Out of Province student applying to Sault/Confederation

[fpsbc]

Hi guys,
I am fairly new to this forum and am aspiring to one day have a career as a pilot. I've done loads of research with credit to this very resourceful site. I have recently applied to some aviation colleges but I have a dilemma.
I've searched this site and all of Google but I cannot find the answer to my question. I am from BC and I plan to attend either Confederation or Sault college. I was planning on attending Southern Interior Flight Centre in Kelowna, which is in partner with Okanagan College, but the benefits of the fact that both Confederation and Sault do not require a PPL and that they are subsidized by the Ontario government got me very interested in attending these Ontario based colleges.
I have been told that priority is given to Ontario students in this program, but I was wondering how impossible would it be for me, a BC student, to obtain a seat in one of these colleges. Most posts are about students in Ontario applying to these colleges but I have not found one post about this particular question. I have just applied before February 1st, Equal Consideration Day, but what I am worried about is I might get bumped to the waiting list before the equal consideration date.
I was wondering if anyone from either Confederation or Sault has had known a similar case to mine. I know I will be a competitive candidate because my grades were from the high 80's to low 90's. I am just worried that my grades will be less significant than the fact that I don't live in Ontario in my consideration of application. I apologize for the long question but I really appreciate everyone's time and advice!
Thanks in advance.

[SM16]

I had a bunch of people from out of province in my year, Newfoundland BC, Alberta. Probably more but I don't remember. Best bet call the schools. Don't rely too much on a forum, go to the source.

[TailwheelPilot]

The wait list also is not the end of the world. Lots of people apply to Seneca, Sault, and Confederation because you can apply to three or four programs for the same cost. I imagine the early acceptances go out to a lot of the same people so the colleges have a fairly high rejection rate. They cannot send out more offers in case everyone accepts their offer one year, and they need to wait until the deadline for acceptances/rejections before they can send out the next batch of offers. It takes time. One of my peers was told by the college HR that despite being a ways down the wait list, he was likely to eventually be sent an offer.

As SM16 said, call the colleges and ask them because what used to be true may not be true any more.

[C-GOYR]

For Confed, if you have the grade you get in. It's just that simple.

[fpsbc]

IMO I feel I have the grades, but when I spoke to them they had said that preference is given to Ontario residents. Confed is my first choice, it's just I really hope that when they consider me, who may have better grades, then the guy from Ontario, they would choose me over him. All aside thanks for your opinions, I will keep you updated.

[MartinB]

Do the subsidized tuition fees at Confed apply to out of province students too?

[Alpha_Bravo_Charlie]

Do the subsidized tuition fees at Confed apply to out of province students too?

I believe so. Your best bet is to contact the admin department at confed.
Good luck!

[Slappy the Squirrel]

I attended Con College a few years ago as an out of province student, so I'll share my experience. I had pretty good high school marks, although nothing spectacular. Preference is given to Ontario residents, definitely. I was not accepted initially, but put on a waiting list. Shortly thereafter I was accepted in. From my understanding their first offering went out only to Ontario residents, HOWEVER, everybody is on equal footing once they end up on the waiting list, regardless of residency. So if say 40 of the initial 60 offers were accepted, then there would be 20 spots open to those on the waiting list, which is open to everyone and does not discriminate against out-of-province applicants, so that is your chance to get in. Of course contact the school for more official info.
My year there were several out of province students, and there seems to be a few every year. If you have good marks you have a reasonable chance! And yes, your education will still be subsidized, you pay the same as everyone else.
I highly recommend Con College, I can't say enough good things about my experiences there.

[fpsbc]

Re: Slappy the Squirrel
Thanks so much for your insight, your reply is kinda what I was looking for. I just had a few more questions. So after the equal consideration date did they tell you if you were in the waiting list? Also how long did it take you to find out that you were accepted? I recently called Confed and either I didn't hear her right or she was telling the truth but, she had said that they put priority on grades rather than residency in consideration if admission. This is odd because everyone everywhere states it's by residency. I'll probably call them again though cause it doesn't seem right. Thanks for your advice though!

[Slappy the Squirrel]

I'm by no means an expert on this, it's been close to 10 years since I went through it all, and I would trust what the school is telling you over me.

But here's how it worked for me. I applied on time, and received a letter in the spring (around the time they sent out offers to everyone) that I had been placed on the waiting list. In late May/early June I received another letter stating a spot had opened up for me, and I was accepted.

From what I've heard (and based on other's experiences as well) that first 60 some odd offers they send out all at once will not be available to you, provided at least 60 people in Ontario applied (which is pretty much a guarantee). Some of those offers will be to students who ranked con college as their 3rd or 4th choice, therefore many will decide not to go to con college. However many don't accept, they take off the waiting list (which you could be on) and they keep doing this until they fill the program.

Again, take my words with a grain of salt, some of what I said above is based on rumour. But do take this piece of advice, have a backup plan for flight training if Con College or Sault don't take you. I wouldnt trade my experience at Con for anything, but there are lots of good non-college flight schools out there too.

