1. Grade 12 Parent Night October 2018
Thank you all for coming and spending some time with me tonight.
I’ve been working with your children for a few years as well as visiting many post-secondary institutions
I’m a parent of a Grade 10 as well, so I’ve been working through this with the parent lens too
So I have some insights that I wanted to share with you tonight

2. Oh no! I don’t know what I want to do for my future!
No need to completely freak out, preparation and planning is very important
Grade 12 is important, however, if everything doesn’t go to plan it’s not all over.
Often, adversity offers other opportunities that you don’t know were available to you otherwise.
Be as prepared as possible
There is a lot of planning to do.

3. Outline Today, we will discuss: Career planning basics
Graduation Requirements (review)
Research
Career and Trades programs
Financial Aid

4. Career Planning
It is not necessary to know what you want to do for the rest of your life, at this point.

5. Education & Career Planning
Many people have several different careers in a lifetime
Strategy: think about what you would like to do, and then explore what you would need to do educationally to get there
At this point, focus on a general stream:
Arts
Sciences
Engineering/Applied Science
Computers/Info Tech
Business/Commerce
Fine Arts, Music, Theatre, Film, TV
Kinesiology/Human Kinetics
Technical/Trades

6. Skills + Talents + Passion = “Perfect Career” (until it changes…)
Take chances to try new things
Volunteer or find a job
Take as many courses as you can (explore interests)
Talk to people
Research
Persevere (growth is hard & uncomfortable)
Be curious, plan, and act

7. Things to Do
Graduate
Research
Student Transcripts Service

8. High School Graduation (a review)

9. Graduation Requirements
To graduate in B.C., you need to complete a total of 80 course credits (each course is worth 4 credits). Specifically:
Language Arts 10, 11, 12 (12 credits)
Social Studies 10, 11/12 (8 credits)
Science 10, 11/12 (8 credits)
Mathematics 10, 11/12 (8 credits)
Physical Education 10 (4 credits)
Planning 10 (4 credits)
Fine Arts/Applied Skills 10/11/12 (4)
* Grade 10/11 Electives (16 cr.)
* Grade 12 Electives (12 cr.)
Graduation Transitions (4 cr.)
* Grade 11 & 12 credits can be earned via additional required courses

10. Provincial Exam
As it stands now, you will write the English 12/Communications 12 Provincial Exam
To view your Provincial exam results, create a Student Secure Web account at
An account also lets you see grad credits earned and allows you to release your grades to post-secondary schools (in gr.12)

11. Graduation Transition (4 credits)
Is a graduation requirement (i.e. you don’t do it, you will NOT graduate) and has three components:
Career and life
Community connections
Personal Health
These components are evaluated based on several assignments, your physical activity logs (Grade 11 AND 12), and a mandatory exit interview
To be marked in your grade 12 year

12. Useful Research Websites
If you have an idea of what you want to do:
Provides info about post-secondary programs in BC
Let you do searches based on school, subject, program length
Post-Secondary Websites

13. Education Planner BC
Go to and plan or search! (see demo)

14. Post-Secondary Websites

15. Other Resources
Staff from VSB’s Career Programs (located on West Wing, 3rd Temp)
Your teachers, particularly those in subject areas you are interested in
govolunteer.ca – great website for finding volunteer opportunities; can search by keyword or by where in BC

16. BCeID & Student Transcripts Service
StudentTranscripts Service PSI Transcript Ordering/Sending
Updated September 2018

17. From here, students will be able to look at their current transcript of what credits they have. Also, they will be able to submit their transcripts to post-secondary institutions.

19. Choosing Information to go to PSIs
Choose Send Option
Students can choose how they want to send their transcript to the post-secondary institutions they have selected; note the delivery method is dependent on the Post-Secondary Institution.
Currently the defaults are set to:
•NEW - Send my transcript now and allow this Post Secondary Institution to request transcript updates until the date specified below: XML transcript is sent immediately to PSI for downloading and updates can be requested by the PSI until the date shown.
•Send interim and final marks when they are available: interim marks are sent electronically in May and final marks are sent electronically in July. This option will only be displayed for current students and is not available to former students.
•Send final marks when they are available: displayed when the post-secondary institution only receives printed copies of transcripts; your final marks will be mailed in July.

