Q&A: Grade 11 Advice

Happy March Break, Everyone! As we are coming close to second semester midterms, the school year is on its way to a close. With that, we thought it would be helpful to answer a few frequently asked and unanswered questions tailored to grade 11 and 12 students thinking about post-secondary education, in particular, university. Below are questions and answers that grade 11 SSS students asked us to answer! Enjoy and hope you learn something new!

Q: How do I go about picking the right courses for grade 11 and grade 12? I want to keep my options open but what do I actually need?

A: This is a tricky question, as the best answer for one person will probably never be the best answer for the next person-it is a very individual choice that is tailored to each person and what they would like to end up doing and how they want to go about it. With that said, there are a few things to look for when choosing the best courses for YOU. First off, you should have a general idea of what you want to go into by grade 12. This does not mean that you need to know exactly what career you want to go into, but you should know your likes and dislikes. For example, if you are someone who absolutely hates math, do not take it if you don’t have to! If you love history, take that instead and look into what you need for a degree in that area! Leaving your options open is great but don’t keep taking a course that you really dislike. Chances are you won’t need it with what you’re going into, and you probably will not do as well in the class if you don’t enjoy it! Lastly, make sure to check out university requirements that can be found on their websites so that you are aware of exactly what you need for different subject areas. All programs require English 12U but the other requirements vary dependent on the subject area. Click here for Univeristy of Windsor's admission requirements as a general guideline for you program area!

Q: How do regular admission work and what marks are considered?

A: When first semester midterm marks come in, grade 12’s receive their OUAC identification number so that they may enter the site and state their university choices and send them in. The difference between regular and early admission is dependent on when you apply, as well as other factors. If you apply early, you can be considered earlier. If you apply closer to the deadline, that’s when universities will be looking at your profile. Regular admission is usually seen as anytime between January – May.

For regular admission, usually your grade 12 marks are considered much more heavily than your grade 11 marks. Grade 12 first semester will be weighted significantly as well as midterm grade 12 second semester marks.

Had a rough first semester grade 12’s? Don’t stress too much about it! As long as you did okay and met the required average for the necessary courses that are required, you still have some time to get better marks in second semester to boost your overall average! Don’t let a later acceptance or absence of one stunt your motivation or dishearten you-work harder and let it be a motivator to get the best marks you possibly can!

Q: What is early admission and what marks are looked at? How much does grade 11 matter?

A: As mentioned previously, early admission is only really significant and possible when you apply early in the year. If you believe that you would be eligible for earlier admission or would just like to apply early which we suggest is the best route, make sure you send in your application to OUAC as soon as possible! Unlike regular admission later in the year, early admission relies heavily on your grade 11 marks because all the grade 12 data available is your midterm marks. The best inclination to them as to how you will do in school at that point in time is your grades in the previous year so if they are good, you may be considered for early admission! University of Windsor offers early admission but many universities do not – so don’t be frustrated if you don’t get accepted right away to every university you applied to! For example, University of Toronto has a strict admissions policy where they do not even begin looking at applications until late February. If you do get early acceptance, make sure that you continue to work hard for the rest of the year! It can be tempting to just meet the minimum once the incentive of being accepted is over. Remember, the higher your average at the end of the year, the more money you can receive in scholarships and bursaries!

Q: How do I know if a specific program is right for me? And how do I know which university to choose?

A: If you are stuck choosing between universities, you will have to weigh personal pros and cons of staying at home or living on campus away. The great thing about living in Windsor is that there is a university in your backyard that gives you the option to stay at home where you don’t have to worry about extra expenses, meals, laundry, etc. There is something to be said about having a quiet place to go when you’re stressed out about school that you do not have to share with a roommate! Many people choose to stay at home because it is truly much cheaper than having to go away and pay for residence and a meal plan. University is expensive no matter how you go about it, but that choice is something you will need to talk about with your parents or guardians. Depending on who is paying for tuition, how much you will have to contribute and your comfort level with going way, this choice is a very personal one!

Choosing a particular university over another is hard as well; they all have great things to offer! We suggest going on a campus tour to the ones you are considering so that you can have a better feel for the atmosphere! University is a big investment. When you think of buying a car, would you just go off of what you saw in an online ad? It is much better to see it in person, talk to some professors and students to see if it is the right place for you. Try and make it to spring/fall open houses that most universities host every year! You should definitley consider going as early as you can-Spring of your grade 12 year is much too late as you have already applied to university! Dates for these events can always be found on the specific school's website and are usually advertised fairly well so that you take notice.

