133 replies to this topic

[Augustine]

I applied to the French section of Ottawa's Common Law program. Applications were due on the 1st of February. Can anybody tell me when I might expect a reply from the university?

[mgls79]

I also applied and the form stated that we could expect a reply by March 15 if the application was received before the deadline.

[lawgirl166]

I also applied to the French JD Program after receiving the brown envelope and have been checking my Infoweb status frequently. As of yesterday, this message appeared:

Following a preliminary evaluation of your file, we are presently unable to take a decision concerning your application for admission, for the following reason:

* Vous devez écrire un test de compétence linguistique avant l'évaluation de votre demande d'admission au programme de common law en français. Le bureau des admissions communiquera avec vous par courriel pour organiser la date et le lieu.

We greatly appreciate your desire to pursue university studies at our institution and will contact you as soon as a decision has been reached.


Clearly I'm getting more information in the mail. In the meantime (to save me from agonizing over it) has anyone else seen this message and/or know what I should expect?

[candidate458]

lawgirl166: I didn't apply to the French JD program but it seems to me that they are waiting to evaluate your French skills with the test. So, provided you get the results they want, you should have an admission. I don't know how UOttawa works in this aspect but I read some posts on the McGill site and many people received acceptances after their level of French was determined to be satisfactory.
I know I shouldn't generalise but I hope this turns out to be case for you. Good luck!

Can I ask why it is you changed from the Common law program at UOttawa to the French JD program? I also got the brown envelope in the mail encouraging me to pursue the french JD program but I wasn't sure my level of French was strong enough.

[lawgirl166]

candidate458: thanks for the information- I hadn't seen the thread about McGill's language proficiency test but I would imagine they have a similar process given that they are both bilingual institutions. I was in a French Immersion program from kindergarten through to grade twelve so I'm hoping that I meet the standard and that you're right about an offer of admission to follow- fingers crossed.

I haven't changed out of the Common Law Program- when I received the envelope in the mail, I contacted the university and was able to speak directly to one of the student advisers about what the French Program entailed. The person I spoke to said that given my bilingual background the French Program was just an alternate option I was eligible to pursue if it appealed to me. I figured that since I am fluent it wouldn't hurt to put it to use, especially if it meant I could potentially go to UofO. So as it stands, I guess I have two applications pending.

[oscar4]

Last year I applied to the French LLB after receiving their letter. I was oversees at the time and was administered a French Language test written by the Law Faculty.

I am billingual however have not studied in French for several years. The test was odd and not what I expected. I expected a test similar to the TEF and although I did well in my prep with the TEF I ended up failing one portion of the U of O test so was disqualified from the French LBB.

They never told me the results they just told me I was not accepted (I received a letter around mid March I believe). I got my results when I met with an Admissions Officer last fall. It was a little bogus because I can speak fluently, read, write and understand. I even have my advanced levels with the Government so failing even a portion of the test was a downer.

After thinking long and hard about trying for the French this year I decided to pass. Even though I now use my French everyday at work and outside work I decided I did not want to take 75% of my courses in French. I figured I'm stronger in English and the LLB is going to be tough enough as it is.

[lawgirl166]

oscar4: appreciate the feedback. I feel my fluency in French would be comparable to yours (we seem to have similar backgrounds) and I am starting to feel skeptical about the test and my fate at uOttawa.

If you don't mind sharing, what was the format of the test? Is there anything in particular I should be focusing on? What exactly did you do to prepare?

[aodell]

Yah, I'd also love to know what the test was like, I'm gonna start studying when I finish this semester.

I haven't spoken French regularly since 2007, although I can technically claim I'm a Francophone.

But uO is my number one choice and I'd definitely work harder to get to study there. Sides, I bet a French JD is advantageous if your goal is the JoD in Ottawa!

Did you guys notice that there were only 185 French apps last year, and there are 60 seats. I like those odds!

[elle11]

mgls79 said:

I also applied and the form stated that we could expect a reply by March 15 if the application was received before the deadline.

Where did you get this information?!

[oscar4]

I used practice material for the TEF (French language assessment) used in France. Compared to the Fed Govt SLE test I found the U of O test odd...hard to explain, but I didn't like the format and I didn't find it evaluated my strength in French. Maybe I didn't prepare enough and my writing I must admit needed some improvement.

There was a writing component (essay) and the other section had several sub-sections. Know your verbs and how to conjugate. I think there were 1-2 sections on anglicisms. To be honest that's about all I remember. There was a section that I couldn't figure out what they were asking exactly. I asked my proctor and we had to look up the meaning of the word to best understand.

Like I first said it's by no means a professional evaluation. I was told the faculty creates the test and in comparison to 3 official tests I've taken in the past (and achieved advanced levels on) it was completely different.

Format wise there was a bit of T/F and the rest was fill in the blanks. Maybe one of association and one where you chose the best of two answers.

I thought I would of done better but again I wasn't overly prepared, definitely rusty. One section caught me off guard at the beginning so maybe that's what did it. Overall it shouldn't be hard to do well if you use your French and prepare.

Hope that helps!

[briangriffin]

Hi all - I'm a current 1st year French JD student. If you guys have been accepted, are waiting for an answer or are just interested in the French JD programme, take a look at the new Facebook page for the programme (www.facebook.com/commonlawfr). There's a lot of good info about what goes on at the faculty, and about the types of things that students and French JD profs are involved with. It'll give you a sense of what it's like to be there (believe me - it's not all reading and long nights at the library).

If you have any questions, there are student moderators and profs who check the page all the time so they can answer or get you in touch with someone who can.

Hang in there - there are a lot of applicants and still a fair bit of time left in the cycle!

