York & U is an electronic newsletter for applicants and prospective applicants to York.

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Keele Campus: March 8, 2003 New Date! Glendon Campus: March 12 & 15, 2003		April 5, 2003

Whether it's the wide range of quality programs, interdisciplinary approach to learning, sense of community created by staff and faculty, or bustling activity of campus life, top students feel that York is the best place for them. Our top story this month is the first in a two-part series devoted to York's 2002-2003 top scholarship winners. We asked them to share their insights and experiences and here's what they said.

Nathan Tarrant
Glendon, French Studies and Hispanic Studies
John S. Proctor Scholarship recipient ($8,000 renewable for four years, plus cost of residence for one year).

A big factor in Nathan's decision to come to York was how he was treated during the application process. "The administration was very understanding and quick to take care of my concerns. Also, I was impressed with York's financial support." As a native of Newfoundland, Glendon's bilingual environment also played a large role in his decision.

Nathan cites York's reputation and diversity as its finest qualities. "One of the best things about attending York is its world-wide recognition as an innovative institution. The multiculturalism on both campuses is really eye-opening, and the cooperation between students impressed me."

After graduation, Nathan plans to spend some time teaching English as a second language and eventually return to university study. "I expect to do graduate work and eventually teach at a university."

He recommends prospective students do plenty of research into the programs available to them. "Make sure you check out every program that interests you. You may find your vocation in a program that only slightly appealed to you at first. A year ago, I had no idea that I would be majoring in French with a minor in Spanish while pursuing a certificate in the Discipline of Teaching English as an International Language." He also encourages students to take advantage of both of York's campuses. "Courses at both the Keele and Glendon campuses are quite different from one another. Though based on the same academic standards, their styles are distinct."

Judy Bang
Faculty of Arts, Psychology
York University Award of Achievement ($4,000 renewable for four years)

Judy initially chose York because of its proximity to her home and the offer of a scholarship. Once she got here, Judy discovered a community she hadn't known existed. "The school has become an unexpectedly wonderful and rigorous environment that I am happy to be engaged in."

For Judy, the professors are the best part about York. "They're extremely dedicated in distributing their knowledge to us." Judy already knows what she plans to do following her degree. "My hope is to go to law school, because I believe it is the venue through which I can actively challenge my mind."

Based on the experience that she has had over the past few months, Judy recommends York to anyone interested in coming. "I can confidently say that this institution goes beyond others in satisfying students' academic needs and succeeds in instilling a genuine appreciation for learning!"

Ursula Krzyszton
Faculty of Arts, Political Science and European Studies
President's Scholarship recipient ($5,400 renewable for four years)

Ursula found York gave her all the information she needed about the programs and support services that applied to her. "With York, I knew exactly what I was getting into, and that made all the difference when making my decision."

She plans to use her degree in Political Science and European Studies as the basis for employment as a foreign correspondent. "My future plans after graduating are travelling to various countries, particularly Russia, eastern Europe and Israel, as I will be focusing on the political aspects of these countries while studying at York." Ursula is also considering a teaching career and feels studying at York will show her the direction that interests her most and in which she will fully realize her intellectual capabilities.

Although university may seem intimidating at first, Ursula assures prospective students that they have nothing to worry about. "University is a place where students become fully conscious of their talents, and this should be embraced, not feared. If aspects of a course seem difficult, do not be afraid to approach your professor about it. They are there to help you and I find that, at York, professors are very easy to talk to."

Michael Dominic
Faculty of Arts, English and Humanities
President's Scholarship recipient ($5,400 renewable for four years)

The interdisciplinary focus of York's degree programs was the main factor in Michael's decision to come to York. "I could draw from a variety of different courses, each with a unique focus, and synthesize them into one unique degree. The ability to take a broad variety of courses which ultimately lead to one goal is something that isn't present in many universities, but is at York."

"From my experience so far, the best thing at York is the people, and consequently the atmosphere they create." For Michael, this sense of community offers a lifestyle rather than just a place to spend your day. "With a pub or a lounge in every college, it's easy to form a community separate from academic life, making the atmosphere very relaxed and friendly."

Michael's advice is to be open to meeting people. "As long as you stay open to meeting new people, it will happen. Academic performance is a major part of university life, but it's not bearable and it's not worth it unless you can enjoy the people around you."

Look for more top students in our February issue!

Admission to York's Bachelor of Fine Arts programs is highly competitive. If you've applied to any of the Faculty of Fine Arts programs at York, you are required to complete an evaluation package/questionnaire (the package could also request a portfolio or performance sample depending on your program of choice). The package/questionnaire is designed to help us to gauge your artistic achievements and determine whether or not you're a good fit for the program. The Dance and Theatre programs will also require an audition.

Please visit the Fine Arts Web site to find out whether you will automatically be sent an evaluation package/questionnaire or will need to download an electronic version yourself.

Some important things to keep in mind:

	Once we've received your Fine Arts application, we'll send you information about the Fine Arts audition/evaluation process.
	No supplemental evaluation package/questionnaire is required for the BA in Art History and the BA in Film History, Criticism & Theory.
	There is a fee for the evaluation/audition process. The fee is $40. Cdn for the first program and $25 for each additional program. This fee is separate from and in addition to your application fee.
	If you're serious about Fine Arts at York, you should book your evaluation appointment as soon as possible.

If you are applying to Nursing, Social Work or the Schulich School of Business, you need to submit a supplementary information form as part of the admissions process. There's no extra fee involved in submitting this form.

Why do you need to submit the form? Because these programs look at more than grades. We want to know more about you: your most substantial achievements, leadership skills, extra-curricular activities or volunteer work, and the overall reasons why you've chosen to apply to the program. From the information you provide, we gain a well-rounded picture of who you are and can better determine whether you're the right fit for the program.

