Frequently Asked Questions about the Admissions Process

Can I get any questions answered prior to application?

You can communicate freely to have any questions that are not answered on our website answered by email or phone by our Admissions Officer, Sue Sparlin ssparlin@binm.org .

Will you notify me that you have received my application?

When you see that your bank or credit card account shows that we have cashed your cheque or processed your credit card for the $150.00 application fee, you will know we have received your application.

Will I be notified if there is something missing from my application?

It is up to you to ensure that everything has been sent to us in a timely fashion. If you have doubts that something may not arrive by the deadline, collect all three letters of reference and all official transcripts in separate sealed envelopes and enclose them with your application documents and fee. Anything missing could stall your application for the upcoming year.

What if I don't have all my pre-requisites done by the application deadline?

You can submit your application when you are in the final year of your degree completion, or you have a maximum of three pre-requisites left to complete. You must supply proof of enrolment for those prerequisites that are outstanding. Official transcripts of all completed prerequisites must be submitted to BINM one month prior to the first day of class.

If I have sent in everything, will I be interviewed?

Not necessarily. An interview is not automatic. Not everyone who applies or meets our stated minimum requirements will be called for an interview. Interviews are scheduled at the recommendation of the Admissions Committee.

If I am selected to be called in for an interview, when will I be notified?

For applicants who have submitted complete applications by the admissions deadline an email notice to phone in to book an interview appointment will be sent out by email in early January.

Once I am interviewed, when will I find out if I've been offered a seat?

The Admissions Committee meets in March following the interview process. Candidates are notified two weeks after the meeting.

How are successful candidates selected?

The Admissions Committee reviews each application in full detail. Admissions decisions for our 35 seats are based on a composite of information, including the interview, personal essay, letters of recommendation, academic standing, educational preparation, and relevant professional and volunteer activities. Each application is considered in relation to other applications for the upcoming intake. The Committee's mandate is to create a balanced cohort for the first year class, with candidates from many disciplines and with many strengths to offer their classmates. Because of our limited class size, not every qualified candidate can be admitted.

If I am offered a seat, what happens next?

Applicants who are offered seats in the program will be notified by phone or email. An official acceptance letter will be sent by mail, together with two copies of the enrolment contract. Successful applicants must sign and return the BINM file copy of the contract, together with the registration fee and tuition deposit, within seven days of receiving it in order to reserve a seat in the program. The ten percent tuition deposit will be credited toward the total annual tuition. Details of the payment plan and refund policy can be found the back of the contract.

Does BINM offer student housing?

There is no student residence at BINM. The campus is located right at the Columbia Sky Train station and students live anywhere within easy access of the Sky Train (the public elevated transit system in the Lower Mainland). In the summer the Boucher Students Association sends out a package of information to incoming students informing them of housing options in the area and giving them email contacts with students who live in these areas.

Where do I purchase textbooks?

The Boucher Students Association purchases all textbooks at a discounted rate. Books are available for purchase in the first week of school.

If I'm not offered a seat do I still have a chance?

You may reapply for future intakes if you are not offered a seat after your interview. Some candidates will receive an official letter indicating that they have been placed on the waiting list. Each year there are some accepted candidates who are unable to enroll in the program for various reasons. When that occurs a seat becomes available for a candidate on the waiting list.

If I'm on the waiting list, will I be told where I stand on the list?

You will be told only that you've been placed on the waiting list, but not where you stand or why you were placed there.

What if I'm on the waiting list but a seat doesn't come available for me?

Wait-listed applicants will be able to be considered for the next open intake competition, along with all other applicants for that intake.

If I'm not accepted, will I be told what why I wasn't selected?

The Admissions Committee does not disclose any of the reasons for their decisions. Each application is reviewed in full detail, and selecting applicants for our limited number of seats is a complex process, based on a composite of information, including the personal essay, letters of recommendation, academic standing the programs in which you have studied, educational preparation, relevant professional activities, scores and grades. Each application is considered in relation to other applications for the upcoming year. Not every candidate whose credentials meet our stated minimum standards can be admitted.

How can I get help to improve my application for the next year?

Each applicant is responsible for reviewing the criteria for admission on our website, especially the section on admissions criteria. Applicants are encouraged to reapply if they have made some efforts to enhance their application, either by experience or training. It is wise to check with the Admissions Officer, Sue Sparlin ssparlin@binm.org in order to ensure that your proposed courses are relevant and acceptable

If I reapply do I have to send in an entirely new application?

When you reapply within one year of your original application there is no need to send in a complete new application or pay the application fee again. You should however forward any new information or replacement documents to the Admissions Office prior to the new admissions deadline. If you are called to be re-interviewed you will be asked to pay a new interview/assessment fee at the time of your appointment. A later reapplication would need to be entirely new.