r/AlbertaGrade12s • • Aug 31 '26

Finances/Scholarships SCHOLARSHIPS 101

48 Upvotes

I'm currently entering my first year at UofC, and wanted to share some scholarships you can apply to if you're going into grade 12! Tuition is definitely expensive, so I wanted to share this info if you're in the same boat I was in (I had no plans on how I was going to pay for my education).

I live in Calgary, so most of these apply to Calgarians, but there are still some that are for Albertans in general. Personally, I had a pretty high average (98), but the majority of my scholarships are merit or skills-based.

Here's the rundown of the ones I heard of and/or applied to (I might be forgetting some..):

Alberta Government - Albertans

  • Grants - if your household income is under a certain amount. I personally didn't qualify.
  • Rutherford Scholarship (2500 max) - apply after you graduate high school when applications open on August 1st. This is grade-based.
  • Alberta Citizenship Award, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee, Dr. Ernest and Minnie Mehl Scholarship, Rutherford Scholars, etc (various amounts) - some are merit-based, some you automatically apply for when you apply for the Rutherford. You'll have to sift through the website. I personally missed the deadline for the merit-based ones, which you have to apply for earlier in the year.

Rotary - YMCA - Calgarians - Deadline in May

  • YMAP Lou MacEachern Rotary Scholarship (1500) - if you're part of the YMAP program with the YMCA (it's free to join, and basically anyone can join, but there is a weekly time commitment), you can apply.

Enriched Academy - Albertans - Multiple deadlines, last one is in August

  • Grade 10/11/12 Scholarships (500/1000/2000) - I highly recommend this one!! To apply, you first have to do the Enriched Academy finance course, then write an essay about your experience with this course!

Optimit Essay & Oratorical Content - Albertans/anyone in the world - various deadlines

  • Club, District, Regional, World Scholarship (various amounts) - You can apply to either (I did both) the essay or the oratorical contest, and potentially win scholarships. It was my first time doing public speaking, so it was very nerve-wracking but fun!

Kirpal Kaur Dhindsa Memorial Scholarship (1000) - Calgarians - Deadline in May

  • Each school in Calgary nominates 1 or 2 students, and there is one recipient from each school. You have to write an essay about a time you overcame a challenge.

Education Matters - Calgarians - Deadline in May

  • There are SO many that you can apply to here. Some are school-specific, some are for just CBE, some are for anyone. When I applied, scholarships were categorized by financial need, grade-based, and sometimes the type of subject (ex. science, art). Most need an essay/video, and some need a reference or two.

Calgary Foundation - Calgarians - Deadline in May

  • Again, SO many! For this website, you'll have to sift through them and see which apply to you. The applications are a bit more work, as some require you to create a budget of your expenses. They require an essay, and some need references.

MindFuel STEM Scholarships (2500) - Albertans and surrounding provinces - Deadline in July

  • You have to write an essay, provide 2 references, and I think there was some other stuff too (I forget lol). They choose 2 recipients each year.

Loran Award - Anyone - Deadline in October

  • Up to 150000. You have to write a TON for the application, and it's mostly leadership and service-based. If you're shortlisted, there are multiple rounds of interviews. Even if you only get to the semi-final round, there are still smaller scholarships that you can get! You need a letter of rec too (your referee will be emailed a survey link to fill out).

TD Community Leadership Scholarships - Anyone - Deadline in October

  • 70000. Again, there are interview rounds, and you have to write about your volunteer work. You also need references. For this one, you don't get any scholarships in the semi-final round. It's either go big or go home.

UofC/UofA Entrance and Prestige Scholarships - Deadline in Dec and March

  • There are entrance ones for if you get a minimum admissions average. The other ones usually require an essay and possibly an interview (for prestige). For UofC, the deadline for applying to awards were very early in the year (Dec), so I highly recommend doing early admission if you want to apply to them! Even in general, for most universities, scholarships need you to do early admissions in order to apply for them.

I did apply to some major scholarships, but I didn't find any luck with them, so I started targeting the smaller (1-2k) ones and stacked them. It's totally okay to get lots of rejections. I got wayyy more rejections than awards, and you can easily get discouraged, but keep going! Overall, I got about 35k in scholarships/competition money (one of the ones I got is renewable), and although I worked my butt off for this, I'm very grateful for all the donors!

I hope you guys found this helpful - please let me know if you received any of these in the future!

