STUDENT SERVICES

INFORMATION PACKAGE FOR

GRADUATING STUDENTS

SCHOLARSHIPS / AWARDS

EMPLOYMENT STUDENT LOANS

POST-SECONDARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Where Do I Start? ……………………………………………. 1 How Can I Prepare? ……………………………………… 3 Types of Scholarships Available ………………………… 4 Other Scholarships Available …………………………… 5 The Resume ……………………………………………. 6 Sample Resume ……………………………………………. 7 Job Search Web Sites ……………..……………………….. 8 An Education Plan ………………………………………… 9 Managing Money – Your Budget ………………………… 10 OSAP ………………………………………………………….. 11 Websites/Resources ……………………………………….. 13 Words of Wisdom ………………………………………………. 15 Important Dates ………………………………………………. 16

? WHERE DO I START There is a lot of work and organization in filling out various scholarship packages. It is important that you don’t get discouraged as once you have done one package, you can use the information you have provided as a “template” for future applications (with modifications). Generally speaking, you should have the following information ready: 1. An up-to-date copy of your resume; 2. Copies of various certificates, awards; 3. Reference letter(s) from community agencies you may have volunteered

at; 4. Reference letter(s) from teachers whom you have had in the past

(please don’t wait until the last minute to approach a teacher – a week’s lead time is advisable);

5. An original copy of your recent transcript (student services can provide with two days’ notice);

6. Completion of your 40 hrs. of Community Service. 7. A record of all your extracurricular activities will assist in organizing all

the information you w.

P.S. Out of courtesy, it is advisable to send a thank you note/card to those individuals who have provided you with a reference letter.

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Please keep in mind, that each scholarship package may have certain criteria that they are looking for in the candidates who apply. You need to ensure that you have the attributes they are looking for with respect to academic proficiency, awards, community service, extra-curricular activities, co-op or part-time jobs, international exchange, financial need, etc. It is important that you read all of the information for each scholarship package carefully to ensure you have fulfilled all the expectations. If they say, “Don’t include a copy of your resume”, then don’t.

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HOW CAN I PREPARE?

Firstly, you need to list any information that may qualify you for an award, bursary or scholarship. Some of the following areas may help you get started: x Academic Achievement – Are you an honour student? x Awards – Have you received any awards for academic and/or non-

academic achievement? x Co-op or Part-time Jobs – What were your responsibilities and

achievements? x International Exchange – Did you travel outside Canada to study,

volunteer, etc.? x Projects – Have you worked on any large projects (in or out of school)

that you are proud of? x School Clubs, Teams or Student Government – What was your

role/position/involvement? x Volunteer Work – Over and above your 40 hours of community

service what other types of volunteer work have you done. This is often a very important criteria that a large number of the scholarships and bursaries are looking for.

x Build a portfolio with all your accomplishments.

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TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE There are many types of scholarship available to students and in order to offset the financial burden of post-secondary education, it is recommended that you apply for as many scholarships as you can. You should of course, apply for those scholarships where there is a match between your skill level and the criteria they are looking for. For “external” school sponsored scholarship nominations, a process is in place; please see Guidance for application and submission details. The below listed “internal” scholarships are available to Marc Garneau graduating students from various local community agencies. The Scholarship Package for these awards is made available (through student services) to students in late March and/or early April. They include the following:

x Annie Seme Memorial Award x Dr. Robynne Neugebauer Social Justice Award x Excellence is Visual Arts Scholarship x The Fahd Ananta and Farabi Shireen Fellowship Award x For the Love of Art Scholarship x John and Annie Seme Memorial Scholarship x MGCI Green Award x MGCI Leadership Scholarship x MGCI/Overlea Alumni Award x MGCI School Council Award x Thorncliffe Neighborhood Office Community Award x Undercover Kindness

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OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE There are many scholarships available – here are a few: Horatio Alger Canadian Scholarship https://horatioalger.ca/en/scholarships/ Loran Award http://www.loranscholar.ca/ OSSTF Student Achievement Awards http://www.osstf.on.ca/studentachievementawards TD Scholarships for Community Leadership https://www.tdcanadatrust.com/products-services/banking/student-life/scholarship-for-community-leadership/index.jsp UofT National Scholarship Program https://future.utoronto.ca/content/national-scholarship-program Queen’s Major Admission Awards https://www.queensu.ca/studentawards/admission-awards/major-admission-awards The Herbert H. Carnegie Future Aces Foundation http://www.futureaces.org Schulich Leader Scholarships http://www.schulichleaders.com/application Merit Award Bursary http://meritaward.ca/students/how-to-apply/ The Lincoln Alexander Award https://www.ontario.ca/page/honours-and-awards-inclusion

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THE RESUME There are three types of resumes one can use depending on the situation (type of job you applying to and/or target audience). Sometimes the resume is called a “curriculum vitae”.

