Info from UBC's Counsellor's Day 2013 (Part 2)

(continued from previous post)

In this second of two posts (for Part 1, click here), I will outline the information given to the counsellors by UBC on the writing of the student profile, and UBC's English requirement.

Personal Profile (Broad-based Admission)

• 12% of first year students admitted to UBC last fall were admitted as a result of their personal profile - as such, please treat this portion of the application seriously
• UBC does not provide the rubric or the weight of how the personal profiles are evaluated, and each faculty can use the personal profiles differently. (Mr. Leung's note: a general rule: if your averages is around the admission average for the faculty you are applying, the personal profile's importance is much higher than it would be if your averages are way above the admission averages)
• Students with a higher admission average can be displaced by students with lower averages but stronger student profiles
• The personal profile questions can be found on the application for admission - you should read them, reflect and think about your responses, before actually responding to them. 
• Each student profile will receive at least two reads
• It is important to write about your authentic experience and ideas when answering the personal profile questions - UBC is NOT looking for model answers; it is looking for students who show the ability to reflect on their personal life experiences.
• UBC has provided all counsellors with a handout called "Personal Profile 'Pointer'" - if you want to have a copy - please come to see me. 

UBC's English Requirement

• Admission Standard (i.e. for your application to be eligible for admission consideration): must have completed three or more consecutive years of full-time education in English within Canada immediately prior to attending UBC, and must achieve a grade of 70% or better on the PROVINCIAL EXAM portion of English 12. 
• Students who do not meet the above admission standard can write one of several English language proficiency tests. For more information, click here.
• The English 70 rule (Vancouver campus only) - all students must achieve a final grade of 70% in grade 11 or grade 12 English
• English Provincial exam discrepancy rule: in cases where a significant discrepancy exists (20% or more) between the course grade and the exam grade, UBC reserves the right to use the exam grade only in evaluating admission application (i.e. if your provincial exam is substantially lower than your school mark for English 12, you may lose your seat!) 

The above are meant to inform you of what I have heard and written down from the information day for counsellors. For the most up-to-date information, please go to UBC's website directly. Thanks!

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