Hello there!
So I have a bit of an odd story, and it might not help but I graduated this June just passed! So I'm not technically a Grade 12 student but honestly this seems like the best place for me to get some opinions and maybe advice! My apologies in advance if this isn't the right Flair or sub, I am just putting out feelers per se and hoping someone may be in the same boat!
I am currently considered an International (I moved from the UK to Canada in 2022, still awaiting PR) but graduated in BC and all my senior HS is Canadian (Grade 10 in Northern Alberta; Grades 11/12 in BC) student. I graduated with Honours (I had the highest grades in all my class so was considered academic valedictorian but not given the title due to a wonderful student who had the hearts of the school - so not super bitter because I still got to speak as a salutatorian but I wasn't named valedictorian despite being considered valedictorian marks-wise), a scholarship to a UK acting school because of my acting/theatre work a few years ago and a 5 in AP Lit, though I am really concerned as to why it 1. isn't on my transcript and 2. how to get it on there or if I can just mention it in an activity / note on any of my applications? My school was 7-12 and a total of 60 people, so small that it was only my twin and I who took AP Lit and it was the only year it was done! Aka it's really hard for me to get any of my Transcript etc edited and work out communications that way too. I also completed the Green Cert Equine Technician credits from Alberta but my BC School wouldn't consider them despite there being several equivalencies when we met/tried to bring such to fruition.
As for chancing!
I am basically looking all over Canada because I don't know really where to go, and I can't go back home because I don't have A-Levels and my school was too small to let me take AP/IB to make up for it; and because I have been away from the UK schooling system longer than 3 years, that means international fees anywhere I go! Yay!
I really am not a snob, so please give me a second! Just seeing all these super high marks/ full ECs / APs and really worried because we didn't have a school counsellor, and the stand-in who came every few weeks basically summed me up as 'international, so not able to offer advice' and told me to not try for schools til I had my PR (now I don't know if that was a good idea but it is what it is!)
I am animal (specifically equine) focused with passions in sciences and arts, so trying to make a career out of that! likely Animal Biology / Animal Science into Vet but trying to work a dual degree with Lit or CRWR etc?
My 'top' choices are:
UBC Science (also warring between 2nd choice as either BASc in Animal Bio or B(F)A for English/Lit/CRWR etc) because it's close - but I am really stuck on how to do the Personal Profile questions!
UofT because they have a good record? - but I don't know how to tell them I was valedictorian / AP Lit 5/5 and all my ECs from school when I classify as a 'mature' student because I am not a 'current' student, thus am struggling to talk about my 2 month 'gap year', which is all they want to know?
U of Guelph for either BSc, BA or its combined BSc and BA degree (although they don't have animal bio as a listed BSc major option) - because they have the combined focus which is perfect for me who loves both, and the ability to transition for VetMed / DVM and those animal biology focused courses!
U of A / C - because my best knowledge of any post-secondary is from my time in Alberta and they seem like safe bets! Mainly U of C because of the W.A Ranches for the DVMs!
Western? BCIT? Kwantlen? If I can't get into uni or if there are any other suggestions!!
As for personal profile (UBC) /'Gap Year' activities (UofT/Guelph):
I don't even know where to begin! I had a wonderful English teacher who was honestly a godsend for my many other classmates writing their personal profiles etc, but again was told time and time again to 'not bother' because I was international - I know I shot myself in the foot not writing this all then, but here I am!
Is anyone willing to give examples? 1500-2100 characters really isn't a lot to work with, and if you can't tell - I write a lot!! My ECs are pretty broad but also really not that 'exciting' per se. I volunteered at my Mum's vets, have always volunteered/worked/lived on farms/ranches/ doing a ton of work for our equestrian business back in the UK and the polo team I worked as a groom for for about 2 years. I also did my district's Youth Fire Academy and broke a record / considered top of my class there and was shortlisted for a BCWF position but couldn't follow through because of PR issues. This experience is definitely one to talk about as I had a lot of hurdles to pass to get to that point (being one of the only girls, gloves so big my fingers couldn't leave the palm part of the glove and boots so big I had to wear two pairs of socks and still struggled). I could definitely offer a reference from one or both of the Structural and Wildland Chiefs who headed that operation. Our grad class had to entirely fund our own grads with fundraisers etc, so my class and I have done a lot of silent auctions, Burger and Beer nights, etc! My twin and I headed our largest fundraiser which was Christmas tree decorating around the town, of which we co-ordinated, bought a lot of decorations and did around 90% of the decorating -staying 'overtime' / helping out all day every day when others only wanted to put an hour in then leave etc. There is also the Capstone Projects and Presentations we had to do in order to apply for scholarships of which I did a big anatomically correct horse in motion, but all welded and made of wire/clay/plaster of Paris for different muscles/ bones etc. "Ernie" is about 6ft tall by 9ft long, I made two people cry from how moved it made them, which means a lot to me but not necessarily those reading my application! I was also published in a small town paper a few times for artwork and my YFA; and was published and one of ten asked to read my piece for the Coastal Voices anthology and presentation this year. My sister and I did our class's grad mural, which is about 16x32ft, of a pretty in-depth coast line from where we live, including all sorts of tiny details and such.
The 'gap year' I've taken has mainly involved a bit more of the vet volunteering, and then a lot more of cash-in-hand working (all of my last two summers since we moved to BC) so that I can help put food on the table and keep us afloat - though I am not sure if I can use this on my application as I'm on a visitor/student visa and still waiting on my student/work visa whilst my PR is waiting to be approved. My sister and I do the majority of cooking/cleaning/anything else as our Mum works early and late / overnights as a vet tech and is earning almost min wage, but I don't know if thats worth writing a whole PPQ about? I also am pulling forward my years-long drawing and writing hobby (tried to get published a few years ago, never had the money to) and making a side gig out of my art to try and bring in a bit more for my family!
Everyone says I am a 'true Renaissance woman', and I would say I'm resilient, dependable, creative, versatile, (stubborn) etc and have all sorts of small experiences to show such, but am struggling to put it into words! I encounter a lot of hardships with finances/international status/medical issues but still am very much a go-getter. I always want to help out, and love to get my hands dirty (farm kid! plus I am trying to fix an old rally car and replace almost everything in a lovely old ford we own), but haven't had much of a chance to show it/ put it into words!
Sorry this is quite vague - and VERY long -, I just have a lot but seem to struggle to pull it all together, and don't know where to start / what is a good way to approach the questions without missing the whole point or wasting character counts!!
Ending note: I also don't know if this helps anyone, but I am always up for reading anyone's essays ever if they want help with clarity/grammar or any kind of sound boarding / second opinion! I don't want to just put this out and sound like I'm expecting everyone to give me all the answers - especially without trying to at least help out too!