).
• Kwantlen is hosting campus tours for all campuses on Fridays. For more information, you can call Sotheavy Thuy, the student recruitment coordinator, at 604-599-3165.
• Information sessions for individual faculties are held throughout the semester. If you have specific questions of a particular faculty, this would be a good opportunity to ask the specific faculty-related questions. For more information, go to Kwantlen's events websites (click here).
• Kwantlen is expanding its program offerings. Some programs that could possibly be implemented in 2010 include: bachelor of business administration, bachelor of applied communications, bachelor of product design, bachelor of science (with specialties in either health science, sustainable science, or applied psychology), and bachelor of technology in sustainable horticulture. Actual program implementation is subject to the school's approval. For more details, check Kwantlen's website.
  

University of Waterloo Info Session

For students who are planning to go to University of Waterloo, one of the best schools in Canada for computer science and mathematics, you may be interested in these following events:

U. of Waterloo representatives will be present at the post-secodary information session at David Thompson Secondary on Wednesday, November 18. As advertised before, you must come to see me or Mr. Hayes for a field trip form to attend this event.

If you do not want to miss classes to attend this session, U. of Waterloo also has a public information session held some time after. Here's the informatn:

Date: Saturday, November 28, 2009

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Location: Hilton Vancouver Metrotown Hotel, Ballroom 1 (6083 McKay Avenue, Burnaby)

Parking is free in all hotel parking lots; complimentary refreshments will be served as well

To attend this event, you have to register by clicking here.

As I've said, U. of Waterloo has one of the strongest computer science and mathematics programs in the country. If this is an area of interest to you, don't hesitate to go and learn more.

LPI Registration Reminder

For students who are planning to write the LPI exam at Templeton on December 3, you have about 1 week left to register for the exam.

FYI, UBC, SFU, and several other post-secondary schools have a basic literacy entrance requirement. Depending on your English 12 blended mark (i.e. course mark + provincial exam mark), that entrance requirement may be met if your English 12 mark is high enough. However, because your provincial exam mark is worth 40% of your blended mark, it is our recommendation that you sign up and write the LPI.

Two entries have been created earlier to explain the registration procedure. If you have not registered yet, please go to these posts again. Remember, registration must be completed by November 22!

For registration done online, click here
For registration via mail/fax, click here (be mindful of postal delay - my recommendation is: by this time, this would not be the method of registration you should choose)

Any questions, please come in to see me ASAP.

McGill's Viewbook is now online and downloadable

In respect to the environment, McGill University will no longer be mailing to secondary schools their annual viewbook. Instead, their viewbook is now downloadable from their main website as a .pdf file. For students who are interested in applying for McGill, please go to their undergrad website to download the viewbook onto your computer. (Click here) For your information, the viewbook can be found on the left panel of the undergrad page, with a picture of the viewbook above it.

I will download the viewbook and have it saved onto my computer. Depending on the need, I may print out the most important pages for your reference as well. However, I will also not be printing out the entire viewbook and will not be putting it in the school calendar area in the counsellor suite.

The pdf viewbook is very easy to navigate. If you want to go to on of the most prestigious universities in Canada, this download is a must.

Also: McGill will have its representatives present in the post-secondary info session at David Thompson on Wednesday, November 18. If you wish to attend, please come see Mr. Leung or Mr. Hayes ASAP for a field trip form. Unfortunately, we will NOT be able to go with you to this workshop; we do, however, encourage those of you seeking to go to a non-BC university to attend this event.

University of Ottawa Information Evening and Fair

University of Ottawa will host a Canada-wide webcast for all students and parents on Tuesday, December 8 at 6:00 p.m. EST (that's 3:00 p.m. Vancouver time).

For other information and details, you can go to U. of Ottawa's website by clicking here.

