Some advice for next year’s Grade 12s after surviving this admission cycle
I am going to leave this subreddit today but I wanted to share a few things I learned and hopefully it can be helpful for someone in the future.
1. Start early. Start early. Start early
If you already know you’re applying, don’t wait until the last minute to submit your OUAC application.
Nobody outside admissions really knows exactly how every school makes decisions, but one thing many of us noticed this year is that some programs seemed to send a lot of offers out early. As the cycle goes on, the applicant pool gets bigger and competition can get tougher.
Applying early won’t magically get you admitted, but it gives you more chances to be considered and can save you a lot of stress later.
2. Have three tiers of programs
Reach programs (the really competitive ones)
Reasonable/target programs
Backup programs that you would actually be willing to attend
Don’t build a list of only reaches and don’t apply to backups that you secretly hate.
The goal is to have options when May comes around.
3. Don’t get caught up in the prestige vs co-op debates.
Every year people say things like this, or parents say things like Prestige is everything. Then kids say Prestige is useless. Siblings say “Co-op guarantees a job. Or Research doesn’t matter.”
The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
Co-op can be valuable. Prestige can matter. Research can teach important skills. None of them guarantee success.
Look at everything together and think about what fits your goals.
Most importantly, ask yourself what you actually want to do and where you’ll be most likely to thrive for the next 4-5 years.
4. Don’t underestimate fit
A program isn’t better just because Reddit says it is.
Some students do better in a highly academic environment. Some do better in programs with strong co-op. Some want to stay close to home. Some want to move away.
Think about where you’ll actually be happy and motivated.
5. Keep calm and carry on
This process can be stressful.
You’ll see people posting 99 averages, scholarships, and acceptances to every top program imaginable.
Remember that social media is not real life.
Focus on your own journey.
Be appreciative of the opportunities you get. Celebrate your wins. Support your friends when they get good news.
6. Your life isn’t determined by one admission decision
The school you attend matters.
The program you choose matters.
But what you do once you get there matters even more.
No school guarantees success. No rejection guarantees failure.
Make the best decision you can with the information you have, then move forward confidently.
Good luck to next year’s applicants. This process feels huge when you’re in it, but you’ll get through it.
One thing I’d add, because it comes up constantly on this subreddit,
Don’t let strangers on the internet make your decision for you. Listen to advice, gather information, but remember that you’re the one who has to live with the choice for the next 4-5 years. What is the perfect choice for someone else may not be the perfect choice for you.
Goodbye!