20. Student Transcripts Service

21. Post-Secondary Programs
Now, let’s talk briefly about post-secondary education

22. Types of Post-Secondary Programs
Unlike high school, each course at a post-secondary school usually counts as 3 credits (one semester in length)
Certificate: 1 year (10 courses, 30 credits)
Diploma/Associate degree: 2 years (60 credits)
Bachelor (e.g. BA, BSc, BComm): 4 years (120 credits)
Graduate: Masters degree (MA, MSc, MBA): 2-3 years after a Bachelor degree
Doctoral degree (PhD): 4-5 years, usually after a Masters degree
Specialized programs (PharmD, MD, Law, etc.): programs’ length and entrance times vary
Some schools offer the option to transfer from one type of program into another (e.g. diploma into bachelor)

23. Types of Post-Secondary Institutions
College (e.g. Langara, Douglas, VCC, * Cap U, etc.)
Technical institution (e.g. BCIT, * Kwantlen, VCC, etc.)
University (e.g. UBC, SFU, Cap U, UVic, UNBC, Kwantlen, etc.)
Private Institutions (Trinity Western, Quest University, etc.) – offer similar + school-specific programs – check for details
* Capilano and Kwantlen are universities that offer programs both as a university (i.e. degree programs) plus others (e.g. certificates, diploma, university transfer, etc.

24. A Word of Caution…
Wherever you decide to go to school, it is YOUR responsibility to visit the school’s website to learn their admission requirements. Schools change their admission requirements frequently – stay up-to-date with your info!

25. Colleges offer… Certificates Diplomas Some Bachelor degrees
University transfer programs
Study at college, earn university credits (e.g. Langara with Queen’s University)
If your marks are high enough, you can transfer to specific university programs

26. Benefits of transferring from college to university
Many students’ GPA actually do not meet the competitive entry requirements for some/many university programs. On the other hand, you can enter many/most colleges’ university transfer programs with high school graduation alone
Colleges are closer to home
Smaller class sizes = more support for students
Tuition is much cheaper
If you transfer from college to university, and you successfully graduate from the university, your degree will read that you graduated from the university, NOT the college

27. Use BC Transfer Guide to guide your transfer credits!
The BC Transfer Guide website allows you to enter a course and learn what it transfers into or what it is transferred from
See demo:

28. Technical Institutions
BCIT, VCC, and Kwantlen Polytechnic University are technical institutions or schools that offer such programs:
Some programs are first-come, first-entry; others have competitive admission process.
Pay attention to intake cycle, wait-list, spaces, etc.
They offer
Trades certification
Certificates
Diplomas
Some Bachelor degrees
Technology
Interior design
Journalism
Fine arts

29. Universities Offers degrees Provide research opportunities
Bachelor
Masters
PhD
Provide research opportunities
Generally speaking, a bachelor degree would require further, job-specific training, for you to become employable
Seek opportunities for co-op and work study programs!

30. University Applications: Terminology
General Admission Requirements: required by all faculties (including English language requirements, Quantitative or Analytical skills requirements, and Writing skills requirements) – basically, what you need to have to have your applications reviewed by the university
Faculty Requirements: Specific courses used by a particular faculty to determine whether admission will be granted

31. Examples of admission vs. faculty requirements (UBC Vancouver)
All UBC applicants from B.C. MUST have:
English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
Pre-calculus 11 or Foundations of Math 12
Credits from grade 11 science, social studies, and language course
70% or above in English 11/12

32. Holistic Admissions: Overview
Assessment
Content
Measurement
Overall academic ability
nearly all academic Gr11/12 courses1
Overall Average; qualified by depth, breadth, and relevancy
Program-specific aptitude
related Grade 11 or Grade 12 course1
Core Average;
qualified by depth, breadth, and relevancy
Key courses
Gr 12 pre-reqs
Course-specific minima
Personal profile
short answer questions; activity list
PP score
Note 1: All Grade 11 and 12 courses are viable, excluding applied design, skills and technology; physical & health education; career and personal planning.

