THUNDER BAY- High school students are more eager than ever to study at universities across the province to ensure they are equipped with the right credentials and skills, according to the application statistics released today by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC).
The report, which follows the January 12 deadline for secondary school applicants, indicates that the number of high school students applying to university is 88,626, a 2.4 per cent increase over the last year. Collectively, they made 383,403 applications, an increase of 2.2 per cent. This represents a 49 per cent increase since 2000, and continues a rising trend that has not faltered, even after the double cohort years, when there were Ontario high school graduates from both Grade 12 and 13.
“The continuous increase in demand for postsecondary education shows the importance that students place on the knowledge economy,” says Sheldon Levy, Chair of COU and President of Ryerson University. “At least two-thirds of the jobs being created today will require some higher education. Increased application and applicant numbers show that universities will continue to contribute highly skilled and adaptable graduates to the workforce throughout our province.”
The numbers will be marginally higher over the coming months, as the application centre continues to process those that come in after the deadline.
“A well-educated population will provide competitive advantages to our province and our country, because it will provide a pool of talent to exploit business opportunities and contribute to social innovation,” says Bonnie M. Patterson, COU President and CEO.
The number of other people applying to university such as mature students, those taking a gap year, transferring from another institution or country is also increasing, although the final numbers are not available for this group because they do not have to apply until April. There are currently 19,002 so-called “105 applicants,” an increase of 2.6 per cent over the comparable date last year.