Options Solutions Educational Consultants

Canadian Application Workshop
2026-10-14 17:30 - 20:30, 2026-10-10 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-04 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-10-03 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Vancouver) | South Granville Office, 3195 Granville Street, Suite 203, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K2, Canada
The application process can be complicated and confusing.
These sessions are designed for students who want assistance completing their Canadian post-secondary applications in a constructive and supportive environment. Our educational consultants will lead students through completing the application process step-by-step and answer any questions that arise along the way.
Please bring to each session:

A laptop computer
Your finalized list of post-secondary schools and programs
Your PEN (personal education number)
Your SIN (social insurance number)
Credit card information: number, expiration date & security code (for submission fees)
A list of your courses and grades (grades 11 & 12)

Video Interview Workshop
2026-10-13 17:30 - 20:30, 2026-10-08 17:30 - 20:30, 2026-09-19 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-09-02 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-25 10:00 - 13:00 | Virtual Format, Online
This three-hour session prepares students for the video interview components of university applications.
The session will include a presentation that outlines the main components of video interview requirements, as well as a practical guide for successfully completing those videos. During the session, students will learn how to answer typical interview questions and have the opportunity to tackle some sample questions as a group. They will then practice in pairs and give each other feedback, as well as record their responses for analysis. Programs that require the video interview include Commerce at UBC, the University of Toronto, and York University, as well as Engineering at the University of Toronto and the University of Waterloo.
The workshop covers topics such as:

body language and appearance
technical set-up
coping strategies for nerves
tips on answering prompts

Video Interview Follow Up - Business
2026-10-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Format, Online
These sessions are designed for students who have already attended the Video Interview Workshop.
The business specific session will build on the general Video Interview Workshop, and provide more in-depth strategies and practice for questions asked by business programs.
The business-specific workshop covers topics such as:

the most important qualities to foreground when answering experiential questions
answering opinion-based questions
answering questions on difficult topics
discussing the evolution of your interest in business and your interest in a particular program

Writing for Applications
2026-10-10 09:00 - 12:00 | South Granville Office, 3195 Granville Street, Suite 203, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K2, Canada
These sessions aim to help students complete the supplemental writing portions of their post-secondary and scholarship applications.
Writing Workshop allows students to work on the written portions of their US, UK, and Canadian applications (and scholarship applications,
too!) in an oversighted and productive environment. Students are able to receive assistance in all parts of the writing process: brainstorming, drafting, editing and finalizing their work. We accommodate students working on a variety of projects all in the same session, and our writing coaches work personally with students on their unique pieces.

Students should have handy their list of universities and programs they are applying to for this session.
If you are in person, please bring a laptop. All students need a Google account to access Google Drive and Google Classroom.
We strongly encourage all students to attend an Intro to Canadian Supplement Writing Workshop before attending a Supplement Writing Workshop.

Intro to Canadian Supplement Writing - Business Specific
2026-09-26 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Format, Online
This three-hour session introduces students who are entering grade 12 to the writing components for Canadian applications.
The session will include a presentation that outlines the typical essay and supplemental writing prompts required by major Canadian universities and programs. During this presentation, session leaders will also provide writing and time management strategies and sample essays from previous years’ successful applications. Students will then be given time to brainstorm and engage in practice writing exercises. Options Solutions writing coaches will give students one-on-one feedback on their drafts.
Beginning the application process early will give students the opportunity to make the most productive use of their time and enter grade 12 with more clarity and direction.

University Executive Functioning Workshop
2026-09-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Virtual Format, Online
The transition from high school to university can be challenging. This interactive course is designed to arm students with the knowledge and reference material required for post-secondary success. The three-hour workshop is instructional as well as practical; students will set achievable goals and create a variety of supplementary schedules. They will also review work and recreation balance, time-management strategies, and test-taking skills. This workshop is scheduled to get students organized before their first round of mid-term exams and assignments.

Topics will include:

Goal setting Important deadlines
Review of post-secondary course expectations and online portals
Daily schedules
Exam-study schedules
General term weekly schedules
Strategies for managing procrastination
How to study efficiently, save time, and do well academically

This is meant to be a Step Two to How to Rock First Semester, but all students are welcome.

