A virtual workshop and information session for parents and students will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.  

Join on Zoom here. 

This is a critical time of the year for our Year 12 students. At this point, students should have a close-to-final university/college list and be working on their college applications (specifically U.S. college applications).

• Letters of recommendation —This is a good time to check in with your recommenders to make sure they know your deadlines. You will need to formerly request this using Naviance. Please meet with your counsellor to complete this if you require help.

• College applications are live — The Common Application,  University of California, and UCAS are open for business. Students applying to Ontario universities will have to wait for the Ontario University Application Centre to open later in September. This will also be the case for most other non-Ontario university applications in Canada and Europe.

• Your College Essay (also known as The Personal Statement) is well under way if not complete. Be sure to work with your counsellor on this important piece of writing.

• Decide whether to apply Early Decision or Early Action — Get answers to the most common questions and make sure you understand the limitations and the financial implications. ED/EA deadlines fall as early as October 15. Work with your counsellor when making this decision.

• Financial Aid for U.S. colleges/universities —Use the CSS PROFILE. These forms are critical to your financial aid process. The CSS PROFILE is only required by some schools and scholarships. Submission windows open on October 1.

• Connect with college admissions reps when they are visiting our school or online. These sessions are important opportunities to let colleges know you’re considering attending their institution, which in some cases can help your chances.

• Keep track of application deadlines, number of required recommendation letters, scholarship deadlines, portfolio requirements, etc. all in one organized spot. Your go to spot is Naviance.

The UCO will be hosting a variety of post-secondary planning workshops over this term.

As we get the ball rolling, the following student workshops are coming up soon. Students need to bring their laptops and questions. 

Students who are applying to U.S. universities should make every effort to attend the following workshops:

• Thursday, Sept. 21 in Room 140 at 3:45 p.m.

Common app — Accepted by more than 1,000 colleges and universities.
Learn how to apply to multiple colleges at once, creating your profile and filling out details that most schools require such as name, address and extracurricular activities.

• Thursday, Oct. 5 in Room 140 at 3:45 p.m.

Applying to the University of California system (UC's)

Students who are applying to U.K. universities should make every effort to attend the following workshop:

• Thursday, Sept. 28 in Room 140 at 3:45 p.m.

Applying to U.K. universities — Universities and Colleges Admissions Services  (UCAS)

Researching Scholarships

Scholarships and academic awards abound for Year 12 students. All students can research the UCO's curated list of scholarships by using Naviance.  Login to your account and select COLLEGES >  SCHOLARSHIPS. 

Researching and planning your scholarship applications is a process that takes time. The dividend can be quite rewarding. As always, meeting with your counsellor to get direction and support is an important resource to use. 

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship 

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship is an exciting opportunity that is available to students who wish to pursue their education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

This is a four-year, fully-funded educational experience for students of the highest calibre. It is so much more than tuition and room and board — it sets scholars’ potential free. It offers life-changing summer enrichment and Discovery Fund experiences as well as immersion in a dynamic student body at a world-class university.

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship chooses scholars based on four criteria:

1. Leadership: Morehead-Cains influence, energize and inspire others to work together to make an impact. It’s more than titles held or roles played. For scholars, leadership is about courage and action.

2. Scholarship: Morehead-Cains thrive in an academically rigorous environment, yet are able to contribute to their communities in other ways. They are ready to take full advantage of UNC’s academic excellence.

3. Character: Courage, humility, integrity, maturity, perseverance, self-awareness, generosity and empathy — these are the core values of the Morehead-Cain community. Morehead-Cains embrace the fact that they are growing and learning.

4. Physical vigour: Morehead-Cains demonstrate a sustained commitment to fitness and wellness. They value what is gained — collaboration, sportsmanship, discipline, stamina and persistence — by preparing for and engaging in competitions and performances. (Due consideration is given to those with physical limitations.)

The application is due on October 1. UCC has nominated 3 students for this scholarship but any UCC student is welcome to apply. We have had scholars who were and were not nominated.  Previous Morehead-Cain Scholars from UCC include Randy Chang ’ 23, Kene Ochuba ’21 and Kimathi Muiruri ’17.

You can find further information about this incredible opportunity on their website. Please reach out to your counsellor if you have any questions or for support with your application.

Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship 

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident interested in studying computer science, computer engineering, data science or software engineering at any of the following institutions starting in 2024–25, Polytechnique Montreal, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of New Brunswick or the University of Waterloo, we encourage you to consider applying for the Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship. 

The Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship will provide full financial support to help foster a new generation of technology leaders. Through this program, they aim to empower exceptional students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to drive technological innovation and tackle complex challenges to ensure a more sustainable and resilient Canada.

Ten scholarships are available and are valued at $25,000 CAD per academic year. Within this allocation, $10,000 is specifically to cover tuition expenses, while the remaining $15,000 is designated as a stipend. Only 500 submitted applications will be accepted for review.

You can find further information about The Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship on their website. Please reach out to your counsellor if you have any questions.

Loran Award

The Loran Award is one of Canada’s most prestigious honours paying particular attention to a young person’s character. To find the next generation of leaders for Canada, they look beyond the transcript and find the promise of character: integrity, courage, compassion, determination and a high level of personal autonomy. Tenable at 25 Canadian partner universities, the Loran Award is valued at $100,000 over four years, including mentorship, funding for summer work experiences, and participation in an extensive network of past and present scholars. This year, up to 36 Loran Awards will be offered. In addition, the Loran committee is granting up to 124 finalist and provincial/territorial awards ($6,000 or $2,000 each, respectively) to promising candidates.

All interested and eligible students are welcome to apply by filling out the application, uploading a transcript, and naming a reference. School sponsorship is no longer required. Previous Loran Scholars from UCC include Toni Agbaje-Ojo ’21 and Vlad Chindea ’18.

The deadline for all applications is Oct. 11, 2023, before 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) 

To learn more about the Loran Award, the eligibility criteria and the application process, please register to one of their webinars and hear from Loran alumni firsthand.

• Session 1: Sept. 25 @ noon ET

• Session 2: Oct. 4 @ 6:00 pm ET

Or visit the Loran Scholars website. Please reach out to your university counsellor for support and any questions you may have about your application.

This year, the PSAT exam will be digitally administered on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, before school from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. and will continue after school from 4 to 5:30 p.m. for students who wish to write it (it is not mandatory for Year 10 students to write).  More information to come to Year 10s emails.

Why would I take the PSAT exam?

The PSAT is a great way for students to get a good idea of what it is like to write either the SAT and/or ACT standardized tests that are used for US university admissions. It is helpful preparation for understanding the style of questions that are used on standardized tests. Additionally, for some students who are being recruited as an athlete, this can give coaches an early “preview” of a possible test score during the recruiting process. 

American citizens can use their PSAT results as the qualifying exam used by the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

All students who wish to write the PSAT exam at the college, are required to email Ms. Lopez in the University Counselling Office by Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. 

The directors and deans of eight highly-selective liberal arts colleges join forces to provide college-bound students and their families with information about some of the most celebrated colleges in the United States. This 90-minute program provides valuable insights on the distinctions of the individual colleges and the opportunity to speak with eight of the best national liberal arts colleges in the United States.