University Planning for Canadians for Dummies

• Elementary students
• Grade 9 students
• High school students
• Mom and Dad
• Grandparents
• Adults thinking about university
• Anyone accepted to university

• Anyone with a Ph.D.
• Anyone who works at a university
  How This Book Is Organized
  Part I: Crack Open the Book: Getting Ready for University
  Part II: Start Taking Notes: Finding the Right Universities
  Part III: Crunch Time: Getting into University
  Part IV: Please Report to the Financial Aid Office: Paying for University
  Part V: Dotting the "i"s and Crossing the "t"s: The Final Details
  Part VI: The Part of Tens
  Part VII: Appendixes
  Icons and Conventions Used in This Book
  Where to Go from Here

Part I: Crack Open the Book: Getting Ready for University

Chapter 1: What You Need to Know about University
What Is a University?

• Universities, colleges, and institutes
• Public universities and private universities
• Canadian universities and American colleges
• Open-admission universities
• Universities in other countries
  Is University for You?
  University Is for Me— Now What?
• Can you get in?
• Can you afford it?
• Which university is for you?
• What is university life really like?
  Where to Go First: Information Sources
• Counsellors
• Teachers
• Friends and family
• University literature
• Directories
• Web sites
• Computer programs
  What If You're Older?

Chapter 2: Planning 101
Read This Book in Grade 4
If You're Not in Grade 4, Just Read Faster
If You're Out of High School
Beginner Level: What to Do Early On

• Stay awake in grade 4 math
• Unplug the TV
• Empower yourself for two hours
• Take the toughest courses
• Get a job
• Be exceptional
  Intermediate Level: Decisions You Need to Make
• Stay or leave home?
• Large or small campus?
• Big city or university town?
• What do you want to major in?
• Where do you want to live?
• With whom do you want to live?
  Advanced Level: Life Planning
• Studying what you're good at or what you love
• Investigating your chosen career
• Investigating the job market
• Looking forward to graduate school
  Don't Sweat It
  Money Is Not Important— Yet
  Early Steps to Get More University Money
• What you can do
• What your parents can do
• What everyone else can do

Chapter 3: Big Changes in Canadian Schools
More Competition for Spaces

• Ontario's double cohort
• Population growth across Canada
• More mature students
• Are you as prepared as you can be?
  Some Technical Schools Are Becoming Universities
  Community Colleges Are Becoming Mainstream
  Blending a Degree with a Diploma or a Certificate
  Private Universities: Coming Soon to an Application Near You

Chapter 4: Big Options for You
Taking a Year Off Before University
Deferring Your Acceptance
Going Abroad: International Universities

• Going American
• Going farther away
  Coming to Canada: Canadian Universities for International Students
  Going Back to School: What Mature Students Need to Know
• Professional resasons for becoming a mature student
• Personal reasons for becoming a mature student
  Easing back into it

Part II: Start Taking Notes: Finding the Right Universities

Chapter 5: What You're Doing (and Not Doing)
You're Looking for Places Where You Can Thrive
You're Making Lists
You're Checking Personalities
You're Looking for Universities
Why You're Not Choosing a University

• Someone else likes the university
• The university has prestige
• The university is tough to get into
• Your parents want you to go to the university
• The university ranks high in magazines and newspapers

Chapter 6: Grade 9: Starting Early
Start Your University Applications File
Universities Look at Your Entire High School Career
Take the Tougher Courses

• Tougher courses increase your odds
• Tougher courses prepare your mind
  Don't Drop English or Math
  Prepare for Your Major
• Setting goals
• Choosing courses
• No one said you have to be exclusive
  Start Your Mull List

Chapter 7: Grades 10 and 11: Starting Later
Take the Right Courses
Refine Your List of Universities

• Consider this
• Talk their ears off
• Get more information
  Refine Your List of Majors
• Figuring out what you really like
• This doesn't mean your decision is made
  What You're Not Worrying About
• Money
• Selectivity
  The Final Cut

Chapter 8: Researching Online
Get Ready for Your (Virtual) Trip
Where to Go First
How to Read University Web Sites

• Navigating the site
• Some things to look for online
• Too good to be true?
  What Else Is Out There: Unofficial Sites
  Finding Money Online
• Money from the university
• Money from the government
  Organizing Your Information
• Keeping track of your digital details
• The paper trail: Expanding your University Applications File
  Communication: More Than an Art, It's a Necessity!