33. Principles of Practice
Wherever possible, UBC should be holistic in its approach to the academic assessment of an applicant.
Wherever possible, UBC’s admission decision should go beyond school-based assessments of performance (i.e. grades) and also consider the composition of the student’s academic record, recognizing breadth, depth, relevancy, and/or individual context of presented coursework.
Wherever possible, the academic assessment should discretely assess a student’s overall academic potential and potential for study in a particular UBC program.
Wherever possible, UBC’s admission policies should promote positive learning outcomes in secondary school (such as encouraging students to challenge themselves, pursue their intellectual curiosities, and take risks).
This involves evaluating as many courses as possible within the student’s penultimate and ultimate year of secondary school study.
as opposed to fostering an environment where strategic decision-making for university admission works against positive learning outcomes.

34. The Overall Average – DRAFT
Does not vary by program.
Approximately 12 – 18 courses, depending upon student courseload; minimum number of Gr 12 courses tbd (current proposal is six).
All Grade 11 and 12 courses (excludes applied design, skills and technology; physical & health education; career and personal planning).
Drop the lowest grade.
Limits on visual and performing arts classes: maximum of two Grade 11 and two Grade 12 (four total).
Some applicants may receive consideration for: breadth, depth, relevancy, and individual context.
** Point for debate
How to value breadth and depth for students from smaller communities that may not have as many course offerings? By moving away from hard minimum requirements. Students who do not have minimum requirements are reviewed case by case.

38. The Core Average Varies by program.
Approximately 4 – 8 courses, depending upon student courseload; minimum number of courses tbd.
All Grade 11 and 12 courses in subjects related to the intended area of study at UBC (excludes applied design, skills and technology; physical & health education; career and personal planning).
Always includes English 12 (2019: no change; 2020: literacy assessment required at point of admission).
If a course is presented at Gr11 and Gr12 level, use highest level only.
Some applicants may receive consideration for: breadth, depth, relevancy, and individual context.
** Point for debate
How to value breadth and depth for students from smaller communities that may not have as many course offerings? By moving away from hard minimum requirements. Students who do not have minimum requirements are reviewed case by case.
In order to have clear messaging, courses used in the core have to be determined by discipline. For example, Engineering must determine if they want to include Computer Science courses in their core, but cannot include certain comp sci courses and exclude others. This will be too difficult to message.
Similarly, certain common sense rules have to apply. A “History of Math” course is more history than math, and would make more sense in the Arts core than the Science core.
Even though Foundations of Math is a Math course, it will not be used in the core for programs that require Pre-Cal 12.
Arts has to decide whether or not to use Math and Comp Sci courses. These are majors available in the BA program, but may significantly disadvantage BA applicants with no intention of studying in either field.

39. Broad-based Admission, Student Profile – beyond the GPA
A way for universities to know about you beyond your academic achievement
Along with your marks, is used to determine your admissibility
Currently required by SFU business and all UBC programs
Treat it as a fifth course in the admission process
Writing needs to show reflection on personal growth based on your personal experience, not a running list of achievements, awards, etc.
Go to: for more info on writing personal profiles

40. Key Messages to students
Pre-requisites and requirements are not changing. You do not have to take different/more courses than currently required.
You should take courses in secondary school that are related to what you want to study at UBC. Doing so will increase your chances of admission.
UBC will look at your grades in nearly ALL your academic Gr.11 and Gr.12 courses.
When we look at your overall grades, we will drop your lowest Gr.11 or Gr.12 course; so it is safe to experiment.
We will pay particular attention to courses related to what you want to study at UBC. If you have the course at both the Gr.11 and Gr.12 level, more emphasis will be placed on the Gr.12 grade.
Be aware that having the highest grades is not the only way to get in – challenging yourself by taking more courses or more rigorous courses can also be beneficial.

41. SFU Current (Fall 2018) Effective Fall 2019 Effective Fall 2020*
Required Grade 11 courses:
English 11
Science 11
Language 11
Math 11
Required Grade 11 courses: English 11
Social Studies 11 or 12*
English 12 with a minimum final blended grade of 60%
English 12 with a minimum final blended grade of 70%
English Studies 12 with a minimum final grade of 70%
Minimum of 4 Grade 12 courses, including English 12, from SFU's approved course list
Minimum of 5 Grade 12 courses, including English 12, from SFU's approved course listSee program-specific approved courses.
Minimum of 5 Grade 12 courses, including English Studies 12, from SFU's approved course listSee program-specific approved courses*
Admission average based on 4 Grade 12 courses (including English 12) required by program
Admission evaluation based on all Grade 12 courses taken from SFU's approved course list. 
Admission evaluation based on all Grade 11 and Grade 12 courses taken from SFU's approved course list. 

