Hi, I am going to be applying for college soon and just wanted to know if anyone on this forum can tell me about Sault College. I've heard lots of good things but a lot of bad things lately. I can't tell if what I'm hearing is just rumour or if it's true. Is their reputation on the rocks? I know that this forum doesn't guarantee any correct answers either but anything would help at this point.
Thanks in advance,
Is Sault College losing it's good reputation?
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Yeah, i applied to sault for next year too. I called the admissions office there a while back and the lady told me that everyone who applied before feb 1st this year, got in. It was undersubscribed. I called confed and asked the same question... and they told me they got 300 applicants last year, but told my friend 200. So you never really know... but ive heard numerous times that sault is undersubscribed.
I think a lot of kids get scared off by the high fail rate. they take 90 in.. and the graduating class is 30 at its highest...
I think a lot of kids get scared off by the high fail rate. they take 90 in.. and the graduating class is 30 at its highest...
Last edited by CYQT on Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Where'd who go?
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How is that not accurate information?? that is straight from the horses mouth (the admission office at the college). They told me and my friend different numbers... thats why i told the original poster that you never really know if what they are telling you is true. And if you are so sure this information is false.. please do the honours sir. Give me the correct information. I would be more than glad to hear it...
This may help...
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From: Aaron Lehman [mailto:aaronlehman_1531@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:22 AM
To: Registrar
Subject: Aviation
Hey, I just have a few questions about admissions into the aviation-flight program, as i will be applying to it in a few weeks time. Based on last years admissions, what was the cut off mark that you accepted into the program? And how many applications did you recieve? how many do you accept? I'm sorry to bombard you with questions. I have all the courses required, im just wondering if I have the marks. Thanks so much.
Aaron Lehman
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Hello Aaron:
There really isn't any "cut off" mark for academic admission requirements to the program. If the program is not oversubscribed than you would have to have a passing grade in the Math and English and also be a highschool graduate. If the program is oversubscribed (more applicants than seats in the program) than the applicants are "ranked" based on the Math and English grades. I would recommend you get the best possible grades you can.
This year, as of February 1st the program was not oversubscribed, so those applicants that met the program admissions requirements were offered a seat in the program; the program since has filled and we did end up with a waiting list.
Please keep in mind though that it is recommended that you have English, Math and Physics at the university level. It is not an admission requirement but a recommendation which means that these courses would help you once you were here.
This year we accepted 92 students into our program; I do not have the exact number of applicants to the program at this time, but I can tell you that we did have a waiting list, so you are best to apply early. I believe the OCAS is accepting applications beginning in November for next year. You can apply at ontariocolleges.ca
Hope this answers all your questions, if not please email me at the above email address and I will try to answer all your questions,
Thank You
Jo-Ann Kennedy
Admissions Officer
Sault College
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From: Sherry Vernelli
Sent: September 26, 2007 1:18 PM
To: Jo-Ann Kennedy
Subject: FW: Aviation
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From: Aaron Lehman [mailto:aaronlehman_1531@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:22 AM
To: Registrar
Subject: Aviation
Hey, I just have a few questions about admissions into the aviation-flight program, as i will be applying to it in a few weeks time. Based on last years admissions, what was the cut off mark that you accepted into the program? And how many applications did you recieve? how many do you accept? I'm sorry to bombard you with questions. I have all the courses required, im just wondering if I have the marks. Thanks so much.
Aaron Lehman
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Aaron:
There really isn't any "cut off" mark for academic admission requirements to the program. If the program is not oversubscribed than you would have to have a passing grade in the Math and English and also be a highschool graduate. If the program is oversubscribed (more applicants than seats in the program) than the applicants are "ranked" based on the Math and English grades. I would recommend you get the best possible grades you can.
This year, as of February 1st the program was not oversubscribed, so those applicants that met the program admissions requirements were offered a seat in the program; the program since has filled and we did end up with a waiting list.
Please keep in mind though that it is recommended that you have English, Math and Physics at the university level. It is not an admission requirement but a recommendation which means that these courses would help you once you were here.
This year we accepted 92 students into our program; I do not have the exact number of applicants to the program at this time, but I can tell you that we did have a waiting list, so you are best to apply early. I believe the OCAS is accepting applications beginning in November for next year. You can apply at ontariocolleges.ca
Hope this answers all your questions, if not please email me at the above email address and I will try to answer all your questions,
Thank You
Jo-Ann Kennedy
Admissions Officer
Sault College
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sherry Vernelli
Sent: September 26, 2007 1:18 PM
To: Jo-Ann Kennedy
Subject: FW: Aviation
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Where'd who go?
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I think you said that they graduate only thirty max. I don't think that is true....don't they graduate how ever many make it? Anyways, my question was surrounding the current reputation of the college in the aviation industry and if people still look at it as a good place to go.
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Where'd who go?
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shimmydampner
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Sault will graduate somewhere between a record low of 7 I believe, to the mid 40's. It all depends on how willing the students are to do the work required to pass. There's no quota as to the number who will graduate, so you're not competing with classmates for limited seats. That really makes the environment a lot more positive. As far as the Sault college reputation goes, it would depend on who you're talking to. Many companies out there prefer their new hires to come from an aviation college background. Sprint, and north wright being a few in the 703 and 704 realm that come up immediately. Air Canada still scores you higher in their matrix for having a Sault College Diploma than someone who graduated from an unaccredited college.