SFU Admission Information (Part 2)

(continued from the last post)

Admission Average

• For programs that have no specific course requirements: admission averages would be calculated based on your English 12 (with a minimum 60% blended mark) and three other provincially examinable grade 12 courses.
• For programs with specific course requirements: admission averages would be calculated based on your English 12 mark + the program-specific provincially examinable grade 12 courses (up to 3) + other provincially examinable grade 12 courses
• For example, the Faculty of Business Administration requires that you have Principles of Math 12 credit. In calculating your admission average, therefore, they will look at your English 12 mark, Principles of Math 12 mark, plus two provincially-examinable grade 12 course marks
• In Fall 2009, the admission averages ranged from 75% to 90%, depending on the program

English Language & Literacy Requirement (after admission) - you need to complete one of the following:

• Obtain a grade of 75% or higher in English 12 and/or English Literature 12, OR
• Obtain a grade of 60 to 74% in English 12 or English Literature 12, and have a level 4 on the essay portion of the LPI + 50% on all other parts, OR
• Obtain a grade of 60 yo 74% in English 12 or English Literature 12, and complete FAL X99-4 at SFU with at least a C grade.

Quantitative & Analytical Skills Requirement (Math) - you need to complete one of the following:

• Obtain a grade of 70% or higher in Principles of Math 11 or Principles of Math 12 or Applications of Math 12, OR
• Obtain a grade of 60 to 69% in the above math course(s), and achieve a grade of at least 20/30 in the SFU Quantitative Placement Test within your first term at SFU.
• Obtain a grade of 60 to 69% in the above math course(s), and take the SFU course FAN X99-4, and achieve at least a C grade within your first 3 terms at SFU.

Admission Notifications

• Conditional offers for admission will begin to be mailed out in January of 2010, and will continue until mid-April
• Conditional offers are made only to a student's first choice of program

SFU Admission Information (Part 1)

A lot of information was given from the SFU Counsellor's Day. Here are some pointers that are important for you:

Application Process

• SFU Application has started already. Please note, applications can only be done online.
• For early admission and most scholarships, application deadline is Feb 28, 2010.
• Students who wish to apply for residence should apply early, as spaces are limited.

Self-Reporting Grades

• The student portal where you can self-report your interim grades opens on Dec 15, 2009
• You need to report your final grade 11 and interim grade 12 marks (i.e. Term 1's marks)
• For distributed learning courses (e.g. online courses), you can self-report your interim grade. You MUST advise the educational institution (e.g. VLN) to report your final grade to the Ministry of Education if you want to use that course for application purposes.

Grade 11/12 Pre-requisites for General Admission Requirements

• You must complete English 11, a Language 11, Principles of Math 11, and a Science 11 for general admission
• If you have taken a challenge exam to fulfil your language 11 requirement, you must self-report this grade
• For grade 12 courses, you need to have English 12 and 3 approved grade 12 provincially examinable courses
• Please note: having completed the required courses for general admission does NOT mean you have the required courses for a specific faculty. Please check the individual program-specific requirements for the faculty/program you are interested in.
• You must WRITE the English 12 provincial exam. The mark from the exam would only be USED if it increases your admission average.

Simon Fraser University: Admission Cycle Timeline

I went to SFU Surrey yesterday to attend its counsellor's information day. For the next few days, I will be putting up some of the pointers that are of particular importance to you (so please come back to this site often to check out the most updated information). For today, I will start off by giving you SFU's admission cycle, or its list of dates:

2009 Dates

• Starting Now: Application opens for Fall 2010 admission
• Nov 1: Bursary applications for Fall 2010 students open
• Nov 28: "Supertour" of SFU's Burnaby campus
• Dec 15: The self-reporting portal opens for students to report their term 1 school marks

2010 Dates

• Jan 15: Conditional admission and scholarship offers begin, based on your self-reported grades
• Jan 30: "Supertour" of SFU's Burnaby campus
• Feb 28: Deadline to apply for early admission and most major entrance scholarship (I will tell you about scholarship application and financial aid in another post)
• Mar 4: SFU Surrey's Open House
• Apr 10: "Supertour" of SFU's Burnaby campus
• Apr 21: SFU Surrey Information Session
• Apr 30: Regular application deadline for admission
• May (early): SFU begins receiving your term 2 marks from the Ministry of Education. Please note, you must have given permission for us to release your marks to SFU for this to happen.
• May 28: SFU Burnaby Information Evening
• June (mid): Enrollment/Registration information sent to students
• June 30: Deadline to submit a personal information profile for diverse qualification applicants
• July 7: Enrollment for Fall 2010 semester begins
• Aug 1: New offers of admission and scholarships based on your final grade 12 mark (if applicable)
• Sept 7: Classes begin for the fall 2010 semester

Re-launch: BC Awards Online

For those of you who are interested in applying for a scholarship, this is a very important notice:

The BC Awards Online website has been re-launched. To go to the site, Click Here.
BC Awards Online has extensive scholarship, bursary, and award information from government agencies, post-secondary institutions, and private sectors. Students in BC can access its database with a few quick and easy steps.

