Fall is back-to-school time, and for grade twelve students across the country it’s also time to gear up for the launch into next year’s post-secondary life. Big decisions must be made, so spend the next few months exploring and gathering information that will help you examine all the possibilities and narrow them down to the options that hold the most potential for you. If you’re in grade 11, get a head start on this now to start looking at your options and reduce your stress next year.
Loads of information about the different schools and the programs they offer can be accessed through www.OntarioColleges.ca and www.OntarioUniversitiesInfo.ca, and other organizations, like www.schoolfinder.com, sometimes host events to promote both Canadian and international options. To get a real feel for the schools that interest you and get answers to all your questions, it’s a great idea to attend some open houses.
From late September through November, Ontario’s colleges and universities offer both virtual and on-campus open houses for prospective students. These free events offer a glimpse into the programs, amenities and campus life you are likely to experience at each school, with a chance to ask questions and get a feel for the atmosphere and the offerings that may or may not meet your future needs.
Then, if you find you have other questions about post-secondary life in general, you might want to check out the Student Life Expo at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 18, 2023 (www.studentlifeexpo.com).
Ontario Universities Events
The big Ontario Universities’ Fair takes place in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, from 10 am to 5 pm on October 21 and 22, 2023. At this free event, you can wander around the booths to gather information about programs and campus amenities, and talk with representatives from the universities and from the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Information Program (APSIP).
The universities take this show on the road for their Regional Fairs. A schedule of the specific communities they will visit is available at www.ontariouniversitiesevents.ca/regional/.
Northwestern Ontario: September 25 – 29, 2023
Northeastern Ontario: October 2 – 6, 2023
Ottawa and Eastern Regions: October 30 – November 3, 2023
Southwestern Ontario: November 6 – 10, 2023
Central Eastern Ontario: November 13 – 17, 2023
A slightly different format is used for the Virtual Information Sessions, where you can attend your choice of sessions with participating universities and Aboriginal Post-Secondary Information Program, listening to short presentations followed by the opportunity to ask questions. See who will be participating, and register for the sessions at www.ontariouniversitiesevents.ca/virtual/.
September 26, 2023; 5-7 pm.
November 22, 2023; 5-7 pm.
All Ontario universities also schedule their own open houses and other opportunities to tour their campuses and meet with program providers. Check out the individual universities’ websites for more information.
Ontario Colleges Events
The Ontario College Fair will take place on October 18, 2023 from 5 – 9 pm, and October 19, 2023, from 10 am – 2 pm in Enercare Hall B of Exhibition Place in Toronto. Participating colleges will have booths set up for you to gather information about their programs and campus facilities and to get your questions answered. This free event will also offer presentation sessions on various topics. Many high schools provide bussing to the event for their senior students, although anyone is welcome to attend with no registration required. See more at www.ontariocollegefair.ca/.
The 2023 College Information Program (CIP) Tour will have various college representatives travelling to locations around the province from September 25 to November 3, 2023. They will typically set up their booths in a local college or high school, offering information, advice and answering questions. The CIP Tour schedule can be found at www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/news/cip/cip-schedule.
Ontario colleges typically host their own fall open houses as well. These are a great opportunity to visit campuses that might interest you, and often include guided tours, information sessions, and individual meetings with their recruiters. Check the website for each college to find out more about their open house schedules and other events – links to the college’s recruitment sites can be accessed at www.ontariocolleges.ca/en/colleges/college-recruitment.
Some colleges offer virtual campus tours as well as webinars on various relevant topics, and they are all happy to connect with you virtually or in-person to discuss your needs and answer questions one-on-one. Get as much information as you can in order to make your decisions about post-secondary easier when you’re ready to apply.
Private Career College Events
Many private career colleges host open houses for potential students to meet their personnel and learn more about their programs. Check with the individual career colleges that interest you to find out if they’ll be offering such an event. Even if they are not, they will be happy to arrange for a personal meeting and tour of their facilities.
National Portfolio Day Events
If you’re interested in taking a post-secondary program in art or design, you will likely need to submit a portfolio of your work as part of your application process. Putting together a portfolio can be an intimidating prospect for high school students, but National Portfolio Day events can help you determine what items may be best to include.
National Portfolio Day is actually international in scope, offering a series of in-person and virtual events where you can get feedback on preparing your portfolio. You are welcome to meet with portfolio reviewers from any participating university or college, who will look at your work and advise you on how you might meet the portfolio expectations of their institutions, giving you the opportunity to hear a variety of valuable ideas and suggestions no matter where you end up applying.
Nearby in-person events will be held in Toronto (Nov. 4, 2023), Montreal (Nov. 1, 2023), and Rochester, NY (Nov. 5, 2023). Virtual undergraduate events will take place on Oct. 27, 2023, Dec. 3, 2023, Jan. 7, 2023 and May 4, 2023. Canadian schools participating at select events include OCAD, Sheridan College, York University, Concordia University, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, UBC, and Alberta University of the Arts. Learn more and register for free for an in-person or virtual event at www.nationalportfolioday.org.
Funding Information
Some schools will host webinars from fall through spring on topics such as applying for scholarships and paying for school – you don’t have to be planning to attend a particular university to take advantage of such events.
In addition, check out the Ontario government’s post-secondary education funding information (www.ontario.ca/page/student-loans-grants-scholarships-and-bursaries) to get a better idea about money that may be available for you, as this may affect your choice of programs or schools. For example, Ontario’s new Learn and Stay Grant may pay for tuition and equipment for students studying practical nursing, paramedicine or medical lab tech/medical lab science in the north, east or southwest regions of the province if they agree to work in those same regions after they graduate.
For More Information
Learn much more about planning and preparing for your post-secondary education in Ready to Launch: Navigating the Transition from High School to Post-Secondary Life – A Guide for Ontario Students and Parents, including updates and other information at www.ReadytoLaunch.ca.