Application Debut

The BEd application system opened yesterday!

Please watch our blog for answers to common questions, technical issues affecting everyone, and other newsy items. For those of you who have already explored it, we hope you’re finding it a straightforward process. Otherwise, please drop us a comment below. If you enounter technical problems, email sswebsupport[at]exchange.ubc.ca and copy Dilys Chiew dilys.chiew[at]ubc.ca) so that we are aware of it.

For Elementary 12-month and 2-year applicants, be aware there is a glitch in the system that is affecting your choice of program. The July 2010 Summer Session is ONLY available for Elementary 12-month option. However, the system will allow you to select Elementary 2-year, NITEP, or WKTEP for the Summer Session. We hope the issue will be resolved soon; in the meantime, please select your program choice with care. For those of you who have submitted applications already, our admissions staff will change your session accordingly.

Questions? Comments? See below.

Checking in

One month away from application lift-off!

Right now, our application system is undergoing some tweaks that will hopefully make the process a little easier (on the eyes) and more seamless. If you’re a UBC student, you’ve probably noticed the changes in the Student Service Centre, where you will find the supplemental application forms once you’ve submitted the general online application. We’re looking forward to seeing the rest of the modifications soon.

For now, you may be interested in checking out the following updates to the TEO website.

• What’s a competitive GPA? How many people were admitted this year? These are typical questions posed by prospective students. You can find your answers on our  Admission Statistics (remember to expand the section labelled “How is my application evaluated?”).
• Important dates and deadlines are available on the Application Timeline. You can start sending us your transcripts and references now and we’ll hold on to them until you submit your application.
• Got questions about housing or financial aid? We’ve updated our FAQs – take a look!

You might also be interested in exploring the following featured program options …

• Music Education for those who aspire to cultivate the next Diana Krall.
• French options in teaching kindergarten to grade 12.
• Home Economics to inspire the next generation of fashion designers and chefs — or at least teach the basics of survival post-life-with-Mom-and-Dad.

If you want to talk about some of these options, don’t hesitate to contact us! Anne and I are available for advising appointments or contact us by IM (during select hours) or email (teacher.ed[at]ubc.ca).

Still want to apply? UPDATE

Thank you to everyone who submitted a late application the BEd program. As we are only three weeks away from the program start, we are no longer accepting applications.

The next program intakes are July 2010 (Elementary 12-month only) and September 2010. The application system will open in December and the deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 15, 2010. For more information, please review our website.

If you’re unsure about whether you meet the admission requirements, contact our office to make an advising appointment: 604-822-5242. More information about advising is found here.

Feel free to also leave comments below!

Still want to apply?

We are accepting late applications from qualified applicants for the following program options and specializations:

1) Elementary 12-month and 2-year options;

2) Middle Years 12-month option (all specializations);

3) Secondary 12-month Home Economics, Modern Languages, and Music.

Click on the links to see the academic requirements for each option/specialization. Make sure that you also meet the requirements for experience with children/youth.

Contact us for an application package:

Anne Pound (Elementary options): anne.pound(at)ubc.ca

Dilys Chiew (Middle Years and Secondary options): dilys.chiew(at)ubc.ca

Update from the Eye of the Storm

Hi everyone,

In the last couple of weeks, Jennifer and I have been keeping our nose to the grindstone and the hard work is paying off. We’re happy to report that we’ve started emailing admission decision letters for July and September applicants. If you got your application in by Feb. 13, including your references and transcripts, it’s likely that your application is being reviewed at this very moment (or it’s sitting in our inboxes). If your status hasn’t changed in the SSC, or you haven’t received an email, don’t panic – we’re going to be sending out decision letters periodically throughout April and May. For those of you who haven’t submitted supplemental forms, please do so by April 30 to remain eligible for the September start.

Feel free to ask questions in the comments box below. First, a disclaimer: I will not be answering any questions about your application status. Thanks for playing.

News: BEd Admissions 2009

If you have applied to the Bachelor of Education program beginning in 2009, your acknowledgment should be sent to you by email approximately two to four weeks from the application deadline.

