This is a very exciting stage as your student decides where to apply. If St. Jerome’s University is one of the possibilities, you might be interested in reading the letters below that describe the experience of other parents at this stage. Here are the basics:

• Come for a visit: Some factors, such as sense of community, are better seen or felt in person. At SJU, you can book a visit any time, but major visit days in the fall, in March, and in May offer special additional features.
• Application deadlines: All full-time applications are handled through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), whose website lists application deadlines. We encourage Ontario secondary school students to apply before the December break. Although students from outside Ontario can apply a little later, we suggest that they also apply as early as possible. 
• Acknowledgment of an application: Shortly after applying, your student will receive an application acknowledgment email that explains the next steps for students who have applied.
• Offers of admission: The date students will receive an offer of admission depends on the program selected, their academic average, and any special entrance requirements such as the AIF. We want to have enough information to compare all applicants fairly, and we want students to succeed in their studies, so we may wait for completed forms and/or updated grades before making an admission decision.
• Timing of offers of admission: As enough information is collected, notifications of acceptance are sent on a continuing basis beginning in December. Only a small number of students (less than 10%) typically receive an offer of admission in December or January. Other small batches are made in February and March. More than half of our offers are sent at the end of April or in early May. 
• Entrance Bursary deadline: Please note that the University of Waterloo Entrance Bursary deadline usually falls in April – before many of our offers are made. We recommend that students apply regardless of whether or not they have received an offer yet.
• Final date for Offers of Admission: Each year, Ontario universities agree on a final date in May by which all offers of admission must be made. Students then have until a subsequent date, usually several days later, to respond. All offers are conditional on the student achieving satisfactory final marks. You’ll find this year’s dates posted on the Waterloo website for future students.
• Residence application deadline: For students intending to live on campus, Residence Community Ranking forms and a $500 deposit are also due by the residence application deadline.

Early offers of admission: If your student has already received an early offer of admission, congratulations are in order! We will send complete course selection details in May and June, so please be patient. 
 

Many students may be excited yet nervous about starting university. One key to their success is orientation. We’ve found that students who attend some part of Orientation do better with the transition to university. SJU’s Orientation process is smaller than the one on the main campus, which may appeal to your student. It’s an opportunity to meet other SJU students and also includes academic orientation. Even if students are not overly keen on Orientation social activities, we strongly suggest they attend at least the academic portion. It’s a good compromise, and they’ll come away with the following pointers:

• How to use important tools such as the academic calendar
• What we expect academically during the first year
• Tips for selecting future courses

As an involved parent whose goal is to help your student prepare for what’s ahead, you’ll want to explore the list of resources for parents prepared by Waterloo’s Student Success Office and also take a look at the programs and assistance available from SJU’s Student Success Services to learn how your student will be supported during the transition to SJU and Waterloo. You can learn how to be a coach for your student, thereby allowing personal development and growth. According to Arthur Chickering, a student development researcher, university is a time when students can gain autonomy, establish identity, and learn to manage relationships.

• Quest and email: Many important notices and reminders are sent to students at the email address they have recorded in Quest, the Waterloo student information system. Upcoming deadlines and other details are also posted on Quest. Encourage your student to make sure the email address is correct, to check Quest regularly, and to read any email messages from SJU or Waterloo.
• LEARN: LEARN is the name of the software that most Waterloo professors use to run their courses. Students must have paid their tuition and fees in full or have arranged for them to be paid in order to access LEARN and, therefore, their courses. The Faculty of Arts also posts need-to-know information for first-year students on LEARN, such as reminders about winter course registration start dates or when fees are due. It is a good idea to remind your son or daughter to check LEARN regularly.
• Selecting a Major: Many parents are anxious about their student’s selection of a major. Faculty of Arts students are technically not in a major in first year but declare their major at the end of the winter term. SJU and Waterloo review the process of selecting a major with students in February and March during the winter term of their first year. We host numerous information sessions about this topic around this time so that your student can receive plenty of relevant information. You can encourage attendance at these sessions.
• Timelines: The academic calendar is a student’s contract with the University. It also lists key dates such as final exam periods, study days, and Reading Week (the week in February students have off to read and prepare for midterms). Deadlines for paying tuition and fees and for dropping courses without academic penalty appear here as well. Your student is expected to know what these deadlines are, so you can encourage careful checking of the listings.

• AccessAbility Services – If your student has had an Individual Education Plan in high school, registration with AccessAbility Services is very important. They can arrange appropriate accommodation measures without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum, so that everyone meets on a level playing field. It’s a good idea for your student to get started by registering with them over the summer before school begins or immediately at the beginning of term at the very latest.
• Co-operative Education – If your student is in a co-op program, resources are available to help facilitate the co-op process and ensure a successful work term experience.
• Centre for Career Development – Students can make appointments for job search and career-planning help. Regular group workshops are offered on topics such as Career Exploration and Decision Making, Résumé Tips, and Further Education Boot Camp. It’s smart for your student to start thinking about summer jobs in December or early January; the Centre maintains a listing of summer job employment programs.
• Counselling Services – Occasionally students need help coping with unexpected difficulties – the sudden death of a family member, a relationship breakup, etc. Free sessions with a qualified counsellor are included in tuition fees. St. Jerome’s also has a Wellness Coordinator who is trained to help connect students to the resources they need.
• Student Success Services at SJU – Helpful and knowledgeable staff in SJU’s Student Success Services, who will know your student personally, are always available to discuss time management skills, study strategies, and degree paths. The office also runs valuable group programs and workshops.
• Student Success Office on main campus – The University of Waterloo Student Success Office regularly offers group workshops on note taking, term-planning strategies, and test preparation and anxiety. If you know that your student is struggling with any of these issues, you could suggest a workshop.
• Student Awards & Financial Aid (SAFA) – This office looks after financial support for students:
  
  • They work closely with the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and can assist your student with questions about OSAP. 
  • The Waterloo website displays scholarships and awards that are offered regularly. Students can keep an eye on these awards over the years and apply to the ones they qualify for.
  • SJU and Waterloo also offer bursaries, which are funds provided to students who are in financial need; these amounts do not have to be paid back. Bursaries require an application. Students apply for a Waterloo Entrance Bursary before they arrive. After they’re at university, they can apply for an SJU bursary in their upper years.