Good luck

[fpsbc]

Thanks for all your advice guys, I really appreciate it. I'll find out in a couple of days if I make it in or if I get put on the waiting list. I'll keep this post updated. Again thanks for all your help.

[+RA]

When I contacted the college a while back, specifically the aviation department, they had indicated that a 76% average would make an applicant competitive for a first round admission. However, when I contacted the admissions department, they said that Ontario students get priority.

BTW, I understand that the college doesn't include a MIFR but do they do an IFR in SE aircraft? This is just out of curiosity, as when I had looked at their program online, it seemed do indicated that a student would complete a group 3 IFR there, and there seems to be a number of ground related IFR courses in the curriculum as well.

[fpsbc]

Re +RA
You know, I think that's the same thing they had said to me. When I called them the first time they had said that grades would be considered priority, I did not know which department I spoke to that time. But when I called admissions they specifically said they send more offers then seats to all Ontario residents first, then they give whatever's left to th wait listed students who are ranked based upon grade etc. Did you apply recently to Confed?

In regards to the Group IFR training, I think I read on some previous posts on avcanada that they did the ground school portion and most students take the practical portion during a break, don't take my word for it though.
Thanks for your input, it's greatly appreciated.

[+RA]

Hi fpsbc,

Likewise, I do believe I read somewhere that only the IFR ground training is given at Confederation, which is too bad.

I don't plan on applying there this year as I feel I'm simply too far into my training at this juncture to make it worthwhile.

Best of luck with your application!

Jack

[Alpha_Bravo_Charlie]

Re +RA
You know, I think that's the same thing they had said to me. When I called them the first time they had said that grades would be considered priority, I did not know which department I spoke to that time. But when I called admissions they specifically said they send more offers then seats to all Ontario residents first, then they give whatever's left to th wait listed students who are ranked based upon grade etc. Did you apply recently to Confed?

In regards to the Group IFR training, I think I read on some previous posts on avcanada that they did the ground school portion and most students take the practical portion during a break, don't take my word for it though.
Thanks for your input, it's greatly appreciated.

From what I have read, most students go to Cornwall during the March Break and get it done.

[fpsbc]

Hey guys,
Just an update. I just received a letter in the mail from Sault saying that I am on the wait list. They also told me where I am, spot 34, and I'm hoping that I'll be able to get in, even though I'm the 34th spot. I called Sault awhile back ago about the waiting list and they said that some Ontario students may have Sault as their 3rd or 4th choice, meaning that if they accept their first offer their spot is obviously given up. IMO that system is kinda frustrating for someone out of province but I guess thats how the government works. I have yet to hear from Confederation but if anyones been through somewhat the same thing I am currently going through a word of encouragement would be great! Thanks for your time!

[Docbrad]

I am currently in the Sault, and although from Ontario, I can only say great things. I had applied to both Sault and Confed, and was accepted to both, with average marks. There are three subsidized schools in Ontario, Sault, Confed, and Seneca. If the people applying want to be a career pilot, its likely they applied to all three, so the odds of rejection are pretty high.

Simply prioritize where you want to go, and if you're only accepted to #2, then wait until the last possible day to confirm, just incase they send you an acceptance to your #1.

Good luck! and if you have any questions about eh Sault's current program, feel free to PM.

[fpsbc]

Hey AVCANADA,
So I finally got a letter from my first choice college, Confed, and was put on the top 20 for the waiting list. I'm pretty hopeful but then again you never know. Anyways I was just wondering if their was any Confed grads who had more info on the program.

[BKerns]

Waitlister advice, theres always a couple people who back out a week before starting the program. If you are that set on making it in and would take the chance that it may take an extra year... plan to go to Thunder Bay this September regardless of acceptance. As a back up take any one year certificate program and its a "guaranteed" seat the next year. The program coordinators are really helpful for any current students looking to move on to Flight the next year. Also if you enroll in say pre-tech, and the day flight management starts theres a "no show", they are not going to call the 10 people in front of you to see if they want in. Whoever is there can take the spot.

I myself did the extra year, took pre-tech, then once in flight I was dropping 2 courses a semester since I had the math, physics, computers etc already complete. And I know a couple people who have been accepted into the program a few days after orientation. You really cant lose this way, whether you start 2014 or 2015.

[SpeedChecks]

I've heard that their is a quota to be passed in your first semester at Confed to go on to the next year/semester? Is this true?

[eeeeroger]

I've heard that their is a quota to be passed in your first semester at Confed to go on to the next year/semester? Is this true?

As long as you get 70% in the aviation related classes (groundschool, aircraft systems, etc.) and whatever the required grades are for the other classes are(usually 60%), you'll make it through. There's no max on the students they let go on to 2nd semester.

[SpeedChecks]

I've heard that their is a quota to be passed in your first semester at Confed to go on to the next year/semester? Is this true?

As long as you get 70% in the aviation related classes (groundschool, aircraft systems, etc.) and whatever the required grades are for the other classes are(usually 60%), you'll make it through. There's no max on the students they let go on to 2nd semester.

How did you find first year? Pretty easy, hard, ok, etc