A current UWaterloo student offers tips for finishing high school strong and getting ready for university
Hi! I’m Matt, and I have just entered my fourth year of the Honours Arts and Business program here at the University of Waterloo. I have worked at the School of Accounting and Finance in previous co-op terms, and have recently returned as a part-time employee. I wanted to take this opportunity to offer some tips for surviving the university application process.
1. Take a look at the course offerings
When you’re shopping around looking for programs to apply to, make sure you take a more in-depth look at the courses you’ll be taking. Taking the time to look at the course offerings will help you get a picture of what your university career might look like and if the program is the right fit for you. Pay attention to all mandatory courses (both in the first year and beyond), but also look at the electives available to you. The best kind of program is one that focuses on a subject you’re passionate about but also gives you the freedom to explore your other interests.
One great resource to judge program offers is &Vision, which is a not-for-profit organization started by two of our SAF graduates! Their website will help you find programs that include the subjects you are interested in, which will help you manage the overwhelming choice that comes with looking at university programs.
2. Apply only to programs that interest you
Sometimes you might feel like you need to apply to a certain program because you feel like you need to get a specific job. However, if a program doesn’t look interesting when you’re checking it out, it will most likely be less interesting when you’re deep into assignments. Being genuinely interested in what you’re studying is, in my experience, the best way to do well in school because your passion will encourage you to put out the best work possible.
3. Ask questions
Through
my
time
at
SAF,
I
have
LOVED
talking
to
prospective
students
and
helping
them
out,
and
I
know
everyone
who
works
for
universities
feels
the
same
way.
Don’t
hesitate
to
reach
out
and
ask
questions
or
request
additional
information
if
something
is
confusing
to
you.
I
know
I
certainly
did
when
I
was
applying
for
university.
I
was
able
to
learn
about
important
dates,
helpful
tips,
and
the
details
of
what
my
program
entailed,
which
was
really
helpful
throughout
the
whole
process.
Have
questions
about
the
student
experience?
Book
a
chat
with
one
of
our
ambassadors.
Other
questions?
Reach
out
to
Kelly,
our
Recruitment
and
Admissions
Coordinator.
4. Prepare for any secondary admissions assessments (and complete your AIF)
For
the
Accounting
and
Financial
Management
(AFM)
program,
we
have
the
AFM
Admissions
Assessment
(AFMAA),
which
is
a
video
interview
and
a
trait
assessment.
However,
other
programs
also
have
different
types
of
secondary
assessments,
which
are
crucial
to
your
application.
Be
sure
to
read
instructions
thoroughly
and
prepare
in
any
way
you
can.
For
the
AFMAA,
we
post
the
interview
questions
so
students
can
practice,
and
other
schools
and
programs
likely
also
have
tips
to
help
you
maximize
your
success
in
these
secondary
assessments.
The
University
of
Waterloo
has
the
Admissions
Information
Form
(AIF),
which
is
not
always
a
required
component
of
your
application
but
is
recommended.
Make
sure
to
fill
out
the
AIF
and
brag
about
all
the
great
things
you’ve
done
to
give
yourself
an
edge
over
the
competition!
5. Enjoy the end of high school
After you’ve applied and gone through the whole process, seriously, take some time to relax. It can be draining, and I know you might feel anxious as you wait for an answer. You’ve done basically everything you can do at this point. While I’m sure you’ll still be working hard to keep your grades up, make sure you have time to just take it easy and enjoy the end of this chapter of your life!