Frequently Asked Questions Index:
- General Questions:
- Students' Concerns
General Questions:
What are the Admission requirements?
Admission to the college is general on the basis of the Quebec
Secondary School Diploma including Secondary V second language
and, for Quebec students, there are also CÉGEP entrance
requirements beyond the Diploma: Secondary IV Physical Science,
Secondary V mathematics.
For the Science I.B. option : Math 536, Physics 534 and Chemistry 534. A
solid overall and prerequisite average of at least 80%.
For the Commerce I.B. option:
Math 526 or 536. A solid overall and prerequisite average of at least 80%.
How do I apply for the I.B.?
Complete the regular Application Common Application System (CAS) Form. This
form is available by the end of January, 2003 from your high school Guidance
Counselor or from Vanier College directly. Follow the instructions and indicate
the I.B. Program and option of choice:
I.B. Science, or
I.B. Commerce and Computer Science, or
I.B. Commerce and Spanish
Download the Supplementary Application Form.
Complete the form and letter of intent. These are all to be included with
the CAS Application Form and documents associated with the CAS Application
Form.
Mail the application forms, documents and letters to Vanier College Admissions
Office. The application deadline is March 1, 2003
Are there entrance tests?
There are no I.B. entrance tests. A pre-admission test in English may be
required.
An interview may be scheduled.
When will I know the decision on my application?
Decisions are mailed to applicants approximately four to six weeks after
the application is received on the March 1st deadline, if all required documents
are included with the Application Form.
If you are offered a place in the I.B. program, you will be asked to return
a confirmation card of your intent to register in the Program at Vanier
for Autumn 2003. You will also be invited to an orientation meeting with
other candidates accepted into the Program. This will take place in early
May. In late May or June you will be asked to an Academic Advising Information
Session.
When do I register and get my schedule?
Registration is by telephone during the middle weeks of August.
Once you have completed your registration, you come to the College
to pay your fees, receive your printed schedule and get your
Vanier I.D. card.
How much does the I.B. Program cost?
There is a $300 tuition fee per semester and I.B.O Exams fees of approximately
$800 have to be paid at the third semester. In addition you pay the regular
semester Auxiliary Fee of approximately $150 and, of course you must buy
textbooks (usually $400 a semester). Normally you can expect to pay $2,600
over two years for the I.B. Program.
Non Quebec residents and international students on a student visa pay additional
charges as stipulated by the provincial government.
If you withdraw from the Program before the semester delete date (September
20, 2003), you will receive a refund of your College fees minus the Registration
Fee and another refund of the I.B. Semester Fee minus $20.
When does the semester start?
Monday, August 25th is the first day of class. (TBA)
For more information, or tours and visits to Vanier College and the
actual I.B. classes contact
514-744-7500, press 0 or email us at ib@vaniercollege.qc.ca
Students' Concerns:
What are the advantages of the IB Program?
Despite of the personal challenge and satisfaction, you will also have the
opportunity to learn more stuff than the average students, thus increases your area
of knowledge. Academically, you also get the following advantages:
If you are going to a university outside of Quebec, you will be evaluated
by your universal IB score. The IB Diploma also gives you further recognition
and the CAS hours involved will surely enlighten your CV. Some university
such as Queen's accept students with a 28/45 (equivalent of 62%), which is
significantly easy to get just by passing all your courses.
If you are going to a university inside of Quebec, you will be evaluated
by your R score, which considers your high school grades too. There is an
advantage because you need a minimum of 80% overall average in high school to get in the IB
program, thus your R score will be bonused. You will also get
an additional 0.5 points to your overall R score (which goes to 2 points
for all your 4 semesters). Your IB Diploma and your curriculum activities
will also be evaluated if your R score is the same as a regular student.
And when you attend university, it will be easier for you since you
will be used to the IB workload and hard work. Some of your IB course
will also be credited by an equivalent university course.
If I change program to regular commerce, will I get a higher R score?
Some claim that IB has more work than any other programs. This is false
for Majors, Honors, and most Science programs. Workloads are not comparable
by the program, it is the teachers that set the amount of work. And the same
teachers teach in the IB and other programs.
Changing to a regular commerce will probably get you a higher average,
but not necessarily a higher R score. If you have 70% in the IB program
and the class average is 60 to 70%, you will get X of R score. If you
have 90% in the regular program where the class average is 80-90%, you
will get the same X of R score. People claim that commerce students are slacks off,
which is wrong, there will obviously be some extremes (10% and 100%), that is why your
R score will be calculated differently. In the IB program, all the grades
squished in the 60's to 80's, that is also why you might not be totally disadvantaged
by having a low overall average. 0.5 points seems unsignificant, but do not
forget that 0.5 is sum up to the average. In high school, 5% more in math isn't
a hard job to do, but 5% sum up to the overall average is a lot.
Of course you get more stress with two diplomas instead of one. But you also
get more courses (such as the spanish or the computer science option), which
means more fun! You will however only get 1 gym course instead of 3 like
most of the programs. You also get business and management instead of the
regular commerce program. You get calculus instead of precalculus in certain
programs. You get Theory of Knowledge (Hum103) instead of Greek mythology and
Canada's history. You will also have a high level English course instead of basic
english. If learning is not the major concern or a challenging program
is not your goal, then you might want to revise choosing an easier program for
you. For me, I better work hard now and relax in university, then slack off now
and having difficulties in university.
This program costs ~3600$ unlike other programs that costs only ~1600$. Is money a problem to you?
This is very true, due to the fact that the exams are sent to England and other countries
for correction (~800$) and you also get two diplomas instead of one (~300$ more per semester).
If you are financially unhealthly, you can ask for a minimum of 1000$ of
governmental loans and up to 5000$. Vanier College also awards entrance scholarships
from 100$ to 500$ to hundred of students.
Don't go buy groceries with an empty stomach. Take public transport instead of driving a car;
which can save you a lot from today's oil price. And buy used books from the second year IB students :D.
These ethical habits can easily save you hundreds per semester.
For more information about the students' life at the IB program, or the website and the actual I.B. classes contents
email us at vf331@hotmail.com or at herodavidvan@hotmail.com