[elle11]

Merci beaucoup Brian !
I've had a look at the facebook page and the activities look exciting.

[remit]

Nice plug Brian, if you didn't have 38 prior posts I would think you were a bot....

Aside from the obvious marketing ploy, he's right. I've met a lot of ppl's who's French is very advanced and some not so much...As long as you can communicate your thoughts coherently I think you should be ok.

And I wholeheartedly agree that it's not all long nights at the lib, although you will most likely work harder than you have ever worked before.

Oscar, sorry to hear about your difficulties with the test. It's ridiculous that you weren't admitted based on that....

I think the French program has a lot going for it. The faculty is amazing and the atmosphere is (in my opinion) very different than the English program. PLUS, word on the street is that the AEECLSS President will be from the French program next year.....

[b_gill]

Hi There,

Not sure if anyone is in the same boat as me but here goes.

I applied before the deadline but I haven't heard anything at all.

Is it a good or bad thing that I haven't been asked to take the proficiency test?

They're supposed to respond in 2 days? Not sure that I'm prepared for that...

For those that have heard back, was it mail, email or online system? Thanks!

[elle11]

I've noticed references to a March 15 deadline to get a reply ... Where is this mentioned ?

[lawgirl166]

elle11: I was also curious about the March deadline. I didn't recall seeing it on any of the forms I submitted so I emailed Gilbert Ngieme Wansome who manages the Programme de Common Law en Français. I got an email back today saying that I would receive correspondence in the next week or so to advise when/where the test de compétence linguistique would be taking place. There was no mention of the March 15 deadline (which is tomorrow?) so I'm not sure whether it has any significance. If it does, I'm wondering how the people who are required to write the TCL at a date TBA will be factored into the equation regarding offers of admission. Do all applicants write this test at some point in the admission process, or is it only for those being considered who speak French as a second language?

[elle11]

Hi lawgirl, I have not been asked to write the test de compétence linguistique - so I am not sure whether or not this will extend the waiting period regarding replies...

[briangriffin]

they were late last year - don't see why they would be on time this year :-) In 2010, the March 15th deadline came and went for me without any action.

as for the language test, it's not strictly for people with French as a 2nd language. It's my 2nd language and I never wrote a test for admissions purposes.

[b_gill]

elle11 said:

I've noticed references to a March 15 deadline to get a reply ... Where is this mentioned ?

It was in the paper brochure that I got when they came to my school.

[elle11]

Would be wonderful to have a reply by tomorrow! But as Brian has mentioned - doubtful!...sigh...

[aodell]

So not everyone is expected to write the French test? I wonder what qualifies one to skip it...

[b_gill]

aodell said:

So not everyone is expected to write the French test? I wonder what qualifies one to skip it...

Perhaps achieving a certain average in your french courses would demonstrate skill level of french (in addition to the french pse)?

I haven't been asked to write it yet and my french marks are only mid 70s so I'm not really sure.

[oscar4]

b_gill said:

aodell said:

So not everyone is expected to write the French test? I wonder what qualifies one to skip it...

Perhaps achieving a certain average in your french courses would demonstrate skill level of french (in addition to the french pse)?

I haven't been asked to write it yet and my french marks are only mid 70s so I'm not really sure.

That sounds reasonable. I haven't studied in French since grade 12, whether or not they knew that I don't know. But having taken French in Uni would easily show your competency level. I should have just taken a French class in Uni...I would have aced it!

[remit]

I wouldn't worry about it too much to be honest. I would worry if you're applying to a French program and can't read French or watch a TV episode or movie and not understand a thing....we do a lot of readings in French and ALL our lectures are in French in 1L so if you can handle that, you will be fine.

[ktb2011]

FCL 3L here. I wrote the test in 2008 before being offered admission (undergrad degree was in French)...walked out of it thinking there was no way I was getting in, but then I got an offer. When I got here, it seemed like a handful of people had been required to write it before admission (and no one could find a pattern for the determination of who had had to write it beforehand), but anyone who hadn't had to write a test during orientation week (not sure if they've changed the policy, but it's still listed on the orientation schedule for 2010). People who didn't do satisfactorily on the test during orientation were required to attend French tutorials, but they obviously didn't send you home at that point :) I never saw my results but I got in and was never required to attend the tutorials, so presumably I passed!

Hope this helps a bit...I definitely remember how stressful this all was!

[lawgirl166]

briangriffin: I'm curious about how the admissions committee determines who is to write/skip the test. You were admitted to the French Program without writing the test so I'm wondering how your level was assessed as being satisfactory while others were required to undergo testing. As I mentioned before, I was in French Immersion from kindergarten through to grade twelve and was on the honour roll etc. the whole way through- I know, it's highschool but still.... haha. I was allowed to skip all of the Intro French courses (based on a test I wrote) at University because they were apparently equivalent to my previous schooling, took one French for Business course in my last year of University and did well, and I worked in a bilingual environment fulltime for the past four years? I also submitted my personal statement in French (like all of you, I'm presuming? I never saw an official admission package for this program, only got that letter in the mail indicating that if I was interested I would be required to submit a PS in French). Anyway, just curious about why some are asked and not others. Is it a bad thing if you were asked?

[b_gill]

When someone here's something in terms of an admission decision (french program) could they please post it here?
No idea when that will be but hopefully by April ish? (Based on the original deadline of March 15)

Thanks!

[ohawa071]

i guess no acceptances were given out to the french program as of yet! so anxious i've checked my status almost 10 times today hahaha!

anyone hear anything?

[elle11]

No word ! And I also was on a refreshing rampage today.... Wishful thinking!!

[ohawa071]

i've started having dreams about checking infoweb and seeing that status change to "Yes, we'll allow you to come pursue you studies in our prestigious institution".