Academics
Senior School

University Preparation and Destinations

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Laura Brock

    Laura Brock 

    Director of Academics and University Counselling & Geography Teacher
Rachel MacLean M.D. '10 - Psychiatry Residency, Boston, Massachusetts
"I arrived at Grammar in Grade 8, and I’ve never since encountered its equal in terms of breadth of opportunity, intellectual rigour, and exposure to the wonder of learning. Grammar changed my life unequivocally and set me on an educational path I could never have found otherwise. In high school, I was encouraged to take the SAT and apply to Williams College. From there, a would-be career in international law morphed into an interest in health policy, which eventually led me to clinical medicine."
(Read more about Rachel's story and her life after Grammar)

The Grammar Advantage

A key part of Halifax Grammar School's mission is to help our students achieve excellence and develop a passion for learning. Our university preparation gives our students an advantage like no other to ensure any opportunity is achievable to them.

University Preparation at Grammar

List of 3 frequently asked questions.

  • Grade 10

    • Students are supported on the path to discovering their potential in the Senior School and with goal-setting for their post-secondary education.
    • Students are introduced to University Visits Xello, a career planning sofware.
    • We meet with students in groups to plan for Grades 11 & 12 and provide them with an overview of subject options.
    • We have individual student + parent meetings to discuss the options at Grammar with a focus on personal interests, academic strengths, and post-secondary goals.
    • Personal Project: Students engage in a year-long project based on their personal interests. The process includes brainstorming ideas, developing an action plan, creating a product, and presentations.
    • Young Alum Panel Discussions: Alumni offer their time to speak with our students an share their experiences at university and employment.
    • Lunch & Learn Sessions: Guest speakers cover topics such as international university choices, environmental discussions, non-traditional post-secondary education plans, to name a few. These events change from year to year, as they are driven by students' interests.

  • Grade 11

    • Students begin an in-depth exploration of university options and post-secondary goal setting.
    • Through University Visits Xello, students engage in deeper understanding of their career planning program.
    • Students who choose to write PSAT are supported in the interpretation of the results.
    • Students can choose to complete the Strong Interest Inventory Survey - a tool for matching a student's interests (not aptitudes) with college and career opportunities. Results are professionally interpreted and assist in post-secondary goal planning.
    • Individual meeting with Academic Advisor - students meet individually with our Director of Academics to ensure that their course selections remain aligned with their post-secondary goals.
    • Young Alum Panel Discussions: Alumni offer their time to speak with our students and share their experiences at university and employment.
    • Career Counselling: In collaboration with Xello, our Director of University Counselling assists students in narrowing their focus of options as they begin planning for their post-secondary employment.

  • Grade 12

    • Students continue their post-secondary pathway, with guidance and support from faculty, staff, and the Director of Academics.
    • Through University Visits Xello, students identify university programs and potential employment options.
    • Grammar hosts 15-20 university visits each year, giving students the opportunity to meet with representatives to discuss programs, scholarships, and the application process.
    • The Director of Academics leads a University Liaison (UL) class. Topics include completing application forms, writing competitive cover letters and resumes, managing expectations of what students 'think' university is and what the reality may be, to name a few.
    • Individual meetings with Academic Advisor to ensure subject selections and grades still align with their post-secondary goals.
    • Young Alum Panel Discussions: Alumni offer their time to speak with our students and share their experiences at university and employment.
    • Lunch and Learn Sessions: Focus is on personal interests, academic strengths, and post-secondary goals.

Where Do Grammar Graduates Go

List of 3 items.

  • Canada

    • Acadia University
    • Anderson College
    • Atlantic School of Theology
    • Bishop's University
    • Brock University
    • Canadian Coast Guard Academy
    • Cape Breton University
    • Carleton University
    • Concordia University
    • Dalhousie University
    • Dalhousie University Agricultural Campus
    • Emily Carr Institute
    • Huron University College at Western University
    • John Abbott College 
    • McMaster University
    • Memorial University
    • Mount Allison University
    • Mount Saint Vincent University
    • National Theatre School
    • Nova Scotia College of Art and Design
    • Nova Scotia Community College
    • Queen's University
    • Royal Military College of Ontario
    • Ryerson University
    • Saint Mary's University
    • Simon Fraser University
    • St. Francis Xavier University
    • Trent University
    • University of British Columbia
    • University of Calgary
    • University of Guelph
    • University of King's College
    • University of New Brunswick
    • University of Ottawa
    • University of Toronto
    • University of Victoria
    • University of Waterloo
    • University of Windsor
    • Vancouver Film School
    • Wilfred Laurier University
    • York University

  • United States

    • Beloit College
    • Berklee College of Music
    • Boston University
    • Brown University
    • Colby College
    • Columbia University
    • Cornell University
    • Dartmouth College
    • Duke University
    • Georgetown University
    • Hartt School of Music Hartford
    • Harvard University
    • Houghton College New York
    • John Hopkins University
    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Middlebury College
    • New York University
    • Princeton University
    • Swarthmore College
    • University of the Arts Philadelphia
    • University of California Berkeley
    • University of Illinois
    • University of Michigan
    • University of Oklahoma
    • University of Pennsylvania
    • University of Pittsburg
    • University of Southern California
    • University of Tennessee
    • University of Virginia
    • Wheaton College
    • Williams College
    • Worcester Polytechnic Institute

  • International

    • American University of Beirut
    • Cambridge University
    • German University
    • Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    • Heriot-Watt University Dubai
    • Institut d'etudes Politique Paris
    • International Christian University
    • London Business School
    • London School of Economics
    • Manchester School of Architecture
    • Mount Carmel University
    • Oxford University
    • Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
    • University of Berlin
    • University of Bonn
    • University of Bath England
    • University of Glasgow
    • University of Heidelberg
    • University of Jyvaskyla
    • University of Kiel Germany
    • University of London
    • University of Sydney, Australia
    • The University of the West of England
    • Webster University Leiden
    • Yeditepe University

Halifax Grammar School

945 Tower Road,
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 2Y2