University Planning for Canadians for Dummies

Includes a directory of Canadian universities and colleges. Let this book take you straight to the head of the class. Heading off to university is serious business, but you'll make all the right moves with the help of this friendly, straightforward guide. From finding the best schools for you, to applying and gaining admission, the book also includes foolproof financial strategies to help parents shoulder the cost of post-secondary education. Discover how to: Prepare for university in high school Research universities and colleges online Get the most out of your campus visits Save money for university ahead of time Pay for your education without going broke Live life at university to the fullest

Introduction About This Book How to Use This Book Who Are You, Anyway? Who Should Read This Book? Elementary students Grade 9 students High school students Mom and Dad Grandparents Adults thinking about university Anyone accepted to university Who Should Not Read This Book Anyone with a Ph.D. Anyone who works at a university How This Book Is Organized Part I: Crack Open the Book: Getting Ready for University Part II: Start Taking Notes: Finding the Right Universities Part III: Crunch Time: Getting into University Part IV: Please Report to the Financial Aid Office: Paying for University Part V: Dotting the "i"s and Crossing the "t"s: The Final Details Part VI: The Part of Tens Part VII: Appendixes Icons and Conventions Used in This Book Where to Go from Here Part I: Crack Open the Book: Getting Ready for University Chapter 1: What You Need to Know about University What Is a University? Universities, colleges, and institutes Public universities and private universities Canadian universities and American colleges Open-admission universities Universities in other countries Is University for You? University Is for Me— Now What? Can you get in? Can you afford it? Which university is for you? What is university life really like? Where to Go First: Information Sources Counsellors Teachers Friends and family University literature Directories Web sites Computer programs What If You're Older? Chapter 2: Planning 101 Read This Book in Grade 4 If You're Not in Grade 4, Just Read Faster If You're Out of High School Beginner Level: What to Do Early On Stay awake in grade 4 math Unplug the TV Empower yourself for two hours Take the toughest courses Get a job Be exceptional Intermediate Level: Decisions You Need to Make Stay or leave home? Large or small campus? Big city or university town? What do you want to major in? Where do you want to live? With whom do you want to live? Advanced Level: Life Planning Studying what you're good at or what you love Investigating your chosen career Investigating the job market Looking forward to graduate school Don't Sweat It Money Is Not Important— Yet Early Steps to Get More University Money What you can do What your parents can do What everyone else can do Chapter 3: Big Changes in Canadian Schools More Competition for Spaces Ontario's double cohort Population growth across Canada More mature students Are you as prepared as you can be? Some Technical Schools Are Becoming Universities Community Colleges Are Becoming Mainstream Blending a Degree with a Diploma or a Certificate Private Universities: Coming Soon to an Application Near You Chapter 4: Big Options for You Taking a Year Off Before University Deferring Your Acceptance Going Abroad: International Universities Going American Going farther away Coming to Canada: Canadian Universities for International Students Going Back to School: What Mature Students Need to Know Professional resasons for becoming a mature student Personal reasons for becoming a mature student Easing back into it Part II: Start Taking Notes: Finding the Right Universities Chapter 5: What You're Doing (and Not Doing) You're Looking for Places Where You Can Thrive You're Making Lists You're Checking Personalities You're Looking for Universities Why You're Not Choosing a University Someone else likes the university The university has prestige The university is tough to get into Your parents want you to go to the university The university ranks high in magazines and newspapers Chapter 6: Grade 9: Starting Early Start Your University Applications File Universities Look at Your Entire High School Career Take the Tougher Courses Tougher courses increase your odds Tougher courses prepare your mind Don't Drop English or Math Prepare for Your Major Setting goals Choosing courses No one said you have to be exclusive Start Your Mull List Chapter 7: Grades 10 and 11: Starting Later Take the Right Courses Refine Your List of Universities Consider this Talk their ears off Get more information Refine Your List of Majors Figuring out what you really like This doesn't mean your decision is made What You're Not Worrying About Money Selectivity The Final Cut Chapter 8: Researching