Graduation and Post-Secondary Planning

Students interested in apprenticeship should connect with a member of the coop department to further discuss your interests.

What is a Skilled Trade?

Find a career you wouldn’t trade!  A skilled trade is a career path that requires hands-on work and specialty knowledge. Skilled trades workers build and maintain infrastructure like our homes, schools, hospitals, roads, farms and parks.  They keep industries running and perform many services we rely on every day, like hairstyling, food preparation or social services.

What is Apprenticeship?

Apprenticeship is a training system that combines on-the-job training and periods of classroom learning (usually 8 week terms, but can range from 4 to 12 week periods).

While working, apprentices gain practical experience with training provided by a certified journeyperson in the designated trade. While at school, apprentices gain the technical knowledge necessary to succeed in the industry.

Typically, apprenticeship opportunities consist of 80% on-the-job training and 20% technical training.

Why should I become an Apprentice?

As an apprentice, you will learn the latest industry standards and technology while you gain hands-on experience. Apprenticeship allows you “earn, while you learn”. Ultimately, the goal is to become certified in your particular areas of specialization.  An Inter-Provincial (IP), or Red Seal, certification allows you to work anywhere in Canada in your trade.

Learn more about the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program.  

Workforce Planning Board

The Workforce Planning Board of York Region is a non-for-profit, community-based organization working to develop solutions to local labour market needs and issues. 

The Workforce Planning Board's role is to engage our community and community partners in a local labour market research and planning process that leads to cooperative efforts among partners to find local solutions to local issues. 

The website contains information to support both employers and job seekers who are unemployed or underemployed. Resources include information on connecting to Employment Ontario Service Providers who can support in hiring qualified employees, job search leading to employment, starting your own business, literacy skills upgrading or transitioning into a new career all at no cost to the employer or job seeker.    

•  Program Requirements: ENG4C1, as well as any program-specific pre-requisite courses

• It is important to choose the appropriate start date for your programs.  Often your program will have several start dates.  If you are hoping to apply after Graduation this year, be sure to choose SEPTEMBER of this school year. 

• You will need your OEN number (you can find this on report card- this is not the same as your student number).  Be sure to only create one account.

• Fees

  • There is a non-refundable fee of $110.00 CDN to apply to college through ontariocolleges.ca.

  • The application fee includes up to 5 program choices (no more than 3 at any one college); the programs must start within the same academic year (August to July). To apply to programs starting in the next academic year, you will need to create a new application and pay a new application processing fee.

  • Your application will not be forwarded to your college choices until the application processing fee has been received. Payment of this fee doesn't guarantee that you will receive an offer to your program of choice, but you can make changes to your program choices within the same application cycle without any additional costs. Please note that there are no exemptions from the application processing fee.

• Supporting Documents may be required, depending on the program(s) you’re applying to.   You will receive email communication from the colleges after you apply.  These emails will ask you to log into a college account, where you will be notified about any program-specific documents that are required.  See below for more on this.

• It is important to follow the prompts to log in with each college, as this is how they will continue to communicate with you, not through ontariocolleges.ca.

• Some colleges will tell you that you are missing the OSSD requirement, this is ok, you haven't graduated yet. If you have any other missing requirements, see your Guidance counsellor as soon as possible. 

• International Students apply by alternative means.  If you are currently studying in Canada with a valid study permit, you are still considered an International Student.  It is important to note that some competitive programs are not open to International Students.  For application procedures and information on English Proficiency requirements, as well as how to view programs with seat availability for International Students, please click on this link.  

• TDSS Mark Transmission Includes:

  • Your grade 11 grades are transmitted as well as the courses that you are enrolled in this year.  

    • Mid-term grades Semester 1 (new this year)

    • Final grades Semester 1

    • Mid-term grades Semester 2   (conditional offers)

    • Final grades Semester 2  (offers can be withdrawn)

    • Summer submission  (including YRDSB summer school results - check with each College to see if they accept courses taken past June.)

