Professional Linking Program

After applications are submitted online, they may not advance to the next stage of the evaluation process until all transcripts are received by the SFU Undergraduate Admissions office.

The PPS Admissions Coordinator reviews each application to:

• Determine whether you meet the minimum experience requirement of 2 years in a paraprofessional role at the time of application
• Calculate the GPA for the last 60 credits and ensure you meet the required minimum GPA of 2.5
• Determine whether you will meet the minimum academic requirements for the grade level and/or subject(s) you wish to teach

Only those applicants that meet the minimum requirements will be passed on to the reviewing stage.

• Two members of the admissions team review the online application materials and complete a reviewing form 
• If there is something in the application materials that raises a concern (such as, but not limited to, references, evidence of falsified, misleading, plagiarized or ghost-written materials), that application is put aside until the concern can be explored by admissions administration. If the concern is legitimate, the application will be removed from consideration. Otherwise, your application returns to the regular review process without penalty.

Once the reviews are done, the scores of the reviewers are combined with the scores of the reference writers to create ratings in seven key dimensions. These dimensions are then combined into a composite score.

The final composite score is on a scale of 0 to 4 and can be interpreted similarly to a Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.

Composite score ranges and their interpretation

Examples of applications with a summary of their reviews, including composite and dimensions scores, along with advice for improvement are available. 

• An ordered list is made based on composite scores. The top 32 applications will receive a seat in the competition first. Those with composite scores too low to be considered are marked as ‘inadmissible.’
• Students whose composite scores are acceptable, but too low on the competition list to receive an offer will be put on a waitlist.

• You will be informed about your admission status by an email from the PPS Admissions office by the end of April
• Applicants who are waitlisted or not accepted into the program can meet with Admissions and Recruitment to discuss their admission decision

The PLP is a competitive program and we receive more applications than we have seats available. Waitlist means that you have neither been offered admission nor denied and are still in the competition for a seat.

Waitlist position is determined by composite score and the number of applicants to each teachable area. We do not immediately give out your waitlist position number, as it could change at any time. As applicants withdraw their application or decline their offer of admission to the PLP, the waitlist number changes.

What to Do if You Have Been Waitlisted

• Check your email (including your junk mail/spam folders) for an admission decision on a regular basis.
• Waitlists move all summer. Waitlist position information will be available to applicants starting on August 1, but an offer of admission could be made as late as the start of the program.
  
• Please email pps_admissions@sfu.ca for your waitlist position after August 1 (for Fall intakes) or December 1 (for Spring intakes).

Reasons for Appealing an Admission Decision

We will only consider appeals for the following reasons:

• You have extenuating circumstances (i.e., a serious medical situation) which impacted your ability to meet the Professional Programs admission requirements
• You believe there was an error in processing your application

Note: Additional documentation (or new documentation) may not be added to your application as part of this appeal application.

Appeals Deadlines

• Admissions appeals must be submitted by May 31 for the Fall intake or August 15 for the Spring intake
• Please allow 10 business days for a response to your appeal

How to Apply for an Admission Appeal

1. Make an appointment with the Coordinator of Admission & Recruitment (pps_acoordinator@sfu.ca) to discuss your application
2. If after discussing your application you feel you have a basis for appeal you will then be directed to the admission appeal form in Survey Monkey Apply
3. You must then submit the appeal form with the required $25 fee by the required deadline

If you have been accepted into the PLP but wish to defer your admission, you may apply to defer your offer of admission for one intake i.e., Spring 2025 to Spring 2026.

• Deferrals are considered for students who, after accepting the offer experience a medical condition or extenuating circumstance that prevents them from entering the program. Documentation is required (e.g. medical note). Requests must be submitted prior to the start of the program.
• Deferrals are not granted for students who plan on attending another post-secondary institution, for employment purposes, or for students who are not financially prepared to attend SFU.
• To submit a deferral request please email pps_admissions@sfu.ca. If your deferral request is approved, you will need to contact the SFU Undergraduate Admissions office and request a deferral of your admission to the University.