Although it’s not in Ontario, neither am I now, so how about the university you probably never thought you’d consider: UPEI? Added bonus, now I can say I’ve collated the university admissions for a whole other province! Whew, I think I deserve a break now!

In their own words:

“UPEI offers undergraduate degrees in Arts, Science, Education, Business, and Nursing; and graduate degrees in Veterinary Medicine, Education, Arts, Science, Business and Applied Health Sciences Research. We also offer a Pre-veterinary Medicine stream and a brand new Computer Science gaming program.

We are a university on the move. We are consistently in the TOP 10 in the Maclean’s rankings of 21 primarily undergraduate universities, we were Canada’s TOP university for student-faculty interaction in the 2006 National Survey of Student Engagement, and we ranked #1 for research publication effectiveness by RE$EARCH Infosource.”

PEI may only have one university, but it has a dedicated homeschool application page that is easily reachable from their admissions page. I’m looking at you, straggling Ontario universities! And it’s a sensible URL at that. So, consider the Gentle Island. They won’t hold it against you that you’re “from away” (for too long).

From http://www.upei.ca/registrar/admission_home_schooled

The basic entrance requirements for home schooled students are the same as for all other students. Home schooled students can meet the requirements by:

* attending a local high school for Grade 12 or the final year of schooling;
* taking the Grade 12 academic entrance subjects through a correspondence program acceptable to the University; or
* presenting Advanced Placement test scores on an official transcript for the entrance subjects.

Added bonus: I hear there’s a pretty good math tutor in the area . . .

http://www.yorku.ca/

Size: Large – 46,000 undergraduates (Glendon campus – 2,400)

Admissions Website: http://www.yorku.ca/web/futurestudents/

Home School Admissions Page:

Steeles Campus: http://www.yorku.ca/web/futurestudents/requirements/homeschooled.htm

Glendon Campus: http://www.glendon.yorku.ca/english/futurestudents/admissions/index.html

From their website:

1. You are required to provide official evidence of academic achievement in secondary education:

• through final grades in 6 Grade 12 U/M or OAC courses, including prerequisites for the program, obtained through correspondence, at night school, or through TVO. You may, as an alternative, present credentials from other jurisdictions, for example, results in Advanced Placement (AP) or Advanced Level courses in the General Certificate Education (GCE) examinations. (Note: students may register to sit for the AP and GCE examinations as private candidates).
• You may also be required to provide proof of language proficiency.
• You will be considered for entrance scholarships on the basis of your overall averages in the 6 Grade 12 U/M or equivalent courses.

In the absence of final grades in courses:

• You must submit the results of standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) with a minimum of 550 (Verbal) and 550 (Math) or a composite ACT score of 24.
• You may be required to provide proof of language proficiency.
• Your application will be reviewed by an admissions sub-committee. If admitted, you will not be eligible for entrance scholarships. You will be considered for continuing student scholarships at the end of your first year of study, if you satisfy those criteria.

2. You must also meet Faculty-specific requirements for the current curriculum or the OAC curriculum (with Ontario Academic Credits) since some programs have higher averages or have supplementary procedures for admission.

Up to 12 credits (2 full courses) may be granted for final scores of 4 or 5 on the College Entrance Examination Board Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, depending on program.

If you can hold a fork . . . then why not consider dining at the massive educational buffet that is Canada’s third largest university! With more majors to choose from than you can shake a stick at, and the option to take a few classes or even your entire degree at Glendon when you just need to get away from the crowds, York offers something for everyone.

Also boasting Ontario’s only university scholarship specifically for homeschooled students, Glendon’s liberal arts campus demonstrates its commitment to the homeschooling community. Having consulted on their admissions policy, I’m proud to report that Glendon is excited to be a pioneer in this area. Glendon also has experience dealing with transfer students from Athabasca, making it a logical choice for homeschoolers who chose a non-traditional path for their high school studies. Small intimate classes taught directly by professors, an extremely flexible, elective-filled degree program and getting a little hit of language and culture permeating every subject of study are only a few of the reasons to consider Glendon.

