Did you know picking the wrong college at U of T could mean writing an extra essay? Or that grade 11 matters more than grade 12? U of T’s three campuses, timed video interviews, and early deadlines confuse even the smartest applicants.

This episode clears the fog. Learn how to choose the right campus, nail your video essay, and avoid the biggest mistakes that cost top students their spot. Plus, we break down a real student profile that landed U of T Engineering and a Schulich scholarship.

What actually matters when applying to Canada’s top schools? In this episode, we break down the biggest mistakes students and parents make — and how to avoid them early.

🎯 Whether you're in Grade 9 choosing courses or in Grade 12 juggling deadlines, you'll learn:

• Why “doing everything” backfires in admissions

• How to pick the right extracurriculars (and what to drop)

• The surprising factors scholarship committees care about

• Insider tips that thousands of successful applicants used

If you want to stay competitive without burning out, this is the episode to start with.

Chapters

00:00 Navigating Canadian Admissions: An Overview

05:47 Understanding the Competitive Landscape of Top Programs

11:57 The Importance of Early Preparation

17:50 Common Pitfalls in the Application Process

24:40 Strategies for Success in Admissions

29:53 The Role of Extracurricular Activities

36:09 The Admissions Guarantee and Program Offerings

Want to get into UBC? Here's exactly how to submit a strong application — step by step. In just 6 minutes, we’ll walk you through how to stand out, avoid common mistakes, and maximize your chances of getting admitted to one of Canada’s top universities.🔹 Perfect for Grade 9, 10, 11 & 12 students🔹 Based on 1,000+ successful student applications🔹 Covers the UBC Personal Profile & deadlines📍Want help with your applications? Fill out a 3-minute assessment to see if you qualify for our programs: https://quiz.admissionprep.com/program-assessment-quiz📍Want to learn more about AdmissionPrep? Check us out: https://admissionprep.com/Chapters:

0:00 Intro

0:58 Early Application

2:36 Managing Grades and Applications

3:47 Grades

4:21 Activities

We sit down with Nicola, an admissions expert who’s helped over 1,000 students get into top programs like U of T, Queen’s, McMaster, UBC, Waterloo, Western and Ivy League schools.

In this episode, Nicola breaks down the key traits of students who succeed, the common mistakes that cost students scholarships and offers, and how to strategically plan your academics, extracurriculars, and essays from day one.

Plus, we cover what most families misunderstand about the process, why starting in Grade 10 matters, how to write standout essays (without AI), and how to build a student profile that actually gets noticed.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to University Admissions Challenges

03:07 Navigating Career Path Changes

06:05 Keeping Doors Open for Students

09:02 The Importance of Leadership Experience

12:13 Overcoming Admission Anxiety

14:54 Holistic Planning for Success

17:53 Common Misconceptions in Admissions

20:53 The Role of AI in Application Writing

23:59 Crafting Compelling Application Essays

26:57 Reflecting on Growth and Learning

28:11 Navigating Early Admissions

32:30 The Importance of Internships and Co-ops

37:38 Choosing the Right School for Your Program

46:50 Building a Strong Student Profile

Meet Emile. A once-unsure Grade 10 student who’s now crushing university offers! In this episode, he shares the ups, downs, and everything in between about his admissions journey. From boosting his extracurriculars to surviving stressful interviews and picking the right courses, Emile breaks down what really matters. If you're dreaming of top business schools, this is the real talk you need to hear. 🚀

In this episode of Accepted by AdmissionPrep, we debunk the biggest myths about Canadian university admissions. From whether you really need AP/IB to what it takes to get an athletic scholarship in Canada (spoiler: it’s harder than you think), they break down what truly matters for students and parents navigating this system. From varsity hockey to application regrets—get a candid, strategic, and sometimes surprising view into what it takes to get accepted.

Maya joined AdmissionPrep in the summer before Grade 12 with big dreams—and she made them happen. In this interview, she shares how she got accepted to Western Ivey with AEO status, Laurier BBA, and McMaster DeGroote—and won $25,000+ in scholarships along the way.

From founding a business club to winning speech competitions, Maya shares the honest highs and lows of her application journey—and how AdmissionPrep helped every step of the way.

👉 Learn how she overcame self-doubt, managed time, wrote standout essays, and found a community that had her back.

Welcome to the very first episode of Accepted by AdmissionPrep!In this episode, Arry and Jason dive into the biggest misconception students (and parents) have about the admissions process: when to start. Spoiler — it's earlier than you think.We share real stories, insider tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at what the most competitive applicants are doing years before they apply. Whether you're aiming for McMaster Health Sci, Waterloo Engineering, Queen’s Commerce, or another top Canadian program, this is your blueprint.🔍 What you'll learn:- Why Grade 12 isn't the best time to start- The “pre-pre-med” approach for competitive programs- How Arry’s early start changed his life- What top schools are really looking for- The role of storytelling and leadership in standing out👕 Want a free t-shirt? We’re giving one away to the first person who emails us with the quote we said should be on a t-shirt in this episode 😉📩 Send feedback to:[email protected]@admissionprep.com👉 Subscribe and follow for more episodes on Canadian university admissions, scholarship strategy, and how to turn your ambitions into offers.