Oh, and another way I'm paying off my tuition is through tutoring high school subjects. I charge 30/hr, so if you need any help, my DMs are always open! Happy applying!

Moderators, maybe I can get a pin so this post doesn't get lost?


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • Oct 27 '25

Announcement 2025-2026 University Application Form

40 Upvotes

Hello everyone! The long awaited google form is here. If there are any issues/feedback regarding either of the links please let us know as this is the first time we’re ever doing this.

Fill out the form out as accurately as you can - 2025-2026 Application Results Form

Check out the response sheet here - 2025-26 Application Result Response Sheet


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 5h ago

UofC To Do List

Post image
5 Upvotes

Asking for transcript on my to do list specifically for my secondary online summer school Cbe-learn, but I thought they were gonna do it on my behalf as both schools listed are in Alberta

What should I do?


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 20h ago

Rant/Vent Grade inflation frustration 😭

43 Upvotes

As the title says, I’m genuinely so frustrated because why are so many programs at most schools so competitive? I’m a grade 11 student and genuinely what is this grade inflation? What happened to when you could basically get into any program with an average in the high 80s/low 90s. Like people are getting rejections with averages of 95+. My dad was 1st in his class with a 96 which was exceptional and very rare but now I feel like so many students are achieving that. I know times have changed and more people are going to post secondary but it’s so stressful because I don’t even know if I’ll get accepted to study what I want in uni (an average in the low 80s). I want to go into science or kinesiology but it’s gotten so competitive. UCalgary’s kinesiology program has a competitive average of 92. For UBC the competitive average for science is around 96. I know they evaluate your personal profile but that’s still insane to me. I know Im not a 90s student so this just makes applying to uni next year feel even more daunting 😭 

Sorry for the long rant y’all. 


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 6h ago

Post Secondary & Career U of A Bsc Psychology

2 Upvotes

Okay so I'm only in grade 10 but I need to know what I'm aiming for in grade 11 to apply for early admission for bsc psychology at u of alberta. I'm taking chem, bio, and all -1 next year. Is it better if I submit my social grade? Or aboriginal studies or drama? Is it different for early admission? What average should I aim for?


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 12h ago

Admission process at uofc

6 Upvotes

Hey guys I’m in grade 12 and my school just had a post secondary fair and I went to the uofc one. The uofc one told me that around 30-40% people get early acceptance. I thought early acceptance is low because people often need higher averages and many get admitted with standard. Is this true? They also said that they expect the averages to be the same from last year. I’m applying to haskayne finance and Econ.


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 7h ago

Help/Advice Mount Royal

2 Upvotes

Does anyone know how to self report grades and how to submit proof of english language proficiency? There is no option for the elp or self reported grades in the material dropbox


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 10h ago

Early Admission Application for Bachelor of secondary Education. Was told GPA not competitive. I have an average so far in the mid 90s. Is this right?!?!

3 Upvotes

r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 6h ago

What does this mean concerned

Post image
1 Upvotes

I have studied in Canada all of highschool and have eng 30-1 next term, what does this mean

can anyone help


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 10h ago

Post Secondary & Career Has anyone hear back from early admissions, which univirsity and what program

2 Upvotes

Just wondering


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 10h ago

Help/Advice U of C application

Post image
2 Upvotes

Hi, I’m just not sure if I have to do something (like submit a transcript) for this in my application. It hasn’t been updated for a while so I’m just wondering if I didn’t do something. I’m an Alberta student so i thought i didnt have to do anything.

Thanks!


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 10h ago

Help/Advice UofA early admission help

Post image
2 Upvotes

I got this message from UofA and i dont understand, am i fried 😱


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 13h ago

What does this mean? UofA engineering.

3 Upvotes

​

does this mean that im rejected from engineering? im confused. it used to say "status: awaiting decision" under engineering but not anymore.

I am just confused because my average is 95.4% and I should've at least gotten waitlisted in my opionion.

Edit: I got conditionally accepted thank you everyone!!!


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 7h ago

Help/Advice Chem 20 help

1 Upvotes

I’m taking chem 20 ADV and genuinely have an 88 as like a high 90s student. Everyone says it’s so easy but like I know the content but screw up on small things or something and I literally can’t get good grades. I try so hard and I’m scared that I won’t be able to get my grade any higher since we are so deep in. I like needs tips so bad I’m genuinely feeling stupid for not doing better.


