University Info

by Katie Kuchinskaya

Universities and colleges of BC are opening their doors to new applicants. Hundreds of programs are being offered throughout the province to suit the future career pursuits of all students. The application process has already started for the top universities – UBC and SFU, with Douglas College offering admission on a rolling basis. Throughout the whole semester, Alpha Secondary School will be hosting presentations from different institutions during lunch periods in the library.

Douglas College Student Recruitment and Support Specialist Chelsea Ousey ([email protected]) encourages students to apply earlier in the year: “The advantage of applying early to Douglas college are better admission chances because our college offer acceptance on a rolling basis”. Admission on a rolling basis means that there are no deadlines for applying, however it also means that the admission officers will not compare the academic averages but will base their decision on the order of the applications. Although UBC has a strict deadline (January 1st, 2016), the same concept of applying early also works. Students who are willing to apply for the early admission deadline (December 1st, 2016) are informed of the university's decision at the end of the same month, without having to wait until springtime. Moreover, early applicants are eligible to be considered for the major entrance scholarship, which can cover up to $80,000 worth of studies, making the university education free for the most accomplished student.

Thinking about receiving post-secondary education means thinking about financial resources. According to UBC representative Eleni Korres ([email protected]): “A typical course at UBC costs about $500”. However, student fees, books and supplies, housing, utility bills, and the amount of money spent on clothes and food make post-secondary education a costly experience. In order to create an effective financial plan, students must think about several factors in advance: scholarships and bursaries, student loans, getting a part-time job and receiving support from relatives, as well choosing a money-appropriate institution. Douglas College, for instance, offers courses with a rate of 293$ per course, making a whole semester cost $1400, $1000 less than tuition at UBC.

​​Surprisingly, most students applying to college or university do not take into consideration the campus. UBC offers two campuses located in Vancouver and Okanogan. The Vancouver campus prospers over a big territory, and resembles a mini-town for the students, where they have access to shops, cafes, and recreational facilities. The Okanagan campus offers such benefits as the small distance between the housing units and the classrooms, as well as a better sense of community. There is no difference between the diploma received at either campus, however certain programs are offered at only one of the two locations. Douglas college also has two campuses located in Coquitlam and New Westminster.

The reputation of the post-secondary school is also a significant matter. UBC has a famous alumnus of several leaders of the country, as well as the current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who received a Bachelor of Education degree, the number one program offered at UBC. 7600 undergraduate students create one of the most diverse student populations on campus in the entire world. Douglas College offers a great community and more research-based opportunities. More time with the professors make a serious advantage for college applicants. Douglas College has a partnership with SFU, which makes the process of transferring from college to university less complicated. Moreover, students from college, in general, have a higher GPA in university.

         These two schools are not the only ones that are sending their representatives to Alpha. The University of Windsor was scheduled to come on October 19th, and the SFU dates will be announced later in the month. Moreover, many different post-secondary schools will be coming on November 15th from 6:00-8:00pm in the large gym. Students and their parents are highly recommended to attend this event. For more information about post-secondary presentations contact Ms. Basran ([email protected]).