Ottawa is thinking internationally, and I feel more Canadian than ever before

I have just finished a week of school visits in the Ottawa area, and I am so happy to report that our capital is full of excited, energetic, and entertaining students who are interested in learning more about Queen’s University. Queen’s is just a touch under two hours away from Ottawa, right on the shores of Lake Ontario in Kingston, Ontario. Never having been to Ottawa before, I took some fabulous tours of the city, walked along the scenic canal, and even passed Peter Milliken (Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands and current Speaker of the House) in the gorgeous hallways of Parliament. Always one to find a Queen’s connection, Peter Milliken himself is an alumnus of Queen’s University! (His degree is in Political Science and Economics.)

Interestingly, my travels through Ontario have also opened up some conversations about more extensive travels all around the world. I have met students who have participated in their respective high school exchange programs and ended up in the United States, Germany, and even Norway! At Queen’s, we are proud to be able to offer every student an international, multicultural perspective on a wide array of topics, regardless of whether you complete your entire degree on main campus or spend a term or a year abroad. With 172 international exchange partnerships in 39 countries worldwide, I personally know students who have studied in Australia, Belgium, and Scotland, just to name a few.

On yet another rainy Friday afternoon, I visited North Dundas District High School and was pleased to find out that many students there are already thinking about international opportunities at Queen’s. Myles learned that many students in our Bachelor of Commerce program will study abroad at some point in their undergraduate degree and I spoke with Madison (at length!) about the Bader International Study Centre (BISC) (www.queensu.ca/isc/) at Herstmonceux Castle, located an hour and a half south of London in East Sussex, England. Students at the BISC, collectively, treasure the engaging educational experience they receive both in class (on a 15th century castle estate, complete with moat!) and all over Europe (think the Louvre, the Globe theatre, Vimy Ridge, Stonehenge, NATO headquarters, Normandy, Versailles!). A friend of mine came back from her spring term at the castle with stunning photographs, and stories about the National Opera and breathtaking sunsets… but don’t worry, Madison, you will still receive a tam even if you study at the BISC in your first year!

If you are looking for a university that will challenge you to learn as much from the world around you as from the people you meet in the lecture theatre, Queen’s is definitely a university to look at in more detail. As a recent graduate, I continue to be immensely grateful for the connections and opportunities presented to me by Queen’s.

Katie Phillips
BAH ‘09 (Psychology and Environmental Studies)
Ontario Admission Representative

Coming soon to a town near you!

The travel season has begun! Last week, the Muskoka and Grey Bruce regions graciously hosted representatives from all 21 Ontario universities through the University Information Program, and I must say that the year is off to a fantastic start! Thank you so much to all of the high school students who helped us carry our viewbooks, directed us to classrooms, searched for extension cords, and participated in our presentations. Already I have met some exceptional people and I am looking forward to many more weeks of school visits ahead.

If you aren’t sure when we will be in your area or at your school, you can check “Queen’s on the Road” (www.queensu.ca/admission/contacts/road.html) for a schedule of upcoming events.

Also, be sure to come visit our campus for Fall Preview on Saturday October 17 and Saturday November 7.  You can register online at: www.queensu.ca/admission/forms/fpoh/.

I hope the rain ends soon…

Katie Phillips
Ontario Admission Representative

1 Week Down, 8 More to Go!

Hi all!

Well, I’m glad you could all join me in my first installment of the Ontario Admission Rep Countdown 2009! Last Monday, September 28th marked Day 1 of the 9 week adventure that my colleagues, Kristin and Katie, and I call our job. Having visited 13 schools throughout Brantford, Simcoe, Waterford, Ancaster, Waterdown, Dundas, and Hamilton last week my tally is down to 99 Ontario high school visits before November 27th. Whoa.

Throughout the week I referred students to a number of websites for more information and contacts. Here are links to some common requests:
Concurrent Education http://educ.queensu.ca/teachereducation/programs/concurrent/queens.html
Athletics http://www.gogaelsgo.com/
Nursing http://nursing.queensu.ca/ and;
Studies in England http://www.queensu.ca/isc/.
Another important site that many of you might find helpful is the Student Awards page http://www.queensu.ca/registrar/awards/apply/apply.html. Here, you can access the application (due Dec 1st!) for Major Admission Awards as well as learn about a number of other options for financing your Queen’s education. As I mentioned in a number of schools last week, take the time to browse the long list of scholarships and bursaries to determine which awards you could be eligible for (there are many!).

Today, I begin Week 2 of my travels in Sudbury for the University Information Program throughout Northeastern Ontario. Representatives from the 21 universities in Ontario will be touring the North like rockstars (i.e. on a bus) this week, stopping for fairs in several locations. To find out if there will be a session near you, search your city via the UIP website http://www.ouf.ca/uip/index.shtml.

Before I sign off to go purchase a toque, I’d like to send a few shout outs to the students who made my first week truly awesome: Thank you BCI students for making my first visit of the season a smooth one, and specifically the young man at the back of the room for making it a memorable presentation by asking (ahem) valid questions. ☺ To the dozen students who eventually directed me to the opposite side of Ancaster District High School in search of the Guidance Office, your assistance was much appreciated! And of course, to all the students who attended this session, thank you for sitting through my screetchy-voice end-of-the-day presentation. To the troopers at Westdale Secondary School who stood throughout the presentation, you’re awesome. Since the fire alarm at Waterdown District High School ended the visit early (and on the football field with over 1000 students), please email me renee.kennedy<at>queensu.ca any questions that I didn’t have the chance to answer!

And as a diehard HP fan: thank you to Hillfield-Strathallan College for giving me a glimpse of what the dining hall at Hogwarts might feel like.

Happy Sunday,
Renée Kennedy
Ontario Admission Representative