I'm Famous!

Hi again Everyone!

Today I went to my old high school...it was awesome! The year I left, they also built another high school nearby the old one and i got to visit my old teachers at both....and even some who went to other high schools. It was so nice to catch up and speak to students about my experience in high school and university. I talked to two leadership classes about how their leadership skills can be applied to post-secondary education. One of the main things I learned and wanted to share was that "You are not a leader because people follow you...but instead people follow you because you are a leader."

I had lots of questions in these sessions...one of the most popular was about how high school prepared me for university. I think that it prepared me well. Lots of the things I learned that I thought I would never use became very valuable. Things that I thought were small skills were actually invaluable assets in my degree and since then. One of the best skills I learned from my leadership class was an ability to interpret my audience. If you want to know more about what I mean e-mail me...it's helpful in everything from applications to essays!

Also check out the attached pictures! It's ME! I'm a celebrite in the Kawartha Pine Ridge Distric School Board...these posters are in each school in the board! (I'll be handing out autographs upon request)

Ciao 4 now!

Independents Begin

Hello Everyone!
I'm just about to start 3 weeks of independent visits for the Mount!
I will be in Courtice, Brampton, Kitchener and then Mississauga this week.
I look forward to meeting with interested students and I hope to see some students I have already met in the last two weeks. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...I hope it was delicious.
Know what I'm thankful for? That I have the best and easiest job in the world! I get to travel and meet great people while promoting the best* university around.

Also enjoy the pic...this is what you might see if you encounter me at your school. =)

Have a good one, and again feel free to contact me with any questions!
Ciao 4 now

*Opinions above reflect Melanie LeBlanc and although she believes if you attend you will agree, they do not necessarily have any scientific basis.

Ontario Student Applications

I've had a lot of questions the last few days about how to apply to The Mount if you are an Ontario student. Since we don't operate under the Ontario application process it is a bit different. For students who want to apply to The Mount, you actually apply directly through our institution.

1. Click on the tab at the top of our homepage (msvu.ca) called "Apply Online".
2. Click on 'Undergraduate Programs' and follow the directions.
3. You will be prompted to pay a $30 application fee which you can do by credit card or by mailing the amount to The Mount.
4. After this you will have to send high school transcripts as they become available. Just ask your guidance office or whoever is in charge of transcripts to do this for you.

Hope this was helpful!

Also today I was in Oakville, Mississauga and Brampton... there were some great questions and I met some really cool students! I'm about halfway through my Ontario time and just loving being back where I lived for my 'formative years' (grade 7-12 haha). I hope to talk to more interested students this week and next!
Ciao 4 now!

Introducing The Mount to the World

So this week I've received the challenging assignment of visiting high schools and the college in Bermuda. I know, rough life, ha ha. Mount Saint Vincent University actually has a long relationship with Bermuda - we have been coming here for over twenty years and the Sisters of Charity who founded the Mount so long ago also founded a high school in Bermuda - Mount Saint Agnes - where I was at today.

I love coming to Bermuda not only because of the obvious reasons (it's stunningly beautiful, the people are as friendly as they are in the Maritimes, and, of course, it's hot almost all year round!!) but also because of the opportunity to introduce the Mount to a new generation of students and meet all sorts of Mount Saint Vincent University Bermudian alumni who have come back home after their degree.

One of the great things about the Mount is that we don't differentiate between Canadian and international students as far as admissions to limited enrollment programs, and scholarships. That means that if you meet the admissions and scholarship requirements you will not be penalized against because you're not Canadian - you get the exact same consideration and advantages. This also means that every year more and more international students get to experience life in Canada and all of the benefits of a great Canadian education!

I am also managing to squeeze in a bit of recreation when I've finished working for the day. I have gone for some walks and taken lots of pictures of palm trees - and me with palm trees (as you can see!), and another day I got to spend a couple hours snorkelling off the coast of Bermuda - I saw tonnes of fish, coral and shipwrecks - and one barracuda!! Luckily he was more interested in the other fish than us but it kept us all awake and paying attention for the rest of the trip that's for sure! :-)

Opening Lines

Hello again everyone!

The first week in Ontario was great! It was awesome to see so many students interested in looking into the East Coast and the Mount as an option for their post secondary education. I realized I didn’t mention what exactly it is I’m doing on the road. For those who haven’t seen me yet I thought it would be good to let you know what I mean when I say I’m on the road visiting high schools.
Well generally when I’m on the road I set up a table with the other university recruiters and answer your questions. What might you encounter when you come up to my table?
I thought I would share some of my great opening lines:
1. Howzit going? (Yes I say it like it’s one word)
2. Looking for any program in particular?
3. Go ahead and take a book.
4. Let me know if you have any questions.

Now that I see them all written out I’m thinking I might need to come up with a better opening line… any suggestions?

Sometimes I think that maybe I’m intimidating to students…but I really hope I’m not! Please come talk to me and ask questions. I love meeting potential students and telling them about why I love the Mount. Why do I love the Mount? Well I will share my top 3 reasons with you right now:
Small campus – Big city… best of both worlds.
Professors care about your success and know you by name
Programs so great that students on campus come from over 60 different countries

I will post again soon with some of my favourite questions from the road.
Ciao 4 now!