• Students with IEPs should reach out to Student Services once an offer is accepted Colleges will not know that you require accommodations unless you self-identify and provide them with the documentation that they need.  Speak to your SERT for further information!

• If you are applying to an out-of-province college, you are responsible for the application AND sending your academic transcript at various points in the transmission cycle.  Application deadlines are not the same. If the college you are applying to does not access academic information through OCAS, it is your responsibility to send a transcript. Transcripts for out-of-province College and scholarship applications must be ordered from the Guidance Secretary 3 days before you need to send them out.   Be aware of deadlines and communicate with your counsellor often.  Students may be required to take a placement test in math and English to determine suitability.  

• College pathways have become more and more popular, and as such, many programs are highly competitive.  Students interested in competitive programs, should prepare at the high school level by taking courses that will enable them to meet entrance requirements.

• High school university level courses do NOT give an advantage over college level courses.  For example, if a student receives a 75% in ENG4U, and another student receives 88% in ENG4C, the student with the higher mark in ENG4C will be permitted entrance.  In many of these cases, it does not benefit the student to take U level courses.  In fact, for competitive programs, it can be a disadvantage.

• If you’re browsing programs using the Find a Program tool, the program details will indicate if a program is highly competitive.

• Colleges are partnered with many universities for students who are looking to Bridge their college education into a university degree.  

• Students who take a Dual Credit in high school will have already gained an elective credit towards their program, if their Dual Credit applies to their preferred program.

• Many colleges now offer Bachelor Degrees - this is an incredible opportunity for students.  As this is relatively new for colleges, the entrance average into these degree programs is often lower than what is required at University.  Students MUST have the necessary six U/M courses to apply.   Degrees at colleges are an excellent choice for students who prefer a smaller classroom environment and  more one on one support. College tuition is often lower than university tuition and as a result, degrees can be achieved more affordably.  

• Have a friend or family member or even a member of guidance review your supplemental application.

• Do.  Not.  Miss.  Deadlines! There are no second chances. Get organized keep track of your deadlines on a calendar and submit your supplemental applications well in advance, to ensure there are no technical issues.

• For Portfolios, check the requirements early .  Ask your teacher for help reviewing your portfolio.  They will be able to make suggestions on how you can enhance your work.  Many colleges will offer portfolio review days,  take advantage, you have nothing to lose and much to gain!

• Requires 6 U/M courses, including ENG4U, as well as any program-specific pre-requisite courses

• Students do not get to choose the TOP 6 - Universities will take use pre-requisite courses and any additional U/M courses to round up your top 6

• TDSS submits Transcripts for you:

  • When you first apply, last year’s grades (11) are visible, as well as this year’s enrolled courses 

  • Mid-term grades Semester 1 (new this year)

  • Final grades Semester 1

  • Mid-term grades Semester 2   (conditional offers)

  • Final grades Semester 2  (offers can be withdrawn)

  • Summer submission  (including YRDSB summer school results - check with each University to see if they accept courses taken past June.)

Application FAQs

Students with less than 4 years of English in an Ontario high school should review the English Proficiency requirements of the universities to which you are applying.  Please explore the IELTS and TOEFL sites.

Students with IEPs should reach out to Student Services once an offer is accepted, or at the latest during the summer.  It takes time to establish what accommodations you will receive and what documents are needed, so enough time is necessary to ensure that you are good to go in September!  Universities will not know that you require accommodations unless you self-identify.  Speak to your SERT for further information!

• Entrance percentages posted on University websites may not be the same as their competitive averages - this means that the website may say 'Minimum requirement of 70%,' but a competitive program may actually be 88% (the competition average is based on the number of applicants and the minimum grade of those entering the previous year, and is not always advertised).

• Universities can only see Grade 11 and 12 U/M/C courses.  If a student was very successful in Grade 11, they may receive an early offer from a university, based on their Grade 11 marks.  Early offers are sent out by many, but not all universities.  Some competitive programs do not send out early offers, regardless of the Grade 11 marks.  ALL offers are CONDITIONAL on meeting cut off averages for your program of study and for your prerequisites.  

