A Q&A With Our Guidance Department

Academic Support

 

What resources are available to help students with academic planning throughout high school?

In grades 9 and 10, the Ministry of Education mandates most courses that students are required to take, leaving then only one or two elective subjects to choose from.

However, in grade 10, all students take Career Studies (GLC2O) – a Ministry of Education compulsory course that gives students the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge, and habits that will support them in their education and career/life planning. By the end of this course, students are empowered to make sound academic decisions that align with their individual goals. Support and assistance is provided throughout by the guidance department and is tailored to the individual needs of each student.

In grades 11 and 12, ongoing counseling is provided according to the goals and needs of each student.

How can students get help if they are struggling in a particular subject?

Students have multiple avenues to seek help for any subject:

• Speaking with their teacher is the most direct way to get support. Each day from 8-9 AM, students can attend Study Hall with their teacher for direct, one-on-one or small group assistance focused on any areas of concern.
• If students are not comfortable approaching the teacher directly, they can speak to anyone in the guidance department for further resources and support tailored to their individual needs. These can include study skills and strategies for the subject of concern or more general support for learning skills.

What role does the guidance counselor play in course selection and academic advising?

This process begins with our course offerings which are carefully selected each year to provide all of the necessary courses required for our students to reach their goals. Students are consulted in this process to ensure that all academic requirements to reach their goals are offered in our course selections for the following year.

After students have confirmed their registration for the following academic year, they are provided with the course selection form.

Students are welcome to complete it on their own or discuss their options with a guidance counselor. Regardless of the option chosen, all course selection forms are reviewed when they are submitted to guidance to ensure that the students will meet all graduation criteria and that the requirements of their chosen career path.

College and University Preparation

 

When should students start thinking about colleges or universities, and how can they prepare for the application process?

It is never too early to begin considering post-secondary options, but grade 10 would be the recommended time to begin planning for the future, if not earlier. When planning for post-secondary school, nothing is more valuable than thorough research.

University and college fairs are excellent resources to begin this preparation as the staff present have program-specific knowledge and can answer student questions in detail. Most major post-secondary schools will also host open houses on-campus or campus tours to give families the opportunity to explore the resources that they offer.

At Lynn-Rose, we invite a number of top universities to speak to grade 10, 11, and 12 students in a small-group setting where students are more comfortable asking questions and seeking advice from the university representatives.

What steps do you recommend students take in Grade 9 to prepare for university admission?

The most crucial piece of advice is to ensure they work hard on their courses, refine the study skills that will support their learning in later years, and engage in a wide assortment of extra-curricular opportunities. University admissions become more competitive each year, and more programs are relying on supplemental applications when deciding their admissions. In addition to strong academic grades, it is the students who have a variety of interests, leadership experiences, and other accolades that are most desired by the top post-secondary schools

How do you help students identify potential universities or programs that align with their interests and strengths?

Much of this process occurs in the Career Studies class (GLC2O) taken in grade 10 where students participate in a variety of activities to identify their interests and strengths, explore careers that align with their interests and strengths, and explore different university programs that would help them to reach these career goals.

The teachers who engage with students through academic subjects and extra-curricular activities also play an important role in this process as they help students to identify their interests and strengths and suggest a variety of opportunities to the student or to advise the guidance counselors of these strengths and interests to further inform their individual counseling sessions.

Application Process

 

Can you explain the components of a university application and how students can best prepare each part?

The primary component that universities judge student applications on are their performance in grades 11 and 12. Attending class regularly, asking questions when needed, and seeking help to improve on areas of concern early on will help set all students up for success in their course work. If there are unique areas of academic concern, it is important that these are addressed as early as possible.

The second component of the application process is a “supplementary application”. These are not required for every program of study and differ greatly in requirements between the different programs. Common requirements in supplementary applications can include one or more of the following:

• Personal essay
• Short answer responses to set questions
• Letters of reference
• Video/in-person interviews
• Portfolios of work

Involvement in extracurricular activities and volunteer work are the best ways to prepare for supplementary applications as it gives the student a breadth of experiences to draw upon when prompted.

What types of extracurricular activities or experiences do universities often look for in applicants?

If possible, any activity or experience that directly links to the desired area of study is ideal. For example, a student interested in applying to health or medical science may volunteer at a hospital to gain more valuable experience in that particular field.

