Ontario Youth Parliament / Provincial Parliaments
Simulate Canadian parliamentary democracy
Why It Matters
Specifically strong for Canadian political science and law programs. Understanding parliamentary procedure is impressive to programs at UofT, Queen's, and Dalhousie Law.
How to Start
The Ontario Youth Parliament (OYP) holds a four-day session over Family Day weekend in February, and BC Youth Parliament and other provinces run their own sessions. Ontario students can also apply to the Legislative Assembly's High School Model Parliament program, whose applications have recently been open in the summer and early fall.
Commitment
- Medium commitment: a few hours most weeks during the school year.
- Best starting grade: G9
- Apply in G9 or G10 - build debate and student council experience first to strengthen your application.
Programs It Supports
- Political Science
- Law
- Public Policy
- History
Majors it supports
- Political Science – high 70s to high 80s
- Law (JD) – 3.7+ GPA and 160+ LSAT for top schools
- History – high 70s to high 80s
Universities where it fits
Our profiles for these schools suggest Ontario Youth Parliament / Provincial Parliaments as a good fit for their applicants.
- University of Ottawa – Ottawa, ON
Similar extracurriculars
- School Newspaper or Online Publication – Write, edit, and publish for your school community
- Philosophy / Ethics Club – Explore big questions through structured debate
- Reach for the Top – Canada's beloved fast-paced academic competition
- Shad Canada – Canada's most prestigious summer STEM and entrepreneurship program
- Governor General's Academic Medal – Canada's most prestigious academic award for students
- Library Council Organizer – Help modernize and run events in the school library
- Debate Team Judge / Mentor – Train junior students for debate tournaments
- Creative Writing Workshop – A safe space to share and critique original stories and poetry