O.A.C.A.C. Conference and E.C.I.S College Counsellor Tour
July 4 -16, 2004
Report by Martin Campion, South Island School
The background to my participation in this vacation in-service training was, and indeed
is, the steadily growing numbers of South Island School and ESF students choosing
Canada as their higher education destination. It was a happy coincidence that
O.A.C.A.C. decided to hold its 2004 conference in Toronto, the first time it has been held
outside the USA. The accompanying college tour gave the opportunity to visit eighteen
higher education institutions in the Quebec/Ontario area to which most of our students
apply.
This report follows the chronological sequence of visits with the conference in the
middle.
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec.
Founded in 1821, McGill enjoys the privilege of having an attractive campus situated in
the middle of a vibrant multicultural city.
A popular choice with ESF students, McGill is always ranked in the top three
medical/doctoral universities in Canada. It has an international reputation for research
and this is reflected in its highly competitive admissions standards. Its admissions staff
are bluntly honest in stressing that entrance is based on grades and virtually grades alone.
Recommendations come into play only with scholarship applicants (entrance and
continuing scholarships are open to all students, local and international), unless there is a
real need to explain extenuating circumstances regarding a drop in grades. Not including
USA citizens (who increasingly recognise the value of Canadian universities), 15% of
McGill’s student population is international, 40% of whom come from East Asia.
McGill have admissions staff who specialise in particular high school systems and who
seem very well informed on recent developments such as Curriculum 2000. For instance,
they are interested in seeing modular marks for AS subjects not cashed in at the end of
the year twelve. Several years’ education within an English speaking school is usually
accepted in lieu of TOEFL/IELTS for English proficiency (there is no exemption for
Canadian citizens). Otherwise grades required vary by degree program and admission is
based on school transcripts, examination results achieved and predicted I B. or A level
grades.
Admissions staff were keen to stress that full documentation must come directly from the
school and that the school shouldn’t attempt to transcribe the grades from systems such as
G.C.E. or I. B., which they are familiar with.
Partly linked to the double cohort, a great deal of investment is going into new buildings
such as those for Arts and Music. New residence buildings include a former hotel and
McGill can guarantee to accommodate all first years. However, affordable off campus
housing close to the university is in short supply.
Amongst the most competitive programs at McGill are electrical engineering and
computer engineering, while medicine is only open to Canadian students who have
completed undergraduate study. All courses are in English with the exception of a
unique Law program that includes both Canadian common law and Quebec civil law.
McGill was keen to stress its interdisciplinary approach and also the
ability for students to transfer
between programs, once admitted.
To illustrate this, we were
entertained to a ‘magical’ lecture by
a professor in the office for ‘Science
and Society’ who was responsible
for a course called ‘The World of
Chemistry’ that was open to all
students, irrespective of discipline.
McGill has another campus, the MacDonald campus, on the west side of Montreal Island,
that specialises in ‘hands-on’ studies related to agriculture and environmental science.
Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec.
Concordia is a result of the 1974 merger of suburban Loyola College with the downtown
Montreal Sir George Williams University. It remains a 2 campus university today and
has a student body of over 28,000 students, 45% of whom are part time. It is a university
that seeks to provide ‘access’ to higher education.
Prominent among its programs is the John
Molson School of Business, one of only seven
accredited in Canada. Fine Arts is strong with
a new program in Digital Image and Sound as
well as Performing Arts. Auditions for
courses can be done by video for international
students. Psychology, communication studies,
computer science, women’s studies, and
journalism are also strong.
Concordia offers Co-op programs in many
disciplines and they were keen to stress that
many professors were working professionals
with real world experience.
The international students and school students conveyed a genuine enthusiasm for
Concordia and stressed that many classes were small and intimate, particularly after the
first year.
However, Concordia offers virtually no accommodation on campus and despite
assurances to the contrary, it still worried me that our students would arrive in Montreal
with the task of finding off campus housing.
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario.
