University Registrar - Student Awards
Queen's UniversityFAQs - Admission Awards Program
Major Admission Award Questions:
- The Major Admission Award Application deadline of December 1 is on a Saturday; will you still accept applications on Monday December 3?
- Can I submit my Major Admission Award Application by fax?
- I can't apply for admission to Queen's because I don't have my PIN from my high school, can I still apply for the Major Admission Awards?
- I am applying for a need-based Major Admission Award but I don't have access to my SOLUS Student Center to submit the Admission Bursary Application, will you still consider my application?
- Have you received my Major Admission Award Application?
- Are there any guidelines for demonstrating my original and creative thinking?
- What marks do I need to submit?
- How can I apply for QuARMS?
- I have been nominated for the Chancellor's Scholarship; do I need to submit a Personal Statement of Experience (PSE) or Supplemental Essay (if applicable) for admission purposes?
- I am unable to participate in extracurricular activities at school this year due to the "Work to Rule" action in Ontario. How will my Major Admission Award Application be affected?
- I have been offered early admission and received a scholarship offer, does this mean I am no longer eligible for a major admission award?
- How do I apply for a Queen's admission scholarship?
- How do you calculate the average used for grades-based admission scholarships?
- Do you use my final June grades when considering me for an admission scholarship?
- What if I receive an admission scholarship with my offer of admission, but my grades decrease after of my final exams?
- How do you calculate my average for a course that I'm repeating?
- Can I defer my award if I choose to take a year off before I go to university?
- Do you offer athletic scholarships?
- My award offer says that I must have a full course load to receive my award. What does full course load mean?
- How are scholarships and bursaries paid?
- I received a Queen’s award, and when I view the status of my application in SOLUS my original award offer is no longer there but there is another award with a different award name. What happened?
- Is there someone I can thank for my award?
- I received a work study entitlement. What do I do now that I have been granted an entitlement?
- In the SOLUS Student Center, there is a link called View Financial Aid. What is this?
- How do I know if I have been granted an Award of Scholarship
- I have been granted a renewable award – what do I need to do to renew my award in subsequent years?
General Admission Award Questions:
Answers:
1. The Major Admission Award Application deadline of December 1 is on a Saturday; will you still accept applications on Monday December 3?
Yes, applications received on Monday December 3 will be accepted, however, given the volume of applications we receive, we strongly encourage students to have their applications received by our office prior to the application deadline.
2. Can I submit my Major Admission Award Application by fax?
No, applications must be mailed or couriered to the Student Awards Office and received by the deadline.
3. I can’t apply for admission to Queen’s because I don’t have my PIN from my high school – can I still apply for the Major Admission Awards?
Yes – students who are unable to apply for admission by the deadline must still submit their Major Admission Award Application by December 1 and follow up with their application for admission as early as possible.
Note: Students are encouraged to apply for admission prior to the Major Admission Award Application deadline, however many will not have access to the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC) until after December 1.
4. I am applying for a need-based Major Admission Award but I don’t have access to my SOLUS Student Center to submit the Admission Bursary Application – will you still consider my application?
Yes - If your school has not provided you with your access information to apply to OUAC by December 1 you must follow up with your Admission Bursary Application as early as possible. Students who have access to the application are expected to submit it immediately.
5. Have you received my Major Admission Award Application?
Check SOLUS. Due to the high volume of applications we receive it is not possible to respond to this question instantly. The status of your application will be viewable on your SOLUS Student Center by December 7. See ‘View Award Application Status’. Please do not call or email the Student Awards Office with this question.
6. Are there any guidelines for demonstrating my original and creative thinking?
Applicants may demonstrate their original or creative thinking any way they wish in the space provided. If using colour, or any materials that cannot be processed by a photocopier (ie. glue or tape) - photocopy page 5 of the application and send only the copy. The selection committee will not receive any materials that cannot be photocopied. Contact the Student Awards Office if you have any questions: entrance@queensu.ca.
7. What marks do I need to submit?
Students are required to submit their official high school transcript (grades 9 through last completed year) as well as their November grades of the current year. The November grades may be hand written on official transcript, report card, or on school letterhead and signed by a school official.
In order to be eligible for the Major Admission Awards Program, students must have a cumulative average of 90% or higher throughout high school.
All supporting documentation should be attached directly to your Major Admission Awards Application – not placed in a separate envelope.
8. How can I apply for QuARMS?
Candidates wishing to be considered for QuARMS must be nominated by their high school for the Chancellor's Scholarship. Students who are not nominated will not be considered.
Number of nominations per high school is based on graduating class size:
- Less than 250 graduates: one nominee
- 250 - 499 graduates: up to two nominees
- 500 or more graduates: up to three nominees
We ask all schools to respect our nomination guidelines. Schools that submit more nominees than the approved guidelines will be contacted and asked to confirm their candidates.
Note: Additional FAQs specific to QuARMS may be found on the Undergraduate Admissions web site here.
9. I have been nominated for the Chancellor’s Scholarship – do I need to submit a Personal Statement of Experience (PSE) or Supplemental Essay (if applicable) for admission purposes?
No – students who have been nominated for the Chancellor’s Scholarship do not need to submit a PSE or Supplemental Essay. Students who have applied for other MAAs, excluding the Chancellor’s, must still submit a PSE and Supplemental Essay (if applicable).
10. I am unable to participate in extracurricular activities at school this year due to the “Work to Rule” action in Ontario. How will my Major Admission Award Application be affected?
Students are strongly encouraged to seek out extra-curricular activities both within and outside the school community. Students are able to draw from their present and past experiences when responding to the three questions on the Major Admission Award application relating to Leadership, Involvement in school and/or Community Service, and Original and/or Creative Thinking.
