Tips for Writing for Canadian Universities vs American College Applications

University of British Columbia, University of Toronto, McGill University, Universite de Montreal and many more – Canadian Universities like these are a great option to consider in addition (or in lieu of) applying to American Colleges. American colleges and universities will often require the Common App essay, which is a personal essay that demonstrates who candidates are outside of their academic transcripts. An applicant’s Common App essay is sent to each institution they apply to that accepts the Common App.

The application process to Canadian universities works differently; applicants apply directly to the university/college and the program they wish to study. Usually, Canadian post-secondary institutions will focus on the applicant’s transcript for acceptance decisions. Depending on the program’s requirements and competitiveness, though, Canadian post-secondary institutions will occasionally request a supplementary written application to get to know the candidates.

Tips For Supplementary Applications

The main similarity between writing for Canadian and American college applications is the reflection component. Writing the Common App essay prompts you to reflect on who you are and who you want to become. Likewise, Canadian programs like McMaster University’s Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program ask candidates questions that encourage reflection, such as “Tell us about a time things didn’t go according to what you had planned, but things ended up working out well anyway.” You would be expected to analyze a personal event or experience, explain its significance, and describe how that experience has changed you or taught you a lesson. Similar to the Common App essay, you are expected to be concise — the Health Sciences application limits students to 1500 characters per question, which is roughly 250-300 words.

While the Common App prompts are purposely more open-ended to allow students to write about a variety of interests and experiences, some Canadian supplementary questions are specific to the program students are applying for. For example, the University of Toronto’s Music Industry and Technology program asks candidates to discuss their background and ambitions in music and why they’re interested in the Music Industry and Technology program. Students may find it easier to answer these relatively straightforward questions, which allow them to express who they are in relation to their chosen field of study.

Some supplementary applications, like Western University’s School for Advanced Studies in the Arts & Humanities, may resemble behavioral  questions you encounter at a job interview. Their Statement of Interest requires candidates to answer questions like “What qualities or strengths would you contribute to a collaborative learning environment?” Considering that many Canadian post-secondary institutions, such as York University’s Bachelor of Business Administration program, ask for video interviews as part of their supplementary applications, approaching certain written prompts as interview questions can be helpful. 

The STAR Interview Method

One helpful tool to utilize is the STAR interview method. It will help you when you are trying to convince an admissions officer why they should accept you and how lucky they would be for you to join the university as a student. Using the STAR method enables you to answer questions in an organized way and elaborate on the details rather than worrying over the structure. 

Let’s say you wanted to answer Western University’s question and give an example of a time you contributed to a collaborative learning environment. The “S” stands for “situation” — give the context the reader needs to understand your story. Did this situation occur in a school project? In one of your extracurricular activities? 

Next, move on to “T” — task. Talk about the challenges or obstacles you were facing and your responsibility in relation to the task at hand. Were you a group leader navigating conflicts within a group project? Tight deadlines? Unresponsive teammates? Make sure that the reader understands the stakes. 

After comes “A”: action. What did you do to resolve and overcome your challenges? Maybe you created and held your team accountable to your group project contract or acted as a mediator between clashing teammates. Emphasize what you did specifically. 

Lastly is “R,” the result. Discuss what you achieved. If possible, quantify your results (Did you receive a high mark on the group project? Produced X number of ideas with the team?). 

The STAR method is essentially a method of storytelling. Focusing on what you did specifically in a situation allows you to shine and helps admissions officers understand who you are in different contexts. 

You may find it helpful to remember the STAR method when answering Canadian supplementary applications specific to achievements and experiences. That being said, there’s no reason why you can’t use a similar approach when writing your Common App essay. If you find the structure helpful, then go for it! Just make sure you still incorporate a reflection component where you discuss how this experience has changed or informed you as a person. Remember, admissions officers aren’t looking to meet a list of resume bullet points; they want to get to know you.

Happy applying!

About the Author

Vivian Zhi is an undergraduate student at the University of Toronto majoring in English and Book & Media Studies. Beyond academic pursuits, her journey has been shaped by hands-on editorial experience. As a former intern at Renaissance Press and Canadian Mennonite University Press, she honed her skills in acquisition editing, crafting promotional copy, and building audience connections. Vivian’s commitment is further evident in her volunteer work, such as serving as a Community Ambassador at Write the World, where she guided young voices to craft authentic personal essays. This passion fueled her role as Publishing Director at INKspire, where she spearheaded the Writer Fellowship Program, nurturing 20 writers and streamlining operations. Vivian looks forward to continuing to help young writers create a personal essay that authentically captures their story and spirit.