Year at a Glance for
WGSS GRADS

September
  • Grad Newsletter:  Ensure that the main office has your e-mail address so that you and your parent will be receiving the WGSS Grad Newsletter and other important Grad related e-mails
 
  • GatorFutures Twitter:  Join @GatorFutures to receive up-dates on career, post-secondary opportunities and scholarship information
 
  • High School Grad Requirement:  Be sure you meet BC graduation requirements. See your counsellor if you have ANY questions.  www.bced.gov.bc.ca/graduation  Additional information is available in the Graduation section of the WGSS Counselling & Careers Website.
 
  • Canadian Post-Secondary Entrance Requirements:  Spend time checking that you have the correct high school courses needed for the post-secondary institution(s) or program(s) you are considering. There are both ‘general entrance requirements’ (e.g. whether or not a language 11 is needed or minimum 60% in academic Math of SFU) and ‘specific entrance requirement’ (e.g.  English 12 plus Pre-Cal 12 and two other science 12s for a B.Sc. program at UVIC). Use either:  www.myblueprint.ca  or www.educationplanner.ca as a starting place but then be sure to go to the specific post-secondary sites to verify the information (Canada: www.aucc.ca or Post-Secondary section of the WGSS Counselling & Careers Website)
 
  • US Entrance Requirements:  Students who are considering attending an American institution, need to be aware that they need to have their application completed by early December.  They also must have completed an SAT or ACT exam as part of their application.  Considerable information is available in the Studying in the USA section of the WGSS Counselling & Careers Website under the Post-Secondary heading.
 
  • SAT Exam:  Register for the SAT (www.collegeboard.com) if you are considering studying at a US post-secondary institution.  Our school code is 821-161.
 
  • PSAT Exam:  The PSAT is a standardized test that provides first-hand practice for the SAT.  It is offered every fall by R.E. Mountain Secondary School.  Students register before the last week of September by bringing a $40 cheque made payable to Mountain Secondary School to one of the WGSS Counsellors. There is limited space.  The test date is generally the Wednesday after Oct. 15.  The test runs from 4:45 – 8:00 p.m.  Students generally write the PSAT in Gr. 10 and/or 11.
 
  • LPI Entrance Exam:  Most post-secondary institutions require that you have written the LPI if you do not have an “A” in English 12.  You can register on-line at www.lpitest.ca 
 
  • Language Challenge Exam:  Students who came to Canada before completing Grade 9 and who cannot claim Grade 11 and/or 12 Language Credit are encouraged to consider taking the Language Challenge Exam.  The Delta School District, in collaboration with the Coast-Metro Challenge Consortium, offers students the opportunity to write Language Challenge Exams.  For additional information, see the “Language Challenge Exam” section of the WGSS Counselling & Careers website or speak to a counsellor.  You must register before the end of September to write this exam.  The exam takes place at the end of January.
 
  • Scholarships:  The District Scholarship Handbook has important information for all students interested in applying for scholarships.  The District Scholarship Website has a searchable database; this website is accessible through the WGSS Counselling & Careers website – Scholarship Section.   There will be a Scholarship Information Meeting for Gr. 12 students during FLEX during the last week of September.  Student will learn about the high achievement national leadership awards which require a school nomination (Loran; TD Leadership Award; U of T National Book Award). All students interested in applying for scholarships, should begin preparing the following documents:
    •  Comprehensive Resume (sample in District Scholarship Handbook)
    • Scholarship Spreadsheet (sample on District Scholarship Website)
    • Draft Essay (information on District Scholarship Website)
    • Request Letters of Reference (form available on the District Scholarship Website – Forms Section) 

  • C.U.E. in Langley:  At the end of September, Langley District hosts the Canadian University Event at the Langley Event Centre.  Generally, this is an afternoon event and students will sign up through our Career Advisor to attend.  (http://canadianuniversiti.wixsite.com/cuebc)  There is also an event mini-fair event for students and parents.  Generally about 50 post-secondary institutions from across Canada participate.  Watch the Grad Newsletter and Twitter for additional information.
 