But York’s OK, too.

I am very, very pleased to announce that (including private correspondence with me) we are now at 100% participation in the homeschool university admissions game!

Although Ryerson’s policy is not currently on their website (and I’ve learned through my discussions with Admissions departments that there can be a variety of legitimate reasons why such information doesn’t get posted there), admissions representative Charmaine Hack assures me that “Ryerson has been and continues to be, pleased to consider home schooled applicants. ” She forwarded me the admissions document in use by Ryerson, and is very eager to receive questions and feedback concerning their policies.

Ryerson University ~ http://www.ryerson.ca/

350 Victoria Street | Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3 | (416) 979-5000

Admissions Website: http://www.ryerson.ca/undergraduate/admission/index.html

Home School Admissions Page: not available

Below is Ryerson’s most current policy, but of course, this is an internal document and may be updated without our knowledge. Please contact Ryerson for the final word on their admissions policies, but it will probably continue to look a little something like this:

RYERSON UNIVERSITY
HOME SCHOOLED APPLICANTS

Admission Requirements
Ryerson encourages and is pleased to consider applications for admission from home schooled candidates.

Home schooled applicants do not require completion of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, but are required to provide official evidence of academic achievement in secondary education, as follows:

From Ontario, completion six Grade 12 U/M courses, including program-specific subject prerequisites is required. The minimum average required by Ryerson University is 70%.
Alternately, applicants may present equivalent credentials from other Canadian provinces or final results in Advanced Placement (AP) or Advanced Level courses in the General Certificate Education (GCE) examinations.
Results of standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) with a minimum score of 550 (Verbal) and 550 (Math) or a composite ACT score of 24, are strongly recommended. (All test result minimum scores are currently under review).
Applicants should note that higher averages and subject prerequisite grades may be required as a result of competition, and will vary by program.

Many Ryerson programs consider non-academic factors such as interview, auditions, selection tests, essays, portfolios, etc. in the selection process, in addition to academic criteria and history.

Application Process

Home schooled candidates may apply on the appropriate application available via the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) (www.ouac.on.ca). Home schooled candidates must identify themselves as such to the Director of Admissions to expedite and ensure the appropriate processing and assessment of their application.

Director of Admissions,
Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Recruitment
350 Victoria Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5B 2K3

__________________________

Draft Only, current as of December 2007

Thank you, Ryerson, for giving me a warm, fuzzy sense of completeness!

And now, for today’s featured guest . . .

Brock University ~ http://www.brocku.ca/

500 Glenridge Avenue | St Catharines, Ontario L2S 3A1 | 905-688-5550

Size: Medium – 16,000 undergraduates

Admissions Website: http://www.brocku.ca/registrar/admissions/

Home School Admissions Page: http://www.brocku.ca/registrar/admissions/BrockUHomeSchool.pdf
(note: this is a pdf document)

The document above is a 10 page pdf booklet with tons of information including deadlines, campus visits, scholarships etc. (go Brock!), so I’ll merely summarize here. (emphasis added)

Brock considers two categories of homeschoolers:

Category A: (“Top Six” students)

Preference is given to home schooled applicants who, after the eleventh year of homeschooling, complete the final year of secondary studies in an Ontario Ministry of Education inspected school, and present six 4U or 4M Ontario Grade 12 advanced level credits. The 4U/4M credits may be completed in any combination of correspondence, on-line learning, night school, or day school. Canadian out-of-province applicants with equivalent preparation in the home province will be given equal consideration. Applicants may be considered for admission to any program as long as the minimum admission average and prerequisite subject requirements are met, space is available, and evidence of a minimum of 40 hours of community service is provided.

Applicants will automatically be considered for a Brock Scholars (Entrance) Award based on the final admission average, determined using the top six (including prerequisites) senior academic credits from an accredited secondary school.

Applicants must submit the following for admissions consideration:

1. An official academic transcript(s) issued directly from the recognized school(s) or board(s) indicating all grade12 results.

