Just when the Ontario premiere gets us all hyped up about the post-secondary education rate in the province, we read an article like this and begin to realise that just because you decide to go to university doesn't mean you'll wind up employed upon graduation. I mean, it was only a matter of time before we'd over-saturate the market with university graduates, resulting in higher unemployment rates for said graduates and higher degrees needed in order to even compete in the market!
As it turns out, according to the Ottawa Citizen article, "a significant percentage of incoming community college students already have a university degree - these students are either following their original passion, or cannot find work". So, it would appear that we have a bit of a role reversal here; it used to be that college students would graduate and move on to university in order to obtain management positions and the like, and now the university students are unable to find jobs, and need the hands-on-training that a college provides.
Sorry, Dalton McGuinty but it would appear as though your "Open Ontario" plan wasn't really thought out very clearly, at least in regards to education. While I think it's wonderful that so many Ontarians have an opportunity for higher learning, I would have thought that you would have seen the after-effects coming. I mean, if this keeps up, not only will students have to earn a college diploma and a degree, but will also have to earn higher degrees in order to just compete in the job market!
Next time, maybe you should think just a little further ahead before you decide what's best for Ontario students because whatever you're doing now just doesn't seem to be working...
Monday, March 14, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Degree or Diploma?
It is already difficult enough to decide whether or not you should go [back] to school, but even after deciding so, the question remains: University or College? There are certainly pros and cons for each institution; it just depends on the type of person you are as to whether you view it as a pro or a con.
There are fundamental differences between colleges and universities, and making sure you understand them is the key to deciding which institution to attend. It is my intention to show you some of the most notable differences between the two types of schools so that you may choose what will really best suit you.
Length/Cost of Programme
Depending on which programme you choose, you may in school for just under a year or up to 4 years. University undergraduate degrees generally take 4 years to complete, while college programmes tend to take about 2 years; however, if you would like to enter the workforce even faster, you should seriously consider a registered/accredited private career college). They give you the training you need and most diplomas offered can be completed in under a year. Certainly, the faster you complete your training, the less debt you will accumulate. You need to decide which option is financially viable for you.
Faculty/Staff
It is important to ask questions about the staff employed at universities and colleges, private or public. Ensure that the faculty has the education and practical experience that you need from someone who will be teaching you. It is also important to know the difference between studying under a professor at a university and studying under an instructor at a college, since your experience will vary between the two. Professors tend to have a “hands off” approach and leave you to your own devices, while college instructors are much more hands-on. I think that John Ciardi said it best when he stated that “a university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students”. It may sound a bit harsh, but (speaking from personal experience) it’s not too far off-base.
Workplace Preparation
Are you a thinker or a doer? A university will prepare your mind while a college prepares both your mind and your hands for the task. For example, if the nursery rhyme Little Miss Muffet was on a course reading list, a university would ask the questions: what is the tuffet made of? Why was Miss Muffet so frightened? What was the motive of the spider to just sit down beside her like that?
While those questions are all well and good, a college would discuss the rhyme, explain what a tuffet is, and then give you the tools to make it. And a private career college would give you the skills and abilities to have you out working in less time than any other post-secondary institution.
So, figure out what you most desire to gain from a programme, what your budget is, and go do your research!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Please Sir, I Want Some More...
Yeah, you’ve heard those words before, uttered from the lips of the poor little orphan, Oliver Twist. However, I think that there are more and more people in our society saying the same thing to their bosses; their scrawny little hands stretched out, awaiting just a few more dollars…perhaps even just a few more coins? It’s so hard to make ends meet these days…I mean, I’m in my late 20’s (no, I will not say exactly how late in my 20’s), and I have to spend very wisely so that every penny can be accounted for so as not to be in hock for the rest of my life. (Hmm…do I really need those new shoes? That new purse? That new car??)
It’s tough out there, and we all know that with the economy going the way it is, we need to be ready for anything. So, how do we ensure that we will have what we need in this life? Well, obviously, by building a career! But wait…what if you already have a job, but you’re waiting for that big promotion so that you don’t have to beg for scraps from the table of the corporation you work for? Well, you’re not going to be able to do it without an education. I’m sorry if that sounds blunt, but it’s true. If I didn’t have my education, I honestly don’t know where I’d be; I shudder to think.
So, here you are with a job, not a career. Maybe you can pay the bills, but for how long? Well, you need to enrol in school and gain some sort of higher education; after all, higher education equals more security. Even many receptionist jobs now require some kind of diploma or degree! We all know that our world is moving in a way that allows us to be more technologically advanced, so why not capitalise on it? There are so many different fields of IT that you can learn and gain meaningful employment in. There are higher paying jobs out there that are simply passing you by because you just aren’t qualified…yet.
At a private college, you can earn a diploma that will fully prepare you for a career in IT in less than one year! Seriously, you should be as excited about this as I am. As a girl who was born and bred in Canada, I had virtually no exposure to private education since we are always exposed to public universities and colleges. I had no idea how quickly you can complete a diploma programme at a private college.
So, get up, brush the dirt from your knees, enrol in a programme, invest in your future, stop begging for scraps, and take your place at the business table where you belong.
Cheers
It’s tough out there, and we all know that with the economy going the way it is, we need to be ready for anything. So, how do we ensure that we will have what we need in this life? Well, obviously, by building a career! But wait…what if you already have a job, but you’re waiting for that big promotion so that you don’t have to beg for scraps from the table of the corporation you work for? Well, you’re not going to be able to do it without an education. I’m sorry if that sounds blunt, but it’s true. If I didn’t have my education, I honestly don’t know where I’d be; I shudder to think.
