About

I want you to find your path into university, and this website will help you do that.

~ About this site ~ About the Author ~ About Your Options ~ About How this Site Works ~

ABOUT THIS SITE

There are lots of decisions to make when planning for your future at university. Deciding which kind of applicant you will be is one of them.

Most people don’t realize that going to high school is a choice you make. This website has information for those who make that choice, but also for those who have chosen to do something different for their high school years. It is also for those who find themselves wanting to go to university but whose academic background and past educational choices have them wondering what they can or should do to get into university, or wondering if it’s too late to get back on track.

Most university information is geared towards those who are in high school, finishing their high school diploma and applying as traditional high school graduates. But there are many different paths to university, some of which don’t involve a regular high school experience and diploma. This website is for everyone.

This website has information for:

traditional high school graduates applying to university with a high school diploma
students who left high school without earning a diploma but want to attend university
alternatively-educated students applying to university without a high school diploma
homeschoolers applying to university without a high school diploma
adults (mature students) applying to university with or without a high school diploma

This website provides:

current, accurate university information from only the most reliable sources
resources for academic preparation and study material to help you get into (and stay in) university
information on extra-curricular learning activities including programs, workshops and summer camps for high school students offered by universities and other reputable organizations
suggestions for creating your own high school experience if you choose not to go to high school and still want to get into university

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I have spent over 20 years helping high school and university students as a tutor, teacher, academic advisor, educational consultant, alternative education advocate and guidance counselor in Toronto. I worked with students in all aspects of university entrance: academic and test preparation, researching schools and programs, finding out university entrance requirements, filling out university application forms and deciding which offer of admission to accept.

In the second half of my career, I began to assist non-traditional applicants to Ontario universities: homeschoolers, self-educated, mature students and others who did not have the expected credentials (such as a high school diploma) to apply to university in the regular way. I wrote a popular blog post “7 ways to get into university without a high school diploma” and have spoken for years at regional homeschooling conferences about how alternatively-educated students could enter the post-secondary system.

Every time I speak to homeschoolers and they find out how easy it is to get into university without a high school diploma they inevitably ask, “Why doesn’t everyone do this? Why do kids go to high school at all when there are so many different paths to university?” The answer is simple: most students and parents going through the regular school system simply don’t know that they have options.

This website is an attempt to expand on that blog post and my university admissions talk. I want to bring this information about university admissions out of the homeschooling community and into the mainstream student population where everyone can use it.

More about me.

ABOUT YOUR OPTIONS

There’s nothing wrong with going to high school, earning a high school diploma and applying to university in the traditional way. But what if you knew you that was just one possible path you could choose? That’s right, choose. We’re not used to thinking of high school as a choice, but it is. It’s simply a choice that’s often made for us because we don’t know we have options.

Did you know that you could be enrolled in an accredited Canadian university as early as next month if you wanted to, no matter what your age or educational background is? If you didn’t know before, then you do now. You may choose not to act on that knowledge, but doesn’t it make you feel a lot better just knowing it? How awesome is it to know that our Canadian university system has a place just waiting for you? You deserve the same peace of mind I’ve been giving homeschoolers for well over a decade, and that’s why I’ve made this website.

My goal is simply to present the facts, provide credible resources, offer the occasional commentary or advice and most importantly, to let you know what your options are and that you have choices.

ABOUT HOW THIS SITE WORKS

There is a slight focus on Ontario universities because that’s the system I’m most familiar with and because this province has a large proportion of Canada’s students and universities. Ontario is also one of the few provinces to use a provincial application centre; you don’t apply to each university individually. So, there is a little more to know about Ontario university admissions. But, this is a Canada-wide, national resource. I always mention when information pertains only to Ontario or any other province in particular.

If you have resources you wish to share, please use the form below and I’d be happy to check it out. I am not currently seeking clients for admissions consulting and advising, but I’m usually happy to answer a quick question or give some suggestions if you are in need of assistance. Maybe others have the same question, and it will let me know if I’ve missed some information that should be on this site. Fill out the contact form and I’ll generally get back to you in a reasonable amount of time.

Please do keep in mind that although I take every reasonable effort to answer questions and make sure the information here is current and accurate, this site is the product of the volunteer efforts of just one person. Please contact individual universities to confirm their policies and practices as they are always subject to change.

Comments or questions are welcome!