Exploring Future Pathways: Grade 11 Intersession - University Campus Tours

Experiencing university life firsthand is one of the most critical steps in post-secondary planning. Whether through virtual previews or in-person walk-throughs, campus visits allow students to assess environment, culture, facilities, and personal fit long before submitting application deadlines. Firsthand  impressions remain one of the single most valuable steps a student can take to discover where they will genuinely thrive. Yesterday, our Grade 11 students put this into practice during the Intersession University Tours, visiting five of Ontario’s leading post-secondary institutions across three dedicated travel routes.

To make the campus experience as meaningful as possible, students participated in a new pre-tour initiative designed by our Student in Charge (SIC) of Guidance. Before setting foot on campus, Grade 11s completed a 16-question self-reflection tool. Rather than pushing teens to fixate on a specific job title or career path right away, this quiz shifts the focus toward self-discovery and learning styles. It asked fundamental questions about how students operate and what environment allows them to succeed. By identifying their broad learning preferences ahead of time, students arrived on campus equipped with clarity and tailored questions for program representatives, focusing on specific academic models, laboratory access, co-op structures, and undergraduate culture. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by choices, they stepped off the bus prepared to have targeted conversations about class formats, lab access, group projects, and community culture - helping them evaluate which academic environment will truly feel like "home."

This week’s bus tours provided a broad comparative look across five leading Ontario universities via three dedicated routes:

• Queen’s University (Kingston, ON) – Offered a look at a historic, mid-sized waterfront university renowned for its strong school spirit, classic architecture, and tight-knit campus community.
• University of Toronto (St. George & Mississauga) – Provided a side-by-side contrast between a large, vibrant downtown metropolitan hub (St. George) and a modern, nature-integrated suburban campus nestled along 225 acres of protected forest (UTM).
• McMaster University & University of Guelph – Highlighted two premier research institutions, comparing McMaster’s pedestrian-focused campus surrounded by natural trails with Guelph’s welcoming, eco-conscious, and community-driven culture
   

Thursday's intersession was just the beginning of the post-secondary discovery process. We encourage families to keep the momentum going by exploring additional tour options:

• Ontario University Open Houses: Spring and autumn are prime windows for universities to host campus-wide open houses. If you miss a scheduled open house, most institutions offer student-led tours year-round that can be booked directly on their admissions websites.
• LCS March Break BC Staycation: For students considering institutions in western Canada, an opportunity to tour multiple university campuses across British Columbia will be offered during March Break.
• International Campus Tours: For families exploring options outside Canada who are unable to travel together, specialized reputable services such as VerveSmith, TS College Tours, or UniVisits offer structured, organized visits across the US, UK, and Europe. 

A campus visit offers invaluable insight into where your student will thrive academically, personally, and socially. Thursday’s tours served as a launching pad for ongoing post-secondary exploration, helping students envision their future and identify programs matching their natural strengths and interests. By focusing on who they are as learners today, we can help them navigate their options with confidence and clarity for tomorrow. We encourage parents and guardians to use the results of the Program Fit Quiz as a conversation starter as you plan future weekend or holiday campus visits together.