Regarding program choices, talking with people within that program and the professors who teach some of the classes is a great way to determine if it is right for you. Choose an area that you have a genuine interest in, and that you think that you can do well in. Make sure that you are picking your program for the right reasons-don’t be steered into another direction due to friends or even your family. If you don’t know anyone going into your area- don’t worry! There are so many awesome people that you will be able to meet right away who share your interests and you can make good friends very quickly and feel right at home wherever you end up! Make sure that the program you choose will lead you in the direction you want to go career wise. Choose something that will give you great opportunities while at school, like co-op placements, study abroad programs and research alongside professors.

Q: What if I want to go to a school in the United States?

A: Choosing to go away to school in the states can be a lot more work applying to than a school in Ontario. You will need to be thinking about what to do for this in grade 11, as it involves much more preparation and you probably won’t have that much help from your guidance department in school-they’re specializing in Canadian education. First off, you’re going to most likely have to take one of two (or both) standardized tests called the SAT and the ACT. The SAT (more info on this test HERE) is almost always required, but some schools request the ACT. Usually the more prestigious competitive schools will require test scores from both. It is recommended that you find a tutor that can go through the material with you so that you will be ready to write the tests. There are centres within LaSalle and Windsor that specialize in this. They can give you all the information you need on setting up your test date and prepare you to write them, as well!

Besides tests, state schools usually have supplementary applications that go with them. In Ontario, you will only usually have to fill out the OUAC application whereas in the states, you most likely be writing essays and individual applications for each school.

Lastly, going to school out of the country is extremely expensive! Schools in the states are generally tens of thousands of dollars MORE a year for tuition alone for in state students than the schools in Ontario. Because you will be coming from Canada, you would be considered an out of state or international student, which will cost even more money, not including residence.

If you’re sure that you want to go out of country for school, now is the time to plan! Do not leave it until last minute as it is a long process and there is a lot to handle. That being said, it is a very exciting and enriching experience that may just be worth the SAT anxiety and extra money!

Q: How do I find out about scholarships?

A: There are many websites and resources that can help you organize different scholarships that you may be eligible for. ScholarshipsCanada and Studentawards are two great resources that you can customize to show only the scholarships that you would be eligible for, as well as reminding you of when applications are due via email. Other than that, university websites have a whole section of bursaries that they offer that you can check out too! Make sure that you apply to as many scholar

ships as you can- many people do not realize how many bursaries can go unclaimed because no one applies for them! Take advantage of the opportunity (and money) at your disposal!

You can start getting ready for scholarships even in grade 11! Do some research when you have free time to see what’s being offered this year and print off ones that you think would be a good fit for you. Chances are, they will be offered again the following year when you apply. Think about making a resume if you have not already and start getting your reference letters ready. It is always good to have a few general references from people who know you well and can speak to your character!

Q: Should I take a spare?

A: There are some pros and cons to this, as well as many choices you will have to make in grade 12. Speaking as a current grade twelve student, I find having a spare very helpful if you are taking more difficult and taxing classes in the science and math area. If this is you and you have room for a spare, I would definitely consider taking one. The flip side to this of course, is the idea that you will then have one less class to go on your transcript. For some background on the topic, universities look at your top 6 best university or mixed class grades for your overall average. Therefore if you only have six classes, they all must count. If you have 7 or 8, TWO of your classes can be omitted from your overall average, which can be the difference between getting accepted or not as well as getting a higher scholarship award!

If you would like to either increase the number of classes you have to better your top six average OR make room for a spare while ensuring you will still have 8 classes, you should consider taking a courses online and/or fast tracking a course a year ahead during the school year.

If you are to do this, try and pick a class that you think you can do well in. You have a lot more time in grade 11, so spend time on the more difficult upper level class to get the best mark! Your goal should always be for the class you’re taking to make it on your best 6. The other thing you can do in conjunction with this, is take another online class either during the summer, or the school year in grade 12. By having a spare period, slot in an online class and work on it during spare! Pick something easy that does not take too much time if you have a tough semester. You want to boost your mark as much as possible. By looking ahead early enough, you can take a lot of stress off your shoulders and make sure you don’t get too overwhelmed!

To choose an online class, talk to one of the guidance counsellors to set it up and they would be happy to help you!

Those are all the most frequently asked questions from our Sandwich Sabre Grade 11's! Hope we were able to answer some questions you had! Feel free to tweet us @SSSPeerHelpers if you have any other questions you would like us to answer!

Alexa Govette

-Grade 12 Peer Helper

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