The University of Ottawa is a large research-intensive university that is very much linked
to its location in Canada’s administrative capital at the juncture of French and English
Canada. It is a bilingual university offering programs in English or French or in both. In
other words, students do not need to be bilingual to enter. The university’s access to
national organizations and resources not only mean that programs in Political Science and
Law are strong but it has also stimulated study and research in fields such as health,
information technology, molecular sciences and Canadian studies. We were told that
Occupational Therapy and
Physiotherapy are to become
postgraduate and bilingual in
2006.
We were told that the 24:1
staff/student ratio was an
average and that classes
became much smaller after
the first year. International
students currently make up
only 5% of the student
population but there is a
commitment to increase this
proportion. International
students may apply direct to
the university as well as through OUAC and, in contrast to other universities, the
University of Ottawa seems to encourage this. Co-op programs are not currently
available to international students, although it is hoped this will change soon.
In terms of application, the University of Ottawa will only refer to references in problem
cases. Though some advanced credit is given for I.B., none is given for A levels.
The new residences in which we were accommodated were very good indeed and clearly
intended for the conference market. Otherwise, I found much of the modern architecture
on campus rather drab.
Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario.
Carleton is situated in a beautiful suburban riverside campus within an easy bus or train
ride of downtown Ottawa (or ice skating along the canal in winter). To a large degree, it
is a commuter university with 85% of its 20,000 students living off campus. However, it
can offer on campus accommodation to all first years that want it. International students
make up 8 to 10% of the student population. ESL students are admitted to a program that
allows a ‘gradual admission’.
Carleton has an increasing reputation for research and it has made good use of Ottawa’s
unique governmental resources and its growing high tech industry. The school of
journalism and mass communication is particularly strong, as are engineering,
architecture and industrial design. The bachelor of international business is a popular and
competitive option. Carleton has a close relationship with the University of Ottawa and
cooperates on a number of programs.
In terms of admission, Carleton is looking at a minimum I.B. score of 28 and 30 plus for
many courses: credit is given for higher scores. Merit-based scholarships are quite
generous and are automatic for those achieving 82% or the equivalent. There are also
prestige scholarships available by a separate application for those achieving 90% or
above
Independent reports tell of a high level of student satisfaction at Carleton and we were
left with a positive impression. We were told of labs and seminars of ten to fifteen
students from the first year onwards, although ‘McLeans’ reports that these are
sometimes administered by fourth year undergraduates as teaching assistants.
Co-op programs are accessible to international students and 35 student exchange
agreements exist with overseas institutions.
Queens University, Kingston, Ontario.
The Kingston campus of Queens is undoubtedly the most picturesque that we visited in
the two weeks of the tour. The blend of 19th, 20th and 21st century limestone buildings
and its lakeside location make it a very popular choice for both Canadian and
international students and it is no surprise that it is the most selective Canadian university
with 38,000 applicants for 3,400 places last year. 90% of Queens students are from
outside the immediate region and 5% are international. Queens are keen to increase the
proportion of international students. Queens’ strong sense of history and its links with
Scotland were emphasised when we were led from our tour coach to a reception by a
fully clad bagpiper.
Business and Engineering at
Queens are very competitive,
while the Faculty of Arts and
Science offers a good level of
flexibility including double
majors, known at Queens as
‘medials’. Development Studies
is currently a hot option, as is
the opportunity to study for one
year at the International Study
Centre at Herstmonceux Castle
in Sussex, England.
Queens recommend early
application through OUAC and
applications are judged on academics plus the P.S.E., a personal statement related to extra
curricular involvement. Depending on the program, they are looking for a predicted I.B.
score of 31 to 36 points and A levels above B (A for sciences). A.S. qualifications are
not normally accepted for science prerequisites . Credit is given for I.B. scores above 5
but none is given for A levels. A TOEFL score of 237/508 is required for nonCanadians.
Irrespective of origin, all applicants are
automatically considered for entrance
scholarships based on merit and
approximately 30% receive some form of
aid. Accommodation is guaranteed to all
first years and all rooms have Internet
access. Queens has a strong athletics
program and an all-round tradition of
extra curricular involvements: sailing and
fresh water diving are popular options.
Students chair some of the most
important university committees.
Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario.
