Workshop on Applying to College & University for High School Students

Nigerian-Canadian Muslim Congregation Calgary

Saturday 9th January 2016

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AGENDA

• Opening Dua• A Word from Amir/Executives/Mission Board• Safety Moment/Announcements & Rules of Engagement• Introduction• Presentation – Part 1• Lunch/Prayer• Presentation – Part 2• Prayer• Q & A • Conclusion• Closing Dua

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Safety Moment/Rules of Engagement

• Emergency Procedures

• Announcements

• Mentorship

• Rules of Engagement• No phones (if you must take call please step out)

• Be active – ask questions during presentation

• Minimum to no side talks

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Introduction

• Name?

• School?

• Grade?

• College Plans?

• What would you like to learn today?

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Barometer Problem (Physics Story)

• Physics exam problem - explain how to measure the height of a tall building using a barometer

• Student Answer - tie the barometer to a string, lower it to the ground and measure the length of the string

• Teacher graded wrong – physics not applied

• Student protested

• Given 6 min to provide better answer

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Barometer Problem (Physics Story)• Firstly, you could take the barometer up to the roof of the skyscraper, drop it over the edge, and measure

the time it takes to reach the ground. The height of the building can then be worked out from the formula H = 0.5g x t squared. But bad luck on the barometer.

• Or if the sun is shining you could measure the height of the barometer, then set it on end and measure the length of its shadow. Then you measure the length of the skyscraper's shadow, and thereafter it is a simple matter of proportional arithmetic to work out the height of the skyscraper.

• But if you wanted to be highly scientific about it, you could tie a short piece of string to the barometer and swing it like a pendulum, first at ground level and then on the roof of the skyscraper. The height is worked out by the difference in the gravitational restoring force T =2 pi sqr root (l /g).

• Or if the skyscraper has an outside emergency staircase, it would be easier to walk up it and mark off the height of the skyscraper in barometer lengths, then add them up.

• If you merely wanted to be boring and orthodox about it, of course, you could use the barometer to measure the air pressure on the roof of the skyscraper and on the ground, and convert the difference in millibars into feet to give the height of the building. – Expected answer.

• Undoubtedly the best way would be to knock on the janitor's door and say to him 'If you would like a nice new barometer, I will give you this one if you tell me the height of this skyscraper‘ ;-)

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Barometer Problem - Lessons

• Try to think for yourself

• There is not always necessarily a ‘best’ answer

• There can be more than one solution to a problem

• Solutions don’t have to be complicated

• Be creative

• Still, if you want to pass, give the teacher what he/she wants in the exam or test ;-)

• Brain teasers...

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ADMISSION PROCESS - PART 1

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Overview of University Admission Process

• Process varies across schools

• Start as early as you want, latest grade 10

• Simple way of looking at this process:• Knowing what you want to go into• Finding universities that offer intended program (be

realistic)• Look at prerequisites • Look at application requirements and deadlines

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Choosing a Degree Program or Career

• Career Planning is an ongoing process for life

• Discover who you are• What am I good at? Explore talents.

• What are my likes?

• Explore Options

• Career class and Career Advisor at your school

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Choosing a Degree Program or Career

• Online Resources

• Resources at ALIS

• Personality Inventive

• Career Tests• FREE site:

• Princeton Review Career Quiz, limited career selection advice

• CHARGEABLE sites:• http://www.self-directed-search.com• http://www.assessment.com

• It is really up to you… • But make sure you have all the facts• Ultimately you want Allah’s pleasure & to support future family

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Admission Requirements

• Universally, English 30 and Math 30 is the only general requirement.

• All the other requirements are program specific.

• To keep all of your options open, the minimum average you want is in the Mid 80s

• If you’re looking at more prestigious or honor programs, the minimum you want is 90%

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Registration

• VERY IMPORTANT, THE EARLIER THE BETTER

• Gives you chances to research on marks wanted, and so you can study harder to achieve the highest possible grade. Always aim for higher.• if asked for 70, aim for 85, 95

• Final Grades• 70% Class work• 30% Diploma Exam

• Your options are even broader, apply to as many schools as you want or needed• But a fee comes with each application

• Do you want to live at school on Res or home• maybe stay home for 2 years, and at school for 2 years?

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Early Registration

• Some schools will offer early admission to exceptional grade 11 students

• U of C requires 90% or higher in 4 grade 11 courses

• Deadline usually much earlier• U of C is usually mid-Dec

• http://www.ucalgary.ca/admissions/process/early

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Brain Teaser 1

• How can you throw a ball as hard as you can and have it come back to you even if it doesn't hit anything, there is nothing attached to it, and no one else catches or throws it?

