Students competing fiercely with the laid off
As mature students flood unis, schools say they will not give priority to Grade 12 applicants
But Grade 12 graduates won’t be getting the same kind of attention from the Ontario government. Like mature students, Grade 12s are eligible to apply for financial help through the Ontario Student Assistance Program. But only unemployed workers can apply for support through Second Career.
Nor will they be given priority for scarce spaces in either colleges or universities despite being up against an influx of mature students. That’s got some Grade 12 students and their parents worried.
Laura Schoof, 17, will be graduating from Vincent Massey Secondary School in Windsor this spring and has applied to three Ontario colleges’ medical radiation programs. “There are more people in their late 40s going in, that’s more people applying,” said Schoof. “I’ve been really stressing about getting my grades up and pretty much worrying about getting in.”
She believes Grade 12 students should be given priority over mature students because laid off workers could more easily find a job if they were turned away from college.
That doesn’t appear to be in the pipeline, however, at either the college or university level. “No, not right now,” said University of Windsor’s Wildeman. “We want to be as accessible as we can to as many people as possible who want to get a university education. It’s not a question of choosing between the two.”
It’s the same story at the University of Toronto, where Loney says there will be no special consideration given to high school students. “You’d have to think through whether someone who is 18 and coming out of high school has a greater claim on the space than somebody who’s older and has done some things already,” Loney said.
“It’s not obvious that one has a greater claim on a space than someone else.” The ultimate answer, say the administrators, is for the Ontario government to fund more spaces, then there would be no need to pick and choose between high school graduates and mature students.
John Milloy, the minister of training, colleges and universities, could not be reached for comment.
The Canadian Press
It’s a difficult situation all around, and I can see cause for concern for all parties. However, as a 30+ studying fulltime at University, I am glad I was accepted before this large influx, as my program (English) is becoming quite popular amongst younger students unsure of an area of concentration.
We’ll see what my graduating year holds in terms of job opportunites. Maybe a Master’s if things are still bad “out there.” Hey, perhaps I’ll even end up standing in the UI line, fanning myself with my diplomas.
I believe that mature students should be given priority in PSE admissions. As a 19 year old, I know that it is easier for me to put my life on hold for a year than it is for a person who has a family and needs to become financially stable as soon as possible. Basic math says that it is easier for a single person to live off of poor paying jobs than it is for a person with dependants.
The university I go to has cut all in-course scholarships for those who have 80% and above averages. This upset me because 1) they didn’t notify the students of this (trying to hide this horrible thing), 2) the scholarship program for those coming directly from high school is still alive, and 3) I’m a mature student who has worked hard to achieve a 89% average
Jess:
3) I’m a mature student who has worked hard to achieve a 89% average
3) I’m a mature student who has worked hard to achieve an* 89% average
So much for an 89% average.