Trent is a small primarily undergraduate university of only 4-5,000 students, where the
emphasis is very much on teaching and learning. It is located on a modern purpose-built
campus that spans both banks of the Otonabee River in rural Ontario.
The university is organized into several colleges which are centres of both residence and
learning. Academic advisors, mentoring systems and small classes are designed to ensure
that all students are fully supported in their studies. To some extent, Trent can be seen as
a ‘liberal arts college’ of sorts with 70% of students pursing combined or interdisciplinary programs. Global and development studies are strong, as is native studies
(the newest development on campus is the ‘First People’s House of Learning’).
In terms of admissions, Trent has a
fairly late deadline (up to May) and is
looking for scores of 28 and above for
I.B. and Cs and above at A level. 10%
of Trent students are international and
fairly generous entrance scholarships
are available for them, including the
Trent Global Citizen scholarship for
which separate application is
necessary. There are also some
scholarships specifically for U.W.C.
applicants.
Trent would make a good option for good to average students who value a more intimate
college but who do not crave the big city.
Ryerson University, Toronto.
Formerly Ryerson Polytechnic University, Ryerson is located in downtown Toronto. It is
primarily undergraduate and lays great stress on combining academic learning with
professional experience through its links with business and industry in the Toronto area.
Its philosophy is ‘learning by doing’. This is reflected in the fact that its 12,000 full-time
undergraduates are outnumbered, though slightly, by their part-time counterparts. Many
faculty are currently working in industry.
While one third of the
students study business
and one quarter
engineering, there are
some innovative programs
in graphic communications
management, fashion,
interior design, health
services management and
retail management. Many
students transfer from
more traditional
universities to gain
practical skills and to
become more employable.
A pre-university year is
offered for international students who require English support and we were assured that
admission was by name rather than by number. Ryerson only offers residence for 840
students but preference is given for those living long distances from Toronto. The
international office helps with work permits, job placements and on-campus employment.
Scholarships for international students aren’t plentiful but there has been a modest
increase of late.
Tuition and living costs are a little more than other Ontario universities but Ryerson
would suit independent students who would prefer a career-oriented education in a
downtown location.
Ontario College of Art and Design, Toronto.
O.C.A.D. is 127 years old and boasts many famous alumni in the field of art and design.
It is now undergoing a fairly dramatic period of development, having recently been
granted authority to confer degrees at bachelor and masters level and having increased its
physical size by the addition of a very dramatic piece of architecture, the new Sharp
Centre for Design. O.C.A.D. is located in the heart of downtown Toronto and is well
placed to take advantage of the cultural benefits thereof.
Programs in the streams of
Art or Design include a
liberal arts element and the
emphasis is on developing
critical thinking through an
experimental studio
experience. There are
approximately 1,900 fulltime
students with a 15:1 staffstudent ratio.
Admission is based primarily
on a portfolio (15 pieces) and
interview supported by strong
academics. Guidelines for the
portfolio and arrangements for international applicants can be found online.
At present there is no student accommodation or even a housing service. Scholarships
are available once in college. International students make up only 5% of the student
population at present
Students and faculty gave a strong sense of purpose.
Overseas Association for
College Admission Counseling
11th Annual Conference
Toronto, Canada
July 8-10, 2004
As in the past, the conference was made up of a mixture of high-school college
counselors (read Head of Careers for ESF) and university admissions staff. The
conference has grown year on year and there were 369 participants from 45 countries at
the Toronto Conference. Similar to last year, workshops were geared towards either
admissions staff or high school counselors but I felt that the selection available for the
latter was poor compared to the Rhode Island conference. Having said that, the main
benefit of the conference is undoubtedly the opportunity for networking and it was just as
successful in that respect. Many individuals who were just names on business cards are
now good friends and valuable professional contacts.
The sessions that can be regarded as work rather than play were:
Keynote Speaker
David K. Foot, Professor of Economics at the University of Toronto and co-author of the
bestselling book ‘Boom Bust & Echo 2000: Profiting from the Demographic Shift in the
New Millennium’ gave a light-hearted but sobering lecture on global demographic trends
and how they will affect higher education.
