Top 10 University Applications

Applying to post-secondary is one of the most stressful things that you will ever do because there is so much information to process. Post-secondary is a very important phase in your life. Whatever institution you choose to attend will play a huge role in the rest of your life, so choose wisely. The most important thing to do is to work hard and believe in yourself, but to make it a little easier for you, Youthink has come up with the 10 most important things you need to know before applying.

1. Create a list of all the schools that interest you and weigh the pros and cons of each school. Think about what kind of programs are offered - both academic and extra curricular - at each institution and decide what appeals to you the most.

2. Figure out if you can afford to move away from home. The best way to do that is to check out the tuition and fees page on the school website. You will also need to investigate the cost of living in the city where the university is located.

3. Ask your parents about your financial situation before you apply. If you know beforehand what you will need to pay for, you will have enough time to apply for extra funding.

4. Find out the application fee. Be prepared to spend over $100 just to apply. And this a is non-refundable fee, so make sure you only apply to institutions that you are seriously considering!

5. Be sure you know the deadlines of the application process and plan ahead so that you won't miss them. There would be nothing more disappointing than not getting into the institution of your choice just because you missed the deadline. Some institutions offer early admission to top performers as well.

6. Make sure you know and have all the requirements needed to be accepted into the institution. Go on the school website and look up its admission requirements. You can also call or e-mail the school.

7. Scholarships, bursaries, grants! The scholarship process can be daunting, but it is well worth it. A great site for scholarship information is studentawards.com.

8. Get your recommendation letters in order. They are very important for scholarships and applying to an institution. Be nice to your teachers as they make excellent references.

9. Get involved in the community and volunteer. A lot of high-school students don't realize what a positive effect community involvement can have on an application. Also, there are a number of bursaries and grants out there that look at community contribtions rather than academic ranking.

10. Statistics change. Just because your friend got into university two years ago with a low 60s average, it does not mean that you will too. Continue to work hard in school and make sure that your grades are good enough to be considered for the institution of your choice.

Remember to have fun once you are in post-secondary. You only get to experience this opportunity once in your lifetime, so make the most of it. You will come out not only smarter, but also better in the process.