High School to University help.

[Dog--]

First off, I don't know if this is just for Canada, or for Ontario or whatever, so if you don't know what I'm talking about, refrain from answering.

Ok, so when I started high school, I expected to just finish, not do good, but basically just get by and pass, and after high school I was to go to work in the factory with my dad (it's actually pretty good money). But my plans recently changed and I think I screwed myself over..

In high school here you choose between Applied (college) or Academic (University) classes, you take applied if you're going to college/work after high school and you choose Academic (harder) classes if you're going to uni. Thinking I was just going into a factory anyways, I decided to take applied.

But now I've decided I want to go to university (no one ever in my family has gone to uni, just like 3 people went to college) for music. I want to go to Toronto to go to the university there to study music, and after that I'd like to open a music school, something I'd really love to do. But since I've taken applied classes I don't know if I can, so am I screwed? I'm just finished grade 11 (of 12) on Friday, so I've still got one more year of high school. Is there a way for me to go to university, or am I just going to have to bite the bullet and go to work in the factory (which I'd rather NOT do now, knowing that I could go into music for a living)?

 

[Dan]

Nope, it's impossible. You will have to work in the factory for the rest of your life. Sorry.

 

[theotherguy]

Yes, that was a rather poor choice. A factory job will get you nowhere nowadays and frankly I feel pretty sorry for you.

On the account of getting into a university, I would say make an example of your aspiration in your final year of high school by taking all academic classes, and if it is available in Canada, try fro some AP and IB classes.

Then, you can use your story, specifically the part of your story dealing with the fact that nobody in your family has attended a university before, to gain some sway at admissions. Universities actually love to be the first to give someone from a family with no university education their services.

If you're studying music, the best part of your resume is not the academic part, but the audition part. Many universities require an audition in either tape form or live in front of the department before you can enter the music school. If you have a lackluster academic resume, your audition could propel you into being admitted. On the same token, if you have stellar academics but a poor audition, they could easily deny you on that count.

Also, there is another option. You don't have to immediately transfer from high school to a university. You could easily go to a community college first, take all of the academic classes you missed in high school, and then transfer to the university. (This is actually extremely common here in the US)

 

[Dog--]

I knew about the audition.. For University of Toronto you have to do it in person, which I don't really have a problem with, but I wasn't sure if you NEEDED all academic classes to even apply, you can apply with Applied? Will they even consider it?

 

[theotherguy]

I knew about the audition.. For University of Toronto you have to do it in person, which I don't really have a problem with, but I wasn't sure if you NEEDED all academic classes to even apply, you can apply with Applied? Will they even consider it?

I don't know about the admissions policies of the university of Toronto or of Canada in general. Try calling the university and asking what their policy is on academic or applied classes. Chances are, they will review your application no matter what classes you took, as long as you graduated (this is true of US schools as well). Admissions officers generally look at the difficulty of the classes you took, the grades you got in those classes and any trends in grades and class difficulty when making their decision.

But this is not all they look at. Universities also will look at your audition, your test scores, your letters of recommendation, and your essays. If you have poor grades, or a poor course schedule, it is possible that you can get admitted if you have good test scores, heartfelt letters of recommendation, a good essay, a good audition, or a combination of these factors.

But in any case, I encourage you to apply to any and all schools you want to attend. The worst that could happen is they reject your application, but you can't get admitted without applying! The best thing to do is to research admission statistics at the university of Toronto, talk with some of the admissions staff, and then do everything you can to come off as a passable candidate by the end of next year. Trust me, a senior year can make or break an application, and if you really want to get into a university of your choice, you've got to put on a good show in your last year.

 

[Dog--]

Yea, my marks aren't the greatest, mostly in just English and Math, English are all 50's that I passed with and one English that I passed with 65, Maths are all 60-70's, all my other classes were done well (like 80+), though, but they were all Tech classes like Welding and Manufacturing or Phys Ed, so I doubt they'd care about those..

They tried to put me in academic math/english because my previous teachers recommended me (the only reason my marks were low is because I was lazy, I was just focused on passing..), the work that I do is done really well.. I can do the work, it's actually easy for me, I just don't most of the time, but I'm regretting it..

I took ALL tech classes for grade 12 (except the mandatory English), but I think I'll switch everything for academic book learning classes, if it will help me.

 

[MJ12]

I don't see the big deal of going to a Uni. (not bashing on those that do, mind you)

To me, it doesn't matter as long as both the college and the uni both have what you are fundamentally looking for, (music, art, etc) And as long as it isn't terrible of course. Because you are going to get educated in it either way, but if it's what you are really interested in, you are going to have to take the extra step that a college or a uni can't give you, no matter what. A piece of paper from a college or uni doesn't mean much if you can't really do what you want. You can always take the extra step and study/practice/research and that's what's really important, because for a lot of people it's just "ooo, I went to this school, look". So, to me, as long as it isn't a terrible school that has what you want, I don't see how it matters.

But whateva' just my two cents.

