Searching for Schools

Making a decision about which universities to apply to, and ultimately attend, is a very personal one, and involves a number of major factors, as well as many small ones.

Academics
The first and most important reason to consider attending a university is surely the academic and intellectual one – does the university you’re considering offer the kinds of courses, degrees and programs which interest you? Can they lead you toward your preferred career goal? Will they, and their professors, be able to foster your intellectual growth, teach you something about the world you live in, and how you might be able to contribute to the world? Why would you spend time, effort, and let’s face it, money, attending a university for 4 or more years if it can’t match your expectations?

Location
With 21 universities in Ontario alone, and more than 80 in Canada, the choice is obviously not just academic. It’s cultural and social, as well as geographic. How comfortable will you feel on a big campus (or a small one ). What will it be like living in a huge city like Toronto or Vancouver, or smaller centres such as North Bay or Peterborough?

Residence and Activities
What type of students attend these universities? Will you fit in? Are there people like you there, enjoying your hobbies, clubs, sports or volunteer work? Is Residence guaranteed, or do you have to meet a certain marks criterion? What’s a “Co-Ed” Residence? Do you even want to live in Residence? Is it mandatory, or optional? Once you’ve satisfied yourself that a school has programs that interest you, Campus Visits are really the best way to find out if the university is the best “fit” in terms of its non-academic characteristics.

Cost
The third big factor is money. The estimate in Ontario for one year at university (living away from home) is in the region of $20,000 Can you afford to attend your favourite university? What can you do to ensure that you will have sufficient resources to attend? Are there available co-ops, internships or other work opportunities, in addition to what you might receive in scholarships? What’s a bursary? How do you qualify for OSAP?

Searching for Schools can seem daunting. Ask these kinds of questions, and your decision may become a little easier.