Reverse College Fair
Admission officers were able to
meet and greet secondary school
counselors who were standing
“behind the tables” and
representing their schools. Schools
were grouped geographically by
region.
College Board Update for
Counselors
Overseas counselors were invited to join this session that provided an overview of
College Board testing programs. This was an opportunity to get the latest on new
program services and operations enhancements for the coming academic year.
Not unexpectedly, much of this session focused on the imminent changes to the SAT and,
in particular the new writing section.
Managing the Counseling Process with TCCi
TCCi is the most widely used Web-based service for counselors in the USA. This
session, for both current users of TCCi and those considering it for their schools,
provided a brief overview of the system, highlighting ways in which schools have been
using TCCi to enhance their counseling programs, and previewed new features that have
been introduced recently or are planned for Fall 2004.
This software from ‘Naviance’ was very impressive, in terms of its ability to track and
analyse application data for one’s school. However, it is only I.B. ‘data-enabled’ (not
GCE) and is only worth the costs of U$400 – U$1,100 if one has a fairly large number of
U.S. applicants. It could be useful for ESF as a whole when we are all doing I.B.
Web Counseling for the College Bound
This was a presentation of several counseling pieces that work well on a school or
counselor webpage, including college search tools, career information, self-inventories,
parent input, resource links, and the TCCi Family Connection program.
Solution-Focused College Counseling
College counselors and admissions officers work with students and families who are
faced with critical choices and a difficult transition. This is particularly true of students
who are applying from overseas.
This session emphasised that it is often difficult to separate personal and college
counseling and that there is often not much time to provide the individual counselling that
is often needed. In this workshop, the basic principles of an effective brief counseling
method were presented. Participants had the opportunity to practise some strategies and
discuss how these methods could be applied to their settings.
Interestingly, the presenters downplayed the importance of counseling ‘techniques’ and
emphasised the importance of establishing a cooperative relationship with the student and
family.
Home, Belonging and Third Culture Children
This workshop aimed to define the issues facing Third Culture Children and examine
what schools and families can be doing to better nurture a sense of belonging and home.
It was emphasized that although students may be the best prepared individuals for our
global environment, they come to our schools with very specific needs and concerns.
Discussion of varying circumstances and examples highlighted the fact that ‘third culture
children’ are all unique and have no ‘full’ ownership of any one culture. Suggested
strategies included:
Maximising benefits and minimising drawbacks.
Special welcomes and farewell tributes.
Parent/Family workshops.
Encouraging students to keep ‘Life Story’ books.
Regular family contacts.
E.C.I.S. College Tour Week 2
University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario.
Welcoming its first 947 students in 2003, U.O.I.T. is Canada’s newest university. It is a
purpose built, laptop-based institution with a mobile learning environment. Although the
campus wasn’t yet complete at the time of writing, its first three buildings are due for
completion in September. Fulltime enrollment is expected to reach 6500 by 2009.
UOIT is purposefully and unashamedly market-driven and currently offers courses in
areas such as nuclear engineering, health sciences (nursing) and business and information
technology. International students currently make up about 10% of the student body and
international students can apply direct as well as through OUAC. Students are
guaranteed accommodation on the campus in the first year and pay an extra $1,500.00 for
their IBM ThinkPad, software and maintenance.
Currently there is little financial support for international students but this may change in
the near future.
Although a campus visit wasn’t possible, we were given the impression that you U.O.I.T.
was a university that was going places and that it would be responsive to changes in
technology and the work environment.
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.
With over 50,000 students, the University of Toronto is a very large university but one
that is regularly ranked number one or two in Canada. Its main campus, St. George is
located at the northern end of downtown Toronto and there are two relatively smaller
suburban campuses at Scarborough (emphasis on co-op programs including international
development studies) and Mississauga (strong programs in forensic science,
theatre/drama, life science and commerce).
Despite its daunting size, U of T is much more attractive and intimate than it seems from
a distance and its history needs to be understood to explain this. The Saint George
campus is made up of seven colleges of varied denominations that have gradually
become part of the university, since it began as King’s College in 1827. Staying for
several nights in rooms in Victoria College gave some sense of this identity: each college
has its own registrar’s office and each deliberately tries to create a small a liberal arts
college experience. Residence for all first years is guaranteed.