After you receive your acknowledgment email, you may then track receipt of any outstanding documents and check the status of your application on the UBC Student Service Centre web-site, www.students.ubc.ca/ssc. We allow a reasonable period of grace for supporting transcripts and reference reports which may not have reached us by the deadline. Please note the deadline of May 29, 2009 for final transcripts for courses currently in progress and completed in April (for which an interim official transcript should already have been submitted). The deadline for proof of registration for summer courses is May 29, 2009. Applicants are not required to submit a UBC transcript.

Applicants must submit the online BEd Supplemental Application (statement of experience, essay, etc.) and Academic Requirements Form as soon as possible if they have not already done so.

Decision letters for the July Bachelor of Education program will be sent by email in March/April 2009. Most decision letters for the September Bachelor of Education Program will be sent by email in May/June 2009.

Criminal Record Checks

Due to recent changes to provincial legislation, all students registered in the BEd program at UBC are required to have a criminal record check done.

The criminal record checks are administered by the UBC Teacher Education Office with the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Applicants admitted to the BEd program will be required to provide the UBC Teacher Education Office with a signed criminal record check consent form and criminal record check fee. The criminal record check consent forms and instructions will be sent to successful BEd applicants with the offer of admission.

Applicants to the BEd program should note the following points regarding the criminal record checks:

1. Only applicants admitted to the BEd program will have the criminal record checks done. Applicants should not submit a criminal record check consent form to the Teacher Education Office prior to being admitted.

2. Applicants should not obtain their own criminal record checks in advance as this will not meet the requirements of the legislation.

3. There will be a $40 fee for the criminal record check.

4. The criminal record check administered by UBC is only applicable to meeting the requirements of the Criminal Records Review Act. Students will not be able to obtain a copy of their criminal record check for other purposes.

5.  Persons who have been convicted of or given an absolute or conditional discharge or received a pardon on a criminal offence and who are considering a teaching career should write to the BC College of Teachers (400 – 2025 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V6J 1Z6) before undertaking a teacher education program.

Why is the system so slow?

If you’ve been having problems logging into You@UBC or the Student Service Centre, it’s because there’s currently an issue with the CWL. UBC IT Services is investigating the problem. Check out their IT Bulletin.

If you encounter any technical problems, please email our Student Systems Web Support team: sswebsupport[at]exchange.ubc.ca. Email is the only way to reach them and they’re usually pretty fast with dealing with issues.

Sometimes, issues are not technical problems but how information is entered in the system. One of the common problems that we’ve noticed is that Secondary applicants have been entering the same specializations in their First and Second Program Choice entries. Please leave the Second Program Choice blank if you only wish to apply for one program option. The system will also allow you to proceed with only one specialization entered.

If you’re unsure about whether your problem is a technical problem or a user issue, feel free to email me (dilys.chiew[at]ubc.ca) with your questions. You can also find one of us online throughout the day to assist you.

Remember, the deadline is a month and a half away so you have lots of time. Thanks for your patience.

Questions we’ve heard so far

Q. Can I select one specialization for the Secondary option?
A. Yes, you may select only one specialization (e.g. Major Art). Make sure that it is a Major (Specialization).

Q. I don’t meet the requirments for a second program choice. Can I submit only my first program choice?
A. Yes, the system will allow you to submit only the first program choice.

Q. I am currently completing my program. What should I put down as the end date for my program?
A. Please include the anticipated/future end date of your program.

Q. I previously applied to UBC and was offered admission, but I never registered for courses and attended. Do I still have to click on “I attended UBC” in question 1 in General Information?
A. Yes. If you were admitted to UBC, you were given a student number that applies to this session as well. For some reason, the system isn’t allowing users to simply click “Yes” and “I don’t know my UBC student number.” This matter is being looked into presently.

Feel free to post more questions in the comments. And if you’re having technical problems in the B.Ed. application or supplemental application forms, please email sswebsupport@exchange.ubc.ca and let us know as well so we can inform other users.