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Universities & Colleges in Canada

• Link:

• http://www.canadian-universities.net/

• List of universities, colleges and programs• By province

• Admission process info

• Link to school websites

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Universities & Colleges in Alberta

• University of Alberta

• University of Calgary

• Mount Royal University

• University of Lethbridge

• Bow Valley College, Calgary

• Grande Prairie Regional College

• Lakeland College, Vermilion

• Lethbridge College

• Medicine Hat College

• Norquest College, Edmonton

• Olds College

• Red Deer College

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Alberta Technical Colleges

• SAIT Polytechnic, Calgary

• Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton (NAIT)

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Some Top Universities in Canada

• From Maclean’s Magazine

• McGill University

• University of Toronto

• University of British Columbia

• University of Alberta

• McMaster University

• Waterloo University

• Western University

• University of Calgary

• Queens University

• Simon Fraser University

• Dalhousie University

• University of Victoria

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Admission to Alberta

• AB • Using Apply AB

• Select any institution that you wish to apply for

• Create an account

• Fill in your application

• Typical Registration Deadline• School specific

• Sometime Feb - April

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Admission to out of province

• BC • Using Apply BC • Select any institution that you

wish to apply for• Create an account• Fill in your application • Typical Registration Deadline

• Sometime Jan - April

• Ontario• Using OUAC (Ontario Universities

Application Centre)• Select any institution • Create an account • Fill in application• Typical Registration Deadline

• Sometime Jan - April

*Some universities have separate parts of an application that is not a part of these systems

ex. Queens University*22

Admission to out of province

• For other provinces, google or go to previous link:• http://www.canadian-universities.net/

• Remember deadlines do vary (ex. Early Admission deadlines)

• Each application has a fee

• Discuss with parents • Look at location

• Read reviews

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Brain Teaser 2

• When Ola was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height.

• Five years later at age eleven , Ola returned to see how much higher the nail was.

• If the tree grew by ten inches each year, how much higher would the nail be?

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Admission to International Universities

U.K.

• Most of the U.K. Universities with some exceptions in Ireland use UCAS

• You need to create an account

• Often these types of applications require cooperation with your school/academic advisor

• Can apply to up to 5 schools for around 25 pounds

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Admission to International Universities Australia

• UAC and Oztrekk (specifically for Canadian Applicants)

• Europe – admission varies by university

• Note that many of the international universities require separate parts to just a basic application

• Depending on program of study, you may need to take an exam

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Admission to International Universities

USA

• Application process is very straightforward• Common App

• Most schools require SAT/ACT tests which you can take all the way up to grade 12

• Most schools require personal statements

• Collaboration with academic advisor in your school

• Very competitive

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END OF PART 1 - BREAK

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ADMISSION PROCESS - PART 2

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Brain Teaser 3

• Five girls were seen struggling while trying to get under the same small umbrella and yet, all five of them managed to remain dry completely?

•How can it be true?

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Admission

• Once you are accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter from the school and

• Loan/grant acceptance letter from SIAMS, Canadian student loan and Alberta student loan

• If you aren’t accepted because of grades or the likes then, you might be given a chance in a faculty to boost your mark and reapply to your program or you can attend chinook in order to upgrade your grades and then reapply through Apply AB

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After Admission, what next?

• First you will receive a conditional or unconditional offer• Conditional typical with mid 80% grades and lower• Unconditional typical with grades > 90%• If conditional, the school will give you a minimum requirement to maintain for

the rest of high school.

• Most of your interactions with the university will be online

• Each school has a software/application that you’ll use to find information on• Course Syllabus• Scholarship Applications• Class Schedule (e.t.c)

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Scholarships

• Apply to as many scholarships as you can find, start early, you may start applying for scholarship from grade 10,11

• FACT:

there are millions of dollars in scholarships and many students do not take advantage of the money

search

apply, apply, apply…..Rutherford scholarship is for grade 10,11,12

essay

get the money

maintain scholarship potential

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Scholarships

• Some Links

https://yconic.com/

http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/

http://alis.alberta.ca/hs/fo/pay/scholarships.html

• Individual universities also offer scholarships based on merit

• Making a chart is useful

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Student loans

• If you didn’t get grant or scholarship, student loan

• Once you registered with Apply AB, create a SIAMs account/Student Aid Alberta

• Student Aid Alberta helps eligible post-secondary students meet the basic costs of learning and living so they can achieve their educational goals.

• When you apply, you’ll be considered for loans and grants from both Student Aid Alberta and the Canada Student Loans Program.