I'd strongly recommend every student who is thinking of scholarships, bursaries, and awards to check out this site - it is probably the most resourceful place you can go.

UNBC’s Dates and Deadlines (update)

I have just received some updated information from UNBC that you may find useful:

Application Deadlines for September 2010 Entry:
Fine Arts: Feb 1, 2010
Arts, Commerce, Science, Planning, Health Sciences, Environmental Engineering: March 1, 2010
Nursing: March 31, 2010
Northern Advancement Program: June 1, 2010

Deadlines for Scholarships and Awards:
Early Admission Awards: November 16, 2009
Leadership Award: December 15, 2009
All other UNBC Awards: March 1, 2010
Housing Applications for first year, first entry students: March 1, 2010

And here are some useful UNBC websites:

Homepage: Click here
Applying for UNBC online: Click here
Student Housing: Click here
Be a Student for a Day: Click here
UNBC Facebook Group: Click here
UNBC Twitter Page: Click here

Update: University of Victoria Application

The following information has been sent to me by the University of Victoria. For those of you who are interested in U Vic, please read the following very carefully.

Self-reporting: Phase I of self-reporting is now underway for current grade 12 students. In this stage, you have to self-report your final grade 11 marks to the university.

Faculty of Business: The faculty now requires applicants to self-report grades. This is new for 2010-2011, you have to self-report your first term grade 12 marks during phase II (January 4 to March 31, 2010) of the self-reporting period in order to be considered for admission. Supplemental application to the Faculty of Business is due no later than Feb 28, 1010

Faculty of Engineering: The faculty requirements have recently changed: U Vic now requires the following courses for admission:
Grade 11: English 11; Principles of Math 11; Chemistry 11; Physics 11; and Social Studies 11
Grade 12: English 12; Principles of Math 12 (min of 73%); Physics 12 and one additional academic 12 course.

Language 11: A language 11 course is now only required for the Faculty of Humanities applicants

Eligible students must first apply for admission at UVic (Click here). After receiving their student number by email, you may visit UVic’s self-reporting site (Click here) to self-report your final grade 11 marks by November 30, 2009.

Canadian University Event at David Thompson

For students who are interested in going to a Canadian university outside of BC, there is an info session that will take place at David Thompson Secondary on November 18 from 1 - 3 p.m. This is an opportunity for you to connect with representatives from universities across Canada. Sorry, but I don't have any information as to which schools' representatives would be there.

If you are interested in going, you would need to pick up a permission form to excuse you from the afternoon classes on the 18th. I would also need proof that you have been at the event when you come back. For permission forms, you can come see me, or Mr. Hayes at the career center.

Calendar of Important Dates (November)

Starting in October-November, I will be posting an entry like this one towards the end of each month. In these entries, I will list important dates that would be coming up the following month. While every effort is made to make this list of dates accurate and complete, I may not be able to cover all of them. It is up to you to stay organized and informed. And finally, don't procrastinate! Have your applications ready, and submit them early!

Upcoming November Dates:

• Nov 1 - Financial Aid Application Opens for Trinity Western University
• Nov 1 - Application for the Fall 2010 semester opens at Kwantlen Polytechnic University
• Nov 1 to 7 - BSc Applicant for the nursing program at Kwantlen must submit their applications this week
• Nov 4 - SFU Counsellors' Day - I will not be in my office that day
• Nov 5 - Parent-teacher Interviews at Temp
• Nov 12 - Post-secondary afternoon at Temp
• Nov 12 - MacLean's OnCampus Virtual Tour (3:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST)
  
• Nov 15 - Early award application deadline at UNBC
• Nov 18 - Part-time studies information session at BCIT
• Nov 19 - UBC info session at Temp (during instructional planning period)
• Nov 20 - Registration for January 2010 semester begins at Langara College
• Nov 28 - SFU Super Tour
• Nov 30 - Self-reporting phase 1 closes at UVic

If I have missed an important date, please let me know via e-mail. Thanks!