You'll find that there's a lot of people on these forums that will try and smear aviation colleges in general. There are a lot of people out there that couldn't meet the standard and are still sour about it. There's another group out there that did things privately and refuse to accept that going the college route has advantages. With that in mind make sure you take things posted on here with a grain of salt. Truly, any of the accredited colleges would be a great choice. Do some research and find out what one is best for you. They all offer something unique.
You'll find that there's a lot of people on these forums that will try and smear aviation colleges in general. There are a lot of people out there that couldn't meet the standard and are still sour about it. There's another group out there that did things privately and refuse to accept that going the college route has advantages. With that in mind make sure you take things posted on here with a grain of salt. Truly, any of the accredited colleges would be a great choice. Do some research and find out what one is best for you. They all offer something unique.
This is good advice and I intend to get lots of feedback before I choose. I had heard stories that their instructors were really inexperienced and in some cases had just barely graduated themselves! Someone told me that the program wasn't allowed to keep it's full funding from the government. My source is currently enrolled in the program and says that everything is really unorganized. Has anyone else even heard this stuff?
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flying_fanatic
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The same thing goes for Confederation as the Sault. I do believe that confederation is a better training facility, but i may be biased because I go there. Confederation had a record low of second year students this year with approximately 26. But the only reason for that is people did not work hard enough to attain the averages needed. I assure you that if you work hard at confed, you can easily obtain the averages needed.
Big Happy: Both you and your sources inexperience is shining through terribly.
Unfortunately it is industry standard to have newer instructors teach new pilots. This is the same at all of the accredited flight colleges. They have all hired instructors with lower times to teach new students. This is even more so at private flight schools, where it is the rule rather than the exception.
I believe the Sault would rather hire one of their own grads with a good track record at 400hrs than some unknown with a lesser background to do the same job with 600hrs. That's obviously not something your friend felt worth passing on.
If your friend can't handle the level Sault College is unorganized then tell him to quit now and save himself a lifetime of suffering. There is no where I've worked since graduation that's come close to having stuff together as well as Sault.
I think you'll find that by asking current students you get a very strange perspective. They can't see the forest from the trees, and have at the very best a limited understanding of our industry. Once they've successfully graduated and have a few years behind them they can look back with insight and understanding they didn't have while going through the college.
Unfortunately it is industry standard to have newer instructors teach new pilots. This is the same at all of the accredited flight colleges. They have all hired instructors with lower times to teach new students. This is even more so at private flight schools, where it is the rule rather than the exception.
I believe the Sault would rather hire one of their own grads with a good track record at 400hrs than some unknown with a lesser background to do the same job with 600hrs. That's obviously not something your friend felt worth passing on.
If your friend can't handle the level Sault College is unorganized then tell him to quit now and save himself a lifetime of suffering. There is no where I've worked since graduation that's come close to having stuff together as well as Sault.
I think you'll find that by asking current students you get a very strange perspective. They can't see the forest from the trees, and have at the very best a limited understanding of our industry. Once they've successfully graduated and have a few years behind them they can look back with insight and understanding they didn't have while going through the college.
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mellow_pilot
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Endless, are you a carpenter? Cause you hit that one on the head!
Looking back is much different than being there. You also have to understand that the average human brains logic center doesn't fully develop til age 21-25. That leaves college students at a disadvantage when making judgments about the school. It also makes for laughs when you look back and as, "what the hell was I thinking!??!?!?"
Looking back is much different than being there. You also have to understand that the average human brains logic center doesn't fully develop til age 21-25. That leaves college students at a disadvantage when making judgments about the school. It also makes for laughs when you look back and as, "what the hell was I thinking!??!?!?"
Dyslexics of the world... UNTIE!
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Trix
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Re: Is Sault College losing it's good reputation?
Having gone to SC myself, I can tell you that I didn't fully appreciate my experience there until a few years after I left. I believe the moment came to me on a PPC ride that my company underprepared me for (ex. Here's the a/c for 1 hour, go learn how to fly it...what? you didn't get any ground school...oh well here, here's the POH ... give or take) and I had to fall back on the knowledge that I learned in the Sault. I passed, but only becuase of the great foundation the Sault built.
I don't think that SC's rep is on the rocks. You will always hear of "Christmas Grad" slamming the program, but then again you will hear of full grads praising it. I know of many instructors that are currently there, and believe me, they are top notch. They would do pretty much anything to see their students become successful, but they still hold a very high standard and you will be cut from the program if you don't live up to those expectations.
Choosing a college is difficult. It's really the first big choice you make on your own. I would maybe talk to past grads (you can find them on here), look at what each program offers, (float vs. IFR, college vs. university) and maybe make a pros and cons list. But in any case, you will take away a solid flying foundation from any of these programs.
The one thing that I found interesting, is that years after you graduate, it doesn't really matter where you did your flight training, it does matter on what kind of pilot you have become.
I don't think that SC's rep is on the rocks. You will always hear of "Christmas Grad" slamming the program, but then again you will hear of full grads praising it. I know of many instructors that are currently there, and believe me, they are top notch. They would do pretty much anything to see their students become successful, but they still hold a very high standard and you will be cut from the program if you don't live up to those expectations.
Choosing a college is difficult. It's really the first big choice you make on your own. I would maybe talk to past grads (you can find them on here), look at what each program offers, (float vs. IFR, college vs. university) and maybe make a pros and cons list. But in any case, you will take away a solid flying foundation from any of these programs.
The one thing that I found interesting, is that years after you graduate, it doesn't really matter where you did your flight training, it does matter on what kind of pilot you have become.