Chapter 9: Getting the Feel of a Campus
You Won't Know Until You Go
Personality Check: A Reprise
Set Your Visit in Spring or Fall
Do Mom and Dad Really Have to Come Along?
Cover the Four Essentials

• The admissions office
• The financial aid office
• The students
• The overnight stay
  You Can Do Even More
• Visit a professor
• Audit classes
• Read the student newspaper
  Add It to Your File
  All Around Town
  Hunting Down Housing
• Life in residence
• Life off-campus
• Life on the home front
  If You're a Mature Student
  Don't Drop the Ball
  What If You Don't Visit the Campus?

Part III: Crunch Time: Getting into University

Chapter 10: How Universities Look at You
What Universities Are Really Looking For

• Marks, marks, marks
• Students who do more than just study
  What Universities Don't Judge You On
• Your class rank
• Your high school's rank
• Your test scores
  When a Great Recommendation Counts
• Avoid a bad one
• Get a good one
  Yes, We Know You're Special, But Will Universities Think So?
  Summing Up

Chapter 11: Grade 12: Making It Happen
Step 1: Getting Ready to Apply

• How many applications?
• Go for the reach
• Everyone needs a safety net
• Looking forward to graduate school
  Step 2: When and How to Apply
• The early bird gets the worm, er, edge
• What a break! A common application
• Applying online
  Step 3: Anatomy of an Application
• Vital statistics
• Program selections
• High school attendance
• Past college/university attendance
• Residence and special needs
• Payment
• Other stuff
• Declaration
  Step 4: Padding Your Application (Umm...Sending Additional Materials)
• Awards
• Jobs, achievements, and talents
• Explanations
  Step 5: Considering Your Special Circumstances
• Applying from another province
• Applying from another country
• TOEFL: The real English test
• Applying later in life
  Step 6: Silly Mistakes That Are Easy to Make
• What does that say?
• The big blank space
• Make sure your information is accurate
• Get rid of typos
• The mysteriously changing name
• Just give the answer, already
• Get it there on time
  Step 7: Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
• Make a copy
• The wait

Part IV: Please Report to the Financial Aid Office: Paying for University

Chapter 12: Shake Off the Sticker Shock (Remember, It Costs More in the U.S.!)
How Much Do You Need?
Tuition: Different Universities Charge Different Amounts

• What if you are from another province?
• What if you are from another country?
• What if you have First Nations status?
  Other University Fees
• Student association fees
• Medical and health fees
• Athletic or college fees
• Lab fees
• Miscellaneous fees
• Books
• Tools of the trade
  The Cost of Living
• Housing
• Food
  More Costs of Living
• Transportation
• Embellishments
  Putting It All Together
  Financial Aid: The Basics
• Are those horror stories and myths for real?
• Tax credits to the rescue
• Don't forget to plan

Chapter 13: Long-term Planning (Parents, Read This!)
Planning Is Key
Figuring Out How Much You Will Need

• How much is tuition increasing?
• How much is the cost of living increasing?
  Settling on How Much You Should Save
• Mull over these numbers
• A work-free income source
  Your Financing Options
• Can't I get more if I have less?
• So many ways to save, so little time, it seems
  RESPs: Your Best Option
• How are RESPs administered?
• How much will the RESP earn?
• What if I decide to discontinue the RESP?
• Can I extract my money from the RESP if my child doesn't go to university?
• Working it all out
  Borrowing
  Juggling for Money
• Put your money in the right place, in the right name
• Say "no thanks" to gifts
• Teach
• Get some good advice

Chapter 14: Getting Financial Aid
What Is Financial Aid?
Busaries, Grants, and Loans— Oh My!
Bursaries and Grants
Student Loans

• Federal and provincial student loans
• Loans from the university
• Bank loans
• Personal loans
  Applyng for a Government-Sponsored Student Loan
• Who can apply?
• How do the financial aid officers decide how much I'm eligible for?
  Filling Out the Application Form
• First things first
• Personal information
• Current status information
• Residency
• Previous post-secondary studies
• Applicant's children
• Next of kin in Canada
• Financial data
• Intended institution and course of study
• Information from partner
• Consent to release personal information
• Information from parents
• Other programs
• Declarations, consents, and signatures
• Application fee
• Supporting documentation
  Getting the Money
  Repaying Your Loan (the Part Everyone Forgets)

Chapter 15: Winning Scholarships
Good News! Lots of Money Is Available
Scholarships from Universities

• Entrance scholarships
• Other university scholarships
  Government Scholarships
  Private Scholarships
  Applying for Scholarships
• When should you apply?
• How do you apply?

