Highschool all the time goes by sooner than you suppose it can. For me, I used to be part of the notorious Class of 2020, higher often called the “pandemic graduates”. As you may guess, Grade 12 glided by even sooner for me. The pandemic positively altered a few of my choices, nevertheless, even when it had not occurred, I nonetheless really feel that I’d have executed a number of issues in another way when selecting my program if given one other probability.
I used to be extraordinarily pressured, undecided, and below a number of pointless strain. Looking back, this might have been averted totally. As a pupil presently coming into my third 12 months on the College of Toronto, I’ve develop into the household “elder” with all of the data and knowledge of the best way to undergo the post-secondary course of. If I may return to Grade 11 and Grade 12, listed here are a number of the issues I’d have executed in another way:
1. Begin exploring post-secondary packages early
Being a particularly unsure particular person, I had far too many choices. There are THOUSANDS of packages to select from and it might get pretty overwhelming. There’s a lot to contemplate: curiosity, location, price range, competitiveness, grades, and so forth. I made the error of exploring packages originally of Grade 12. In reality, I acquired so overwhelmed that I utilized to TEN PROGRAMS. TEN. DO NOT BE ME.
The stress of creating grade cut-offs and assembly deadlines would have been lessened had I simply began earlier. Whilst a third-year pupil, I’m nonetheless discovering out about packages at my very own college that I want I had recognized about in highschool. Attempt making a listing of your pursuits and in search of packages that embody a number of of them (you is perhaps stunned at what you discover).
In case you are particularly wanting into faculties in Ontario, I extremely really useful Ontario Universities Info. This web site was an absolute life-saver: it has program descriptions, important hyperlinks, true grade cut-offs, tuition prices, and much more info.
No matter the place you get your info from, the most effective methods to actually study if a program is best for you is to speak to present college students. Join with college students in packages you have an interest in as early as Grade 11, through Reddit and Fb teams, or by attending a College truthful.
When going by your analysis, doc all the data you acquire: it’s essential. I’m not going to lie, the method is sort of anxious and you’ll are likely to overlook particulars. Subsequently, having them written down someplace is a good thought. When you acquire all of your info, selecting the packages you must apply to will develop into so much simpler.
2. Give your self sufficient time to do your purposes thoughtfully
In case you adopted my recommendation thus far and have your listing of packages, I recommend you begin making use of RIGHT AWAY—particularly for extra aggressive packages.
Now, for the purposes themselves, questions will differ. That stated, they have a tendency to observe a really related format. Questions can normally be damaged up into three key classes: showcasing abilities (“Speak about a time you confirmed management”), curiosity in this system (“Why did you particularly select this program?”), or situational (“What would you do on this state of affairs?”).
PRO TIP: all the time be sure you are clear and concise. Don’t use overly fancy phrases to impress your faculty. Highly effective writing is clear, simple to grasp, and clearly communicated.
In case you can, begin brainstorming examples out of your life that you simply would possibly discuss in your solutions. After you have particular questions for any of your purposes, make a separate doc the place you may write out your solutions, edit them, and even have others supply suggestions earlier than submitting them. Once I was making use of, my associates and I continuously edited one another’s solutions and it saved my purposes so many instances. Dad and mom and academics are additionally nice individuals to go to for modifying assist!
NEVER RUSH YOUR APPLICATIONS. In case you begin early, it is possible for you to to take your time and polish your solutions to make them mirror greatest on you as a possible pupil.
3. Take a while for your self
By now, you’ll have realized that the post-secondary software season is STRESSFUL. Ensure you take a while for your self to calm down, unwind, and see your mates. One in all my largest regrets is popping down hangouts with associates to work on purposes, particularly contemplating that the pandemic ultimately stored me from seeing a few of them for over two years.
Clearly, moving into post-secondary is essential. However so is your remaining 12 months in highschool. Don’t overlook to make these reminiscences and spend time with those you’re keen on as a result of when you plan your time proper, you may completely do each. As Ferris Bueller as soon as put it: “Life strikes fairly quick. In case you don’t cease and go searching from time to time, you could possibly miss it.”
READ MORE: 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Year Of University
Rubaina Farin
Hello! I am Rubaina Farin (she/her) and I’m a third-year pupil in Life Sciences on the College of Toronto on the St. George campus! I am presently pursuing a double main in Elementary Genetics & Its Functions and Cognitive Sciences – Computational Stream and a minor in Ladies and Gender Research. In my spare time, I really like images, enjoying my guitar or piano and watching motion pictures!
