Switching to 3-year BA for I/S (High School) - Grade/GPA concerns
Will failed courses + switching to a 3-year BA hurt my chances for teachers college (Ontario)?
Hey everyone,
I’m a second year student at uOttawa currently in an Honours BA in English, but I’m planning to switch to a 3-year Major in English with a Minor in Geography (for a second teachable).
This past year didn’t go well—I’m likely finishing the winter term with around 3 failed courses and a CGPA around 4.95 (maybe 5.0 if my last two grades go well). I know that’s not great, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to recover and stay on track for teachers college.
Right now, my plan is:
- Retake 1–2 failed courses to boost my CGPA
- Take Geography courses to build my minor/second teachable
- Improve my grades significantly over the next couple of years
- Gain relevant experience (volunteering, tutoring, possibly JET Programme)
My main concerns are:
- How bad do multiple failed courses look if I show a strong upward trend later?
- How much will a 3-year degree vs. a 4-year Honours degree realistically hurt my chances for I/S in Ontario? I know preference is given to 4-year, but is it a dealbreaker if my "best 10/last 20" average is high (aiming for 75%+)?
- Is the JET Programme (a 1 year Japanese exchange program)or similar experience compensate for not very competitive grades?
- is geography a good reachable or should I change to something else (other than the sciences)?
I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve been in similar situations or gone through the Ontario teachers college application process.
Thanks in advance!