2. A signed letter from the applicant attesting to the fact that the equivalent of grade 11 study was completed in a home-schooled environment.

3. A completed “Home Schooled Applicant Profile”.

So in a nutshell, Category A applicants will complete six 12U courses, sign a letter attesting to being previously homeschooled, and complete the profile found on Brock’s website. This is Brock’s preferred method of applying. But, for those who choose not to take 12U credits:

Category B:

All other home schooled applicants who do not fall into the above category will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Normally, admission is limited to Humanities-General Studies, Social Sciences-General Studies, or Sciences-General Studies. Upon successful completion of first-year studies at Brock University, applicants may apply to declare a specific major.

The Director of Admissions will consult with Student Awards and Financial Aid to determine eligibility for a Brock Scholars (Entrance) Award. Scholarships are not automatic.

At a minimum each applicant is expected to provide:

1. A signed letter from the applicant attesting to the fact that the equivalent of grade 11 and 12 academic study was or currently is being completed in a home schooled environment.

2. An academic transcript(s) detailing secondary school studies.

3. An academic portfolio that includes course outlines and learning expectations for a minimum of six distinct academic subject areas. In addition, evidence of academic achievement to an advanced grade 12 level (work samples, essays and tests) in each of the six subject areas should be provided. (Applicants may find it helpful to refer to http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/ for samples of Ontario curriculum 4U or 4M course outlines and academic subjects).

4. A satisfactory Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT 1) or ACT test result. Normally, minimum scores of 1650 on the SAT Reasoning Test (including Reading, Mathematics and Writing components), or 24 on the ACT.

5. A completed “Home Schooled Applicant Profile”.

Upon submission of all required documents, Category B applicants will be contacted by the Admissions Office to arrange for an interview with the Director of Admissions. The applicant may be required to provide additional documentation at the request of the Director. For further information regarding assessment of home schooled applicants contact the Director of Admissions.

Category B applicants are generally only able to apply to a “general studies” major, but in truth, most students only take a “general” first year of courses anyway, so don’t let this deter you. You’ll still have to sign a letter attesting to being homeschooled, and complete the profile found on Brock’s website but in addition you’ll need to provide a detailed transcript/portfolio as well as results from the SAT or ACT and participate in an interview.

Many more details, including the “Home Schooled Applicant Profile” can be found at Brock’s website. If you have any further questions, you can contact Michelle Lea, Director of Admissions. Her contact information is available on the pdf document.

First Windsor, now Trent . . . and, look for another “Better Know a University” entry very soon since Brock just had their policy passed by the Senate. (I’ve been given an early copy, but I’ll wait until it’s out on their website, which should be this week, so that I can link to it.) It’s an early Christmas for university-bound homeschoolers indeed!

But back to today’s guest of honour, who generously saved me writing an email asking them to update my records . . .

Trent University ~ http://www.trentu.ca/

1600 West Bank Drive | Peterborough, Ontario K9J 7B8 | 1-888-739-8885
Size: Small – 8,000 undergraduates

Admissions Website: http://www.trentu.ca/undergraduate/howdoiapply.php

Home School Admissions Page: http://www.trentu.ca/undergraduate/documents/Homeschoolpolicy_000.pdf
(note: this is a pdf document)

From their website (emphasis added):

Trent University is committed to alternative forms of education and believe that such
students can make significant contributions to our campus.

Students who have been home schooled or have attended a secondary school that is not
accredited by the Provincial or State Ministry of Education should apply using the same
application process as other students. Please review the appropriate method by visiting
our website at: www.trentu.ca/undergraduate/howdoiapply.php. Applicants will be
considered on the basis of independent evidence of academic achievement which may
include high school grades, correspondence courses, college courses, and other pertinent
accomplishments.

