Academic & Career Prep Course
Building Strategies for Success!
The Academic & Career Prep course is designed to help international high school students prepare for the coming challenges of post-secondary studies and professional life in a supportive and academically stimulating environment. Combining critical exercises in self-reflection with an exploration of the study and career options available to them, students come away from the programme with a better understanding of their own identities and life goals, and build solid strategies planning their future. Mindfulness sessions are incorporated throughout the course, giving students the tools needed to manage potential stress or anxiety that may come when faced with the challenges of pursuing a successful future.
Academic & Career Prep
Key Facts
Location
CISS at Trinity – Toronto, ON
Ages
16-18 years, boys and girls
2024 Dates
July 14 – August 03
Session Length
3 weeks session
Accommodation
Single or Double Residence Rooms
Weekly Hours
25 Hours per week
Academic & Career Prep
Programme Details
Be future-ready with ACP!
Ideal Candidate
- Students aged 16 to 18 years of age
- Must have high-intermediate to advanced level of English (equivalent to IELTS 5.0+)
- Students who are prepared to actively participate in class discussions
- Passionate and ambitious individuals who are starting to consider their futures
- Students who could benefit from self-reflection and goal-setting exercises
Programme Outcomes
- Improved self-confidence
- Clarification of personal goals
- Valuable stress management skills
- Enhanced soft-skills for future success
- Increased awareness of career options
- Connections with international friends
Modules and Themes
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Self-Reflection and Mindfulness |
Students are pushed to critically examine their own identities, values and belief systems to gain a deeper understanding of who they are, what they want to do in the future, and how they will get there. Mindfulness sessions provide students with essential skills and tools to help manage stress and anxiety as they face upcoming challenges in both their academic and professional future. |
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University and College Preparation |
Students are asked to think about the coming challenges of post-secondary life with a focus on successful university/college applications, study strategies for the language proficiency tests commonly required for higher education admission (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS etc), and skills for success once they are admitted, including cross-cultural communication and identifying campus resources. |
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Academic English Skills |
In the written communication section of this class, students will learn how to improve their ability to express themselves, whether on a college/university form or an employment cover letter. Students will gain a better understanding of the forms and standards suitable for writing essays in college/university. In the oral communication section, students master key competencies for academic success including group discussion, presentations, and active listening. |
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University and College Campus Tours |
Campus tours take place at different colleges and universities that feature the wide range of post-secondary disciplines that are available including: • Undergraduate programmes (e.g. arts, sciences, business) • Professional programmes (e.g. law, medicine, architecture) • Alternative programmes (e.g. art, design, film/tv/radio) • Applied programmes (e.g. trade, technologies, community services) |
| Career Exploration |
Students are encouraged to discuss their current career ambitions, which are then compared against future trends in the job market. Based on the career interests of the students, guest speakers from related industries are brought in to give the class an overview of the typical career path, and what constitutes success in the field. |
| Future Proofing | The nature of work has changed dramatically in the modern, technology-driven world, and continues to evolve. Students today increasingly need “soft skills” that are transferable to various types of employment, and are adaptable to future changes we still don’t know about. This class builds on three skills identified by today’s employers as being the most important for success: empathy, innovation, and collaboration. |
academic & Career prep
Facilities
Welcome to one of the most beautiful campuses in Toronto! Our downtown location puts the city right at your doorstep. Just south of the famous neighbourhood of Yorkville, you are a short walk to Yonge Street, coffee shops, stores and so much more. On campus, you will find a comfortable, clean, and safe residence, a beautiful garden courtyard, air-conditioned student lounges, and dining facilities that are modern…with a historic charm. Finally, WiFi is available throughout the campus.
Facilities Include:
Large classrooms
Dining hall and modern cafeteria
Beautiful Garden (The “Quad”) courtyard
Air-conditioned student lounges
Full WiFi access
Athletic centre (within walking distance)
Coffee houses, shops, boutiques and shopping centres surround the campus
Medical centre/hospitals within 1 km
The majority of rooms available are single, but some students may share a double room with another student attending this programme. Students are separated within the residence by gender. Each room has 1 or 2 individual beds, desks, chairs, dressers and/or wardrobes. All bed linens are provided, along with a bath towel. Students must bring their toiletries. There are card-operated laundry machines in the residence – we provide laundry detergent. Shared washrooms and shower facilities are located on every floor. Safety is our priority so our staff live in the same residence, providing full supervision.
