Select a link to jump to an article.

Important for Year 12 | Accepting offers from Ontario universities

Many Year 12 students are beginning to receive conditional offers of admission from universities. They may have some choices to make—which is exciting. The University Counselling Office is happy to help students evaluate their choices. Students should know that the dates on which universities make offers vary by university and by program. Highly selective programs, for example, tend to be the last to make offers.

In the case of Ontario universities, students must respond to an offer of admission online through the OUAC website. Accepting an offer of admission from one university does not cancel the candidate’s application to other universities. However, an applicant may have only one acceptance of an offer from an Ontario university on file at any given time.

If students accept an offer of admission from one university, they may change their minds if they get a later offer from one that they would prefer to attend. They simply cancel the previously accepted offer and indicate their revised choice. 

In April, we once again send updates of student grades to OUAC. These grades will be transmitted to Ontario universities (and to out-of-province universities that subscribe to the OUAC database). As a result of these grades, some students will receive conditional offers of admission in April or May.

Important for Year 12 | Accepting offers from Canadian (non-Ontario) universities

Canadian universities vary in their deadlines for accepting offers of admission and may have earlier deadlines. All Ontario universities to which students have applied must respond to applicants by May 27 with either an offer of admission, a refusal, or a deferral pending receipt of additional information. For Ontario universities, June 1 is the earliest date by which universities may require a response from students. 

Out-of-province universities have no common deadline by which they require a response to offers of admission, so it is critical that students check the information sent to them by the individual schools from which they have received a conditional offer. Some of these schools (e.g. McGill, Sauder School of Business at UBC) may have a May 1 response deadline. If these deadlines occur before students have heard from all of their choices, they can ask the university for a deadline extension (which they sometimes grant). The only risk in doing so is that they may miss out on the opportunity for a space in residence.

UCAS applicants | Top 5 tips to support students after the deadline

1. If students have used all five choices on their applications but are not holding any offers, they may be eligible to use EXTRA when it opens on February 28. Find out more about EXTRA here.

2. Students can make some changes to their application after submission, or they might need to contact the university or college. Click here for more information.

3. Once the application has been submitted, students can sign in anytime to track their application and find out about the different offers they may receive and the dates to reply.

4. It’s not too late to apply. Applications can be submitted until June 30, 2024 when they will be entered into Clearing.

5. Students can access the latest advice on finance and accommodation on ucas.com.

Year 10 | University of Waterloo updates 

 Students and their supporters are invited to join the University of Waterloo online or in person for an information session on admission requirements, financing their education, and advice on preparing for university on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. ET.

Students unable to attend in person can tune in for the livestream of the presentation from 6:30–8 p.m. ET. A link to the livestream will be emailed to them after they register.

Year 9 to 12 | Summer enrichment opportunities

To view details of many summer enrichment opportunities, please click here. This is a working document of curated programs students and families may consider. TeenLife, listed first in this document, is a helpful database of summer and gap year programs and is a good starting point. We do not endorse nor recommend any particular program. It is up to the student and family to evaluate the suitability of the programs listed. Some applications will ask you to submit a transcript and/or teacher recommendation — please contact your counsellor if this is required. Finally, be aware of application due dates and program fees.

Researching universities/colleges and programs

The following links are for students and parents to search for specific university programs and gather specific university information. Navigating each database is intuitive and can generate a deeper understanding of the prerequisites and levels of achievement required for admission. When compiling a list of colleges and universities, it is important to diversify. A well-researched and thoughtful list of university programs and or schools should include at least three REACH schools/programs, three POSSIBLE schools/programs and three LIKELY schools/programs. All schools in a student's list will also satisfy the non-academic and lifestyle aspirations they foresee in their post-secondary education and destination.

Searching University Program Databases

• Ontario university info

• Canadian university info

• U.K. university info

• American university/college info

Year 12 | Scholarships

York University Tentanda Via Award

Capturing the enduring spirit of York's motto, the Tentanda Via Award recognizes undergraduate students who have demonstrated resilience in overcoming significant personal barriers in the pursuit of a university education and changemakers who are committed to progressive and sustainable development issues. Interested Year 12 students are encouraged to check here for more information. The application deadline is Feb. 15. 

Dalhousie University General Entrance Award application

Year 12 students who applied to Dalhousie University are encouraged to complete the General Entrance Award application. These are awarded based on academic achievement, leadership, extracurricular involvement, community service, financial need and cultural identity. Interested students are encouraged to check here for more information. The application deadline is Feb. 15. 

Awards profiles

Several Canadian universities have awards profiles that students can access through their applicant portal. Rather than applying for a particular scholarship, students complete a profile that then matches them with scholarships.  All Year 12 students who are interested in scholarships are encouraged to check their portals and speak with their counsellor for more information. 

Laurier Scholars Program

Year 12 students who have applied to Wilfrid Laurier University are encouraged to explore the Laurier Scholars Program. The prestigious Laurier Scholars Award is an annual entrance scholarship to offer high-achieving students the opportunity to participate in a dynamic learning environment that will foster innovative thinking and ethical, visionary leadership. Seven students will be selected to receive this $40,000 entrance scholarship. This application is open to domestic and international applicants who have applied for a full-time undergraduate program at Laurier. Students are selected for the Laurier Scholars Award based on their academic achievement (an admission average of 90 per cent or higher) and their submitted scholarship application. Applications are due on Feb. 22 and interested students are encouraged to check out the website or speak with their counsellor for more information. 

Washington University in St. Louis Signature Scholar Programs

All Year 12 students interested in applying to Washington University in St. Louis are encouraged to explore the Signature Scholar Programs. There are three different scholar programs, so explore the website for more details on eligibility for each one. Any UCC student who is eligible and feels like they are a good fit based on the scholarship criteria can apply through the common application by the regular decision deadline. 

St. Lawrence University Canadian Scholars Program

All Year 12 students interested in applying to St. Lawrence University are encouraged to explore the Canadian Scholars Program. The Canadian Scholars Program seeks students who have excelled academically and demonstrated leadership in some compelling way in their communities. This leadership may be school-related, service-related or any other avenue in which the student has invested substantive time. The scholarship value for the Canadian Scholars Program ranges from $25,000 to $50,000 USD per year, with four-year total values of $100,000 to $200,000 USD. Any UCC student who is eligible and feels like they are a good fit based on the scholarship criteria can apply. Interested students are encouraged to speak with their university counsellor for more information.