Applicants must provide a portfolio that includes:

• An official transcript with grades received (if available)
• Course outlines, a list of course texts, method of evaluation,
• Sample(s) of written work, which includes the instructor’s comments and grade.
This work should be at the senior secondary school level (grade 12 equivalent).
• Results of standardized tests such as SAT Reasoning and SAT Subject Tests (min.
score of 1650) or AP Examinations or Advanced Level course examinations in the
General Certificate Education (min. of two for consideration).
• Students applying to specialized programs such as Forensic Science, Education,
and some Science programs must complete the Ontario 4U level courses (or
approved equivalents) in the prerequisite courses through ILC, or another
province/state Ministry of Education approved institution. Refer to the 2008
Viewbook for specific admission requirements online at:
www.trentu.ca/undergraduate/pdfs/VB2008.pdf.
• May be asked to attend an interview with a member of the admission staff
• Must provide proof of English Proficiency where required

Please note: Submission of less than the above may delay the admission process and
limit your admissibility. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship you meet
Trent’s standard admission requirements Refer to the 2008 Viewbook for specific
admission requirements online at: www.trentu.ca/undergraduate/pdfs/VB2008.pdf.

Thank you, Trent!

This is not a new practice, nor is it a secret one. Even when I was applying to university in my OAC year, and yes, Waterloo was one of my choices, we knew the implications of writing Waterloo on our application forms.

First things first
If you were going to put Waterloo on your application, rank it first. It didn’t matter whether Waterloo actually was your first choice, but all schools would see the order in which you ranked their school. Glendon, I was assured, would think it was an honour “just to be nominated.” But Waterloo, we were told, expected to be ranked first.

An “A” by any other name
Even back in the early 90′s, we knew that Waterloo would adjust our Top Six average based on the high school from which we applied. We also knew that we would likely benefit from this curve. O’Neill CVI was one of two high schools in the Durham Region to offer the gifted program. We also had one of the strongest math programs in the region and wrote every math contest available to us. So, Waterloo certainly knew who we were. We never knew (as no school really does know) exactly what the adjustment factor was, but we all were pretty confident that the average we submitted to Waterloo admissions would be bumped up at least a little bit. Other schools might suffer the opposite fate, based on the performance of that high school’s graduates once they arrived at Waterloo.

Come on down! You’re the next contestant
Waterloo is not the only school to keep these kinds of records, but it is the only one to publicly and unashamedly use them in its admission decisions. And, you really can’t fault a university that makes their criteria public. Waterloo also, however, uses data such as CEMC competition scores in maths and sciences and is the only university to require that applicants to certain programs take the Euclid math competition (formerly requiring the Descartes, from the OAC days).

These extra requirements are completely understandable, since Waterloo is the premiere math/science/co-op university in Ontario and as you can imagine, they receive a ton of applicants with marks in the mid to high 90′s. Differentiating between candidates from an applicant pool such as this is no easy task!

What does this mean for home schoolers?
Waterloo is used to looking at a “bigger picture” than other universities, at least when it comes to their competitive programs, so home schoolers have an opportunity to showcase their academic achievements and interests in a broader context than simply high 12U grades. Waterloo will be interested in students who take an academic initiative and have taken advantage of opportunities such as AP examinations, mentoring experiences with a professor, writing/publishing of an academic nature, participation in talent-based programs and personal research.

Waterloo still maintains high admission standards, however, and students with less than shining academic records in traditional 12U courses or standardized tests scores are definitely going to have to demonstrate their academic worthiness and readiness for admission to some of Ontario’s most demanding undergraduate programs.

With no “high school” to use in the adjustment factor calculation, 12U marks from home schoolers applying with the Top Six will generally not be adjusted one way or the other. (Unless they have begun using data from AMDEC and other similar applicants. Note to self, look into this!) This puts home schoolers, strictly speaking, at neither an advantage nor a disadvantage in the admissions average calculation.

But, in terms of seeking out those other opportunities that will make a student stand out in the application process, being home schooled could be a double-edged sword. Home schoolers generally have the flexibility to schedule their time to include mentorship programs, 12U credits earned at the Ontario Science Centre school or self-directed research. Yet, without the guidance or experience of teachers and counselors, home schoolers may not be aware of the programs that exist. Some programs may also have a “current secondary school student” requirement built into their criteria that hasn’t evolved to keep pace with the growing number of homeschooling high school students.