Chronological Resume x Is the most frequently used format; x Chronological format follows your work history backwards from the

current job, listing companies, dates and responsibilities.

Functional Resume x Used if you’ve been unemployed or have changed jobs frequently; x Doesn’t include employment dates, but focuses on skills and

responsibilities; x Most relevant experience to the job you are applying for is placed first.

Combination Resume x Used if you have a steady work history with demonstrated growth; x Start with brief personal summary, followed by listing of specific skills

relevant to the objective then proceeds into a chronological format that lists how when and where skills were acquired.

Note: Your resume must be an honest representation of your skills and abilities and in a format that is easy to read.

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SAMPLE RESUME

Your Name Your Street Address

City, Province Postal Code Phone Number

OBJECTIVE Junior Camp Counsellor

SUMMARY Strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to work well with other people and finish all tasks. More than two years’ experience and dedication to competitive soccer.

EDUCATION Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute 2018 Currently in Grade 12 – Emphasis on math, science and business courses

WORK EXPERIENCE Cashier , Home Hardware 2018 x Handled cash sales at a hardware show. Transactions involved processing cash and

credit card payments. x Provided product information and answered general inquiries in both French and

English.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Competitive soccer, cycling, volleyball, basketball

ACHIEVEMENTS CPR and First Aid, Toronto 2018

LANGUAGES Fluent in English and French.

REFERENCES Available upon request.

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JOB SEARCH WEB SITES There are many job search sites available on-line. Here are just a few: https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home https://www.ontario.ca/page/employment-ontario/ http://www.youth.gc.ca/ https://www.workopolis.com/en/ https://ca.indeed.com/ https://www.yes.on.ca INTERESTED IN SELF-EMPLOYMENT? TRY OUT THESE WEB SITES

… Business Development Bank of Canada - www.bdc.ca Canada Business and Industry website - https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business.html Youth Entrepreneurship Guide - http://www.cbo-eco.ca/en/index.cfm/starting/getting-started/youth-entrepreneurship-guide/

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AN EDUCATIONAL PLAN

Deciding to pursue post-secondary education or an apprenticeship training program is one of the most important decisions you will make. How do you know where to begin when there are so many choices with respect to college and/or university programs available? How do you know what is the right choice for you based on your skill level? Myblueprint is a comprehensive education and career/life planning website that provides students with the tools to make the most informed decisions about their future. Sign-up by creating an account through http://myblueprint.ca/tdsb and begin to:

x Discover yourself - identify your skills and interests x Set goals x Make a learning plan and track towards

graduation and beyond x Explore your post-secondary opportunities x Record and share what matters x Learn real world skills like budgeting and

financing for post-secondary

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MANAGING MONEY – YOUR BUDGET

Direct College/University Expenses

Average Tuition $8,000* (estimate) Student Fees $ 500 Books and Supplies $ 1,000 Subtotal $9,500

Living Expenses Accommodation (Residence or apt.) $9,000 to $12,000 Utilities $ 400 Phone & Internet $ 150 Food $3,600 Clothing $ 350 Transportation $ 1,000 Miscellaneous $ 500 Subtotal $15,000-$18,000 Note: The tuition fee listed above is an estimate. The tuition fees vary from college to college and from university to university. Additional expenses may include co-op fees (approximately $300.00) and medical/dental expenses (estimated at $150).

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OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program – Phone: (888) 449-4478 � To receive government sponsored loans you should complete an OSAP

(Ontario Student Assistance Program) application. � OSAP’s objective is to help students from lower-income families meet

the costs of post-secondary education. It is intended to provide financial assistance for educational costs and basic living expenses. The purpose of OSAP is to supplement, not to replace, the financial resources that you and your family are expected to contribute.

� OSAP is based on financial need as determined by OSAP through an assessment of your application. Educational costs (such as tuition fees, books and supplies, basic living expenses), and the resources OSAP expects you and your family to contribute are taken into consideration.

