October 2012 Riverside Secondary Presents: TRANSITION TO POST-SECONDARY

1. October 2012 Riverside Secondary Presents:TRANSITION TO POST-SECONDARY

2. Life Is Full of Choices • Directly into the work force? • Choose Grade 12 courses to acquire necessary skills • www.workfutures.bc.ca • Continue education? • vocational school • technical institute • university/college • career program • university degree programs (transfer) • university • www.educationplanner.ca

3. CAUTION!! Graduation requirements DO NOT EQUAL post-secondary entrance requirements.

4. Provincial Exams:GRADUATION • Students are required to write the English 12 or Communications 12 provincial exam • French Immersion students must write the Français 12 provincial exam to get the French Dogwood Diploma

5. Basic B.C. University Entrance Requirements • English 11, a Math 11, Socials 11, Academic Science 11, Language 11 • English 12 and 3 approved academic12-level courses • Almost all programs require around 80% or higher for admission Note: Students are responsible for checking websites for specific admission and program entry requirements SFU requires minimum 60% in both Math 11 and English 12 and accepts Beginner’s Language 11

6. Math details Generally: For university science, engineering and business programs Math 12 Pre-Calculus is required; Calculus recommended For arts, Math Foundations 11 and/or Foundations12 is accepted The math requirement varies by institution and program. Be sure to check the institution website

7. Grade 12 Approved Academic Courses • English 12 • Literature 12 • History 12 • Geography 12 • French 12 • Francais 12 • Spanish 12 • Japanese 12 • Math 12 • Chemistry 12 • Physics 12 • Biology 12

8. Newly approved courses

9. University Admission Averages • The admission average is calculated using percentages from only English 12 and the best three grade 12 approved academic courses required for the chosen program. Some eastern universities require English 12 and four courses. • Example: Student’s calculated Admission Average for SFU Science program=86%

10. University Admission Averages • New for UBC: an on-line “personal profile” will be required of every applicant and will be considered along with the admission average. • Example: Student’s Calculated Admission Average for UBC Arts program=85%

11. Admission Averages(September 2012)

12. Admission to College or Technical/Trade School • College • Most programs require high school graduation • Specialty programs have specific requirements • Technical or Trade School (BCIT, VCC) • Most programs require high school graduation • Each program has specific requirements and application dates • Note: Students are responsible for checking websites for specific admission and program entry requirements

13. Applying to Post-Secondary Schools • Check institution websites for specific deadlines • Apply on-line for BC schools: www.applybc.ca • self-report marks online and/or wait till Ministry transfers data (mid-May). No paper transcript necessary • Generally • BC Universities: apply by Feb. 28th • UBC: Dec 10thto be considered for scholarships, Jan. 31st for all other applicants) • Douglas College: apply beginning October 15th • Other institutions and BCIT: check specific program deadlines • Eastern Universities: apply before Christmas

14. Support for Admission Process Apply to all BC schools at: www.applybc.ca Post-Secondary Institution Websites Riverside Career Resource Center information about programs and entrance requirements School Counsellor Matching information about programs and requirements to YOUR son or daughter

15. Post-Secondary Assessment Tests • SAT • Required for American colleges and universities and those students involved in athletics at SFU • Write early, apply on-line, test site in Richmond at McNair Secondary • TOEFL or IELTS • May be required for students whose first language is not English and who have not completed 3 years of full-time secondary schooling in English. • Note: Students are responsible for checking websites for specific admission and program entry requirements

16. Scholarships and Bursaries • Last year, the Riverside graduating class won more than $1 500 000 in scholarships • Biggest myth? “You must have straight A’s to win scholarships” • Criteria • different for each scholarship • marks, citizenship, service, and/or leadership, financial need, excellent achievement in non-“academic” areas

17. Paying for Post-Secondary Schooling • Provincial Examination Scholarships • Awarded automatically ($1000 tuition credit) • Students must earn a final blended mark of at least a 73% in English 12 or Communications 12 or Francais12 • And of the best 4 exams out of the 5 used for the scholarship students must earn: 73% or higher on three exams and 86% or higher on one exam Students must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident at the time of writing the exams.

18. Provincial Examination Scholarships • Students can qualify for a $1000 Ministry scholarship based on 4 of their best 5 provincial exam marks in: • Math 10 Foundations or AW Math 10 • English 10 • Science 10 • Socials 11or Sciences Humaines 11 • English 12 or Communications 12 or Francais 12 This is an automatic award; no application necessary

19. District/Dogwood Scholarships • Must apply on Riverside application in April • $1000 ($500 tuition credit plus $500 cash) • Superior achievement in Fine Arts, Applied Skills, Physical Activity, or Second Language courses • Other school criteria (for more details go to www.bced.gov.bc.ca/awards)

20. Post-Secondary Institution Entrance Scholarships • Some automatic based on admission average • Must apply for major scholarships --many requiring school nomination (see Ms. Chittenden) • Riverside “Local Scholarships” • Must apply in April • Range in value from $100-$1000 • Includes District/Dogwood Scholarships • Private Organization Sponsored Scholarships • Check with parents’ place of work • www.bcawardsonline.sd61.bc.ca • www.studentscholarships.org

21. Support for Scholarship Applications • It is the student’s responsibility to research scholarship information • Support from the Career Resource Center Riverside WebsiteCareerCenterscholarships • Support from Ms. Chittenden and the three scholarship info sessions Riverside WebsiteCounsellingDeptshared documents Do not hesitate to contact your school counsellor!

22. Questions?