  • S.I.N. Many scholarship applications ask that you include your S.I.N. when you claim the award.  If you do not already have a Social Insurance Number, you should apply for a S.I.N. before December 5th.  esdc.gc.ca/en/sin/apply.page
 October
  • Post-Secondary Plans:   
    • Carefully review the program options for 2-4 institutions you are considering attending
    • Make a list of the requirements and deadlines (e.g. high school courses and marks, essay, etc.)
    • Note the dates/times of information sessions about your program or view/visit days at the institution
    • Tentatively decide when you (and your parents) will visit the institution and speak to an advisor.
  • The WGSS Counselling & Careers website – Post-Secondary section has direct links to institutions in the BC Colleges/Universities Section or to other Canadian Universities Section
 
  • Applications:   A number of post-secondary institutions allow you to apply for their programs on or before Oct. 1 (e.g. UBC, UVIC, UNBC, SFU, UFV, TRU, Douglas, McGill).  You can create an account to apply to BC public Institutions through:  https://apply.educationplannerbc.ca/   (Alberta and Ontario have similar application services)
 
  • BC PSI Day:  A number of BC Post-Secondary Institutions tour the Lower Mainland to give students (and parents) an opportunity to learn more about the programs they offer.  Approximately 15 institutions come to WGSS every fall. Their visit is often the first week of October.  Grade 11 students have the opportunity to sign-up for two information sessions; Grade 12 students (and their parents) are strongly encouraged to plan to attend the Post-Secondary Institution Fair in our new gym which takes place during FLEX.  You will have an opportunity to double-check important information about your eligibility and receive any program up-dates. There is also an evening event hosted by one of the Langley Schools (e.g. DW Poppy) if parents cannot come during the day. UBC does not participate in this event.  Grade 12s may complete a request to attend the WGSS mini-sessions; these requests will be accommodated if the student has teacher permission, and as space permits.  The PSIBC website will advertise other open house and visit day opportunities.  psibcinfo.com/
 
  • UBC Afternoon:  UBC does not participate in PSIBC but comes for an afternoon information session starting at 3:00 in our library.  UBC does participate in CUE at the Langley Event Centre. Please watch the Grad Newsletter and Twitter if you are interested in attending this event.
 
  • Grad Info + PSI Info – Counsellors will do presentations to Grade 12s during Grad Trans classes, starting the Tuesday after Thanksgiving weekend.  Students will receive a copy of their Diploma Verification so they can check their courses and credits.  The presentation will also give information about application deadlines, scholarships and transcripts.
 
  • Parent Information: 
    • WGSS Post-Secondary Information Evening – the Wednesday evening after Thanksgiving weekend, Counsellors meet with parents and review a PowerPoint presentation which outlines grad requirements, reviews the post-secondary application to acceptance process, and explains how to track scholarship opportunities.
    • District Post-Secondary Information Evening – WGSS hosts the opportunity for parents to hear from recruiters from least four post-secondary institutions (KPU, SFU, TRU, UFV); parents choose which two half-hour presentations they wish to attend.
 
  • Scholarships: 
    • Students are encouraged to keep checking the District Scholarship Database for information about scholarships that they may wish to apply for:  District Scholarship Database
    • District Scholarship Information Evening – Brittany Palmer is a recognized leader in the Lower Mainland who assist students and their parents with the scholarship application process.  Tickets will be $5.00 available through Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/  The Fall event is hosted for Gr. 11+ 12 students/parents at D W Poppy; the Spring event is hosted by LSS for Gr. 10 + 11 students.  Information about tickets will be available in the WGSS newsletters.
 
November
  • PSI Transcript Release:  All Grade 12 students who plan to attend a post-secondary institution the September after June graduate, must complete this online form at the BC Ministry of Education site.  Counsellors will show students how to do this during their Grad Trans class in mid-October.  At this time the website is: https://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/exams/tsw/tsw/student/.  This will allow the Ministry of Education to make interim grades available to post-secondary institutions in BC and Ontario in May and provide final grades to those institutions indicated on the PSI site in July.  It is your responsibility to complete the form by May 1.  See a counsellor if you need help with completing your PSI transcript release request.   Information about ordering transcripts from the Ministry is available on the EducationPlanningBC website and the Ministry of Education site.
 
  • Admissions:  BCIT and KPU (and all other institutions) are open to receive applications; apply on-line through  https://applybc.ca; or  www.applyalberta.ca; or www.ouac.on.ca or the post-secondary institution’s website.  November 1 is the date that Kwantlen and BCIT allows you to submit your application; some their limited entry programs fill on a first-qualified-applicant is given an available spot; all other applicants will be on a waitlist.
 
  • ESL Students:  Apply to write the IELTS www.ielts.org or the TOEFL www.etscanada.ca/toefl early so you will have an opportunity to write it a second time if necessary.  Check the post-secondary website to see the institution’s English Language Requirement.
 
  • Application Documentation:  Double check if the program you have applied for requires additional information – e.g. portfolio, letter of reference, essay, etc.
  
  • UBC Information Session:  UBC will be coming to WGSS (and other Langley Schools) in October or November for an information session.  Parents are welcome to attend with their son/daughter.
  
