Visit the Schools: Plan some road trips! All schools offer various opportunities for Open Houses, tours, etc. When you go to a school’s home page, there should be an obvious link for tours or dates for Open Houses.
College Information Program: This is an event at Georgian College in Owen Sound on Thursday, October 31st, 2025, from 10:00am until 12:00pm, where most of Ontario’s colleges will have a table and representative for information and questions. If there is enough interest, we could get a bus and go!
Ontario University Fair (OUF): October 5-6, 2025, 9:30am-5:00pm, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, free admission. All Ontario universities will be in attendance.
MyBlueprint: This is a great planning tool that works as a search engine for postsecondary pathways all throughout Canada. It will calculate any college/university/apprenticeship/work opportunities that your credits will provide for you. It has direct links to school websites. Click here www.myblueprint.ca/bluewater.
College and University Applications: These online applications are straightforward, and each application center provides tutorials regarding how to complete the application. However, SDSS Student Services is always available to help you with your application however needed. For both OCAS and OUAC, all you need is your OEN, Ontario Education Number, to make an account so that you can complete an application. The application windows will open in late September/early October.
OCAS: This is the college application service. There is a non-refundable fee of $150.00 CDN to apply to college through www.ontariocolleges.ca. The application fee includes up to 5 program choices (no more than 3 at any one college); the programs must start within the same academic year (August to July). To apply to programs starting in the next academic year, you will need to create a new application and pay a new application processing fee. Your application will not be forwarded to your college choices until the application processing fee has been received. Payment of this fee doesn't guarantee that you will get an offer to your program of choice, but you can make changes to your program choices within the same application cycle without any additional payments. Please note that there are no exemptions from the application processing fee. However, some colleges offer “coupon codes” that will cover the fee for you. February 1, 2025 is the equal consideration deadline. You may still apply after February 1, but the application is then considered on a first come, first served basis. The website, www.ontariocolleges.ca, is where you will do your application, research programs and accept your offer. The target date for the application cycle to open is October 1, 2024.
OUAC: This is the university application service. For a fee of $156, you can make 3 program choices. For each program choice beyond the initial three, you will pay $50. For example, 5 choices=$256. Also a few specific programs also have supplemental fees which you will discover upon checkout. *You may choose a maximum of three programs at any one university including affiliates. Some universities may further limit the applications to related programs such as Engineering. The official deadline at OUAC is January 15, 2025. The service will forward applications received after this date but make no guarantees as universities have specific application deadlines. Please do not leave this until the last minute. Target date for the application cycle to open is September 19, 2024.
This is the application URL https://www.ouac.on.ca/apply/undergraduate where you can create an account, etc. Visit this website www.ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca or www.ouinfo.ca to help you with your decision making. You will see data from the previous intake period regarding averages needed for acceptance into specific programs.
Apprenticeships: Please note that to become an apprentice, you must have an employer who is willing to have you. The website www.apprenticesearch.com is a service based in Ontario where both employers and job seekers can register.
Scholarships: Please start your research now. If you complete one application, save your template, and keep on going!!
More Websites: www.scholarshipscanada.com; www.ScholarTree.ca; www.payforschoolgreybruce.com
More Information: Check the bulletin board outside Student Services regularly for local scholarship opportunities.
Please make an informed decision. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to help you process your decision. Please recognize the difference between facts and rumors. Ask questions!