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Student loans

• You can apply online or print out a copy/form and send it (address is on the application)

• You will be considered for grant money depending on you family income status

• TO SAVE YOURSELF FROM DEBT, PLEASE APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!

• DON’T BE LAZY TO WRITE AN ESSAY FOR A SCHOLARSHIP, IT DOESN’T TAKE TOO MUCH TIME

• Student Loans should be a last resort!

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Brain Teaser 4

• Can you figure out the logic that was used to decide the order of the following words: • gun,

• shoe,

• spree,

• door,

• hive,

• kicks,

• heaven,

• gate,

• line,

• den

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Getting into Engineering

• Core Courses – Math 30-1 & 31, English 30-1, Physics 30, Chemistry 30

• Can be admitted directly into program

• First year students take the same courses.

• Towards the end of the year, students apply for certain disciplines, with each having a certain GPA requirement.

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Getting into Medicine

• Core courses required – Math, English, Biology, Chemistry…

• Cannot be admitted directly into program

• In order to apply to medical school, a student usually has to complete 2-3 years or even get a degree to apply. (not applicable abroad e.g. UK, Nigeria)

• What the student majors in does not matter, but a science or more specifically biological background is recommended

• The MCAT must be taken in order to be considered for medical school

• https://www.ucalgary.ca/mdprogram/prospective-students/application-manual-2015-2016

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Getting into Law

• Cannot be admitted directly into program (Canada & US)

• Required to have completed a Bachelors degree (min GPA: 3.6)

• Sometimes completing some undergraduate courses considered

• Law School Admission Test (LSAT) – 80th percentile scores

• Degree called Juris Doctor (JD)

• Competitive – Only 120 students are selected into the U of C graduate law program.

• It is important to be active in extra-curriculars and have work experience to be admitted into law school.

• 3 year duration

• http://www.law.ucalgary.ca/jdadmissions#quickset-field_collection_quicktabs_5

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Brain Teaser 5

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Undergraduate Degrees

• B.A (Bachelor of Arts)

• B.B.A(Bachelor of Business Admin)

• B.Eng (Bachelor of Engineering)

• B.Ed (Bachelor of Education)

• B.F.A (Bachelor of Fine Arts)

• B.Hsc (Bachelor of Health Sciences

• B.Sc (Bachelor of Science)

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How Long to Complete Degree?

• Depends on Program

• Most programs typically 4 years

• Programs with Coop or Internship could take 5 years• e.g. Engineering

• Can pace yourself (but take longer)

• Consider a Minor degree

• Some programs require post degree learning/experience• Law – articling (1 year)• Medicine – residency (depends on specialization)• Engineering – engineer-in-training EIT (4 years)

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Planning, Organization and Time Management• Way to stay on top of everything

• Agenda is key• Write down assignments on the date they are due

• Go electronically if it works

• Binders, notebooks, group similar subjects together

• Time management is very important • Know what you have to do

• Be flexible and realistic

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Planning, Organization and Time Management

• Avoiding procrastination and distraction • Know where you study best

• Don't study for hours on end

• Music

• Exercise

• University Admission Process• Lists/Charts/excel comes in handy

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Other Useful Tips

• For most undergraduate programs, the status of the university does not affect the students future its what you do during the undergraduate years

• Volunteer experience matters

• Speak to university counsellors at school or attend sessions at school

• Go to the university itself if possible

• Make use of your mentors

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Other Useful Resources

• ALIS - http://alis.alberta.ca/

• Princeton Review Career Quiz -http://www.princetonreview.com/quiz/career-quiz

• Apply AB - https://www.applyalberta.ca/

• Apply BC - https://applybc.ca/

• OUAC (ON) - http://www.ouac.on.ca/

• SAT tests - https://sat.collegeboard.org/

• Student Aid (SIAMS) - http://studentaid.alberta.ca/

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Brain Teaser 6

• If • EELS + MARK + BEST + WARY = EASY

•What does •HELP + BARK + WARD + LEAD equal?

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MOST IMPORTANTLY

• When you get admitted and resume…

• ENJOY THE SCHOOL YEAR!

• Study hard and get those top GPAs

• Socialise, play sport, eat, and meet new people

• Student Clubs

• Locate the prayer space on campus - MSA

• WORK PARTIME JOB IF YOU CAN TO SUSTAIN YOURSELF

• STUDY

• STUDY

• STUDY AND ENJOY

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END OF PART 2 - BREAK

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Brain Teaser 7

•What letter is next in this sequence?

•O, T, T, F, F, S, S, E, __

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Q & A Session

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THANK YOU

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