Policy Change – Repeated Courses

Hello everyone,

I am happy to let you know that the admission policy regarding how we will treat repeated courses when calculating admission averages has changed from previous years.  In the past, how we would treat a repeated course would depend on which program you were applying to.  For most programs, we would take the higher of the repeated grades.  The two exceptions to that rule were our Commerce and Engineering programs.  For those two programs, the grades obtained in repeated prerequisite courses would be averaged over all repeats.  This is what we DID… up til now!

Our new policy is the same across all programs – we will now take the highest grade for ANY repeated course used in the average calculation, regardless of the program you are interested in.  This means the policy has changed for Commerce and Engineering.

We think this policy is fair as all of our programs now treat repeated courses in an equitable manner.

Cheers,

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

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

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

Ontario Universities’ Fair – Day 2 done!

Hello everyone,

Well, day two of the OUF has come and gone, and I have to say I’m having a really fun time this year!  It has been an absolute pleasure meeting with many of you from the Toronto area.  All of the Queen’s staff and faculty here this weekend have been very impressed with the thoughtfulness of your questions this year.  As well, I’ve been having a lot of fun giving presentations along with my collague Allison.

I’d like to throw a special shoutout to a few students I met today – the three gentlemen I met in the presentation room who were interested in philosophy, psychology and sociology; the young lady and her family who spoke to me about the Science program and her interest in going into large animal vet studies; the student who made her way down from Lisgar Collegiate in Ottawa (Ottawa!!) for the fair; and last but not least the student and his family interested in Medical school (remember – you need to do an undergraduate degree first!).

I really enjoy meeting with students and their families, and the OUF is such a great way for us to do this.  From here, I’ll be back in Kingston for week to prepare for my adventures to Northwestern Ontario and the Ottawa area.  (Heads up Kenora and Kanata – Queen’s is coming to you!)

For now, I am going to get geared up for the last day of the OUF.  If you haven’t been yet, tomorrow is your last chance to see us!

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

Come say hi to us in TO!

We are coming to Toronto!

As many of you are settling in to your final year of high school, we at Queen’s are gearing up for many weeks of traveling to high schools around the world to speak with students like you!  This weekend, we will be participating in one of the largest student recruitment events in North America – the Ontario Universities’ Fair (OUF).

The OUF is a great way for you to gather a lot of information from university representatives in a short amount of time. Queen’s will have staff coming down from the Undergraduate Admission office, Student Awards and various faculties all to help you find out if Queen’s will be a good fit for you.

I highly encourage you to come to see us at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM or Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.  You can learn more about the OUF by visiting www.ouf.ca.  There is a lot of great information on the OUF webpage, including suggested questions to ask if you’re not sure what kind of things you should be asking.

Come on down this weekend and say hi.  Our office staff are geared up to meet with you, so don’t be shy!

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

New beginnings!

Hello everyone,

I write this posting with mixed emotions, including a little bit of nostalgia, a pinch of excitement, and a healthy dose of nervousness. You see, this is my very last blog posting, and in fact, my very last day in Undergraduate Admission. After working here for four years, I have accepted a position with another unit on campus and so will be leaving the world of recruitment and admission – for now, at least.

In some ways, this posting and my transition, in general, comes at a very interesting time of year because having worked here for several years – and indeed, having been a student myself – I know that I’m not the only one experiencing this mix of emotions right now: with the start of another school year only weeks away, I know that many of you are also getting ready to make a big change.  The idea of leaving one environment behind – one in which you know the “lingo”, the people, and the culture – can be a bit daunting and yet exciting at the same time. People often use metaphors of exploration when they are talking about going off to university or new experiences, in general, and while even I understand that these metaphors might be a bit cheesy at times, there is something surprisingly accurate about them. At this time of year, many of us are about to embark on a journey through uncharted territory and while we don’t know for certain what is on the other side, we do know that the journey is going to be new and exciting – and we’re pretty sure that we’re going to like what we find when we get there.

On a serious note, having worked here for four years – longer if you count my undergraduate days as a student tour guide – I’ve been very lucky to work with some excellent staff in Undergraduate Admission and other units on campus, as well as some fantastic prospective students and their families. As any of our tour guides will recall, I believe that the choice to attend post-secondary education is a huge decision and one that effects not only the student, but also his or her family and I’ve been honoured and delighted to work with many of you through that process.  I look back fondly on my time at Queen’s, as a student, a staff member in this office, and an alumna, and I truly believe that it is the community here that will make your experience – I have met some of my nearest and dearest friends here and I know that you will too.  With that in mind, for those of you who will be joining us very soon, I say “welcome home” and wish you – well, really all of us – the best of luck in the next few weeks!