Online Get Ready for Your (Virtual) Trip Where to Go First How to Read University Web Sites Navigating the site Some things to look for online Too good to be true? What Else Is Out There: Unofficial Sites Finding Money Online Money from the university Money from the government Organizing Your Information Keeping track of your digital details The paper trail: Expanding your University Applications File Communication: More Than an Art, It's a Necessity! Chapter 9: Getting the Feel of a Campus You Won't Know Until You Go Personality Check: A Reprise Set Your Visit in Spring or Fall Do Mom and Dad Really Have to Come Along? Cover the Four Essentials The admissions office The financial aid office The students The overnight stay You Can Do Even More Visit a professor Audit classes Read the student newspaper Add It to Your File All Around Town Hunting Down Housing Life in residence Life off-campus Life on the home front If You're a Mature Student Don't Drop the Ball What If You Don't Visit the Campus? Part III: Crunch Time: Getting into University Chapter 10: How Universities Look at You What Universities Are Really Looking For Marks, marks, marks Students who do more than just study What Universities Don't Judge You On Your class rank Your high school's rank Your test scores When a Great Recommendation Counts Avoid a bad one Get a good one Yes, We Know You're Special, But Will Universities Think So? Summing Up Chapter 11: Grade 12: Making It Happen Step 1: Getting Ready to Apply How many applications? Go for the reach Everyone needs a safety net Looking forward to graduate school Step 2: When and How to Apply The early bird gets the worm, er, edge What a break! A common application Applying online Step 3: Anatomy of an Application Vital statistics Program selections High school attendance Past college/university attendance Residence and special needs Payment Other stuff Declaration Step 4: Padding Your Application (Umm...Sending Additional Materials) Awards Jobs, achievements, and talents Explanations Step 5: Considering Your Special Circumstances Applying from another province Applying from another country TOEFL: The real English test Applying later in life Step 6: Silly Mistakes That Are Easy to Make What does that say? The big blank space Make sure your information is accurate Get rid of typos The mysteriously changing name Just give the answer, already Get it there on time Step 7: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered Make a copy The wait Part IV: Please Report to the Financial Aid Office: Paying for University Chapter 12: Shake Off the Sticker Shock (Remember, It Costs More in the U.S.!) How Much Do You Need? Tuition: Different Universities Charge Different Amounts What if you are from another province? What if you are from another country? What if you have First Nations status? Other University Fees Student association fees Medical and health fees Athletic or college fees Lab fees Miscellaneous fees Books Tools of the trade The Cost of Living Housing Food More Costs of Living Transportation Embellishments Putting It All Together Financial Aid: The Basics Are those horror stories and myths for real? Tax credits to the rescue Don't forget to plan Chapter 13: Long-term Planning (Parents, Read This!) Planning Is Key Figuring Out How Much You Will Need How much is tuition increasing? How much is the cost of living increasing? Settling on How Much You Should Save Mull over these numbers A work-free income source Your Financing Options Can't I get more if I have less? So many ways to save, so little time, it seems RESPs: Your Best Option How are RESPs administered? How much will the RESP earn? What if I decide to discontinue the RESP? Can I extract my money from the RESP if my child doesn't go to university? Working it all out Borrowing Juggling for Money Put your money in the right place, in the right name Say "no thanks" to gifts Teach Get some good advice Chapter 14: Getting Financial Aid What Is Financial Aid? Busaries, Grants, and Loans— Oh My! Bursaries and Grants Student Loans Federal and provincial student loans Loans from the university Bank loans Personal loans Applyng for a Government-Sponsored Student Loan Who can apply? How do the financial aid officers decide how much I'm eligible for? Filling Out the Application Form First things first Personal information Current status information Residency Previous post-secondary studies Applicant's children Next of kin in Canada Financial data Intended institution and course of study Information from partner Consent to release personal information Information from parents Other programs Declarations, consents, and signatures Application fee Supporting documentation Getting the Money Repaying Your Loan (the Part Everyone Forgets) Chapter 15: Winning Scholarships Good News! Lots of Money Is Available Scholarships from Universities Entrance scholarships Other university