The number of high school students applying to Ontario universities has risen 2.2 per cent from last year, according to the Council of Ontario Universities.
Statistics showed that student applications for the fall semester have increased consistently for the past 11 years, with 90,373 high school students applying by the January 11 deadline.
Applicants, however, face the danger of competing against mature students for spots in university classrooms, as the recession held back many mature students from pursuing a university degree. There was also a three per cent increase in the number of mature students applying for the fall semester.
Due to students’ increased prioritization of completing degrees, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, Bonnie Patterson, told Maclean’s that governments need to invest more in universities to meet the demand. This is “to ensure that the quality of the learning experience is not undermined by taking more and more students on board,” said Patterson.