Please bring your course syllabi, list of deadlines and due dates, and school academic schedule to the workshop.

Back to School Study Skills
2026-09-19 09:30 - 11:30 | Virtual Format, Online
This intensive study skills session is designed to help students be academically prepared for their educational futures.
The session is an instructional as well as practical, hands-on work session. It is offered at the start of the school term to help students thrive. Students will leave the workshop armed with the knowledge, skills, strategies, and reference material required to prepare them for academic success. They will also leave the workshop with a concrete understanding of their own executive functioning strengths and weaknesses and with an individualized plan to help them succeed in academic environments.

Canadian Admissions Boot Camp
2026-09-13 10:00 - 17:00 | South Granville Office, 3195 Granville Street, Suite 203, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K2, Canada
This one-day intensive preparation will help students understand and tackle the Canadian admissions process. The goal of this boot camp is to relieve the stress students feel about the application process and to get a head start.
Topics will include:

Comprehensive overview of the Canadian admissions process
Introduction to university or college – choosing a major, minor, or concentration
Finding a field of study & matching a field of study to the best post-secondary options
Exploration of the curriculum covered in expected major
Factors to consider when choosing a university (location, size, class size, access to services, etc.)
Introduction to essay writing and supplement applications
Extra-curricular summary
Generating individualized timelines
Grade 12 academic goal setting

Please note, this workshop runs from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm.

Intro to Canadian Supplement Writing
2026-09-12 09:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Format, Online
This three-hour session introduces students who are in Grade 12 to the writing components for Canadian applications.
The session will include a presentation that outlines the typical essay and supplemental writing prompts required by major Canadian universities and programs. During this presentation, session leaders will also provide writing and time management strategies and sample essays from previous years’ successful applications. Students will then be given time to brainstorm and engage in practice writing exercises. Options Solutions writing coaches will give students one-on-one feedback on their drafts.

Intro to Canadian Supplement Writing
2026-09-03 15:30 - 18:30 | Virtual Format, Online
This three-hour session introduces students who are going into Grade 12 to the writing components for Canadian applications.
The session will include a presentation that outlines the typical essay and supplemental writing prompts required by major Canadian universities and programs. During this presentation, session leaders will also provide writing and time management strategies and sample essays from previous years’ successful applications. Students will then be given time to brainstorm and engage in practice writing exercises. Options Solutions writing coaches will give students one-on-one feedback on their drafts.

Canadian Admissions Boot Camp
2026-09-03 10:30 - 13:30, 2026-09-02 10:30 - 13:30 | Virtual Format, Online
This two-day intensive preparation will help students understand and tackle the Canadian admissions process. The goal of this boot camp is to relieve the stress students feel about the application process and to get a head start.
Topics will include:

Comprehensive overview of the Canadian admissions process
Introduction to university or college – choosing a major, minor, or concentration
Finding a field of study & matching a field of study to the best post-secondary options
Exploration of the curriculum covered in expected major
Factors to consider when choosing a university (location, size, class size, access to services, etc.)
Introduction to essay writing and supplement applications
Extra-curricular summary
Generating individualized timelines
Grade 12 academic goal setting

Mastering the Essay
2026-09-02 14:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-01 14:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-31 14:00 - 17:00 | Virtual Format, Online
Want to brush up on your reading and writing skills over summer break? Options Solutions is here to help!
This interactive, fast-paced workshop is aimed at providing students with the theory and practice to succeed in their English studies at the grade 11 to 12 level. It will give students the skills and confidence they need to succeed, making their future English courses easier and more enjoyable.
Furthermore, active reading, planning, and essay writing skills are a great way to prepare for the Graduate Literacy Assessment (GLA), a new provincial exam for students in grades 12.

Preparing for University Application Essays
2026-09-02 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-09-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-08-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Format, Online
This interactive workshop is geared towards preparing students to develop the fundamentals for university application responses and essays. Whereas Options’ other English programs focus on developing students’ technical writing skills, this three day course will help expand students’ ability to express their authentic voice through writing.
Students will build confidence and develop their unique style through brainstorming, reading a selection of prose and poetry, and receiving feedback on their written work. Throughout the course, students will write a personal narrative essay that responds to a reflective prompt. After this course, students will be well-prepared to write in the genre of essay required for university applications.