Best wishes,

Danyal Martin (BAH ‘04, BEd ‘05, MA ‘10) – Admission Coordinator

A summer without sun is hardly a summer at all!

G’day everyone!

As you enjoy your holiday before heading to Kingston for your first year (are you excited?  I know I am and I already live here!!), some of you might have wondered what we do in our office in the summer months.  While the vast majority of our admissions have wrapped up, we’re still hard at work getting things ready for you and even starting to look towards the Class of 2014!

For example, today I looked at a few of you who were studying the International Baccalaureate or wrote some Advanced Placement exams.  We granted university level credit for many of you who will receive something in the mail shortly about what credits you were eligible to receive.  You can also see your transfer credits under your marks by logging into QCARD with your student number.

Next, much like Santa Claus, we’ve been making lists of each of you as we have been going along.  Now, it’s time for us to check things twice and verify that you met the conditions of your offer.  If you didn’t meet your offer conditions (check our offer letter to see the conditions that apply for you), please contact us as soon as you can.  Otherwise, we will be in touch with your shortly to get everything cleared up.

Otherwise, we’re starting to plan how we will find the Class of 2014.  We have booked a few hundred school visits in multiple provinces (with lots yet to book) and we’re gearing up for the annual Ontario Universities’ Fair in Toronto.  Add to that a few Open Houses here on campus and some special events elsewhere, it’s gearing up to be a busy fall!

All in all, we are very excited that you will all be on campus in just 44 days!  While I can’t complain too much about the weather in Kingston in the summertime (despite summer hiding from us this year), Queen’s just isn’t the same without its students.  September will be here before you know it, and we will be here to welcome you!

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

Alex in Santorini, Greece

One of the reasons that Queen’s stood out to me as a prospective student was all of the international opportunities that it has to offer. After settling in to Queen’s for my first two years of university, I was ready for a change (and a break from the Canadian winter!). So I packed my bags, and headed off to Scotland’s University of Aberdeen for a semester.

Classes are, without question, a key part of any degree program. However, there is a lot to be said about the experiences that students can gain outside of the classroom, and doing a semester abroad certainly caters to that philosophy. My time at Aberdeen gave me the chance to travel all over Scotland, and get a full appreciation for its rich history and culture. Over the course of the semester, I spent my free time tracking down the Loch Ness monster, looking out over the North Sea from ancient castle ruins, taking in Edinburgh and the historic Royal Mile at sunset from the top of Arthur’s Seat, and enjoying a traditional ceilidh with the locals on a three day tour of the Isle of Skye.

Thanks to discount airlines, I was also able to do some travel across Europe. Whether I was standing next to the last remaining pieces of the Berlin Wall, listening to live music at Temple Bar in Dublin, surrounded by over 9000 graves at the American Cemetery in Normandy, or watching the famous Santorini sunset in Greece, I was struck by the fact that each weekend, I was seeing things that some people wouldn’t see in a lifetime.   

The semester absolutely flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to say goodbye to friends, pack my bags one last time, and make the trek back home. Without a doubt though, the experience will be with me for a lifetime. My semester abroad was one of the most rewarding experiences in my time at university, and definitely changed my outlook on the world.  Queen’s University offers a world-class classroom education to its students. However, it is the understanding that you can gain outside of the classroom (such as through a semester abroad) that makes Queen’s a cut above the rest.

Alexandra Erath, BAH ‘10, Language and Linguistics

Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial

 

Alex in front of the famous "Swilcan Bridge" at the home of golf, The Old Course at St. Andrews

So fresh and clean!

Greetings and Salutations!

Despite the fact that you all have likely done the vast majority of your research already (hopefully!), I thought I’d share some major news with you today.  We have a new website!!!

As many of you have experienced, our old website was terribly dated and not all that easy to use or navigate.  Our new website (www.queensu.ca/admission) now closely mirrors the Queen’s main webpage in terms of appearance.  We also think this new site is much easier to navigate – and we hope that you agree!

Have a look around, see if you can find the kind of information you are looking for.  One thing – keep in mind that it is still a work in progress and there are still a few sections yet to be published.   That being said – we’re REALLY excited about it in our office!

Feel free to leave any comments or compliments about the new website here in the comments.

================

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator

Update – Team Discovery Channel wins!!

Hello all!

A few weeks back, we asked for your support in voting for the Queen’s Human Media Laboratory on Discovery Channel’s top science story of the year.  Well, you clearly came through because we won!!  The story about Flexible Computers at Queen’s University was voted the number one science story of the entire year.

Thank you for voting as much as you did!  You can learn more about the Human Media Lab here at Queen’s by clicking on this link.

Keep your eyes peeled here for more information about what the year ahead holds in store for you!

————

Kevin du Manoir
Admission Coordinator