How to apply to universities in Canada: 5 tips

It’s that time of year when high school students in Ottawa are applying to universities. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be an intimidating process, given how high the stakes are.

University life is not like life in high school. Applying to universities means planning for an uncertain future. For many students, getting accepted into the university of their dreams will mean they’ll have to move to a new city and leave their friends and family behind. The change can be bitter-sweet.

Because your future matters, your university application matters. Here are 5 tips on how to apply to universities in Canada.

#1 Make Sure You Meet the Minimum Entrance Grade

Whether you’re a student at an Ontario online high school or a traditional high school, your grades matter.

Different programs require different entrance grades, and the numbers vary widely. You need to have an average of around 95% or above to get into McGill University’s Engineering program, for instance, whereas to get accepted into the University of Winnipeg’s Commerce program, you need to have an average of only 55%.

Your high school grades don’t necessarily indicate how smart you are or how well you’ll perform in university, but university admission teams tend to take grades very seriously. Simply put, the better your grades, the better chances you have of getting into the right school.

#2 Don’t Forget Application Material

Grades aren’t the only aspect of your application that matter to application teams, however. Some Canadian universities select students based not only on their grades but also on other application materials, like writing statements, records of work (volunteer or paid), scholarships and awards, and even video presentations.

If you’re applying to schools that require such an array of application material, your material should demonstrate at least two things:

  1. That you understand the programs you’re applying to and are not submitting the same application material to every one
  2. That you’re a well-rounded, motivated, interesting, and curious person who will excel at the post-secondary level—that is, that you possess the qualities of a good undergraduate student

#3 Follow Your Interests

If you love science, you’re probably better off applying to schools whose science programs interest you.

If you don’t know what subjects interest you most (which is okay and normal), you may wish to consider universities that allow you to take a wide variety of courses in your first and even second years, so that you can dip your water in a bunch of places before choosing your major.

#4 Leverage Helpful Resources 

There are resources available to you that will make your application stronger and the whole application process easier, you just have to search for them. The best place to start is by consulting a guidance counsellor at your school. They can help with your application and point you in the direction of other helpful resources. 

#5 Meet the Deadline

This one pretty much goes without saying, but, bearing rare exceptions, you absolutely must meet the application deadlines. Better yet, submit your applications well ahead of the deadlines. Early bird gets the worm.

Photo: Andre Hunter via Unsplash