  • US Applicants:  US post-secondary institutions generally have an application deadline of Dec. 1 (but some institutions have a Nov. 1 deadline); US institutions start offering admission confirmation by January 15; therefore research early and get all your documents in order well before the deadline (e.g. you will need a transcript of your Gr. 9-12 marks and your SAT score); allow a minimum of two weeks’ notice for counsellor’s report and letters of reference from the counsellor for your US application.
 
 December
  • Application:
    • UBC – Personal Profile and application deadline of December 1st to be considered for scholarships.
    • Be aware that institutions, like Queen’s begin making offers on December 1st.  The OUAC application services opens on September 15.
    • You are strongly encouraged to apply early if you are thinking about going to Queen’s or McGill, or other schools in Ontario or Quebec.
 
  • Scholarships:
    • UBC Entrance Scholarships:  December 1 is the deadline for applying for admission and to submit your Personal Profile:   https://you.ubc.ca/ubc/vancouver/mes.ezc
    • Queen’s University Major Entrance Award:  Scholarship deadline – December 1.
 
  • National Portfolio Day- sponsored by Emily Carr – is usually the first Saturday in December.  Twenty-six Art colleges and universities participate.  www.portfolioday.net/
 
  • TVR (Transcript Verification Report):  Counsellors visit during one of your English/Communications 12 classes in December to verify that your courses and credits with the Ministry of Education records are correct.  You will also be asked to verify your mailing address.
 
  • As you use Apply BC to submit your applications, make note of the student number that is assigned to you.  Regularly check your e-mail as this is how the institution will inform you that your application has been accepted. Once you have been accepted, the institution will give you information about your e-mail account with their institution. Keep a copy of your student numbers in your phone and somewhere else as well. If you need any help applying, please see your counsellor.
 
 January
  • Applications:
    • If you have not already applied to your post-secondary institutions of choice, you should do so; in order to complete apply for scholarships you must indicate where you have applied
    • Be sure to have a back-up plan if you do not get into the institution that you applied to attend; see a counsellor to talk about your options 
  • Scholarships: 
    • Prepare for Major Entrance Scholarships now
    • Local and District Scholarship Application and the District Authority Awards Application will be available on the WGSS website the last week of January
    • Continue to check the WGSS Counseling and Careers website and the Grad Newsletter and @GatorFutures for scholarship opportunities 
    • Distance Education:  if you are completing a course on-line or at another location, be sure that you check the completion date requirements of the post-secondary you have applied to attend.  For example, UBC requires that you 100% finished the course with the mark reported to the Ministry of Education by February 1 for that mark to be used in your competitive admission average. 
    • Graduation:  Ensure that you are in a position to graduate (marks/courses/credits).
 
  • Post-Secondary Plans:  Recheck that you have all the requirements for the program(s) you are considering
 
  • Reminder about PSI Transcript Release:  If you have not completed the PSI form on-line, the Ministry will not release your marks to the post-secondary institution and this will result in a delay in the consideration of your application or could jeopardize admission.  You need to go back in if you are going to a private institution (Section 2) or will be studying outside of BC (Section 3) once you have applied to those institutions and select the appropriate institution(s). If you are going to an NCAA school, you must select that option in Section 3.
 
  • Transcript:  Some institutions (e.g. U of T, Queen’s) require a transcript of your first term marks.  Drop into the Counselling Centre and pick up a “Transcript Request Form”.  Please allow one week for this to be prepared. See further:   WGSS Counselling & Careers website ->  Graduation -> Transcripts
 
 February
  • Early Application Deadlines:   Every institution has a different Early Admission deadline; some are December (e.g. UBC – December 1, U of Alberta – December 15; and others are after Christmas: (e.g.  SFU – January 31; UFV – January 31; UVIC – February 28, U of Toronto – January 13)
 
  • Residency:  Applications for housing are usually due soon after your Admissions Application so be careful that you don’t miss this deadline if you were wanting to stay on campus
 
  • Confirmation of Application:  check your e-mail; you will be given a student account with the institution; they will want you to login into their email system to receive up-dates on the status of your application; keep checking the institution’s email account you are given to ensure that the institution has received all the required documentation and marks.
 