Here are some tips for submitting the form:

• Submit the form no later than the deadline.
• Embrace the process - it's the part of your application that is fully under your control. Make it work to your advantage!
• Read everything carefully and follow directions. Sometimes it's easy to misunderstand what you're being asked to provide. If you're not sure about a certain question, ask. A quick call to the departmental office (the number will be on the supplementary form) will save you from making an error.
• Before you seal the envelope, do a final check to make sure you've enclosed everything required.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread! Make sure you eliminate spelling and grammatical mistakes.
• Be yourself. Write about topics meaningful to you. Write what you feel, not what you think we want to hear. Include as much information as possible about your activities and interests. If you've done something great, we want to hear about it!
• Be concise. If we ask for no more than 250 words, stay in line with that maximum. Most word processing packages have the ability to give you word counts.
• Be creative. Try to come up with something different. Remember that the people reviewing your essay will have read hundreds - if not thousands - in the past.
• Ask people you respect for some candid feedback. Teachers, counsellors, friends, parents, and siblings can help you figure out what you're trying to say, whether it sounds confusing, if it's interesting, and if you come across well in the essay.
• Send us copies of certificates, ribbons, newsletters, or awards unless specifically asked for an original.

Entrance Scholarships for Canadian High School Applicants
February 21, 2003
Many scholarship applications are due; there are a few with later deadlines.

Entrance Scholarships for other Canadian Applicants
Summer Entry: March 1, 2003; Fall Entry: July 1, 2003; Winter Entry: November 1, 2003

Global Leader of Tomorrow Award Scholarship Application
April 1, 2003
For international students.

Schulich School of Business Supplementary Information Form
Forms due from Ontario high school applicants - February 20, 2003
Forms from Canadian high school applicants and international applicants - March 20, 2003
Forms for students applying to second-year entry - May 20, 2003
Important: prospective students are no longer required to submit Grade 11 grades with their supplementary form.

Collaborative Nursing Supplementary Information Form
February 21, 2003

Social Work Supplementary Information Form
Direct-entry applicants - March 1, 2003
Post-degree applicants - February 1, 2003

There's always a wide variety of events planned for York students. Here are just a few of the events happening this month to give you a taste of life on campus and the services we provide our students. Some of them are open to the public; call ahead if you'd like to attend.

March Break Open House
Keele Campus: Saturday, March 8, 2003 NEW DATE
Glendon Campus: Wednesday, March 12 & Saturday, March 15, 2003
The Open House is a wonderful opportunity for high school students from Canada and throughout the world to tour the campus, visit a residence, speak with professors and current students, and get a real feel for what York is all about.

Look for more detailed information about March Break Open House in the February edition.

Spring Campus Day
Saturday, April 5, 2003
Campus Day is a great opportunity for mature applicants and college or university transfer students to tour the campus, learn about our programs and admission requirements and discover ways to transition into a university environment. Come and explore all the things that York offers to help you create the future that you want!

Look for more detailed information about Spring Campus Day in the February edition.

Canadian Writers in Person Series
Reading by Alistair MacLeod
Thursday, January 30, 2003, 7:30pm
Stedman Lecture Hall D, Keele Campus
Alistair MacLeod, winner of the Dublin IMPAC Literary Award and other honours too numerous to mention, will read from his collection of short stories, Island. The reading will be followed by a question period and book signing. The reading is part of the Canadian Writers in Person reading series and is open to the public.

Career Services Summer Employment Fair
Tuesday, February 4, 2003, 10am-3pm
Vari Hall Rotunda, Keele Campus
Students looking for a summer job will have the opportunity to make connections and apply for jobs with more than 45 employers at Career Services' Summer Employment Fair. Most employers complete their summer hiring by the end of March, so students are advised to get a head start on their job hunt. For more information about the fair, click here.

James Welling's Abstract at AGYU
Nov 13, 2002 - Feb 2, 2003
Art Gallery of York University, N145 Ross Building, Keele Campus
Since the late 1970s, James Welling has explored subjects and techniques that push the technical and conceptual boundaries of photography. In this exhibition Welling will present several bodies of work, which use abstraction to continue his investigation of the formal qualities of photography. For more information about the exhibition and other events at the Art Gallery of York University, click here.

Femida Handy, PhD
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Faculty of Environmental Studies


While preparing her doctoral dissertation at York, Professor Handy was introduced to ways she could involve her personal interests in her academic career. "I realized that my academic work and life could connect in very meaningful and powerful ways. I now enjoy doing research in areas in which I have personal experience, such as the non-profit sector."

Handy recently led a research study, commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy, on the changing role of volunteers and the part they play in the quality of care in hospitals. The work, done in collaboration with Prof. Narasimhan Srinivasan from the University of Connecticut, extends Handy's research on non-profit organizations.

The two-part study, Hospital Volunteers: An Important and Changing Resource and Costs and Contributions of Professional Volunteer Management: Lessons from Ontario's Hospitals, indicates that hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area and surrounding regions derived an average of $6.84 in value from volunteers for every dollar they spent - a return on investment of 684 per cent. The study examined 31 Ontario hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area.

Handy says that hospital volunteers contribute to the quality of patient care and ease the workload of hospital staff. "Due to the increasing strain placed on hospitals and the healthcare system in general from funding cuts and an aging population, volunteers are more important than ever in maintaining one of Canada's most cherished systems. Although volunteer auxiliaries have been a historical feature in many hospitals, the nature and role of volunteers have changed significantly."

In addition to this study, Professor Handy's current research includes the economics of volunteering and donating, studies of entrepreneurship in non-profit organizations, woman entrepreneurs of NGOs in India, and the impact of the voluntary sector on breast cancer.