It is also worth noting that while Waterloo is primarily known for its Math and Computer Science programs, it also has fine programs in the Arts, making it a perfectly acceptable choice for seekers of B.A.s and B.Sc.s/B.Math.s alike. Since university admissions is a game of competition, you’ll find that entry into many arts programs is significantly less competitive than entry into the maths and sciences. This, as always, is more a statement of demand than of program quality.

So without further ado . . .

The University of Waterloo ~ http://www.uwaterloo.ca

200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 • Tel: +1 519 888 4567
Size: Large – 23,000 undergraduates

Admissions Website:
http://www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/admissions/index.php

Home School Admissions Requirements (scroll down):
http://www.findoutmore.uwaterloo.ca/admissions/requirements.php

From their website (emphasis mine to highlight key points):

• Applications from home-schooled students will be considered individually by the appropriate Admission Committees.
• Evidence that studies have been completed at an academic level equivalent to the minimum standard required for your programs(s) of application. This evidence may include a letter from the principal of a traditional and accredited high school confirming that the equivalent of an OSSD has been completed and indicating an estimated overall standing/average based on a typical final year of high school studies.
• Courses equivalent to the specific course requirements and recommendations listed in the program requirements section.
• It is preferable that you complete your final year of studies at a traditional and accredited high school.
• You are strongly encouraged to present test scores in related high school prerequisite subjects such as the Euclid Mathematics Contest, the Sir Isaac Newton Physics Contest, the Chem 13 News Contest.
• Test scores such as the SATs, ACTs, and provincial or state college entrance examinations will better enable the Admission Committees to assess your background.
• An Admission Information Form is required.
• If your first language is not English, see UW’s English language requirements.

Without further hesitation . . .

The University of Windsor ~ http://www.uwindsor.ca/

401 Sunset Avenue | Windsor, Ontario N9B 3P4 | 519-253-3000
Size: Medium – 16,000 undergraduates

Admissions Website*:
http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/registrar/registrar.nsf/SubCategoryFlyOut/E341D3274933AA358525734E004B47B0

Home School Admissions Page**:
http://cronus.uwindsor.ca/units/registrar/registrar.nsf/main/0662D89AFD66A35F8525732B004EE4FB?OpenDocument

Required Documents for Home Schooled Applicants (my emphasis/formatting)

All home schooled applicants are evaluated for admission on an individual basis. In order to evaluate your application, the University of Windsor requires the following documents and supplementary information:

1. Secondary School transcripts showing results from grades 11 through 12. These may be graded either by an independent home school agency or by your parent(s). The transcript should indicate the name of each course or subject covered, the grade received in each course and the number of hours or weeks studied.

2. Official results of standardized tests (such as SAT I, SAT II or ACT)

3. Portfolio containing course descriptions and syllabi of the courses you have studied with a list of texts. Sample graded tests and essays.

4. Résumé including any volunteer experience.

All documents should be sent directly to the following address: Office of the Registrar, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4

Admissions Requirement Chart:
http://www.uwindsor.ca/units/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/cur.nsf/982f0e5f06b5c9a285256d6e006cff78/8e6b8191b5ed069a852572d60052b30e!OpenDocument

* Strangely enough, if you enter via the main page, don’t click on “Admissions 2007.” It’s the “Admissions Requirements” link that actually has the useful information.

** Sorry for not “tinyurl”-ing these links, but the full, exact web address is more reliable. Fortunately, Windsor gets top marks for navigation (except for that Admissions 2007 page which doesn’t contain what one would normally expect in an admissions page) but poor marks for shareable URL’s. If in doubt, follow this path:

Main page –> Prospective Students (from the horizontal menu at top, not the one down the side) –> Admission Requirements (from the side menu, but not Admissions 2007 which is the first entry)

Since I had a little fun with the Globe & Mail’s university student satisfaction ratings at Western’s expense, I’ll make it up to them by profiling them first.

