Post Secondary Information

Welcome back to Holy Cross! This will be a particularly exciting year for Grade 12 students as they will be graduating and making decisions regarding post-secondary choices. Counsellor’s Corner will provide you with information on college and university news, scholarship deadlines and the general application process.

Post Secondary Information Sessions

University and college information sessions will be presented at Holy Cross in the lecture theatre unless otherwise specified. The schedule for these sessions are:

• College Information Session - Friday, October 1 and Monday,October 4 @ 10:50
• University Application Workshop - Tuesday, October 26 and Monday, November 1 @ 11:10
• College Application Workshop - Tuesday, November 9 and Friday, November 12 @ 10:50

As well, a number of universties and colleges will be presenting at Holy Cross. See the schedule.

Students may wish to further investigate post-secondary opportunities at the following sessions:

• Ontario Universities Fair at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre - Friday, September 24 to Sunday, September 26. Information can be found at www.ouf.ca
• Atlantic Universities Fair - Regiopolis Notre Dame - Wednesday, September 29 from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
• University Information Program - Regiopolis Notre Dame - Tuesday, October 19 @ 6:30
• College Information Fair at St. Lawrence College - Wednesday, Nov. 3

Parent-Student Maplewood Portal Access

Students will be able to access the Parent-Student Maplewood Portal Access on the Holy Cross Website at http://hcss.alcdsb.on.ca. Student passwords will be distributed in homeroom classes in November. Once logged on to this site, students will be required to change their password and then they will be able to view their credit history, timetable, personal information, etc. Students will be able to enter their course choices on this site in February for the 2010-2011 school year. In order for parents to access their child's information, they must access their son/daughter's password.

Canadian Virtual University

Students who are at least 16 can take one or two university courses online while they are still in high school. The Canadian Virtual University (CVU) website lists hundreds of first-year courses offered by Canadian universities open to high school students. These courses can be completed for degree credit and later transferred to an on-campus university program in Ontario, or students can chose to continue with online studies and complete one of the online degrees listed on the CVU website. For more information, please contact: Vicky Busch, Executive Director (780)421-2540, vickyb@cvu-uvc.ca

Applying to Out of Province Universities

Students interested in applying to universities outside of Ontario need to access the admissions information on the university's website.  Each university has their own deadlines and requirements for additional information, and the student needs to be diligent in meeting those requirements.  In many cases, the student must send the university an official school transcript which can be accessed in Student Services.  The Ontario Universities Application Center (OUAC) will provide academic data to Bishop's University, the University of British Columbia, Concordia University, Dalhousie University, McGill University, University of Calgary, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria.  Students must have applied through the OUAC.  The applicant must sign the release authorization and record their OUAC Reference Number on the out-of-province university application form.

Open Houses

Universities and colleges regularly advertise open houses and fall campus days on their websites. Individual tours are also available. Once you apply to a college or university you will receive invitations to attend campus tours. Some institutions have sent posters to the school to advertise. Please check the bulletin board outside Student Services for open house information.

Financial Aid

Students who are interested in OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) may access the site at osap.gov.on.ca A representative will make a presentation in May of 2011. Students can access OSAP once they have accepted an offer of admission in May of 2011. Students are encouraged to use the "Aid Estimator" to help estimate how much financial aid they can qualify for, the approximate cost of their college or university program, and a repayment calculator for estimation monthly OSAP loan repayments after graduation.

Volunteer Hours

The completion of 40 hours of community involvement is required as a key component of the diploma requirements. The community involvement hours are to be completed and submitted to Student Services no later than February 1. Students who do not complete these hours will not meet the Ministry of Education requirement for graduation.

Scholarship Information

Scholarships are available through specific institutions and also through community organizations.  Some have specific criteria that students must provide in order to be eligible.  There is a list of scholarships in the Financing Your Education link on this website. Students interested in applying to scholarships should see Mrs. Hill for more information

Other Institutions

Canadian Institute of Dental Hygiene

The CIDH, Canada's first private accredited dental hygiene program, is now accepting applications for its program that will begin on February, 2010.  It is located in Hamilton, Ontario, and the program is offered over 3 semesters.  Applicants must have completed English, Biology and Chemistry or Physics at the college or university level, as well as write a pre-admissions test.  There are a variety of dates.  Visit the website at www.cidh.on.ca

Max the Mutt Animation School

Max the Mutt Animation School is a registered career college with approved diploma programs, and is recognized and respected by the animation and gaming industries for the excellence of its curriculum.  Visit their website for more information:  http://www.maxthemutt.com/

Metal Works - Institute of Sound and Music Production

Metalworks Institute of Sound & Music Production is an independent institution providing education in the areas of audio recording, live production and the business of entertainment.

Personal Statement of Experience

The Personal Statement of Experience (PSE) is a mandatory part of the Queen's admission process.  The PSE allows students the opportunity to provide information regarding academic distinctions, extra-curricular activities, work and volunteer experiences.  Other universities require a personal information form.  Students are required to submit this supplemental information by the due date the university has indicated.  The PSE is completed and submitted online within the Applicant Student Query at www.asq.queensu.ca.  Once the student has applied through OUAC to Queen's University, they may enter their OUAC reference #  and their date of birth to access the PSE. Maclean's OnCampus virtual Fair