scholarships Government Scholarships Private Scholarships Applying for Scholarships When should you apply? How do you apply? Chapter 16: Working Your Way through University I'm about as Co-Operative as the Next Guy...Co-op Programs Explained What do co-op programs offer? How much money do they pay me? Are the placements guaranteed? What do you mean I have to pay a fee? I thought they would pay me! Join the Military, See the World, Earn Your Degree How does this work? How long do I have to serve after I get my degree? Not that I'm considering it, but how can I get out of my commitment? Can I go to RMC and not serve in the military? How do I apply? Do they have to take me? What's life in the Forces like? How will I be viewed when I get out? Chapter 17: International Universities Why Go Away (Far Away) to School? Where Do You Start? What You Need to Get Accepted to an International University Student Visas and Work Permits Welcome to America Information sources Can you get in? Can We See You SAT I Scores, Please? What is the SAT I and why do I have to take it? What abilities does the SAT I test? What do my SAT I scores tell admissions officers about me? Does the SAT I really show how well I'll do in college? How can I register for the SAT I, when can I take it, and how much does it cost? How Much of the Green Stuff Do You Need? Some financial aid is available Additional U.S. financial aid resources Chapter 18: Staying Out of Debt People Don't Plan to Fail, They Fail to Plan Save early, save often Budgeting 101: Your First Course That's not all it costs It costs even more if you go abroad Building Your Budget Getting a Part-time Job The trade-off: Higher marks versus more money The other trade-off: Earned money versus more aid money Getting a Summer Job A Last Look at Co-op Education Part V: Dotting the "i"s and Crossing the "t"s: The Final Details Chapter 19: Congratulations, You're Accepted! Now What? Now the Fun Begins The News Starts to Arrive The safety net works You're not Top-choice's top choice One you didn't make At last! Hooray! But what about Top-choice? The Missing Piece When you hear about financial aid Why the financial aid offers don't always come with admissions offers Revisit Your Choices The Waiting List What Waiting List means Why they use the Waiting List The Deposit Dilemma Wait for the Other Shoe What If You Didn't Get into Your First Choice? Take stock of yourself Take stock of your academic situation What If You Didn't Get In, Period? Putting It All Together Chapter 20: Before You Go Step Back and Rethink Everything Breathe in, breathe out, repeat Re-evaluating the schools Re-evaluating the program Re-evaluating the money offers Your Options Deciding not to go Deferring your acceptance Transferring credits Feeling Good about Your Final Choice Part VI: The Part of Tens Chapter 21: Ten Reasons to Go to University Qualifying for Graduate or Professional Studies Landing a Job Earning a Higher Salary Landing That Senior Position The Prestige Factor Changing Careers University Degrees Travel Learning to Think Having Fun Being Happier Chapter 22: Ten Reasons Why Colleges and Institutions Are Worth a Look Employment Specialized Curriculum It Take Less Time It's the Top School in Your Field Hands-on Learning Style Faculty Smaller Classes Individual Attention Getting In Is (Often) Easier Greater Selection Chapter 23: Ten Questions to Ask about a University Does My Personality Match the University's? Can I Really Get In, Or Am I a Long Shot? Is This the Right Place for What I Want to Study? Can I Live on Campus? If Not, Where? How Large (or Small) Are Classes? Who Teaches the Classes? Is There an Effective Advisor Program? How Often Can I Get Home? How Safe Is the Campus? What Are My Prospects after University? Chapter 24: Ten Big Mistakes in University Planning Believing You Have to Go to University— and That You Have to Go There Right Away Applying to a University You Haven't Seen Up Close and Personal Thinking That Canadian Schools Are Just Like American Schools Ruling Out Going to University Because You Can't Afford It Lying on Your Application Missing Deadlines Submitting a Messy or Incomplete Application Sending Just the Application Choosing a University for Its Reputation Alone Putting Parent in Charge Part VII: Appendixes Appendix A: Directory of Universities and Colleges Size of Institution Admissions Tuition Fees Residence Costs Things Change Canadian Universities Canadian Colleges and Technical Institutions Appendix B: Money Sources Government Programs and Loans Group RESP Foundations Banks Scholarships Foundations and Granting Councils Appendix C: Useful Web Sites General Information Colleges Open-Admission Universities Applications First Nations Students International Students English-Language Proficiency Tests Student Organizations Appendix D: The Mull List Questions to Ask Before Applying to a University Glossary Index