Strategies for Applying to Your First Choice School

It's the time of the year when you have probably started talking to your friends about your future plans non-stop. Your plans include post-secondary education. In fact, you're college-bound. You know that a college education provides you with, not only the practical skills, but the theory behind what you're studying.

“Once you have talked to your high school guidance counsellors and have done your own research into where you want to go to school, there is no need to feel intimidated by the application process,” says Seham Abdulkhalik, third-year Seneca College Business Administration – Marketing student.

The next phase of your life starts with the application process and whether you’re planning for the winter or fall semester, the same rules apply. The steps below will help make your journey a little easier.

1. Investigate all the program options by visiting each college website.


2. Narrow down your college options and research the colleges that offer your program. A good place to start is the OCAS website. They offer a detailed list of which colleges offer the various programs available.


3. Read each of the program admissions requirements and figure out if you have the prerequisite courses.


4. Check the application process for each school, if you need help - contact the college. At Seneca, our dedicated admissions team can help answer any questions and guide you through our process.


5. Be aware of the application deadlines, as they may depend on which program you are applying to. “The OCAS site makes it so simple to apply,” says Abdulkhalik. “It’s all very straight forward, as long as you pay attention to the application deadlines.”


6. Also, it's important to know that if you require financial assistance most schools offer scholarships and bursaries. These too have application deadlines which may coincide with your application to a particular college.

For more information on Seneca College’s programs, visit www.senecacollege.ca.