� When you fill out an OSAP application you are applying for assistance funded by the provincial government (Ontario Student Loans, Ontario Student Opportunity Grants, and Aiming for the Top Tuition Scholarships) and/or the federal government (Canada Student Loans, Canada Study Grant for Students with Dependants, and Canada Millennium Scholarships).

� To be eligible for a Canada Student Loan you must be enrolled at an approved post-secondary institution anywhere in the world. To be eligible for an Ontario Student Loan you must be enrolled at an approved public university or college of applied arts and technology in Canada, or an approved private post-secondary institution in Ontario.

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� Application forms for OSAP are available in April or May and it is

recommended that you apply on-line. Your OSAP application must be processed by the financial aid office of the post-secondary institution that you will attend. Therefore, the process does not start until you have accepted an offer of admission.

WHEN YOU WILL GET YOUR MONEY

The total amount of Canada-Ontario Integrated Student Loan that you are eligible to receive for your study period is called your "current entitlement" and is listed on the Funding Summary chart (via Check Status on the OSAP website) and indicated on the Notice of Assessment that the ministry mails to you. Generally you will receive 60% of your current entitlement at the beginning of your study period and the remaining 40% halfway through your study period. For example, if your current entitlement is $10,000 and you are in a 2-term program starting school in September and continuing until March, you will receive a loan certificate for $6,000 after you register in September. You will receive another loan certificate for the remaining $4,000 when your second term starts in January. In some situations, for example students attending a postsecondary institution outside Canada, a loan certificate for the total amount of loan will be issued at the beginning of the student's study period.

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WEBSITES/RESOURCES SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES https://yconic.com/ http://www.scholarshipscanada.com POST-SECONDARY http://electronicinfo.ca https://www.macleans.ca/education-hub/ COLLEGE https://www.ontariocolleges.ca – Phone 1-888-892-2228 UNIVERSITY http://www.ouac.on.ca – Phone (519) 823-1063 ON TRANSFER https://www.ontransfer.ca ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES OF CANADA http://www.aucc.ca EDUCATION & TRAINING https://www.ontario.ca/page/education-and-training

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WEBSITES/RESOURCES

SAT I & SAT II http://www.collegeboard.com TOEFL http://www.toefl.org AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING http://www.act.org/ MYBLUEPRINT http://www.myblueprint.ca/tdsb REMIND https://www.remind.com/join/mgciguide CAREERS http://www.careercruising.com https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/opportunities.html

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WORDS OF WISDOM

*To achieve all you have to do is believe. *Learn something new each day and the world will be a better place. *The best inspiration is not to out do others, but to out do ourselves. *Remember, you may not be able to control what life puts in your path, but you can control who you are and who you will become. *Knowing your destination is half of the journey. *Plan for the future because that is where you will spend the rest of your life. *Select a job you love, and you will never have to work another day of your life. *Be nice to people on the way up, because you might need their help on the way down. *A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. *Life is what happens while you're making other plans. *It does not require many words to speak the truth. *Remember you are unique, just like everybody else.

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IMPORTANT DATES

*Ontario University Fair http://www.ouf.ca: September

*Ontario College Information Fair https://ocif.ca: October

*MGCI Post-Secondary Info Night: October

*Full Disclosure deadline – FIVE days after midterm report

*OUAC Application Deadline: January 17

*OCAS Application Deadline (equal consideration): February 1 *MGCI recommends you submit your post-secondary application before the winter break!

*Deadline to respond to an offer of admissions: June 1 *Commencement: June

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This Brochure was compiled with the assistance of the following:

1. https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program

2. http://ouac.on.ca 3. http://www.ocas.on.ca 4. http://www.canlearn.ca

5. Careers 10, Judith Campbell, Kelly Hoey, Anne Clifton (Prentice Hall), Toronto, Ontario, 2000

6. Ted Tzalalis, Curriculum Leader – George Vanier S.S.

KEEP LEARNING WHEREVER YOU ARE - BE A LIFE-LONG LEARNER!

☺

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Student Services Marc Garneau C.I. 135 Overlea Blvd. Don Mills, Ontario (416) 396-2410

BROCHURE DESIGNED BY: D. Elizabeth Mayhew, Student Services UPDATED AUG 2018 BY: Gagan Phambri, Student Services