Chapter 16: Working Your Way through University
I'm about as Co-Operative as the Next Guy...Co-op Programs Explained

• What do co-op programs offer?
• How much money do they pay me?
• Are the placements guaranteed?
• What do you mean I have to pay a fee?
• I thought they would pay me!
  Join the Military, See the World, Earn Your Degree
• How does this work?
• How long do I have to serve after I get my degree?
• Not that I'm considering it, but how can I get out of my commitment?
• Can I go to RMC and not serve in the military?
• How do I apply?
• Do they have to take me?
• What's life in the Forces like?
• How will I be viewed when I get out?

Chapter 17: International Universities
Why Go Away (Far Away) to School?
Where Do You Start?
What You Need to Get Accepted to an International University
Student Visas and Work Permits
Welcome to America

• Information sources
• Can you get in?
  Can We See You SAT I Scores, Please?
• What is the SAT I and why do I have to take it?
• What abilities does the SAT I test?
• What do my SAT I scores tell admissions officers about me?
• Does the SAT I really show how well I'll do in college?
• How can I register for the SAT I, when can I take it, and how much does it cost?
  How Much of the Green Stuff Do You Need?
• Some financial aid is available
• Additional U.S. financial aid resources
  
  Chapter 18: Staying Out of Debt
  People Don't Plan to Fail, They Fail to Plan
• Save early, save often
  Budgeting 101: Your First Course
• That's not all it costs
• It costs even more if you go abroad
  Building Your Budget
  Getting a Part-time Job
• The trade-off: Higher marks versus more money
• The other trade-off: Earned money versus more aid money
  Getting a Summer Job
  A Last Look at Co-op Education

Part V: Dotting the "i"s and Crossing the "t"s: The Final Details

Chapter 19: Congratulations, You're Accepted! Now What?
Now the Fun Begins
The News Starts to Arrive

• The safety net works
• You're not Top-choice's top choice
• One you didn't make
• At last! Hooray!
• But what about Top-choice?
  The Missing Piece
• When you hear about financial aid
• Why the financial aid offers don't always come with admissions offers
  Revisit Your Choices
  The Waiting List
• What Waiting List means
• Why they use the Waiting List
  The Deposit Dilemma
  Wait for the Other Shoe
  What If You Didn't Get into Your First Choice?
• Take stock of yourself
• Take stock of your academic situation
  What If You Didn't Get In, Period?
  Putting It All Together

Chapter 20: Before You Go
Step Back and Rethink Everything

• Breathe in, breathe out, repeat
• Re-evaluating the schools
• Re-evaluating the program
• Re-evaluating the money offers
  Your Options
• Deciding not to go
• Deferring your acceptance
• Transferring credits
  Feeling Good about Your Final Choice

Part VI: The Part of Tens

Chapter 21: Ten Reasons to Go to University
Qualifying for Graduate or Professional Studies
Landing a Job
Earning a Higher Salary
Landing That Senior Position
The Prestige Factor
Changing Careers
University Degrees Travel
Learning to Think
Having Fun
Being Happier

Chapter 22: Ten Reasons Why Colleges and Institutions Are Worth a Look
Employment
Specialized Curriculum
It Take Less Time
It's the Top School in Your Field
Hands-on Learning Style
Faculty
Smaller Classes
Individual Attention
Getting In Is (Often) Easier
Greater Selection

Chapter 23: Ten Questions to Ask about a University
Does My Personality Match the University's?
Can I Really Get In, Or Am I a Long Shot?
Is This the Right Place for What I Want to Study?
Can I Live on Campus? If Not, Where?
How Large (or Small) Are Classes?
Who Teaches the Classes?
Is There an Effective Advisor Program?
How Often Can I Get Home?
How Safe Is the Campus?
What Are My Prospects after University?

Chapter 24: Ten Big Mistakes in University Planning
Believing You Have to Go to University— and That You Have to Go There Right Away
Applying to a University You Haven't Seen Up Close and Personal
Thinking That Canadian Schools Are Just Like American Schools
Ruling Out Going to University Because You Can't Afford It
Lying on Your Application
Missing Deadlines
Submitting a Messy or Incomplete Application
Sending Just the Application
Choosing a University for Its Reputation Alone
Putting Parent in Charge

Part VII: Appendixes

Appendix A: Directory of Universities and Colleges
Size of Institution
Admissions
Tuition Fees
Residence Costs
Things Change
Canadian Universities
Canadian Colleges and Technical Institutions

Appendix B: Money Sources
Government Programs and Loans
Group RESP Foundations
Banks
Scholarships
Foundations and Granting Councils

Appendix C: Useful Web Sites
General Information
Colleges
Open-Admission Universities
Applications
First Nations Students
International Students
English-Language Proficiency Tests
Student Organizations

Appendix D: The Mull List
Questions to Ask Before Applying to a University

Glossary
Index