Size means that the university has a wealth of resources, impressive libraries and research
and a top-notch faculty. It recently received a cash injection of C$1.2 billion. It offers
2000 programs in Arts and Sciences Faculty alone as well as 76 PHD programs.
However, classes can be big (up to 2,000), and teaching assistants tend to be used for
tutorials.
In terms admissions, the university of Toronto is looking for a minimum of 28 at I. B. and
Bs at A level. Credit is given for both systems at higher levels. Four years in an English
speaking school will fulfill English proficiency requirements. References are only
required in extenuating circumstances and there are ‘automatic’ scholarships for
academic merit of up to 3,000 Canadian dollars. Engineering requires prerequisites in
maths, physics and chemistry and there are limited places for international applicants.
University of Toronto’s academic reputation and its location continue to make it a
popular choice for ESF students.
York University, Toronto, Ontario
Canada's third largest university of over 40,000 students was founded in 1959 and has
expanded with Toronto over the last four decades. York consists of one large commuter
campus at Keele (with its own mall !) and one
small picturesque suburban campus at Glendon
which offers a bilingual liberal arts experience
with an emphasis on international studies.
York’s Schulich School of
Business is ranked highly on a
global basis and York is also well
known for strong programs in
fine arts, science (space
programs and biotechnology) and
regional studies. There is a good
deal of flexibility in York’s
programs including options to
pursue education and certificates
in the language and business
alongside degree courses.
Although campus accommodation is limited (2,200 at Keele), York will accommodate all
first year international students and those with an average entrance grade of over 80%.
Sports are strong at York (including cricket) and the student body is both diverse and
politically active.
In terms of admissions, York will look at midyear grades and expect 28 and above at
I. B. and C. and above at A level. References are recommended only in extenuating
circumstances and should be addressed directly to admissions staff. Four years of
education in an English speaking school is acceptable in lieu of TOEFL. York does offer
support for students with special needs. Four 'Global Leader' awards worth C$10,000
are available upon special application.
Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario
With seven campuses dotted around the
Toronto area, Seneca is Canada’s largest
community college with over 100,000
students. It offers certificates, diploma
and now some degree courses and has
various agreements with the universities
such as York and Guelph. In keeping up
with the development of community
colleges from 1965, Seneca has a careerfocused approach in areas such as applied
technology, aviation, financial services management and software development. We
visited the 'Seneca at York' campus and were impressed by the quality of the facilities,
including a centre for 3 dimensional digital animation.
Accommodation on the campus is limited but class sizes are generally small (about 30).
Application to Seneca is through OCAS or direct for international students. Scholarships
are only available once enrolled.
Brock University, St. Catherines, Ontario
Brock is an attractive university of
approximately 12,000 students in the
Niagara peninsula region of Ontario.
Recent injections of funds have been
used to provide more student
accommodation, excellent sports and
fitness facilities and a number of 'Eclassrooms'. Brock has a strong
emphasis on Co-op programs, is
strong in business, applied health
sciences (kinesiology and sports
management), tourism and and
environmental studies. Of particular
interest and significance to the
region is its department of oenology
and viticulture. This includes some state of the art biotechnical research laboratories.
Brock is also keen to stress the quality of its concurrent education program and its
'general' liberal arts and science program where students can exit with either a B.A. or a
B.Sc.
Brock is keen to increase its international student intake (currently 6%) and offers both
accommodation and scholarships for international students (such as those for students
achieving 28 and above for I. B.). It will even consider an individual award for schools
or organizations such as ESF.
As well as an enjoyable wine tasting in the Department of
Oenology and Viticulture, we were also given an 'E-lecture'
of sorts in one of the high tech E-classrooms. We were
introduced to 'digital humanities' as a discipline that
examined "being human in a world of machines".
Interestingly, the lecturer felt that the flexible puddle
arrangement of movable furniture was as important as the
technical equipment (tablets, screens etc) in the students'
experience.
Brock struck many of us as a well equipped, safe and
stimulating environment for students from international
schools.