BCIT Info Session

BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) will be having its big info session this Wednesday (Oct 28) from 5 to 8 p.m. at their Burnaby Campus. Even though BCIT will be coming to Templeton on post-secondary afternoon, this is an opportunity for you to explore BCIT's campus, and to talk to staff and student of a specific faculty or program, who probably can answer your program-specific questions.

For more information, go to BCIT's info session website by clicking here

Also, from now until Wednesday, Oct 28 at 8 p.m., BCIT will be hosting an event called 3 Blog nights. In the event, there will be texts, videos, and tweets to help you know more about BCIT.

To participate, click the following site: Click Here

MacLean's On Campus Virtual Fair

Want to take a tour around all the university and college campuses before deciding on the one you would attend? While you probably can't physically visit every campus in Canada, this may be the next best thing. MacLean's magazine is offering an event called the MacLean's OnCampus Virtual Fair. The event would allow you to visit college and university campuses across the country at the comfort of your home/school computer. Representatives from many schools would be available to talk to you virtually in the virtual convention hall.
The event will take place on November 12 (Thursday) from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. (EST). Translate that into Vancouver time, and it's 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. Some of the information materials will remain present until February 2010.

You have to register to take part in this, but registration is free. To register, click the following link: Click Here

LPI Registration (via fax, mail, or in person)

For those of you who wish to register for the LPI through fax, mail, or in person, you must first print out the application form. To do so, go first to LPI’s registration page by clicking here.

As you move down the screen, you will see a place where the application form can be found. See the screen shot below. Click onto the “this form” hyperlink.

Print the registration form, which looks like the figure below:
Read through the important information, and fill out P.7 of the form, which looks like this:
Make sure you write down Dec 3 and 3:30 as the exam date and time. Templeton Secondary would be the location to which you are writing the exam for the ONE AND ONLY school sitting.

Complete the remainder of the registration form and submit it in the method you choose (fax, mail, or in person). Remember: if you are sending the registration in by mail, the LPI office MUST receive your registration form BEFORE November 22 in order to register you for the Dec 3 school sitting. If you are applying in person, the LPI office closes at 4:00 p.m. daily.

Still having trouble? Come see me, and we will try to figure it out together.

LPI Online Registration (Tutorial)

A number of students have approached me and have asked about the way to register for the language proficiency index (LPI) exam. Apparently, a number of you are having trouble registering.

The first thing you need to decide is the method of payment. If you are using a credit card, you can register online or via a fax. If you want to pay with a cheque, then you must mail your application in. If you want to pay using debit, then you must go directly to the LPI office to register. (Sorry, but it does not appear that the LPI office would take cash)

Because I have received a number of questions regarding the online registration process, I’ll spend more time talking about it here.

First, go to the LPI online registration site: Click Here

You will then see a screen like the one below, click on the link that takes you to the secondary school registration page.

Once in this page, go to its very bottom, where you can check off the “terms and conditions” button. Then, click “continue” (see screen shot below):
This will take you to the high school online registration page. After filling out your personal identification information, go to the second section where you’d see a pull-down menu. Click onto it, and find Templeton. As a Templeton student, you can only register to write an in-school exam at your home school.

Complete the remainder of the registration form. Click “submit,” and you are SET!

Still having trouble? Come see me, and we will try to figure it out together.

Remember: registration closes at midnight, November 22. Register early - this is the ONLY sitting you will be allowed to write at the school.

UBC Engineering Open House

The Faculty of Applied Science (i.e. Engineering) at UBC will be having its annual open house on November 7, 2009 (Saturday) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Representatives from different engineering departments will be on hand to answer questions and to provide information.

For more information, you can go to the following site: Click here

UBC Engineering also has an online community that has been launched recently. In it, you'll find student blogs, twitter updates, YouTube videos, and other information. Go check it out by clicking here.

University of Toronto Info Session

U of T will be holding two information sessions in the Greater Vancouver area in November. Mark the dates down:

Engineering: Monday, November 23 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel in Surrey.

Engineering, Arts, Science, Business: Tuesday, November 24 at the Vancouver Convention Center (999 Canada Place)

You need to register to attend these sessions. For more information or for registration, go to the following site: click here

Or, you can copy and paste the following link:
http://discover.utoronto.ca/infoevent