Dec 7, 2009
Media contact: Kim Lawrence
Cell: 604-302-6257
Office: 604-864-4611
kim.lawrence@ufv.ca
Aspiring scientists can now apply to UFV in Grade 11
Students looking to get a head-start on their university science studies can now apply to the University of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Science degree program while still in Grade 11. Early application guarantees these students a seat in the BSc program at UFV once they graduate from Grade 12* and sets them up for priority registration in high-demand courses.
The benefits of getting a foot in the door early are numerous. Students get connected to the university community and are invited to participate in activities put on especially for them, like distinguished speakers panels, summer science retreats, sample classes, seminars, socials, and science career nights. They gain direct access to science professors and advisors at UFV, who can mentor them and help them make the right choices early in their studies.
Early applicants build a network of other Grade 11 students with similar interests and can even complete their volunteer-hour requirements for high school graduation by getting involved in the Fraser Valley Regional Science Fair or other on-campus science-related events hosted by UFV.
Grade 11 student Raina Nareg learned about the early application process from her biology teacher at Rick Hansen Secondary in Abbotsford and says she was so excited about it that she ran to his desk the moment class ended. “I've always had a huge interest in the sciences,” she says. “My mind's been set on a career in this area since I was in middle school. I've always dreamed of being part of a major [scientific] break-through. I love the fact that there is a vast amount of discoveries to be made, and there are multiple areas to study.”
Raina plans to follow her Bachelor of Science degree at UFV with a graduate degree and then land a job with a pharmaceuticals company. She also has a strong interest in astronomy.
Asked how she feels about her next big life step, Raina admits to being ‘really nervous.’ “At the same time, I'm very excited,” she says. “I feel like this is a huge step into adulthood, and the education will be a lot more in-depth than at high school. I'm also hoping that the students actually come to class because they want to learn, not because they feel like they have to be there.”
Raina’s parents see her early application to the program as an advantage for her because she will get further ahead in her studies and onto a career more quickly. “Plus, we get to keep her at home and not have her move to Vancouver,” say Manjit and Varsha Nareg. “We want her to do what her heart and mind are set on, and we will support her in whichever career she chooses.”
Raina is one of only 60 students that UFV accepts to this special group each year. To secure a place, other interested students should apply before January 31 of their Grade 11 school year.
Call the UFV science advice centre at 1-888-504-7441 local 4079 or email scienceadvice@ufv.ca for more information. Details are also online at www.ufv.ca/science and some fun science trivia awaits talented brains at www.ufv.ca/ilovescience .
At UFV, students can take a Bachelor of Science degree and major in biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, or physical geography. They can also earn the degree by doing minors in two of those subjects, or in computing science, computing information systems, or kinesiology. Students also have the option of earning an honours degree in physics, biology, or geography – which is excellent preparation for graduate school – or of pursuing a pre-medicine or pre-veterinary stream of study.
* provided they meet the program prerequisites when they graduate
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