Preparing for What’s Next

By Michelle Frigo - Director, Guidance, University Counselling

Deciding where to go to school is one of those choices that feels more profound looking at it in the rear-view mirror than it does over your dashboard. When you make the right choice, it can change the direction of your life in amazing ways.

The post-secondary counselling programme at Appleby College is committed to working with students and their families throughout the post-secondary exploration and application process. Students at Appleby are supported in finding a post-secondary institution that matches them; their academic profile, interests, values, and strengths. An awareness of self is required for students to find this match, otherwise known as their ‘best-fit’ for post-secondary study. Our programme supports students in developing an understanding of their unique talents, abilities, interests, skills, and strengths and students are encouraged to find their ‘best-fit’ with a clear understanding of self in mind.

Appleby has implemented a structured curriculum dealing with careers and education. In grades 9 and 10 career exploration is the focus, while grade 11 and 12 students are involved in an extensive look at post-secondary options, research and the application process. Appleby also offers its grade 11 students an optional guidance course for those interested in applying to universities in the US and UK. A number of evening presentations are held to keep parents informed and foster their involvement in the process. In addition, the school’s guidance department hosts both International and Canadian university fairs during the fall, giving students (and their parents) direct access to the respective schools’ admissions teams. Students also meet individually with Appleby’s counselling staff and are supported throughout the post-secondary selection and application process.

Appleby graduates are accepted into some of the finest post-secondary institutions in the world. In fact, of the 59 post-secondary schools Appleby’s 2022 graduates are attending, 39 are international. The impressive list of schools that Appleby alumni are attending include the University of Toronto, McGill University, University of Waterloo, University of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, Princeton University, Cambridge University, King’s College London and the University of St Andrews.

“I love that Appleby has such a tightknit community and a great alumni system, and every graduate has this ‘once a Blue Dog always a Blue Dog’ mindset which makes it really easy to reach out to alumni everywhere,” shared Appleby alumna Andrea Lee. “Throughout my university application process I was able to reach out to many alumni globally and hear their insights on universities that I was thinking of attending.”

For more information about Appleby’s post-secondary guidance programme, please contact Sophie Grossman, executive director, admissions at sgrossman@appleby.on.ca or visit www.appleby.on.ca.