The University of Western Ontario ~ http://www.uwo.ca/

1151 Richmond Street, Suite 2, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 5B8 • Tel: 519-661-2111
Size: Large – 30,000 undergraduates

Affiliated University Colleges*:

Brescia University College (Women’s College)
Office of the Registrar
1285 Western Road
London, Ontario
N6G 1H2
Phone: 519-432-8353
brescia@uwo.ca
http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/
http://www.brescia.uwo.ca/future/admission/index.html

Huron University College
Office of the Registrar
1349 Western Road
London, Ontario
N6G 1H3
Phone: 519-438-7224
huron@uwo.ca
http://www.huronuc.on.ca/
http://www.huronuc.on.ca/prospective_students/admissions/

King’s University College
Office of the Registrar
266 Epworth Avenue
London, Ontario
N6A 2M3
Phone: 519-433-3491
1-800-265-4406
kings@uwo.ca
http://www.uwo.ca/kings/
http://www.uwo.ca/kings/admissions/index.html

(Main Campus) Admissions Website:
http://www.welcome.uwo.ca/preview/admissions/index.html (does not lead to page on home schooled applicants)
or
http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/Admissions/index.cfm (does lead to page on home schooled applicants)

(Main Campus) Home School Admissions Page:
http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/Admissions/HomeschooledApplicants.cfm

“At The University of Western Ontario, homeschooled applicants are evaluated for admission on an individual basis. When assessing your application, we will consider the type of homeschooling curriculum you are following and level of studies, your transcript of grades, and results of standardized testing (such as the SAT).

Should you have any questions regarding applying as a homeschooled student, or require further information, please contact the Admissions Office at 519- 661-2150.”

(Main Campus) Admissions Requirement Chart**:
http://www.welcome.uwo.ca/preview/admissions/documents/admin_requirements-2007-8.pdf

Checklist for Homeschooled Applicants
Name:
OUAC Reference Number***:

At The University of Western Ontario, homeschooled applicants are evaluated for admission on an individual basis. In order to make a knowledgeable assessment of your application Western requires the following documents and supplementary materials:

Transcript of Grades

Results from grades 10 through 12. These may be graded either by an independent homeschool agency or by your parent(s). The transcript should indicate

• the name of each course or subject covered
• the grade received in each course
• the number of hours or weeks that you studied it.

Standardized Testing Results

Please have official results of standardized testing (such as SAT I, SAT II or ACT) sent directly to Western from the applicable examination board.****

Portfolio

Please include each of the following:

• Cover letter written by you including the method of homeschooling you have followed. For example, you may have studied a provincial curriculum at home or another set curriculum such as the Tree of Life. In your letter, you should also include the length of homeschool study and why you and your parents decided to homeschool. In addition, it would be helpful to include your study plans for university, and career aspirations.
• Brief course descriptions and syllabi of the courses you have studied with a list of texts. This is particularly important for science and mathematics courses.
• Copy of a graded essay (any topic in a subject in the 12th grade).
• Resume including any volunteer experience (if you do not have a resume, please include this information in your cover letter).

All documents should be sent directly to the following address:

Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions, Room 165 Stevenson-Lawson Building, The University of
Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5B8.

*Note: The affiliated colleges do not specifically mention home schooling on their websites. I will contact them to see whether they piggy-back off of Western University’s policy or whether they are responsible for their own admissions.

**Note: this lists which 12U subjects are required for each undergraduate program. You should consider this when planning your high school curriculum, especially if you choose not to take 12U credits, and should ensure that your high school curriculum includes the content that would normally be covered in these credit courses.

*** You apply to Western and all Ontario universities through the OUAC, an online common application form. When you apply, you will be issued an OUAC number.

**** When you write a standardized test such as the SAT, there will be an opportunity for you to write one or more “school codes” on your test. These codes (provided at the time of writing the test) identify to which institution(s) you would like your test results sent.