11. I have been offered early admission and received a scholarship offer, does this mean I am no longer eligible for a major admission award?
No - applicants who receive an early offer of admission are still being considered for the Major Admission Awards Program. Results can be viewed on your SOLUS Student Center in late February. Recipients will also be notified by mail.
12. How do I apply for a Queen's admission scholarship?
Many of our Admission Scholarships do not require an application. These scholarships are based on the grades we have received at the time you are offered admission. Some scholarships do require an application (Major Admission Awards).
13. How do you calculate the average used for grades-based admission scholarships?
Admission scholarships will be calculated based on the average of the same courses required for admission to a Bachelor of Arts Honours program as identified on the Undergraduate Admissions website.
For students studying in an Ontario curriculum (OSSD Curriculum), a minimum of 3 Grade 12U courses including English (Eng4U) and 3 additional 4U or 4M courses will be used to calculate the Awards Average.
For program-specific scholarships, the prerequisite courses for the program you are applying to will be utilized when the awards average calculation is determined.
14. Do you use my final June grades when considering me for an admission scholarship?
Final grades will be assessed for scholarship and award consideration.
If you did not receive a scholarship offer at the time you were offered admission, we will review your final grades after we have received final grade reports from the Ontario Universities' Application Centre in July. Summer courses taken in the summer immediately prior to your admit term to the university will not be used in the assessment of your final grades average.
Final grades will also be reviewed for non-Ontario students. Students must arrange for final high school transcripts to be forwarded to Undergraduate Admission.
15. What if I receive an admission scholarship with my offer of admission, but my grades decrease after of my final exams?
As long as you meet the academic requirements identified in your offer of admission, the original admission scholarship offered to you will be honoured.
16. How do you calculate my average for a course that I'm repeating?
Please refer to the Undergraduate Admissions website for information on the calculation of averages for repeated courses.
17. Can I defer my award if I choose to take a year off before I go to university?
Information about a deferral of admission can be found on the Undergraduate Admissions website.
If Undergraduate Admission grants a deferral of your admission to the program of study that you have accepted (e.g. Commerce), then your scholarship will also be deferred.
Please note this is for merit-based scholarships only.
Any award that has financial need criteria cannot be deferred. You must re-apply for need-based assistance through the Admission Bursaries and Awards application in the year you are planning on entering Queen's.
18. Do you offer athletic scholarships?
Yes. Selection of candidates will be based on academic achievement and athletic excellence to entering student-athletes who are on the competition roster of a Gaels interuniversity team.
Future students interested in participating on a varsity team at Queen's must make prior contact with the Coach of the Gaels team. Please visit the Queen's University Athletics website for further information.
The awards will be administered in accordance to all CIS and OUA regulations.
Student-athletes who excel both in the class and on the field (e.g. rink, pool, court, pitch) are encouraged to consider applying for our Major Admission Awards, and draw from their athletic experiences and accomplishments.
19. My award offer says that I must have a full course load to receive my award. What does full course load mean?
To remain eligible for funding in an academic term the student must be registered as a full-time student (60% course load - typically 18 units in Fall/Winter).
To be eligible for renewal of an academic-based award a student is expected to be registered in an 80% course load (typically 24 units in Fall/Winter).
20. How are scholarships and bursaries paid?
These funds will be deposited directly into your student fees account prior to August 1 for the 2012-2013 academic year. We encourage you to check your SOLUS Student Center (scroll to the Finances section and click on the link called View Financial Aid, click on the 2012 academic year). Please be sure to read the Guide to Registration and Fees for tuition and fee payment deadlines.
21. I received a Queen’s award, and when I view the status of my application in SOLUS my original award offer is no longer there but there is another award with a different award name. What happened?
Your general admission award was converted to a specific named award. The total value of your award will remain the same however it may be converted to one or more named awards.
22. Is there someone I can thank for my award?
If you received a donor sponsored award then we will provide you with further information about how you can express your appreciation in the coming weeks. Donors enjoy learning more about the recipients of their awards; this acknowledgement provides them with a first-hand understanding of what their gift has meant to you.
23. I received a work study entitlement. What do I do now that I have been granted an entitlement?
Specific information detailing how you can search and apply for Work Study positions will be emailed to your Queen’s email account at the end of July.
24. In the SOLUS Student Center, there is a link called View Financial Aid. What is this?
All Queen’s students can view their personal award information in their SOLUS Student Center. The information is organized by academic year, and will provide you with a summary of the awards you have been granted as well as disbursement details identifying when the money will be deposited to your Student Financial Account. As an entering student, we will update this information for the 2012 academic year by August 1, 2012.
25. How do I know if I have been granted an award or a scholarship?
In August, you may see all of your Queen’s awards and scholarships on your SOLUS Student Center. To view your awards, simply log into SOLUS and click on the “View Financial Aid” link, available in the “Finances” section. Once there, you will be able to view your scholarships and awards broken down by academic year.
26. I have been granted a renewable award – what do I need to do to renew my award in subsequent years?
To be eligible for renewal of an academic based award a student is expected to remain registered in an 80% course load (typically 24 units in Fall/Winter). Students in receipt of scholarships/awards granted on the basis of academic excellence are expected to achieve a minimum G.P.A. of 3.5. The renewal criteria has recently been adjusted so please review the Queen’s Renewable Awards Policy for further details.
27. I have applied for OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) and I am confused about which types of awards should be included as income on my OSAP application.
Refer to the Student Awards website, for Hints for Reporting Income on your OSAP Application for further clarification on what awards must be reported on your application.