Canadian College Guide 2009 - Article previews

Canadian College Guide 2009 - School guide for students looking for information on Canada's top colleges

Our website provides a preview of some of the great articles that are found in the magazine.
For full articles, click here to pick up your copy of the 2009 edition of the Canadian College Guide today!

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A glimpse of a better future
There are many decisions to make when it comes down to application time. The Canadian College Guide has teamed up with some experts in the field to get you the information you need on topics such as: common mistakes made during application time, advice on financial assistance, and the people to know at your college and how they can help. Not only will you hear from college teachers and professors with advice for first year students, but you'll gain relevant insight into what life is really like once you get to college and the important things to know before you get there.

How are you going to pay for school? It's a daunting question, but there are a number of options to help you along the way

Every year, students entering their first year of post-secondary education get a healthy dose of reality when it comes time to get their finances in order. Tuition, books, rent, food and entertainment are all necessary components to a well-rounded college experience, and there is no reason why all of your financial needs cannot be met through a combination of research and careful planning.

Canadian College Guide 2009 - School guide for students looking for information on Canada's top colleges

Financial Assistance
Before you begin your post-secondary career, it’s always a good idea to look at financial resource options such as scholarships and bursaries. The first place you should look is the college that you plan to attend. The majority of Canadian schools provide scholarship and bursary opportunities for students, and you can find information on these from your school’s website. Most financial assistance programs have criteria that students must meet in order to obtain assistance. The requirements for each scholarship program vary, but some of the most common criteria include grades, family income level and possession of Canadian citizenship.

Millennium Scholarship Foundation
The Millennium Scholarship Foundation (MSF) is a privately run organization that was created through an act of Parliament in 1998. Since 1998, the foundation has awarded more than $1.6 billion in scholarships and bursaries to students across Canada. The MSF offers two programs that are available to students attending colleges, universities and CÉGEPs throughout the country.

The first program, the Bursary Program, accounts for 95 per cent of the MSF’s funding allocations. The program awards bursaries of between $1,000 and $4,500 to students who demonstrate financial need and have a proven academic record.

The second program, the Millennium Excellence Award Program, is given annually to more than a thousand students across Canada based on academic standing, innovation, and community leadership and involvement. The award is available to students who are entering their first year of post-secondary education, and also to those who are currently enrolled in an applicable program.

Visit www.millenniumscholarhips.ca for more information.

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Eight common mistakes to avoid An expert's opinion on what to consider when applying to university - By Jacqueline Barclay

The college application process can initially seem complicated and confusing. Graduating high school students might feel a slight sense of panic when faced with a multitude of school and program options, leading to impulsive decisions that may be regretted later on. With a little advance planning and research, however, students will face a far easier time when completing their applications, whatever their destination.

Throughout my years of practice as a university and college placement counsellor, I’ve witnessed a pattern of errors that students are apt to make if they rush into the application process unprepared. Eight of these most common mistakes are listed below, and most importantly, how to avoid making them.

Mistake #1 - Missed Deadlines
Pay attention to the deadlines. You may encounter various application deadlines depending on the schools and programs you wish to apply to.

In Ontario, the fall 2009 semester deadlines for the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) and the Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) are different – January 14, 2009, and February 2, 2009, respectively.

Colleges and universities across Canada will also have different deadlines.

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Advice from the experts Canada's top college professors offer insight into what it takes to excel in the first year of study

The first year of college can be an intimidating time for many students. Luckily, your professors and instructors have taken on the task of giving prospective students a leg up in understanding what is expected of first-year college students. For the Canadian College Guide 2009, college professors from across Canada were asked one simple question: In your opinion, what is the most important skill that students need to develop in college and why?

Here are their responses:

Expert Advice from: Dr. James W. Martens
Head of History,
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Red Deer College, Red Deer, Alberta Canadian College Guide 2009 - School guide for students looking for information on Canada's top colleges

Many of my students have recently suggested that the greatest skill necessary at a college is a sense of balance. Those students who get the most out of their experience at Red Deer College (RDC) are the ones who find a way to work hard and still take advantage of the friendships, social activities, and less formal opportunities outside the classroom.

RDC is not a big impersonal campus and as a result, meeting people and sharing experiences often becomes the value added in our programs. Those students who are the most successful find opportunities to step away from the grind of research, writing and attending classes, to hear lectures, join societies, run for student office, or see a performance by RDC's performing arts students.

At our college, in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, students are encouraged to take part in a weekend-long conference where they organize the event and provide all the presentations. This extends the learning experience beyond what is typical and gives the students a sense of ownership. For example, history is not a solitary pursuit when students share ideas and passions with each other, beyond the classroom.

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