When should i apply?

[tenniscrazy]

So, I have a question.
I'm going into grade 12 next year so normally I would be applying for university.
But after grade 12, I will be taking a year off then going to university after that. I was wondering if I should still apply in grade 12, or wait until my year off. I talked to guidance at my school and they said i could apply through the government if I wasn't enrolled in a school that year. Is there any benefit either way that anyone knows of? and has anyone here done this?
Thanks

[iluvchairs112]

sometimes you can defer for a year. might as well apply when you are in grade 12 and see if you can defer if you get the program you want. if not, apply the next year.

[Light]

iluvchairs112 @ Fri Jun 13, 2008 1:40 pm wrote:

sometimes you can defer for a year. might as well apply when you are in grade 12 and see if you can defer if you get the program you want. if not, apply the next year.

Only problem with that is you could have to pay the fee to apply two times if you can not defer it.

May we ask why you want to take a year off before university?

[tenniscrazy]

Many people do it in my religion, it's called a year of service and basically you go somewhere in the world, anywhere really, and volunteer for a year.

[Vermette]

Pretty popular idea in the UK too, they call it the gap year.

[tenniscrazy]

yeah, lots of people do it.

I heard from someone that universities actually like it if you take a year off because it gives you a chance to mature or something. And you're more likely to not drop out.

So nobody here has ever done this?

[Aziz]

No experience myself, but I would just apply around Dec 09/Jan10 then, when you're away. All applications are done through OCAS or OUAC:

http://www.ontariocolleges.ca/
http://www.ouac.on.ca/

That's for Ontario, of course. And yes, don't apply unless you're planning on going. $85 (or whatever it is now) for nothing sucks =/

[tenniscrazy]

Sweet, thanks.

Ya, i would meet all the requirements for the OUAC 105D application the year that i'm away, so that would work fine. Thanks for the help

[Aziz]

I'd suggest talking to your school's guidance counsellor, and even calling up the college/university of choice and talking to their registrar's office.

It never hurts to be sure you know exactly what's going to happen and if there's going to be any obstacles.

[tenniscrazy]

thats true, yeah. I plan on driving to all the universities me and my friends are interested in this summer. so i may as well ask in person.