  • Self-Report:  U of Vic requires that you report your marks by March 31 to be considered for entrance scholarships 
  •  Scholarships:  
    • Local/District Scholarship and the District Authority Award application is due before the end of February.
    • Applications will not be considered after the deadlineo  
    • Check the WGSS Counselling and Careers Website:  Scholarship Information for more information about this application and the deadline 
March
  • Self-Report Grades:  It is common for BC Institutions to ask you to report Term 2 marks (e.g. SFU, UBC, UVic); transcripts do NOT need to be mailed to the institution unless specifically requested for the program for which you have applied.  Example from UBC:  http://you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc/applied/bc-yukon-selfreporting/
 
  • DL Courses:  Check whether the institution you are applying to will accept this mark.  For example, UBC will only accept interim marks reported directly by the Ministry of Education (not from WGSS); for UBC 100% of the course must be completed by Feb. 1 in order for that mark to be used in the calculation of your admission average.  (SFU = 100% completed by April 30)
 
  • Transcripts:  You will need to mail your transcript to out-of-province post-secondary institutions.  Complete the Transcript Request Form and allow at least one-week for processing.  If you wnt the Counselling Centre to mail your transcript, you must provide an addressed and postage paid envelope.
 
  • Scholarships: 
    • Majority of entrance scholarship applications are now DUE
    • Continue to check the District Scholarship Database for other scholarship opportunities  

  • Campus Visit:  If you and your parents have not already done so, Spring Break is a good opportunity to visit the campus and meet with an advisor
 
  • Disability:  If you have a disability, you should meet with the Disability Resource Centre at the post-secondary institution and provide them with a copy of your Psych-Ed and IEP so that they can discuss ways to support you when you are on their campus.  Be sure to ask about specific scholarships and bursaries that you might qualify for at their institution
 
April
  • PSI Transcript Release:  This must have been completed by April 30 in order for your marks to be available for the post-secondary institutions to consider your application for early admission.
 
  • Offers of Admission:  You will start to hear from the institutions you applied to and they will communicate by e-mail (on their system) about the status of your application.
 
May
  • TVR (Transcript Verification Report):  You will be asked during one of your English/Communications 12 classes to verify that your address and personal information is correct in the Ministry records. On the bottom on the May TVR you will see what institutions have access to your final marks
 
  • “Interim” Marks:  will be available for the post-secondary institutions in BC and Ontario to access from the Ministry of Education (these marks will be your second-term marks).
 
 
  • Conditional Offers of Admission:  You will receive notification that you have been accepted contingent upon your final grades in July; to accept the offer, you will be required to pay an admission deposit by a deadline and you will then receive notification of your course registration date.
 
 
June
  • Scholarships: As you receive notification that you have been awarded a scholarship, please let  Ms. Kifiak (Counselling Centre) know as this information is shared as you cross the stage at the graduation ceremonies
 
  • Student Loans:  Apply for Student Loans in early June. The BC/Canada Student Loan application is available at:  www.studentaidbc.ca
 
  • Confirmation of Plans:  Accept your offer; then courteously decline offer(s) from the other post-secondary schools so your reserved spot can be given to another applicant
 
  • Course Registration:  Be working on a draft of your timetable and course requests so that when you are able to register, you will be ready and have the greatest chance of getting the courses you would like to take
 
  • Course Planning Workshops/Student Orientations:  The institution will provide you with opportunities to meet with an advisor and tour the campus.  You will have questions answered about your program – it is a good idea to take advantage of these opportunities as it will increase your chance of success in September.  Some institutions will not meet with you individually until you have been part of a small group session.
 
  • Do your best in all of your classes right until the end of the year:  the marks in your courses will still be reviewed by the institution in early August!
 
·       High School is finished!!!  Congratulations and good luck!                        



July and August (after Graduation)
  • Transcript:  You will receive your transcript in the mail letting you know if you have graduated or not.  This will be mailed to the address that you confirmed on your TVR in May.
  •  Confirmation of Admission:  You will be sent an e-mail (or letter) from the post-secondary institution confirming your offer of admission based upon the final grades on your July transcript.
  • Course Registration:  You will receive a date and time when you may choose your courses for the fall.
  •  Orientation:  You may wish to go to an orientation session at a post-secondary institution if you have not already done so.
 
September (after Graduation)
  •  Local & District Scholarship Recipients: 
    • If you have won a local or district scholarship from WGSS you will receive an invitation to attend a Scholarship Recognition afternoon in early June.  At the Scholarship Recognition afternoon you will have received an envelope which contains information about the award you won and provides instructions on how to claim the award. The District Scholarship Committee requires that you provide proof of tuition payment and a copy of your thank you card. 
    • If you win a District Authority Award, a tuition voucher will be mailed to you in the Fall of your graduation year.  You will then likely use it for the second semester tuition at the institution you are attending
 
November (after Graduation)
  •  Dogwood Diploma/Evergreen Certificate:  Will be available to be picked up from the Counselling Centre.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Updated August 2016