The University of Saskatchewan has changed its admission policy for out-of-province applicants from Alberta, British Columbia and the territories to "level the playing field" when it comes to their high school marks.
Grade 12 students in British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut all take standardized final exams. In B.C. and the Yukon, the provincial exams count for 40 per cent of a student’s final mark. In Alberta, they count for 50 per cent of the final mark.
The change, effective next fall, will make the University of Saskatchewan more attractive to western and northern grads whose marks are high enough to be considered for scholarships. It will also make the University of Saskatchewan an attractive option for weaker students or those who with lower grades.
"All the admissions requirements are the same, just the way that we calculate the average for them puts them on a level playing field with every other student across the board. So that’s kind of what we’ve done ... we’ll take the best mark that works to their advantage, just like we would any other province."
However, there is no mention precisely how the grades will be calculated. If you are from one of these provinces or territories and feel your application might be considered under this new policy, you should confirm how your average will be calculated. Only relax after you get a clear picture.
I believe other universities will follow but only after their data show that the University of Saskatchewan is getting a bigger piece of the pie.
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