University Applications

For the Grade 12s, the fall term is one of beginnings, exciting new privileges, new academic challenges, and exhilarating organization as we begin the process of applying to university and thinking about life after Brentwood. Brentwood is home to multi-talented, multi-lingual, multi-national students, so it’s safe to say that there are a lot of options considered when it comes to post-secondary education. As it is, university applications, and the craziness that accompanies them, comes in waves. The earliest deadlines, between mid-October and early November, are the United Kingdom for medicine, dentistry, and Oxbridge, and the United States for early admission. Assisted by the university councilors Mr. Rodrigues, Mr. Collistro, Mrs. Coull, & Mr. Zenker, the US university advisor, these students were into applications right from the start of the term and sometimes even before the fall began. After those come the remainder of the US applicants in early December, and, finally, the other UK and Canadian applicants. A university councilor’s help is invaluable in making sure that students have ironed out the last little kinks in their application to give them the best chance of success. Of course, there are a few rules, which Mr. Rodrigues was clear to spell out in his first address to the Class of 2014 at the beginning of the year.

Keep the university councilors informed: As Mr. Rodrigues says, if they don’t know, they can’t help you – so it’s important to keep them updated on how things are progressing with your application. Or else.

Meet deadlines: the cartoon on the wall in the university counseling hallway says it all – if you miss your deadlines, then regrettably, that ship has sailed without you.

Keep the dialogue open: It’s not just the university councilors who need to know about how you’re going, it’s important that you keep your parents, teachers, and house parents in the loop! They’re all there to help give you the best possible chance.

Research: Don’t just leave it up to the university councilors to tell you what to do – it’s your life! Do research beforehand so you know what you want to study, and where you want to go.

There’s plenty of opportunity for information – universities regularly visit the school, giving students a valuable, personal glimpse into what life at university will be like, and an opportunity to ask specific questions of people in the know. For the Grade 12s, university trips are run to allow students to visit. Most recently, a large group of Grade 12s travelled to eastern Canada for the Midterm Eastern Canada Tour. Another trip will be running to the University of British Columbia on the upcoming Red Saturday. After the rush of applications is finished, then the less satisfactory part begins – the waiting game. After everything is done and dusted it’s just a matter of waiting for universities to get back to you with further information. Then again, there are always extra tests to take, supplements to write, a social life, schoolwork to do, athletics and arts to pass the time – no doubt with all that, it will feel like no time at all. Joanna L, Alex 14