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
Western describes itself as a premiere residential university. Founded in 1878, it has an
attractive campus of mixed architecture and the current undergraduate population is
approximately 20,000. It is affiliated with three nearby university colleges, one of which
is Catholic and female. A 1:18 staff/student ratio means that classes are not huge and they
stressed that a high percentage of their top professors teach first year classes. Classes are
even smaller at the three affiliated
colleges.
Western has a strong reputation in
Business (the Richard Ivey
School), medicine, journalism and
media, virtual reality technology
and science (e.g. kinesiology).
Western provides good quality
accommodation for all first years
and for many seniors. Although
there is no intention to expand
further, Western does wish to
become more diverse. It values its
community spirit and encourages residential life programs. It looks for students with
strong academics and who also want to participate.
Western is highly rated among Canada’s top universities and would provide a safe and
stimulating environment for our students.
Guelph University, Guelph, Ontario.
Guelph's origins lie in a strong tradition for veterinary science (competitive with five
places for international students) and agricultural studies but it is now a truly
comprehensive university. It has a strong reputation for science in general, while
programs of particular note include landscape architecture, hotel and food management,
health and sports medicine, estate management and a Bachelor of arts and sciences. First
year students do inter-disciplinary seminars in groups of fifteen to twenty.
In terms of admission, Guelph looks for a minimum of 28 on the I. B. and a C. minimum
at A level. A student profile form is used for scholarships purposes. Direct application is
available for international students.
Guelph offers good accommodation and the catering is considered to be very good indeed
by a university standards. Tuition fees are low at about C$9000.
Waterloo University, Waterloo, Ontario.
Waterloo is a comprehensive university that places a strong emphasis on technology and
applied education. Ranked as Canada’s "most innovative" university, Waterloo has the
world’s largest Co-op program involving about 60% of its 20,000 students. Maths and
computer science are very strong (it has a strong connection with the Microsoft
corporation) and Waterloo's success in international competitions have led some to call it
"the MIT of Canada". Other strengths include engineering, optometry, architecture and
accounting and financial management. Waterloo also offers a unique 5 year Arts and
Business program (there is no separate
business program: it is integrated into
others).
Unlike other universities, Waterloo
does encourage letters of
recommendation and the A.I S.
(personal statement) in admissions.
They are looking for TOEFL or five
years in an English-speaking school.
Various entrance and continuing
scholarships are available and on
campus accommodation is available
for all first years.
Tuition fees are above average at nearly C$13,000 and are as high as C$25,000 for
engineering.
Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario.
Wilfred Laurier is a small primarily undergraduate
university of approximately 10,000 undergraduates. It
has a sound academic reputation and is ranked as
Canada’s number one for its "sense of community". It
has strong faculties in business and economics and
science in general but is perhaps best known for an
excellent program in music and music therapy.
Admission requirements vary by faculty (from 28 to 36
I. B. points) and staff say that they will interpret
international qualifications on an individual basis.
Wilfred Laurier provides accommodation for all first years and faculty go out of their
way to support international students.
Tuition fees are low at C$9000 and scholarships are automatically available on entry for
applicants with high grades.
Sheridan Institute, Oakville, Toronto, Ontario.
I had been told in Hong Kong that Sheridan was rather special and I was not
disappointed. Sheridan isn’t a community college but an institution that offers post
secondary, degree and postgraduate programs in certain 'focus' areas of study. In the area
of digital animation, it is certainly the leader in Canada and perhaps in North America as
a whole.
Other notable programs are
those in musical theatre (very
competitive), applied
information science (with an
emphasis on internet security)
and gerontology, where elder
research focuses on psychosocial aspects of the lives of
elderly people. Business
programs are laptop based and
puddle formation classes
emphasize the importance of
interactive work.
The Trafalgar campus ( for 6-7,000
students) that we visited was modern
and attractive. On the campus,
accommodation is available for
international students. Oakville itself
is an attractive lakeside suburb of
Toronto. Overseas tuition fees range
from C$9000 to C$19,000 for digital
animation . Interestingly, Sheridan
also offers a one-year course in 'Art
Fundamentals' similar to a U.K. Arts
Foundation Course.