Options Solutions Educational Consultants

Canadian Admissions Bootcamp
2021-03-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2021-03-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-03-23 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | Virtual Format, Online
This three-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 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 11 and 12 academic goal setting

Mastering the Essay Bootcamp (Gr. 10-12)
2021-03-22 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-03-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-03-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-03-25 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-03-26 10:00 - 12:00
Want to brush up on your reading and writing skills over spring break? Options Solutions wants 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 10 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, the 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 10 and 12.

Topics will include:

Active reading
Synthesis essays
Argumentative essays
Narrative essays

What do our students have to say?
“I enjoyed that the instructors provided valuable feedback on my essays and they answered all the questions I had. I also enjoyed practicing writing specific types of essays.”

Core Test Skills - Math Session
2021-03-23 10:00 - 13:00
These intensive sessions focus on helping students master the ACT or SAT exam. Topics will the math portion of the test, including test-taking strategies, time management tips, and crossover skills for the ACT/SAT exam. Materials will be provided.
How is test prep at Options different?
Test prep at Options is unique because it combines test preparation with the teaching of fundamental academic skills. With many years of experience, Options instructors ensure that students understand the higher-level reading, writing and math skills that will prepare them for the ACT and SAT, but will also help them succeed in high school and beyond. Options doesn’t just teach “test-taking tricks” like other test prep organizations. Instead, students receive a strong grounding in how the test works and strategies for attaining a high score, combined with an opportunity to increase their overall academic performance.

Canadian Admissions Boot Camp
2021-03-24 10:00 - 12:00

ACT/SAT Weekly Prep Sessions
2021-03-31 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-04-07 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-04-14 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-04-21 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-04-28 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-05-05 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-05-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2021-05-19 18:00 - 20:00
On-going classes prepare students for the ACT and/or SAT by teaching test structure and test-taking strategy. At the same time, students learn skills that translate into success at school in reading and writing. Students can attend each session or pick and choose the sessions they need. Content is unique for each session and is never repeated.

How is test prep at Options different?
Test prep at Options is unique because it combines test preparation with the teaching of fundamental academic skills. With many years of experience, Options instructors ensure that students understand the higher-level reading, writing and math skills that will prepare them for the ACT and SAT, but will also help them succeed in high school and beyond. Options doesn’t just teach “test-taking tricks” like other test prep organizations. Instead, students receive a strong grounding in how the test works and strategies for attaining a high score, combined with an opportunity to increase their overall academic performance.

*All workshops will be held virtually online via GoToMeeting on Wednesday evenings from 6 pm to 8 pm

ACT/SAT Mock Exams and Debriefs
2021-04-04 10:00 - 14:00, 2021-04-09 16:00 - 19:00
Join us for a 4-hour exam, exam marking (including customized essay marking), and a 3-hour debrief. Each student is given a cover sheet to help them understand their successes and identify their areas needing improvement. In order to get an accurate estimate of a student’s abilities, we use only officially released ACT and SAT exams. Taking practice tests helps students prepare for the stamina required on test day.
We recommend EVERYONE (even those who have completed a PSAT) take a practice exam for the ACT and/or SAT. This is the best way to get a baseline score early.
Dates:
Apr 4th – 10am – 2pm (Mock Exam)
Apr 9th – 4pm – 7pm (ACT Debrief)
Mar 7th – 10am – 2pm (Mock Exam)
Mar 12th – 4pm – 7pm (ACT Debrief)
May 16th – 10am – 2pm (Mock Exam)
May 20th – 5pm – 8pm (ACT Debrief

ACT/SAT Super Skills Weekend
2021-04-10 10:00 - 17:00, 2021-04-11 10:00 - 17:00
These weekend prep sessions are designed to deliver concentrated exam prep for the ACT and SAT. Each Saturday and Sunday is divided into two three-hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Our Super Skills Weekend is situated before an official ACT or SAT test date and is meant to be a focused weekend of study.
How is test prep at Options different?
Test prep at Options is unique because it combines test preparation with the teaching of fundamental academic skills. Options doesn’t just teach “test-taking tricks”. Instead, students receive a strong grounding in how the test works and strategies for attaining a high score, combined with an opportunity to increase their overall academic performance.
What do our students have to say?
“I really liked how we went step by step together as a class. To go along with that, I found it really helpful when we did the practice problems together and really went in-depth on why the answer was either wrong or right.”
Dates (All workshops will be virtually online via GoToMeeting):
Super Skills Weekend before official April 17th ACT exam and May 8th and June 5th SAT exam
Super Skills Weekend before official June 12th ACT exam

Intro to Canadian Supplement Writing Workshop
2021-05-01 09:00 - 12:00, 2021-05-15 09:00 - 12:00
This three-hour session introduces students to 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 (e.g. UBC, Queen’s, Western). 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 summer and enter grade 12 with more clarity and direction.

What do students have to say?
“I really liked the tips, exercises and examples of past students’ responses and what was good about them and what could’ve been improved. This allowed me to take good notes and implement what I thought was good into my applications.”

Intro to University Level Writing
2021-05-01 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-05-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-05-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2021-05-22 10:00 - 12:00
Grade 12 students heading to post-secondary programs in the social sciences, humanities, arts, sciences, and business will be expected to have the skills necessary to write at the university level next year. However, the quarter-system and other alternative school schedules have made it difficult for students to develop and hone these skills.
This course prepares students bound for post-secondary for the challenges of writing for different disciplines at the university level. It discusses strategies for successful research, critical thinking, and writing while giving students a chance to practice these skills and receive individualized feedback. Materials will be provided.
What do students have to say?
“I liked that the instructor provided good examples for us to fully understand what was expected of us and that there was the perfect balance of freedom to pick a topic but enough structure to help actually get started.”
**The session will be interactive and dynamic. Students are encouraged to attendall sessions as each day will build on the next.

SAT Mock Exam
2021-05-16 10:00 - 14:00
Join us for a 4-hour exam (including customized essay marking). Each student is given a cover sheet to help them understand their successes and identify their areas needing improvement. In order to get an accurate estimate of a student’s abilities, we use only officially released SAT exams. Taking practice tests helps students prepare for the stamina required on test day.
We recommend EVERYONE (even those who have completed a PSAT) take a practice exam for the SAT. This is the best way to get a baseline score early.
Dates:
Apr 4th – 10am – 2pm (Mock Exam)
Apr 9th – 4pm – 7pm (ACT Debrief)
Mar 7th – 10am – 2pm (Mock Exam)
Mar 12th – 4pm – 7pm (ACT Debrief)
May 16th – 10am – 2pm (Mock Exam)

Making the Most of Your Undergraduate Degree
2021-05-25 18:00 - 19:00
It’s never too early in your undergraduate degree to start thinking about life after graduation. In addition to studying hard to keep your grades up, there are a few things that you should do to make the most of your undergraduate degree and ensure that you have the most options possible for your next steps. Join us for a discussion with our Graduate School Consultant, Dr. Brianne Kent, to hear what graduate school programs look for in their applicants.
Dr. Kent is a professor at Simon Fraser University and trained as a neuroscientist at Yale University, University of Cambridge, University of British Columbia, and Harvard Medical School. She has worked as an education consultant for almost 10 years, helping hundreds of students prepare competitive applications for their dream programs. At Options Solutions, Dr. Kent helps students choose which graduate programs to apply to and advises students on how to prepare the strongest applications for acceptance and funding. She also assists with editing curricula vitae and personal statements, as well as preparing for interviews. Dr. Kent will provide some of her best advice to undergraduate students, which will be followed by an open Q&A session.