Casper Prep Workshop
2026-09-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual Format, Online
The Casper exam is a situational judgement test that is typically used by nursing and medical school programs to determine behavioural tendencies of their applicants.
This two-hour session prepares students for the typed response section and the video response section of the Casper exam. During the session, students will review the format of the Casper exam and determine the qualities that schools are looking for in their responses. They will then practice both written and verbal responses and be given feedback regarding their responses.
The workshop will cover topics such as:

the format of the Casper exam
typical questions and possible response structures
tips on answering both written and spoken prompts
practice with timed questions both verbally and written

Written feedback will be provided after the workshop.

Preparing for the “Why Us” Essay
2026-09-01 17:30 - 19:30 | Virtual Format, Online
The “Why Us” essay is an important and often misunderstood part of U.S. applications. This workshop will help students craft tailored, persuasive essays that demonstrate genuine alignment with specific institutional priorities at individual universities to help them stand out in the application pool and increase their chances of admission.
This workshop will include a presentation teaching students how to:

Understand admissions officers are really evaluating in a “Why Us” response.
Conduct focused, strategic research across multiple platforms to provide more depth in their response.
Connect their academic interests, extracurriculars, and long term goals to specific campus resources.
Avoid common missteps like generic praise or repeating a school’s website

After the presentation, students will have the opportunity to start brainstorming and receive feedback from Options Solutions consultants.

University of California Application Workshop
2026-08-27 17:30 - 20:30 | Virtual Format, Online
The University of California application opens August 1 for Fall 2026 applications.
Applicants to the University of California too often work hard on their essays but leave the personal, family and academic information and activity descriptions until too late – resulting in incomplete information and missed opportunities. Our discussions with UC admissions officers have affirmed the importance of each part of the application in their holistic assessment process, so we want to get our students off to the best start, shortly after the application opens.
The University of California Application Workshop will allow students to become familiar with the three main components of the application: data entry, activity and honors descriptions, and the Personal Insight Questions. Participants will have time to review every application component, ask questions, and start to complete the application well, and early!

Post-Secondary Search Lab
2026-08-26 16:00 - 18:00 | South Granville Office, 3195 Granville Street, Suite 203, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K2, Canada
Choosing where to apply is one of the most important decisions in the admissions process, yet many students build their lists based on rankings, reputation, peer reviews, or limited information.
This workshop guides students through thoughtful research to help them finalize a strategic application list that is the right fit for them.
We encourage students to come ready to do a research DEEP DIVE and go beyond general, surface information.
In this hands-on workshop, students will:

Identify their academic interests, faculties, majors, and priorities.
Effectively research post-secondary institutions and specific faculties and programs that align with their priorities
Understand what they will be studying from 8:30-2:30 in each of their chosen programs over a four-year scope
Identify similarities and differences between different institutions in terms of academic majors and requirements.
Build a balanced list of facilities and programs by institutions (reach, target, and safety options)
Construct a list of application requirements and make a targeted timeline for the fall of grade 12

While this is a group setting, the course is designed for students to follow their own interests and research, and Options Solutions consultants will offer individualized feedback.

Preparing for Case Competitions
2026-08-25 17:00 - 20:00 | South Granville Office, 3195 Granville Street, Suite 203, Vancouver, BC, V6H 3K2, Canada
Are you interested in solving real-world business challenges, thinking like a business consultant, and developing skills that top universities, employers, and business leaders value? This interactive workshop will teach students the fundamentals of business case competitions and provide hands-on experience.
Whether you’re new to casing or looking to build confidence before your next competition, this session will provide practical tools, frameworks, and guided practice to help you succeed.
What You’ll Learn:

The purpose and structure of business case competitions
How to identify key problems and opportunities
Refine research and data analysis techniques
Structure recommendations using business frameworks
Presenting and public speaking strategies
How to solve a sample business case in teams
Receive feedback on your approach and recommendations