We provide you with three meals daily, Monday – Saturday. Brunch and dinner are served on Sundays to allow time for you to sleep in. All meals are provided in a modern cafeteria which features various stations offering a wide choice of main courses. Lunch and dinner are complimented by a full salad bar, dessert offerings and unlimited drinks. All students eat together in the university dining hall that is decorated with the history of the school. Our meals are cooked on-site by professional staff and meet rigid nutritious standards.
academic & career prep
Location
The Academic & Career Prep programme is offered at CISS AT TRINITY, located in downtown Toronto.
ACADEMIC & CAREER PREP
Activities
Students always have something to do, beyond their course of study. Our programme includes full-day and half-day excursions, plus we offer a variety of afternoon and evening activities.
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The General English + Activity option is the ideal choice for international summer students who want to improve their English. With this option, students receive 10 hours of English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons per week. This includes classroom instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on helping students of all proficiency levels to improve in their fluency and accuracy of speech.
English lessons comprise two of the five daily periods. You can then choose different land, water, or art activities to fill the remaining two or three periods.
Included Excursions
Full Day (One per week)
May include:
- Canada’s Wonderland (Amusement Park)
- Niagara Falls (with boat tour)
- Treetop Trekking
- Wye Marsh Canadiana
Half Day (Three per week)
May include:
- Beach Day
- Blue Jays Baseball Game
- Casa Loma
- CN Tower
- Disco Boat Cruise on Lake Ontario
- Distillery District/Spaghetti Factory
- High Park
- Toronto Harbourfront
- Toronto Islands
- Toronto Zoo
- Ripley’s Aquarium
- Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
- Wet’n Wild Water Park
Afternoon and Evening Activities
On non-excursion days, our team offers a variety of activities during the afternoons and evenings. Students may choose to participate in afternoon activities, all of which are staff led and supervised. Evening activities are considered mandatory for all students. The options available each day are noted on the schedule and may include:
- Amazing Race
- Board Games
- Capture the Flag
- Casino Night
- Colour Wars
- Crazy Olympics
- Dances / Discos
- Evening Under the Stars
- Athletic Centre
- Game Show Night
- Improv Night
- Karaoke
- Magic Show
- Movies
- Neighbourhood Tours
- On-Campus Sports
- Photo Scavenger Hunt
- Speech Contest
- Summer Festivals
- Talent Show
- Yoga
- Zumba
Optional Activities
Once or twice per week, students may choose to sign up for an optional activity. These activities are staff-led and supervised and additional costs apply. Money is collected from the students at the programme. Optional activity choices may include:
- Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
- Canoeing / SUP on Lake Ontario
- Go-Karting
- Blue Jays Baseball Game
- CN Tower
- Escape Room
- City Bus Tour
Schedule
Our team is currently working on the schedule. We expect to publish details in Winter 2023.
| Departure | ||||
| Arrival | Jul-23 | Jul-30 | Aug-06 | |
| Jul-10 | 2 Weeks $ 4,150 |
3 Weeks $ 5,775 |
4 Weeks $ 7,300 |
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| Jul-17 | 2 Weeks $ 4,150 |
3 Weeks $ 5,775 |
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| Jul-24 | 2 Weeks $ 4,150 |
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Academic & Career Prep
2024 Dates & Fees
Extra Fees: |
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| Extra Night Fee | $250 | Applies to all students who arrive early or depart late. |
| Extra Transfer Fee | $125 | Applies to all students who arrive or depart on non-scheduled dates. |
| Late Arrival/Early Departure Fee | $125 | Applies to all students with flights ARRIVING after 22:00 or DEPARTING before 09:00. |
| Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Fee | $125 | Applies to all students using the UM service with an airline. |
| Custodianship Fee | $150 | Applies to students who require any legal documents for visa purposes. |
All fees are in Canadian Dollars.
*Canadian and US citizens currently residing in Canada or the United States are asked to contact CISS for domestic rates. Taxes are included.
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Academic & Career Prep
Parents and students may have questions about our programme and we are happy to bring you the frequently asked questions here.
Summer Camps
The CISS Difference
Since 1979, CISS has provided students from around the world the opportunity to come together in Canada for transformative summer learning experiences in traditional camps, language programs in cities, and other adventure experiences. With a focus on fun and unique opportunities to learn, our summer programmes promise to give you the experience—and the Canadian memories—of a lifetime.
Specialized care for the unique needs of Campers
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Summer City Programmes
CISS City Residential Programmes give you the chance to live, learn, and grow. And, most importantly, to have fun doing it during the summer in Canada.
Study Tours
Study Tours provide an opportunity for students to practice their English, integrate with local students in a high school, experience life with a host family, enjoy unique activities, and have a genuine Canadian cultural experience.
High School
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