• If a student was not successful in Grade 11, universities do not deny entry, but they will wait until they can see current success in Grade 12.   Some students change their subject pathway in Grade 12 and meet with great success, allowing them to receive offers after Semester 1 marks are uploaded. 

• If a student wants to take a course to help them be more successful in their university program (ie. taking Data Management if going into Psychology to aid with a Statistics course in 2nd year), as long as the course is not part of the top 6, it does not matter if the student gets a lower mark.  Only the top 6 are used for entry. Taking a recommended course will  benefit the student while in post-secondary. 

• IMPORTANT NOTE: being in 6 U or M level courses does not guarantee entry into university.  It is understandable that students want to "keep their doors open" by taking courses like Math and/or Science, however poor performance will impact acceptance into post secondary programs.  Grade 11 marks are often a good indicator as to how that student will do in Grade 12.  

• Private School marks are being scrutinized more and more by universities. Universities are now asking students to identify courses taken outside of their daytime high school. Sometimes when universities see discrepancies between grade 11 and 12 marks, they ask for a full academic transcript (9-12) to be shared to help them determine suitability.  

•  Be sure to check individual university websites for policies on failed and repeated courses.

• YRDSB Night School, Summer School and eLearning are ALL acceptable courses by ALL universities and are given equal consideration to regular Day School courses. 

• Students struggling to receive grades needed for their program of study, are encouraged to consider changing their courses to ones that represent their strengths and their area of interest. Students may also want to consider a College-to-University pathway which will enable them to obtain a Diploma and a Degree in 4-5 years.  

• Many colleges now offer Bachelor Degrees.  Entrance averages needed for admission into degree programs are often lower than what is required at University.  Students must have 6U/M, and typically the same pre-requisites.   Degrees at colleges are an excellent choice for students who prefer smaller class sizes and a connection to their professors.  College tuition is often lower than university tuition making them more affordable.

Remember there are many ways to get to the same destination!

• Have a friend or family member review the criteria for your supplement applications to ensure that you do not miss anything. 

• There is often an additional fee for supplemental applications on top of your OUAC fees .

• Do.  Not.  Miss.  Deadlines!

• For portfolios, check the requirements early .  Ask your subject specific teachers if they are able to review your portfolio and provide feedback.   Please note that many universities offer portfolio days where they provide constructive feedback on your work.  Take advantage of these opportunities, you have nothing to lose but much to gain!

• Start early!  If you need to have your information verified, be sure to share what you have written early with the individuals that are verifying your application.   

  • Sometimes only one verifier can be submitted for several different activities - i.e. Queen's asks for a teacher or guidance counsellor to verify activities they are not necessarily familiar with.  Be sure to seek support early!  Your guidance counsellor will likely request a document from you that states all activities, as well as the email addresses of those who can actually verify your participation.  The counsellor would then send a message out to those people to confirm your comments so they can verify on their behalf.  Leave time for this and communicate well.

  • Be sure that your accomplishments are accurate - if you embellish, it may be difficult for a teacher to agree with and sign off on your comments.  (ie. Western Ivey - if a student exaggerates their claims, a teacher may feel forced to decline the verification.  Be safe and show your answers prior to submission and be authentic).

• When requesting Reference Letters from teachers or employers, give LOTS of time for the person writing the reference to produce a letter, and it is up to YOU to follow up to make sure they remember to get it to you on time.  It is always a great idea to provide a resumé to the person writing, and/or a list of items you hope they can reflect on.  Be sure that YOU know what you hope they will say about you before asking them to provide a reference.  Offer to meet with them to discuss the contents of the letter before they start.  Choose wisely - you know who will help you most!

Transfer credits are when previous learning completed at one school is recognized at another. In these cases, students are able to use previous education towards obtaining an additional Diploma or Degree.  

Did you know that- 60,000 students transfer each year

Benefits to transferring credits:

• Ability to build foundation for the next level of education.  

• Many programs offer students with a 2-year Diploma the ability to transfer directly into 3rd year University.

