Future Students

Step 2: Explore the Options

Once you have a career in mind, you need to explore the different post-secondary institutions that offer the program or training you need to achieve your career goals. There are so many different options out there, how do you know which one is right for you?

Some things to consider when choosing a post-secondary institution are:

• Distance from home. Do you want to stay close to family so you can live at home, keep costs low and have your support network nearby? Or do you want to spread your wings, explore new places and gain some independence by moving away from home?

• Admission requirements. Is the institution/program you are interested in competitive or “first qualified, first admitted”? Do you meet the admission requirements for the program or do you have to consider upgrading?

• Cost. Every post-secondary is going to be a little bit different when it comes to costs. Public institutions may be less expensive than private institutions. If you can live at home, that will save you on living costs, thus making your education less expensive. Which institutions might offer the best scholarships to help you with your costs?

• Size. Post-secondary institutions come in all sizes. Some are large research universities or extensive colleges that can have upwards of 40,000 students on-campus. Class sizes can be in the 100’s of people. Community colleges and smaller universities might have between 800 - 10,000 students, with class sizes ranging from 10-100. 

• Program Delivery. It’s important to consider how you want to learn and how the program you want to take is being delivered. Is it online or on-campus? How much of the class is spent in lectures versus labs? Some students learn well online while others do better in-person. Many students like to have “hands on” learning opportunities in their programs. It’s good to know as much as possible about how your program will be delivered before you start so you can ensure that method of delivery is suitable for your particular learning style.

• Campus Housing. If you are going to be moving away from home, one of the most affordable and convenient places to live is right on campus. Make sure to check if the post-secondary institution you are considering has on-campus housing options.

• Athletics & Recreation. Are you an athlete looking to take your game to the next level? Do you want to stay active while going to school? There are a ton of teams you can try out for or activities you can participate in, but not every post-secondary has the same options available.

• Campus Life. Going to post-secondary is obviously about studying and learning. BUT, part of the experience also includes making great friends, trying new things and having fun. Explore the ways you can get involved, be engaged and make a difference at the post-secondary institution you are considering.

You can visit the individual post-secondary institution websites or use a variety of websites to explore the plethora of post-secondary opportunities available to you. Some examples of these websites are:

• Government of Alberta - Designated Post-Secondary Institutions
• ALIS Post-Secondary Institutions
• SchoolFinder

What happens if you find multiple post-secondary institutions that have the program you are looking for? 

How do you decide which one is going to be your best choice?

One of the best ways to determine which post-secondary institution you should attend is to VISIT! You would never purchase a vehicle without test-driving it first and it’s the same with a post-secondary institution.

Get on campus, see what it looks like, talk to current students & instructors, and find out if it feels like the right place for you.

We have a variety of ways that you can explore our campus to see if Olds College is the place for you:

• Open House, Preview Days, Campus Tours
• Virtual Campus Tour
• Webinars

Step 3: Meet The Requirements

Once you have chosen a program of interest, you have to do some more research to find out what you need to be admitted to that program.

You want to ensure that you do or will meet all of the requirements for admission, including:

• Academic requirements from high school
• Other program requirements (Verification Forms, Questionnaires, etc)

You also want to find out HOW the program is admitted. Is it a competitive admission program or is it “first qualified, first admitted”? Not all university programs are competitive and some college programs can be competitive, so it’s important to do some research so you know what to expect.

• Competitive Admission: applicants are ranked by their grades or average and the applicants with the highest grades are admitted first. 
• First Qualified, First Admitted: applicants are admitted based on when they submit a complete application and have met the admission requirements. As long as the applicant applies before the program is full and meets the minimum admission requirements, they will be offered a seat.

The requirements can also vary depending on the “type” of student that you are. Below is some additional information on the Olds College requirements for various student types:

Academic Upgrading and High School Applicants: Applicants currently in high school or who are completing academic upgrading must submit proof of enrollment and any available interim/midterm marks. 

Final marks must be submitted within one month following the completion of the course(s) and no later than one month prior to the program start date.

Alternate Admission Option: Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. 

To be considered under Alternate Admission Status at Olds College, applicants will be asked to provide the following:

1. (Required) Transcript(s) showing any completed high school and post-secondary courses
2. (Required) Letter of Introduction and Intent, outlining the following:
3. • Introduce yourself, indicate why you wish to enrol in the program, elaborate on your career goals and detail your experience relevant to this program and the industry
4. (Required) A resume of your work history, extracurricular & volunteer activities for the last 5 years
5. (Optional) Include copies of any tickets and/or certificates you currently hold 
6. (Optional) Letter(s) of reference from current or past employers/coaches/etc. (maximum of two letters)

*Please Note: Alternate Admission is not available for all programs. Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*

Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.

International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from international applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency. Further information can be found on our website under International Students.

Step 4: Apply!

YAY! You have made a choice and are now ready to submit an application. That’s fantastic!

You want to ensure that you give yourself the best chance of getting admitted, so here are a few things to keep in mind to make the application process as easy as possible:

• Know when applications open. Many institutions open for applications on October 1 for the following Fall intake, but every institution and program may have different application dates, so make sure you do your research and know when you can begin to apply.

• Submit a complete application. The best way to ensure your application is processed quickly is to submit a complete application. Review the admission requirements and make sure you include all requested documents.

• Pay the application fee. Every institution will have a fee to apply. This covers the cost of processing your application. The amount varies by institution and can range from $50 to over $150. For those applying through the ApplyAlberta online application, the application fee must be paid with a credit card.

• Know if there are deadlines. Some institutions will have application deadlines, while other institutions will continue to accept applications until the program begins. Make sure you find out if the program you are interested in has an application deadline so that you don’t miss out!

• Apply early. Just because a program does not have an application deadline does not mean it won’t fill up. Many programs are very popular and fill quickly, even though they are not “competitive” admission or programs with a deadline. Applying early is the best way to ensure you get a spot in the program you want and aren’t disappointed by ending up on a waiting list.

Check out our Admissions page for more information on the application process.

Submit Documentation

You may be required to submit documentation to the Office of the Registrar to assist the Admissions Officer with making a decision about your application.

These documents may include:

• High School Transcripts

• • If you attend a high school in Alberta, we can access your high school transcripts on your behalf. If you attend high school in another province or country, you are responsible to submit your transcripts to Olds College.

• Timetable or Proof of Enrolment

• • If you are still in high school (or upgrading) and you want to be considered for Conditional Admission, we will ask that you submit a timetable or some other proof that you are enrolled in the classes that you need in order to be admitted to your program of choice.

• Post-Secondary Transcripts

• • If you have attended another post-secondary institution and that institution is in Alberta, we can request your transcripts on your behalf. If the previous post-secondary you attended is in another province or country, it is your responsibility to submit your transcripts to Olds College.

• Program Specific Requirements

• • Many programs, especially at Olds College, have program specific requirements that you must meet, such a job shadowing hours, questionnaire completion, portfolio submissions, etc.