CREDIT: NICK REYNO
The OCAS mobile app gives a simple and stress-free way to apply to college.

The Ontario College Application Service (OCAS) has released a free mobile phone app available for android and apple devices designed to make the college application process as effortless as possible, according to a press release.

“It makes applying to any program easier. Our “find a program” search functionality has been moved to the mobile device so you can search for programs and easily add them to your application with just a click,” said Alissa Robson, manager of marketing and communications for the OCAS.

The app, according to a press release, maintains all of the functionality of the original online application process, allowing users to log into their Ontario Colleges accounts from a mobile device.

It can be found by searching ontariocolleges.ca in the App Store and or Google Play.

“You can search [for] programs, create your application, request your documents and pay, then manage your offers once your application is complete,” Robson said.

Another notable feature is the ability to create a “Favourites” list of chosen college programs.

A major plus to the app is the convenience it affords its users.

“It basically puts the application in your hand; you don’t have to be near a desktop to research programs or check your offers…you can do it on the go,” Robson said.

According to Robson, one of the most beneficial parts of the app is that you can check your offers with the click of a button.

“Probably the biggest feature of it I think is just the ability to easily check your offers of admission once you apply. Probably the next big exciting point is to see when those offers start coming in, so this makes it a lot easier to quickly open and check what’s in there as opposed to going back to your desktop and having to log into your application that way.”

According to OCAS’ director of service delivery, Paul Wemyss, the mobile app was perfected through “extensive testing and research with focus groups.”

“It’s as secure as our existing [online] application; it follows all the same processes on the back end. I wouldn’t have any reservations at all; it’s just a different form of experience,” Robson said.

The app was developed in accordance with requests made by Ontario Colleges’ users.

“We created the app based on direct feedback from our applicants… through our surveys and our call centre…the mobile experience was something they were looking for… we just knew it was top of line for applicants to have that mobile experience,” Robson said.

The response from Ontario Colleges’ applicants has been consistent with these findings.

“We’ve actually had 5,000 active users since we launched the full version of the app which included the apply and pay functionality… I could definitely see it being the preferred method,” Robson said.

Robson hopes to see the app keep growing in popularity.

“We hope it’s meeting the needs of our applicants and gives them a great experience and another way to connect with the application to college.”