​​Queen’s University – 2022-23 Major Admission Award – Timeline & Frequently Asked Questions:

Each year, Queen’s University offers prospective high school students who demonstrate superior academic ability, creative and original thinking, engagement in school and community, and proven leadership qualities with an opportunity to apply for a major admission award. Approximately 80 major admission awards are granted on an annual basis ranging in value between $36,000 - $80,000 over four years of study.  

The Major Admission Award student application is an online student application for eligible Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents.  This online application is part of an on-going focus to modernize our online tools and applications within the Student Awards Office.

Key Messages:

I. Student Benefits:

• Secure single sign on protocol using Queen’s standard of NetID and password.
• Online application removes geographical barriers enabling all applicants with a uniform submission process.
• Reduced data entry for students and edits to provide guidance.
• Ability to save ‘in progress’ application.
• Ability to upload documents within the student application.
• Ability for High School Official (e.g. Guidance Counsellor, Vice Principal) to access application and validate nomination of student.
• Ability to submit online application and receive immediate electronic confirmation of receipt of application. 
• Web based ‘responsive design’ to be mobile device friendly.

II. Timeline for submitting application:

September – October:

• Students interested in Queen’s should review eligibility requirements for the awards within the Major Admission Award program on the Student Awards website.
• If the student is applying for the Chancellor’s Scholarship – they must identify their interest to a High School Official.  They will be required to include the High School Official’s Contact info / Email info if applying for the Chancellor’s Scholarship.
• Students can prepare their responses and ready their supporting documentation for the MAA application in advance of submitting online in SOLUS (SOLUS cannot be accessed until after applying for admission to Queen's). Note: The practice application contains the exact questions that will appear on the online MAA application. There will not be any additional questions.

Mid November:

• We strongly encourage candidates to apply for admission to Queen’s via OUAC by November 20.  This will enable processing time to ensure students have access to the Queen’s student portal – SOLUS in order to submit the Major Admission Award Application by December 8 online.
• Within 3-5 business days upon submission of OUAC application – the student will receive instructions for accessing Queen’s Student Portal – SOLUS.

December 8:

• Deadline to submit the online Major Admission Awards application.
• High School Officials for students wishing to be considered for the Chancellor’s. Scholarship will receive a communication upon student submission to validate the nomination.  

 III. Some anticipated Questions:

 1) Why is your deadline of December 8 so early?

• The students that apply for these awards are extraordinary students.  The earlier they apply to Queen’s, the sooner we can evaluate their admission qualifications and extend an offer of admission.  

2) Our school will not have provided students with their Application Access Code Letter in time for the December 8, 2021 deadline.  

• We want to provide students with the time to get set up in our Queen’s student portal – SOLUS and complete their online Major Admission Award application by December 8.  Note: Students have the ability to review and prepare their responses now.  There is a practice Major Admission Award application on the Student Awards web site that represents the same questions they will be asked to respond to when they fill out online.  Major Admissions Award
• We have consulted with the Ontario Universities Application Centre. According to their timelines, High Schools in Ontario should have ability to provide students with their temporary PIN numbers to access the OUAC application by mid November.

 There are a few days flexibility in terms of the date we recommend students apply for admission through OUAC.  Students would still have time to access their Queen’s Student Portal - SOLUS and submit the Major Admission Award application if they apply for admission to OUAC by November 20.

3) Our school does not permit the student to see any letters of reference from a high school representative (e.g. teacher, counsellor, coach)

• If there are extenuating circumstances, or there is a policy in your school that letters of reference from school officials must be confidential to the student, the High School Official must:

·         Email entrance@queensu.ca and identify your name and role, your school name, city, province, and the legal name (last name, first name) of the student, OUAC number or Queen’s student number

·         Include the reason why the student is unable to upload the Letter of Reference as part of the student’s online application submission.

·         Provide the student with a pdf document on school letterhead and your signature.  The student can upload this document into the Referee Section for completion of their application which indicates: “Letter of Reference must be sent directly to Queen’s by my school”

·         Scan the school official letter of reference and send to entrance@queensu.ca by no later than December 8.

·         The Queen’s program coordinator will replace the student’s document with the school official letter of reference to the student’s application in our administrative system for distribution to the selection committee.

4) Is the student permitted to upload high school transcripts?

• Students are permitted to upload their high school transcripts/grade information for use by the Major Admission Award Selection committee.  As part of the Major Admission Award application process, there is a mandatory Applicant Declaration Statement that requires the student to certify the accuracy and completeness of all aspects of the application, including uploaded documents.
• Requirements for High School Applicant Transcripts for admission purposes remain unchanged. 

5)  How do I nominate a student in the new online application?

• Students will be required to include this information on their Major Admission Award application.  Upon submission of their application, the High School Official will receive an email providing access to the High School Official form which must be filled out confirming the Chancellor’s Scholarship nomination status.  The student’s application is not considered complete without the High School Official submission.
• Students will receive a subsequent email confirming that the High School Official has submitted.
• High School Official must submit by no later than December 9, 2021.