I'll just share my experience with my agency. When I went to them, they offered me their partner schools. They are good schools in Toronto, but they are not related to my course. They are offering me BS Health Management where in I finished BS Medical Technology here. I don't want to study something that would be a waste of time and effort so I searched for a university there in toronto and found one offering a degree which I am really interested in. I compiled all the necessary documents required for my admission in the university and travelled to manila because my agency told me that they would pass my application. When I got there, they informed me that I need the signature of my aunt (who is the card owner since I paid by credit card). So in the end, I went back home and submitted by application on my own.
After a week I got my LOA from the school and started compiling my papers for my student visa. When the time came that we would pass the papers, we went to the agency. They instructed me to acquire managers check of 5600 and 1140ish for my student visa. so I did. Then all I did there is to fill up information on the screen and they printed the forms and told me that they would send it to the canadian embassy. after 20 days, I got impatient since i havent got a text or an email from the vfs aknowledging my application so I called them. The Vfs told me that my managers cheque has a wrong amount and that since february they increased their visa fee ro 6100 pesos. I was shocked and I immediately acquired a new managers cheque and sent a prepaid envelope to vfs. To cut the story short after two days, I received my medical request from the canadian embassy.
It's up to you if you want to hire an agent. Maybe for confidence? but in my case, since I myself searched for a suitable school and I myself filed my application for the school admission, I find it not worth the 65K that I paid. But in fairness to them, I called them many times to ask questions. questions which are also answered here in this forum.
@ dbc hows ur medical results? I haven't done mine since I'm still recovering from the cough pa. maybe this thursday. I hope everything is fine.