Some Advice for Late College Applicants

Posted on Tuesday, August 4th, 2015

The summer is slipping away and you’ve been listening to your friends talk about going to college in the fall. They’re excited about what lies ahead and you’re second guessing your decision to take some time off before moving on to post-secondary schooling.

Well, there is a silver lining. It’s not too late to apply to college. In fact, there are still many programs that have openings because colleges offer such a wide breadth of programming, some seats don’t fill until just before classes begin in September.

So what do you need to do? Here are five top of the mind thoughts to help late college applicants not only get into a program, but to be successful in their studies.

1. Don’t delay any longer. You’ve waited long enough, so get in touch with the college you are interested in attending and find out what programs remain open to applicants. Better yet, visit the campus and take a tour or attend an information session. Gather as much information as you can to ensure you have met the admission requirements and you have a broad understanding of what the program has to offer you. The more information you have on the program and the school, the easier it will be to make a good program choice. Remember the clock is ticking, so get moving.

2. Talk to a college financial aid officer. Investing in a post-secondary program is one of the smartest decisions you will ever make and there are lots of resources available to help students pay for their education. A financial aid officer can share information with you on government loan and grant programs, bursaries and scholarships and line of credit options offered by financial institutions. The financial aid officer will also go through the steps required when applying for a student loan, laying out what information you will need to provide and how loans are distributed to students.

3. Enrol in upgrading classes. Many colleges offer short courses or workshops to incoming students to help them prepare for the start of their full-time studies. These classes can range from English, Math and Science upgrading to focusing on student success strategies like time management, organizational skills and test preparation. Many of these classes are free. They can be offered during the day or in the evening. It’s time well spent and will help ease you into college.

4. Attend your orientation. Your orientation is intended to help connect you to your faculty and fellow classmates and to learn more about the many services the college provides to help students succeed. Orientation is fun and educational. Whether its getting logged on to the college network, participating in a workshop on e-text books or attending an Ottawa REDBLACKS football game, orientation is about making connections and embracing your new surroundings.

5. Build your support network. Your friends and family will have your back. Let them know what your intentions are because you’ll need them as you make your way through your college program. Having someone to talk to about your successes and struggles can make a huge difference when you are trying to balance your studies and everything else that is happening in your life. Your supporters will be thrilled with your plans to attend college. Reward their confidence in you by being the best college student that you can be.

Attending a college program is a big deal. Don’t let the opportunity slip away. There’s still time to enroll for this September.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs

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