Whether you're a high school student planning for postsecondary, a mature student looking to return to school, or a professional aiming for a career change, applying to college is the first and most important step of continuing your education journey.
To help your college application process be as simple and stress-free as possible, we have created this guide to navigate you through the steps of the college application process.
Please note that this guide is intended for domestic students only. International students who are interested in applying to Mohawk College can visit the Applying to Mohawk as an International Student page on our website and/or speak with a member of our International Recruitment Team.
Step 1: Discover your program options
The first step of the application process is to explore the programs that interest you. Everyone starts this journey with varying levels of clarity about their educational and career goals.
Think about which of these three archetypes best describes you.
The Scholar
The Scholar is a future student who knows what programs they want to apply for and what they want to learn. They may have a clear idea of what they want to study, but they may still be uncertain about the exact career path they want to follow.
The Professional
The Professional is a future student who knows what kind of career they want to pursue. Some have a particular career in mind, while others are open to a few different options.
The Explorer
The Explorer is a future student who is still exploring their options for both academic programs and career paths. They might have a general sense of what they want to do or study but don’t know the specifics, or they could be entirely undecided.
Whatever category you fall into, exploring all your options is a smart move. It might lead you to discover programs you hadn’t considered before but turn out to be the perfect fit for you. Mohawk College is home to a wide variety of programs in numerous fields such as healthcare, technology, business and community services. You can browse all our programs by visiting the Programs page of our website. Our Custom Viewbook can also provide you with a more personalized experience, grouping information about specific programs of your choice in one easy to access place.
Step 2: Research your selected programs
After exploring all your program options, you will need to dive deeper into researching the ones that are most appealing to you.
Every program offers different experiences and outcomes and has different requirements, so it is important that you learn as much as you can to make sure that the program is right for you. Even at a college level, different programs can earn you various levels of accreditation, such as:
An Ontario college certificate
A diploma
An advanced diploma
A degree
Each program also has different requirements that applicants must meet, such as a maintained grade average or specific high school credits.
Some additional questions you may want to keep in mind while looking at various programs includes what campus/campuses the program is hosted at, what textbooks or equipment students of the program will need to purchase and if the program has a co-op or placement component to it.
Step 3: Visit OntarioColleges.ca to fill out your applications
Once you have researched your various college program options and selected the ones that are the best fit for you, you will be ready to submit your applications.
First, you will need to visit OntarioColleges.ca and create an account. You will then be able to submit up to five applications for various college programs. Keep in mind that you can only apply to a maximum of three programs at the same college, so plan accordingly. You will also be required to provide certain academic documents, such as a high school transcript. Depending on your previous educational experience, the type of documentation you will need to provide may vary.
Lastly, you will need to pay your fees. This will consist of both an applications fee and the processing fees for your academic paperwork. These fees are paid through OntarioColleges.ca.
Step 4: Accept your offer!
The final, and most exciting step of the application process is accepting your program offer.
The timing of when you receive your offer will vary depending on factors such as the start date of your program. No matter your start date though, it is important that you accept your offer before the deadline attached to your offer. If you accept your offer after the deadline, you may be moved to a waitlist for consideration for a future offer.
Once you have accepted your offer, be sure to pay attention to your email for information regarding tuition payments, program start dates and student orientation activities.
If you have any questions about the college application process, you can reach out to a member of Mohawk College’s Student Recruitment team for expert assistance and advice.
