College

Applying to Ontario Colleges

Pre-Application and Application Guidelines

As a Grade 12 student, you are responsible for ensuring your eligibility for college admission. Please review the following important dates and procedures, and complete all required steps to stay on track.

BOOK A GUIDANCE APPOINTMENT

If you have questions or require support with this process please make an appointment to speak to your guidance counsellor.

September-November = time to reflect, research and plan!

Preparing to Apply to Ontario Colleges

As a Grade 12 student, it's important to take proactive steps to ensure you're eligible and ready for college. Follow these guidelines to stay on track:

Explore Colleges

Attend online and in-person information sessions for colleges you are interested in.
View the schedule to find dates and times for each institution’s virtual events.

Plan Financially

Consider getting a part-time job and begin saving money for post-secondary expenses.

Research Programs

Identify the certification, diploma, education, or training required for your chosen career.
Begin your research by logging into myBlueprint or visiting OntarioColleges.ca.

Check Course Requirements

Use the Student Portal to confirm that your Grade 12 courses align with your program of interest.
For most college programs, one of your credits must be ENG4C1 (or ENG4U1).

Confirm Admission Criteria

Visit OntarioColleges.ca to ensure your courses meet the entrance requirements for your selected programs.

Ontario_Universities_Fall_2025_Open_Houses (1).pdf

Virtual Info Sessions - Sign up!

View the calendar and click on the link to register for a virtual live information session with colleges and universities. Colleges and universities will be hosting online information sessions & webcasts to help you get to know your options. Learn more about the application process, admission requirements, student life—and learn how 700+ programs in science, engineering, business, and the arts equip today’s students for the new economy.

Ontario_Colleges_Fall_2025_Open_Houses_web.xlsx

Ontario College Open Houses!

These events will include campus tours, lectures, meet with professors, opportunities to explore academic programs of choice and talk with staff and students about admission, financial aid, residence, campus life and more.

View the list for dates and times. Register by visiting the institution's Open House web page.

Ontario College Information Program (CIP) - Fall 2025 Cancelled

Considering college? Need more information about colleges and college programs in Ontario? Come this fall to a CIP event in your area to meet with college representatives who can answer your questions about program offerings, admissions requirements and campus life.

Learn about all kinds of careers and the programs that will lead you into them
Discover unique programs that are only offered at Ontario’s colleges
Learn about pathways between college and university
Get all the information on how and when to apply (that’s why we’re there!)
Ask questions about campus life, housing and student services
Get great advice on how to pay for your college education

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025

London - Fanshawe College 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Post-Secondary Out of Province/Country

Please note that students who are interested in attending university in another province or country must make an appointment with the Guidance Department for help with this process.

Each province has different university requirements for Ontario applicants.

Students interested in attending university in the United States must write their SATs.

November - College Applications Open

- Access to the online college application process becomes available at www.ontariocolleges.ca. This website provides information about the various programs offered by Ontario colleges as well as the application process and program requirements.
- Create an account and log in.
- Fill in your personal information and educational history.
- Add your program choices.
- Huron Park Guidance will automatically send grades/transcript to Ontario Colleges Application Services.
- Pay the application processing fee and any transcript fees ($150 for 5 choices - up to 3 at one college).
- Log back in to verify your transcript information, or to make changes or updates to your application. (Changing your program choices after February 1 may affect your chances of receiving an offer, as applications will be considered first-come, first-served. Note that removing a program choice will notify the college you are no longer interested in that choice.)
- Log back in after February 1 to view and confirm offers of admission.
- When you are applying to college, you should be using your personal email address, not your gotvdsb email address.

February 1 - Application Due Date - equal consideration

- This is last date for students wanting equal consideration for program choices to submit applications and changes to previously selected colleges and/or programs.
- Applications can be submitted after this date and offers will only be made for programs that are open.

Congratulations on completing the application process for college.

Now that www.ontariocolleges.ca has received your application there are a few responsibilities you need to attend to before you receive your acceptance notices from colleges.

Please read the following dates and guidelines and complete the necessary steps.

February 1

- This date is the earliest that Ontario Colleges will release offers of admissions to eligible applicants and is the earliest date that applicants may confirm an offer of admission.

April

- Bursary and Scholarship information and application procedures are available on the FINANCIAL PLANNING page of the Huron Park Guidance Department website and online at TVEF.
- Information on the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) can also be found on the FINANCIAL PLANNING page.
- TVDSB, Oxford County, Woodstock and HPSS scholarship and bursary application procedures and timelines are available on the FINANCIAL PLANNING page.

Ensure your 40 Community Volunteer Hours are complete and that the Main Office has this information.

May 1

- This date is the final opportunity where students must confirm their acceptance of an offer of admission to their program.

June 15

- This date is the earliest that Ontario colleges may require payment of tuition/residence fees.

Tips for After an Offer is Accepted:

- Check the OSAP website (osap.gov.on.ca) for the newest application. Apply as soon as you can; you will need at least 10 weeks before classes start to get financial aid.
- Read your financial assistance award letters carefully. The amount of money you are eligible to receive depends upon the college and program you accept.
- Look for a summer job to offset the cost of post-secondary school
- Send your tuition/residence deposit to reserve your spot. Make sure to respond by the confirmation-of-offer date.
- Watch the mail/email for important housing, orientation and registration material. If you do not reply when requested, you might not be guaranteed a space to live.
- Remember that most student loans are taken out in your name, not your parents’. You have to pay back all of your loans - with interest. Borrow only what you need.