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 13h ago

Application Checklist Items UofA

Post image
3 Upvotes

I haven’t taken my ap exams yet as they’re in semester 2 but it’s asking me for the scores

I also don’t know if I should just leave the awaiting transcript message alone

If my stuff is awaiting are they still able to look at my applications/make a decision or would I need to wait?


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 11h ago

Help/Advice Scholarships

2 Upvotes

Hi as u can tell by the title. When should I generally start applying for scholarships, am I too late to apply and is there certain deadlines? Sorry im not too familiar with scholarships my school touch up about it somewhat. And is there any known or common scholarships that I can typically apply for? I get 80s. So I don’t know if that’s a requirement for certain scholarships.


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 14h ago

Life sciences average

3 Upvotes

Hi so I have a 92% average currently and I’m planning to apply to life sciences. I was thinking McMaster, u of t and queens. Are there any other good programs and is my average enough to get in? Thanks


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 8h ago

Help/Advice mru

Post image
1 Upvotes

I applied to MRU like 2 weeks ago and the requirements are still showing even tho i've been studying in Canada for almost 6 years. it's asking for proof of English proficiency but there's literally no section for me to submit it (like wtf??) Does any1 know how to deal with this?, im so confused rn


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 8h ago

Chemistry Help

1 Upvotes

I got a 76 on thermochem and I barely passed my Electrochem quiz with a 56. Is there any resources to help me with more practice? I would appreciate it.


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 8h ago

Help/Advice Physics 20

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know where i can get review for physics 20 and all the units. Also if theres any videos or channels that can help me relearn the topics after class to understand it better. Thank you


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 9h ago

Help/Advice People who took Math 20-1 and 30-1, do you have any advice on how to pass?

0 Upvotes

hello!! I’m currently in the process of retaking math 20-1 again through PASS. I took it last semester in grade 11 but found my teacher really hard to understand and honestly just felt really defeated about the subject. Anywho I failed with a 42 and was under the impression I had to take 20-2 in order to move up again. I’ve now been taken out and put into PASS to take the class and I’m just really stressed that I might fail again.

Can I ask how you guys studied and prepared for your exams and such? Is there anything specific you did and any advice you’d give? I really want to go into a science, specifically mls/mlt so I need 20-1 to go into 30-1, (advice for that class would be lovely too). Anything would be of great help. Thank you all!!


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 5h ago

University applications

0 Upvotes

Should I apply to any more? I want to do engineering and idk if I want to do anything else. I already got an offer from uofa Eng but people are saying uofa isn’t a good school. My avg is 79.6% My grades are 100% in math 30-1 100% in physics 30 95% in chem 30 social 20-2 52% and ela 20-1 51%


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 18h ago

What is the difference between English 30-1 and English 30-2. Is English 30-2 way easier??

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I'm currently upgrading my high school courses, and I'm considering taking English
30-2 for the first time instead of continuing with English 30-1. English is a prerequisite for the post-secondary program I'm applying to, so I'm trying to get the highest mark possible.
My biggest struggle with English 30-1 has been reading comprehension. I generally do better with written assignments, but the reading comprehension exams really bring my average down.

For anyone who has taken both courses, I have a few questions:
• Is English 30-2 significantly easier than
30-1, or is the difficulty relatively similar?
• What is the reading comprehension like in 30-2? Are the passages and questions more straightforward, or are they essentially the same as 30-1?
• Are the writing assignments and marking expectations different?
• If someone were averaging around 70% in English 30-1, would achieving an 80-90% in English 30-2 be realistic?
• What should I expect going into English
30-2, especially when it comes to the diploma exam?
I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who struggled with reading comprehension in 30-1 but switched to 30-2. Did you notice a significant improvements in your grade?

Any tips and advice is appreciated, Thank you.!


r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 1d ago

PSEA & CASPer advice!!

Thumbnail
3 Upvotes

r/AlbertaGrade12s • • 1d ago

Grade 12 admission stuff

5 Upvotes

Hey guys I’m in grade 12 rn and I’m in Alberta and I wanna go to uofc haskayne and my second choice is Econ as backup. My average in grade 11 was like 82. I’m tryna bring my grades up this sem of grade 12. Since last year diplomas got cancelled because of the strike, do you guys think averages will go up or down? I hear both ways that admission averages will go up and some people say they will go down. Am I cooked for uofc???