More from the University of Calgary Admissions Office

Last week, 5000 new grads walked across the stage to receive their degrees. It was an exciting time on campus for the graduates and the University of Calgary community. It’s humbling to know that we are all responsible for inspiring young people to pursue higher education, and that these students wanted to take their academic journey to our school. A few of my colleagues were directly responsible for recruiting the students of this graduating class. However, we are only the initial point of contact for prospective students. Recruiters provide the resources to help prospective students make informed decisions. Once admitted, they are introduced to a whole community of people to guide them through their undergraduate career. At the ceremony, we celebrated the hard work and achievements of our students, as well as the collective efforts to support, push, and inspire these students to success. Congratulations, Class of 2012!

Back in the Recruitment and Admissions Office, we’re focusing on the entering Class of 2016. Admission offers are rolling out of our office in batches, and students are responding with eagerness. New emails are coming in from students I’ve met on the road, and they are excited to talk about their early admission offers and asking questions about what to expect in first year of university. As a recruiter and a U of C alumna, I’m compelled to share my experiences with these students to help make their transition to university as smooth as possible – especially for those who are moving to Calgary from a different city. We love receiving these kinds of emails! If there is one thing that makes the long flights, highway driving, and the hours of standing on our feet a lot more bearable, it’s you – the students. The connections we make with students make our jobs very rewarding. We always encourage students to email us whenever they have any questions, or if they just want to say hello!

We will be visiting Vancouver Island again in the Fall, so keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming dates on our website! We are looking forward to meeting Shawnigan Lake School students again!

 

Eyes High,

Carol Kuang

University of Calgary

Student Recruitment Officer

http://www.ucalgary.ca/eyeshigh/

A Few Q’s and A’s from William Segura at Emory in Atlanta!

I always like to encourage Counselors, Parents and Students to email me with any questions that they have regarding Emory. Today’s post comes as a special request from Mr. Khanna who is the Director of University Guidance at Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia, Canada.

He asks:

Q:  What is going on in your life in the admission office these days?

A: There is never a dull moment in the Office of Admissions. Spring has been fantastic with various Open House programs!! Now that summer is upon us, I will be doing lots of planning for the fall.

Q: What types of projects are you working on?

A: I am currently reading transfer applications and reviewing waitlisted students.  

Q: How does it feel to have sent out acceptances and to be hearing back from students?

A: This is a very exciting time of the year! This year Emory received a record number of applications and we are very excited to welcome the class of 2016.

Stay tuned for more!

A Visit to the British Columbia Institute of Technology – Student Perspective

After over five hours of buses and ferry rides, we finally arrived at the BCIT campus. Shortly after our arrival, we were equipped with campus maps and BCIT bags and let loose onto the campus with only one rule: Don’t go in the pub! After a look on the map, I quickly realized just how diverse the programs at BCIT really are. But it’s not just the programs that make this school different, it’s obvious that the students all work extremely hard and are passionate about their programs. Andrea, Alex, and I followed one eager student, who had dressed as a robot, into the Robotics building where we were constantly pulled aside by students who wanted to show us their very interactive robotics demonstrations. We also had a chance to poke around the Food Sciences classrooms. We got to try apple chips and flash frozen ice cream and strawberries. The BCIT students explained how this was the type of food that astronauts ate up in space and how BCIT had readied them for work outside of school. Most people that I talked to that day already had degrees from well-respected Canadian and International universities, but had decided to come to BCIT in order to better their chances of getting a job, as BCIT is more “career oriented” than normal universities. We rounded off our tour by piggy-backing on another high school’s tour of the radio journalism building. We got to try reading a script in a recording booth, dancing in front of a green screen, and saw where the students recorded their own radio program, “Evolution 107.9.” The trip to BCIT opened up our eyes to the other possibilities.

CBC Cross Country Check up April 21, 2012 →

CBC Cross Country Check up April 21, 2012

A discussion focussing on recent protests by McGill University students in Quebec regarding fee increases. The conversation springboards to the value and cost of a general university education.

Why is Math Teaching not working? →

Why is Math Teaching not working?

Cross Country Check Up – April 14, 2012

VAIS US College Fair 2012 – Great Opportunities!!

From Ashley Tjader in the Admissions Office of Georgia Tech – What is life like in the Office right now!

Yesterday in an admission office water cooler conversation, a coworker and I compared the weeks between March 10 and May 1 to watching a Georgia Tech football game. You see, in an admission office, we are daily watching the numbers to see who has accepted our offer of admission. We celebrate each increase just like a GT touchdown (except, without the steam whistle). Even with our mid-game celebration, the 2^nd quarter score does not determine the end result.  In our office, the final score of a game can be compared to the final numbers of the incoming freshman class, determined on May 1 (the national deadline for students to make a deposit at their school of choice).

The months after decision release see a drastic change in office atmosphere. We go from reading applications all day, every day to our busiest time of welcoming visitors to campus. These months see a drastic increase in visitor volume as high school students visit Georgia Tech on their spring breaks, and many of them are admitted seniors weighing their upcoming college decision.  Our admission counselors are always on the go, ready to answer questions such as, “which is the best dorm to live in?” or “where is the closest mall to campus?” I would encourage all students to visit the campuses of the schools they are looking to attend. Even when this is not possible, there are multiple opportunities provided to have questions answered. At GT, we offer Skype chats, an active Facebook page, and we are always ready to take an email or phone call.

One of my favorite parts of these few weeks has been the Skype chats I’ve had with prospective international students. I spoke with students from all over the world- Sri Lanka, Turkey, Germany, Australia, China, etc. – to answer their questions and to hear what they were looking for in a college experience.  Ultimately, I was able to express to these students that a college decision is about which school is the best fit for their educational and personal goals. At Georgia Tech, it is often very easy for students to see themselves “fitting” into one of Tech’s fun traditions, 400 student organizations, undergraduate research, or so many other opportunities available for a Yellow Jacket. This is an exciting season in the Office of Undergraduate Admission; I hope you have enjoyed your peek inside!

The Personal Statement: An Admissions Viewpoint: Leila Labens – Tulane University

UG – BlogArticlePersonalStatementLeilaLabensTulaneApril2012

Welcome!

Welcome to the official blog of the Shawnigan Lake School University Guidance Office. Here, you will find a wealth of resources and information intended to help students make the transition from high school to university life.

The Guidance Office is committed to ensuring that every Shawnigan student receives the support necessary to successfully navigate the often murky waters of university application and to answering any questions parents and families may have about the process. Check back often for updates and information!