44. Career and Trades programs

45. Career and Trades programs
These are programs where you can earn:
A certificate - A diploma - A degree
Are offered at universities, colleges, and technical institutions
A few of many examples include:
Accounting diploma Appliance servicing certificate
Arts diploma Business management diploma
Fashion & technology diploma Music diploma
Health care assistant certificate Public Relations diploma
Public safety communications certificate
There is something for everyone!

46. Admission requirements to career and trades programs
Because there are so many of these programs, the requirements can vary greatly
e.g. Warehousing apprenticeship at Kwantlen does not require high school graduation (but preference is given to those who have graduated)
e.g. Diploma of Technology in Medical Lab Science at BCIT requires high school graduation, English 12, Biology 12, Chem 12, Physics 11, and Pre-Calc 12
You must visit the website of the institution that offers the program you want (or to begin) to determine what the requirements are

47. Apprenticeships
Apprenticeship is a form of post-secondary education that combines paid, work-based training (about 85% of the training), with technical training in a classroom or shop setting (about 15% of the training). Successful completion of both components, along with examinations, is required to earn a certificate or ticket, and become a certified tradesperson. The length of an apprenticeship can range from one to five years, but most require four years to complete.
Go to the Industry Training Authority’s website for lots of great info on Apprenticeship programs
Many trades-based institutions including BCIT, KPU and VCC offer foundation programs

48. Is an Apprenticeship Program right for you?
There are over 100 apprenticeship trade programs in BC (see Mr. Mann or people from career services for a full list)
Major areas include: construction, automotive and mechanical work, aerospace, metal work, graphic arts, horticulture, hospitality, motion picture and theatre
Trades and industry occupations are vital to the economy, and make excellent career choices. Many people are attracted to careers of this type because they let them make a particular ability or creative talent part of their working lives, or because they allow them to work in an environment they enjoy. Also, the pay can be great and trades jobs are in demand!
There are several ways to start your apprenticeship:
Direct entry with an employer to sponsor you
Pre-apprenticeship Foundation program or Apprenticeship program at a college or technical school of your choice
Secondary school apprenticeship programs (e.g. ACE-IT programs)
you can begin your training while you're still at Templeton, and earn dual high school and post-secondary credit while you do so

49. Youth Train in Trades
For students pursuing industry certification or the foundation level of a trade program
Benefits
Dual credit with post-secondary school (i.e. get high school and post-secondary credit at the same time)
Earn your level 1 trade certification while in high school
Saves you time and $$$
Get a head start with training
Can lead directly into an apprenticeship
Work experience in the trade
ACE-IT is available in your grade 12 year
See course planning guide for available ACE-IT programs

50. Financial Aid Fact: Post-secondary education IS costly!
However, there are ways to make things a little bit easier…

51. Financial Help for your Post-Secondary Education (1/2)
Work, Co-op, Work Study
Earn money while you go to school; some may open future career opportunities
Scholarship & Bursaries
Based on academic performance, community or school involvement, and extra-curricular activities
A bursary is usually given based on financial need and you will have to prove this need
A scholarship is usually provided on the basis of excellence in academics

52. Financial Help for your Post-Secondary Education (2/2)
You will be considered for some scholarships automatically (e.g. based on your grades)
Other scholarships you will need to apply for (you must apply before the deadlines)
Make sure you know the conditions of your scholarships and bursaries in order to keep them
You won’t win a scholarship or bursary that you didn’t apply!
If you need a letter of reference, please give your reference A LOT OF TIME for advanced notice. Failure to do so may result in the reference either not being able to write the letter, or the letter may not be of the quality you expect
It’s not an all or nothing year, there are many options available to our students. The main takeaway tonight is for our students and families to be as informed as possible.

53. Some Scholarship Websites

54. Breathe…