Applying to University

ouac.on.ca
On-line Tutorials:
How To Apply

https://www.ouac.on.ca/101-tutorials/#alternative

https://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/video/apply_online/ap
ply_e.pdf
What do you need to apply?
• Your PIN, student number and school number
(from the letter you receive today).
• Know the three or more programs you want to
apply to.
• Know if you require residence.
• Be able to pay the fee, base is $150, $50 for each
additional program.
• Know the deadline: Jan. 15, 2020. After this
date some programs close for applications.
Submitting and Paying
• Your application will not be processed until you
pay the application fee.
• Paying by credit card is the preferred method
because it allows your application to be
processed right away.
What makes up my
Admissions Average?
• Your average must always include any pre-requisite
courses for the program you apply to. English is always
included.
• Early Admission: Best 6, including pre-requisites, U/M
level courses from Gr. 11.
• After Semester 1: Mix of best 6, including pre-requisites,
completed 4U/M courses and 3U/M courses for those
not taken in Gr. 12 so far.
• After Semester 2 Midterm: Only best 6, including
pre-requisites, 4U/M courses.
• July: Only best 6, including pre-requisites, 4 U/M final
grades.
What is early acceptance?
• Acceptance to a university program based on Gr.
11 marks.
• The first of typically three waves of offers.
• To be considered you must apply by the end of
November and have excellent Gr. 11 marks (for
example U of Ottawa will not even consider less
than an 85% for early acceptance and it is higher
for many of their programs).
• It is only a very limited number of offers, no
programs fill up with only early acceptances.
What if I don’t get early acceptance?
• Do not worry! All programs will still have space
and some programs do not offer early
acceptance. The minority of students get early
acceptance.
• Second wave of offers is typically in February –
April (after Gr. 12, Sem. 1).
• Third wave of offers in May (after Sem. 2
midterm). At this time alternate offers may be
also given out.
Conditional Offers/Multiple Offers
• All offers to a university program are conditional.
• When you receive an offer it will specifically state what
marks you need to maintain in order to keep your
offer.
• Offers can be rescinded if your grades drop.
• 95% of program offers are based on marks alone.
Some fine arts, music or design programs require a
portfolio, performance or entrance test.
• You may get multiple offers of admission to two or
more programs. You will need to choose the program
you want typically by the end of May.
Residence Option
• If you would like to live on campus in a residence
this normally needs to be applied for on the
OUAC application.
• Your offer of admission will include residence
information.
• If leaving Ottawa this is will help ease your
transition to student life.
Deferrals, tuition fees, special
circumstances
• Once you receive an offer of admission read it very carefully
for important dates such as when you must formally accept
it by (usually the end of May) and when your tuition fees
are due.
• Deferrals – if you wish to put off your acceptance for a term
or year you must apply to the school and explain your
circumstances.
• If a special circumstance occurs this year that affects your
grades see your Guidance Counsellor as we can advocate on
your behalf. However, once you apply to a school they will
want to speak to you directly. Applications are based on
marks alone but it is a real person who makes the final
admission decision.
Tips
• You can make changes to your application, save it as you go.
• Be as accurate as possible.
• Check your academic information that has been uploaded
after each grading period and see your Guidance Counsellor if
there is an error or something is missing.
• Check your e-mail regularly as this is the primary way the
OUAC and the universities will communicate with you.
• Go to the student portals of universities (eg. UZONE, etc) to
check other relevant information
• Pay close attention to due dates, they are not flexible.
• Save your reference number, once you submit your PIN is no
longer useful, you will now use your Reference Number to log
in.
Out of Ontario Universities
• If applying out of Ontario check the school’s
website carefully for the admission process and
dates. Every school is different – contact them if
you have questions.
• Some out of province universities can receive
marks through OUAC, otherwise you will need a
transcript sent, see your Guidance Counsellor for
this.
 Questions?

https://www.ouac.on.ca/faq-application/101/