Post-Secondary Offers at Alexander Academy

It is that special time of year when we begin to receive our university acceptance letters! We are thrilled to announce that our students have so far received offers to:

We are delighted with the acceptances and wait in great anticipation for the remaining offers!

Making the Transition to University

A challenging task for high school students is making the transition from high school to university. At Alexander Academy, our goal is to set students on a pathway to success by allowing them to transition into university with ease.

What are some things to expect now that you are about to start your post-secondary adventure?

You will experience more independence

The biggest change for high school compared to university is that you will have much more independence compared to when you were in high school. You might live away from your parents but you will have independence in many other areas of your life as well. For example, you will have the autonomy to choose you classes, your major, and your class schedule.

You will be an adult

Once you graduate from high school you may no longer be a child in your parent’s care. This mean, you will no longer need parent permission slips, and will have to make your own study choices and schedule meetings yourself, without Mom and Dad helping you.

For many it is exciting to become an adult, but it also means that you will have more responsibilities. You will be the one who will have to solve your own problems!

There will be a wider variety of classes to choose from

In high school, you had to take prescribed courses in order to graduate. In university, you will have a wider variety of classes to choose from with more specific topics such as French literature, astronomy, ancient Roman history, and so much more.

Classes will be diverse

In high school your classes most likely had the same number of students; however, this is not the case in university. Classes may have up to 100 students, and the format of delivery may also vary. Some classes may require hands-on lab work, or be discussion or lecture-based.

Your schedule may be complicated

In high school, school started and ended the same time every day. In university, some classes meet three times a week for an hour and a half, some meet five times a week for an hour, some meet once a week for three hours, etc.

In university, you will likely be starting and ending class at different times during the week, and you may end up with a different class schedule for every day of the week.

You will have the opportunity to make new friends

You will no longer be surrounded by classmates that you went to grade school with. In university, you will have many opportunities to make new friends, however; some loneliness at the start is to be expected. Do not give up, and get pro-active! Just as in high school, extracurriculars are a great way to meet new people.

Classes will require more critical thinking

While attending university you will be tested on your critical thinking skills. For example, you be asked to apply your knowledge to more challenging types of equations, analyze how historical events affect future events, or learn a scientific process and describe how it affects the environment.

University is expensive

University costs thousands of dollars, and you’ll likely be paying for room and board as well. University requires all sorts of smaller purchases too, like special goggles for your chemistry lab or official test taking booklets for final exams. Keep these expenses in mind when you make your budget.

Less time will be spent in class

Most full-time university students spend about 15-20 hours a week in class. This is probably much less time than you spent in high school classes every day, which means you’ll have a lot more unscheduled time to spend how you think is best.

Many students in university are able to maintain a part-time job while in university but it is up to you to decide how to structure your days.

You will have more homework

You will spend approximately three hours a week on schoolwork for every one hour of class you attend. This means you can may spend up to 45 hours a week on schoolwork, much like a full-time job!

Attendance Will Be Up to You

In high school, you had to go to class every day. In university, there are no requirements for attending class, however, do not make the mistake the common mistake make by not attending and falling behind.

Some professors may include attendance as part of your grade, and some may even fail you if you are consistently absent without a valid excuse.

Your social life may become more active

While in university, you will have many more opportunities to be social and make friends. There will be teams to join and clubs you can be part of, and so much more. You are also bound to find an activity you are interested in.

It is likely that your university has more students than your high school, so your opportunities for making friends will increase. However, you will need to make an effort. Make sure to try new things and strike up conversations with new people.

You may feel anonymous

While in high school you may have stood out in the crowd, in university you will be surrounded by many talented classmates, many who also stood out in high school. Now you will encounter other students who are also skilled at your talent.

You will have fewer opportunities for grade submissions

In high school, you may have had daily homework assignments that you had to complete for grades along with some larger projects, tests and quizzes. In high school you may have been given other chances to make up for the low grade.

Once you start university, you may find that many classes fewer assignments. Many university classes are based on a midterm grade and a final grade. This means you need to take those papers, projects, and exams seriously.

Going from high school to university can be tough no matter how excited you are to start at your new school. You will be faced with some bumps and changes along the way. There may be times when you feel awkward, homesick, and lonely, which are very typical responses. Do not expect to love it immediately, as it takes a little while to feel comfortable. There will be a lot of changes.

University is a wonderful stage in your life that is filled with self-discovery. Seize the opportunity to meet new people. Strike up conversations with classmates, join a club or team and develop new friends and hobbies.

Our team of admissions experts have expert knowledge in helping you plan out and navigate your way through the process. We are excited to be by your side as you make this wonderful transition in your life!