• '2+2' programs can reduce the cost of obtaining a Degree, as the first 2 years of college tuition are typically less than university tuition. 

• Many students graduating from a degree program at University are attending College upon graduation in order to obtain Graduate Certificates, in order to increase their chances of employability.  

• Many Colleges and Universities offer Bridging Programs - rather than Transfer Credits, students can apply to a 2 semester Bridging Program that allows students to go from their Diploma to a Degree.  An excellent example of this is completing Practical Nursing and moving on to Registered Nursing. 

It is important to do your research to ensure that the credits or programs you are pursuing are transferable to the institution of your choice.  

• Colleges are developing more and more relationships with universities where credit transfers are clearly defined. Speak to a college admissions representative directly to learn of what opportunities pertain to your personal interests.   Click here to review numerous Collaborative University and College Programs.  Ontransfer can help navigate thousands of agreements between schools, but students must do their research at the college and university level to fully understand the options.  Check the PATHWAYS tab on individual college websites when researching programs of interest. 

• The top five transfer programs in Ontario are:

  • Business

  • Health

  • Social Science

  • Engineering

  • General Arts

• Students in business diploma programs can now transfer between any of Ontario’s colleges with full credit recognition. This first-of-its-kind transfer agreement applies to accounting, business administration, human resources and marketing programs, and colleges are already working to develop similar agreements in other areas of study.

There may be additional requirements such as, reference letters, tests, auditions etc.  Always check the details of the program to which you are looking to apply.  For more information, see:

• College: ontariocolleges.ca

• University: https://www.ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca/ and ouac.on.ca

• Indigenous Institutes: iicontario.ca

You must be registered for full-time studies (at least 3 credits/semester).
• The final admission average calculation includes prerequisite courses for the student’s selected program.
• Admission averages are NOT rounded to the nearest whole percentage for admission scholarship consideration.
• Depend on your overall admission average. 

A scholarship, usually of significant monetary value, where the secondary school is asked to provide the name(s) of students who they deem as most deserving.

You must first apply to us for any one (or more) of these scholarships. Apply here.

A Committee comprised of guidance counselors, several teachers from various subject areas and our school administration make the decision. The decision of this committee is final. Being nominated does not mean you win
the award.  Only students who are selected will be notified.

For more information, visit the links:

• Scholarship Canada
• Scholar Tree
• Yconic
• Student Awards
• Disability Awards

Check post-secondary websites. 

• Plan ahead; check scholarship timelines; do your research.
• Organize your extracurricular activities
• Prepare resume and order transcripts.
• Request a letter of recommendation from teachers and/or community members – at least 2 weeks before submission of the rough draft. (Ensure you offer your resume to the teacher/admin that you are asking)
• Make a Guidance appointment with your guidance counselor (for nomination scholarships) to review your progress.
• Know everything there is to know about the scholarship (expectations, requirements, eligibility, deadline for applications).

Application Etiquette

• Fill in all sections of the application unless not applicable.
• Be completely honest.
• Ensure the application is proofread - by you and by a peer.
• Use standard white paper and simple fonts.
• Provide a copy of the application to your guidance counselor.
• If mailing your application, take a photocopy of your application.

Common Essay Themes

• Challenge - Faced a challenge/what was it/what did you learn from it?
• Leadership - Discuss a time when you were in a leadership role
• Volunteer/community involvement - Discuss most important volunteer experience, what was its impact?
• Future plans - Discuss the program, career, etc.

Keys to a Successful Application

What the scholarship reader is looking for: Students who have put some thought into who they are.
Past: What experiences have shaped me to be who I am today? And who I want to be in the future?

• Present: What’s important to me?
• Future: Who do I want to be? How can I make a difference?

What is OSAP?
The Ontario Student Assistance Program is a financial aid program that
can make it easier for students to go to college or university. Both the
provincial and federal governments provide this money.
The program offers funding for school through two kinds of money:
Grants: Money that you keep
Loan: Money that you pay back