 

[CptStern]

First off, I don't know if this is just for Canada, or for Ontario or whatever, so if you don't know what I'm talking about, refrain from answering.

Ok, so when I started high school, I expected to just finish, not do good, but basically just get by and pass, and after high school I was to go to work in the factory with my dad (it's actually pretty good money). But my plans recently changed and I think I screwed myself over..

In high school here you choose between Applied (college) or Academic (University) classes, you take applied if you're going to college/work after high school and you choose Academic (harder) classes if you're going to uni. Thinking I was just going into a factory anyways, I decided to take applied.

But now I've decided I want to go to university (no one ever in my family has gone to uni, just like 3 people went to college) for music. I want to go to Toronto to go to the university there to study music, and after that I'd like to open a music school, something I'd really love to do. But since I've taken applied classes I don't know if I can, so am I screwed? I'm just finished grade 11 (of 12) on Friday, so I've still got one more year of high school. Is there a way for me to go to university, or am I just going to have to bite the bullet and go to work in the factory (which I'd rather NOT do now, knowing that I could go into music for a living)?

ask your guidance counselor ..also so long as you have maths science and english you should meet requirements ..you can always go as a mature student after working for awhile, I think it's age 21 and it wont matter what you took in highschool

also U of T for music is no cake walk ..best learn how to play more than one instrument and also be prepared for an audition

 

[Eejit]

What's the difference between a college and a uni over there anyway?

 

[Dog--]

@ ZT - Well, to be honest, you don't even need a degree to open a music school, but I like what the school offers.

They teach Theory (which, yes, I could learn on my own), they teach sound recording (software, booths all that stuff), they teach group playing (like a band, and not just the classical bands, like with drums, guitar, bass, etc), they teach tons of different stuff. It just seems like it'd be a really fun experience, plus I want to learn all I can, and with a music teacher.. I dunno, just a little iffy to me, yea they teach theory, but how do you know they know what they're talking about? Maybe THEY learned it from the internet? Unless they have a degree... (catching on yet?)

@ Stern - I've been told U of T was one of the more harder schools for music, which is all the more reason to go. I plan on learning piano (which isn't too hard, it's very similar to guitar, tbh), I also used to play the Tenor Sax.. I'll play it if I HAVE to, but if I don't have to then I won't..

 

[theotherguy]

Yes, without at least some kind of degree in music, getting a job as a music teacher anywhere, even at a high school, can be difficult. Having a music degree really helps to make you a good candidate for a job. It's not absolutely necessary in music, but it can help you stand out and get better jobs.

 

[CptStern]

@ ZT - Well, to be honest, you don't even need a degree to open a music school, but I like what the school offers.

They teach Theory (which, yes, I could learn on my own), they teach sound recording (software, booths all that stuff), they teach group playing (like a band, and not just the classical bands, like with drums, guitar, bass, etc), they teach tons of different stuff. It just seems like it'd be a really fun experience, plus I want to learn all I can, and with a music teacher.. I dunno, just a little iffy to me, yea they teach theory, but how do you know they know what they're talking about? Maybe THEY learned it from the internet? Unless they have a degree... (catching on yet?)

@ Stern - I've been told U of T was one of the more harder schools for music, which is all the more reason to go. I plan on learning piano (which isn't too hard, it's very similar to guitar, tbh), I also used to play the Tenor Sax.. I'll play it if I HAVE to, but if I don't have to then I won't..

I dont mean they'll want you to play more than one instrument .they'll want you to play more than one instrument well

as to a route to becoming a music teacher, you need a degree (bachelor of arts etc) plus 2 years in teacher's college ..but you're pretty much guarenteed a job for life once you graduate

 

[Dog--]

No no, I won't apply for a teaching job at a school, I want to open my own music school, almost every music teacher around here doesn't have a degree, and I'll think it'll give me a decent boost over them to have one, most people would rather be taught by someone who has proof of knowledge, don't you?

Plus if I open my own school (it won't be a huge school, I'll probably have another person and we'll go one one one with students), I don't have to go to teachers school, I'm not exactly rich enough to pay for all this stuff..

Some of my friends (who know nothing of actual theory, just tabs) teach music to little kids around here. And they charge like 30 bucks for 5 lessons and they are like 17-18 and teach out of their houses..

 

[CptStern]

I know several teachers who teach piano on the side ..it's not a way to make a living ..and opening your own school involves more than just opening the doors to the public ..you need acreditation if you're going to teach anything besides part time beginners

 

[mindless_moder]

you should talk to your guidance counsellor. look up the pre-reqs for the programme you are applying to and compare them across universities . Making the switch in gr11 isnt impossible but it might cost you a year , i know a few people that have done something similar and it worked out just fine.

you can always go as a mature student after working for awhile, I think it's age 21 and it wont matter what you took in highschool

what ?

im pretty sure that i've taken night school with mature students that needed pre-reqs for their program.

edit: if you want to start your own school you might want to take some business/management related courses in uni .

 

[Mellish]

Move country.