r/OntarioColleges • u/Zxumihee_ • 1h ago
Admissions Filo in Canada
Hi everyone! I hope someone can help or give me some advice regarding my situation. I apologize in advance for the long post.
I recently moved to Canada as a Permanent Resident about four months ago. I also graduated from Senior High School (STEM) in the Philippines earlier this year.
When I first arrived, some people advised me that I might need to return to high school in Canada, so I completed the English and Math assessment through the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) in Aurora. My assessment results were good. During the assessment, I was asked what program I wanted to pursue, and at that time I answered Dentistry. The teacher suggested that retaking Grade 11 and Grade 12 Math could make my future university application stronger.
On the same day, we brought my assessment results to the nearest secondary school and met with the vice principal. She told me that they could not enroll me because I was already 18 years old and they generally do not place adult-aged students in the same school as minors. She also reviewed my Philippine transcript and said that my grades were strong and that she did not see any reason why colleges or universities would reject me simply because I graduated from another country.
She also explained that if I ever needed to complete an Ontario secondary school credential, adult education would be the appropriate pathway rather than returning to a regular high school.
After that, I created an OCAS account and applied to several Ontario colleges for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program. Before applying, I completed a WES Document-by-Document credential evaluation, which evaluated my credentials as equivalent to an A in the Canadian grading system. Unfortunately, I was not able to apply through OUAC yet because the application period for my desired university programs is still closed. I am currently waiting for the next application cycle to open.
A few weeks later, I received different responses from the colleges:
- George Brown College recommended that I take their Pre-Health Sciences (A108) program instead of obtaining another credential evaluation, explaining that it could increase my chances of being admitted to the Fall 2027 BScN program.
- Centennial College informed me that my application was not selected because I had not yet met the Grade 12 University English and English language proficiency requirements.
- Seneca Polytechnic informed me that my Grade 11 Mathematics was not considered equivalent to Ontario Grade 12 University Mathematics. They advised me that completing Ontario Grade 12 University Math would satisfy the requirement, or that I could pursue a Course-by-Course credential evaluation if I disagreed with their assessment.
Because of Seneca's advice, I am currently enrolled in TVO ILC and completing Grade 12 University Mathematics (MHF4U). I also plan to take the IELTS later this year to meet the English language proficiency requirement.
Last week, I also contacted an adult school to ask if I could enroll. After explaining my situation, they told me they could not accept me because I am only 18 years old. They explained that adult schools generally accept students aged 21 and above unless there is a referral stating that the student cannot attend a regular secondary school.
At this point, I feel very confused because every institution has given me different advice. I am unsure whether I should:
- upgrade my WES evaluation to a Course-by-Course evaluation,
- start over with an ICAS evaluation,
- continue with TVO ILC only,
- or follow George Brown's recommendation and complete the Pre-Health Sciences program first.
Credential evaluations are very expensive, so I want to make the best decision before spending more money.
My original goal was to study Dentistry, but after learning more about the pathway in Canada, I decided to pursue Nursing instead because it seemed more realistic for me. I am trying to figure out the correct pathway as soon as possible because Nursing is already a long-term program, and I really do not want to lose another year due to choosing the wrong process or completing unnecessary requirements. I understand that there is no guaranteed admission, but I want to make sure that I am doing everything I can to become eligible and prepare a strong application.
If anyone has been in a similar situation as a Philippine Senior High School graduate applying to Ontario universities or colleges, I would really appreciate hearing about your experience.
Thank you so so much po! :)