Make a rough budget. Your budget has a large effect on your program options because it determines whether you can afford to go away or have to study near home. Also, tuition fees can vary from province to province, with 2010 fees in Quebec averaging $2,272 and fees in Nova Scotia averaging $5,696.
Check university websites. Canadian universities publish all of their program and tuition information on their websites. You can also see what facilities the university has, the size of the student population and what kinds of services and clubs are available on campus to get an idea of what kind of atmosphere the university has and what kind of experience you can expect to have there.
Choose a field. You do not have to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life before you start your first day of university, but you should choose a program that matches your strengths and preferences. If you love math, something in accounting or engineering might be a good option.
Check the required prerequisites. Many programs require that specific high school course be completed prior to admission. This is especially true for programs in sciences and business. Check the university program's website to see what prerequisites are required.
Check the minimum academic requirements. University programs require that applicants have a cumulative average or GPA above a certain threshold. The minimum cumulative average or GPA required to enter a university program varies from year to year depending on the field of applicants, but most Canadian universities publish ballpark figures on their websites. Engineering and business faculties tend to require higher averages and arts requirements tend to be lower.
Apply to more than one program. Try to choose a number of programs that appeal to you and apply for them all. If you get rejected for your first or second choices, you will still be able to enter a program in which you are interested.