When this direct connection is not possible, universities often look for any experience that has allowed the student to develop and demonstrate their leadership skills. This can include being on student council, leading a club, being a captain/coach/manager of a sports team, etc.

Do you provide guidance on writing personal statements and essays for university applications?

Absolutely. Because the criteria differs between each program, we encourage students to bring us the prompt they have been given, as well as any criteria or rubric that has been provided. From that point, we will tailor the guidance given to the particular requirements of the program. We will also provide a quiet space and recording equipment to any students required to complete video essays or virtual interviews for their applications.

Financial Planning

 

What resources are available to help families understand financial aid, scholarships, and grants for post-secondary education?

The largest source of financial aid available to families is from the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) which is a government loan system. Families interested in this option must apply through the Ontario Student Assistance Program page and are considered based on their presented financial need.

Individual universities provide scholarships and grants that are unique to their programs and further information for those can be found on each university’s website. One notable commonality is that many schools offer “guaranteed entrance scholarships” where students are automatically granted a sum of money based on the academic average of their application.

Can you explain the process for applying for scholarships and financial aid?

OSAP applications begin in the spring each year and the initial application takes about 15 minutes to complete and a step-by-step guide can be found on OSAP’s How to Apply page.

Applications for scholarships and financial aid from post-secondary schools differ dramatically in deadlines, process, and eligibility criteria. Each institution you are interested in will have a financial aid tab on their website with all required information.

Communication and Collaboration

 

How can parents best support their children during the high school years in terms of academic and university preparation?

Active parental involvement is key to the success of their children. Supporting children as they explore new interests, even if it may not be the path that the parents had in mind for them, is a crucial step in helping students determine the path that suits them best.

Bringing children to the university fairs to speak to school representatives in their early years of high school also gives them excellent insight into the demands of the program that they are most interested in.

What is the best way for parents to communicate with you about their child’s progress and needs?

We pride ourselves on direct communication with our families. If parents would like to discuss their child, they can do so by the means that they are most comfortable with: via email, over the phone, or by booking an in-person meeting.

Support Services

 

What support services are available for students who may need emotional or mental health assistance during this time?

Lynn-Rose provides resources on a case-by-case basis for any students. For some students, additional support within the school setting is best. This can take the form of assessment accommodations to reduce student stress, additional time with the teacher to reinforce learning in a subject area that is the source of concern, or school-facilitated mentorship and support.

If the needs of the student are deemed to be beyond the capacity of care within the school, for example when a student requires professional medical support for their emotional/mental health needs, the school works with parents to connect the student to the care needed through the Region, Peel, or private healthcare services.

How do you support first-generation college students and their families through the application process?

All of our students are taken through the application process in a step-by-step process at their own pace regardless of if they are first-generation or if they have had parents attend post-secondary school previously. The application process evolves each year and requires guided instruction throughout.

Workshops and Events

 

Are there any workshops or events you offer for parents and students regarding college readiness?

We run an initial session with all eligible students to walk them through setting up their accounts on OUAC. Throughout the fall we invite various universities to the school to speak directly to the students to ensure that they are able to ask the questions most important to them. The university speakers are also the best source of information for what qualities and qualifications are most recommended to ensure that there is a suitable degree of readiness for their program of interest.

What fairs or informational sessions can parents and students attend to learn more about different universities?

The best opportunity for parents and students to learn is at the Ontario Universities Fairs held throughout the fall. All information for larger and regional fairs can be found on the OU Events page.

All post-secondary schools also host open houses and are open to book campus visits throughout the year. Go to your school of interest’s website to learn more about their exact offerings.

Follow-Up and Resources

 

How can parents stay informed about deadlines and important updates related to college applications?

General updates regarding deadlines on OUAC to create the student profile and submit applications can be found on the OUAC Undergrad Dates page and important deadline reminders/updates are sent out to parents by the Lynn-Rose guidance department throughout the year.

Deadlines for individual post-secondary schools (supplemental applications, residency, program selections, etc.) are communicated directly by the school that the student has applied to and are the responsibility of the student.

What resources (websites, books, etc.) do you recommend for parents and students to learn more about university research and acceptance?

OUAC has assembled all Ontario university information into one database for easy access of up-to-the-minute information for parents and students.

If you are interested in applying to an Ontario college, a comprehensive list of college programs can be accessed by parents and students at Ontario Colleges.

Students planning to apply outside of Ontario will have to access information directly from their school of choice.