So, here you are with a job, not a career. Maybe you can pay the bills, but for how long? Well, you need to enrol in school and gain some sort of higher education; after all, higher education equals more security. Even many receptionist jobs now require some kind of diploma or degree! We all know that our world is moving in a way that allows us to be more technologically advanced, so why not capitalise on it? There are so many different fields of IT that you can learn and gain meaningful employment in. There are higher paying jobs out there that are simply passing you by because you just aren’t qualified…yet.
At a private college, you can earn a diploma that will fully prepare you for a career in IT in less than one year! Seriously, you should be as excited about this as I am. As a girl who was born and bred in Canada, I had virtually no exposure to private education since we are always exposed to public universities and colleges. I had no idea how quickly you can complete a diploma programme at a private college.
So, get up, brush the dirt from your knees, enrol in a programme, invest in your future, stop begging for scraps, and take your place at the business table where you belong.
Cheers
Thursday, February 24, 2011
How Much Do You Value Your Education?
It is so easy to take education for granted in this country. We are free to select the college or university of our choice, the programme of our choice, and sometimes, even the class schedule of our choice. When I think of all of the freedom I have in this country, I can't help but feel grateful. The problem, however, is that I do not think of it nearly enough.
It is not until I hear of stories from other countries in which gaining an education is a struggle for some that I realise just how lucky I really am to be living in Canada. I just recently read an article about a school in Afghanistan which educates young people that may be shutting its doors for good. The reason why I really began to ponder the value of my freedom in this country is due to the fact that the women enrolled in the school face more struggles than I can even imagine...just to receive an education.
The Afghan-Canadian Community Centre is in need of more than $500,000 by the end of the month in order for its doors to remain open. This is a school in which young women have had to avoid Taliban threats and overcome intense fear, just to simply attend and receive the education that they so rightly deserve. The school offers all sorts of useful programmes, such as computer skills, English language training, and even business skills. But, if the school is unable to raise the necessary funds, they will be forced to lay off teachers and cut programmes; even that won't save the school. Without the support from other individuals or institutions, it will only be a matter of time before the school closes. And yet, Ottawa is contemplating pulling the plug on the school...even though most women, quite literally, risk their lives to attend the institution in order to gain an education.
I think that after reading stories such as these, it makes me appreciate the opportunities that have been offered to me so freely by living in this country. I learn to value my education even more than I did before. Yet, it saddens me that the very country who offers these educational opportunities to me so freely is also contemplating whether or not to kick in the funds to keep The Afghan-Canadian Community Centre open in order to allow others to be so freely educated.
It's just a bit of a juxtaposition, don't you think?
It is not until I hear of stories from other countries in which gaining an education is a struggle for some that I realise just how lucky I really am to be living in Canada. I just recently read an article about a school in Afghanistan which educates young people that may be shutting its doors for good. The reason why I really began to ponder the value of my freedom in this country is due to the fact that the women enrolled in the school face more struggles than I can even imagine...just to receive an education.
The Afghan-Canadian Community Centre is in need of more than $500,000 by the end of the month in order for its doors to remain open. This is a school in which young women have had to avoid Taliban threats and overcome intense fear, just to simply attend and receive the education that they so rightly deserve. The school offers all sorts of useful programmes, such as computer skills, English language training, and even business skills. But, if the school is unable to raise the necessary funds, they will be forced to lay off teachers and cut programmes; even that won't save the school. Without the support from other individuals or institutions, it will only be a matter of time before the school closes. And yet, Ottawa is contemplating pulling the plug on the school...even though most women, quite literally, risk their lives to attend the institution in order to gain an education.
I think that after reading stories such as these, it makes me appreciate the opportunities that have been offered to me so freely by living in this country. I learn to value my education even more than I did before. Yet, it saddens me that the very country who offers these educational opportunities to me so freely is also contemplating whether or not to kick in the funds to keep The Afghan-Canadian Community Centre open in order to allow others to be so freely educated.
It's just a bit of a juxtaposition, don't you think?
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
For Richer or Poorer: Segregation Within Ontario Public Schools
For the past week or so, there has been an incredible amount of debate over the District School Board of Niagara’s decision to open a school specifically for children from low-income families. The DSBN Academy is geared for students who will be entering Grades 6 and 7 in September 2011, and each of these children must come from (as previously stated) low-income families in which neither of his/her parents have a college diploma or a university degree.
The aim of the school is to start out with about 150 students enrolled in Grades 6 and 7, adding a grade each year as the students progress, until the first year’s students are in Grade 12, thus combining both primary and secondary age groups. The students will be bussed in at the cost of the Academy. The school aims to attract students from disadvantaged households who may be having difficulties within the current educational system, and are, perhaps, being left behind in the dust.
While the road to DSBN Academy is paved with good intentions, it is difficult to look past the social issues that opening a school such as this may birth. Students from low-income families already feel segregated from most other students, so how would opening a school such as this improve the situation? Will they forever be labelled as children who needed to go to “that” school because of their parents’ economic status instead of their own abilities?
These children from lower income families already face many struggles within the schooling system, and we need not add to the list. Instead of stigmatising the children based on what their parents did or did not accomplish (in regards to post-secondary education), we should, instead, focus upon what these children are able to accomplish themselves with regard to their college or university careers. Perhaps the money that is to be poured into the DSBN Academy may instead be filtered into the schools already in existence, utilising tutors, mentors, and academic pursuit programmes to build excitement and confidence within each child.
The aim of the school is to start out with about 150 students enrolled in Grades 6 and 7, adding a grade each year as the students progress, until the first year’s students are in Grade 12, thus combining both primary and secondary age groups. The students will be bussed in at the cost of the Academy. The school aims to attract students from disadvantaged households who may be having difficulties within the current educational system, and are, perhaps, being left behind in the dust.
While the road to DSBN Academy is paved with good intentions, it is difficult to look past the social issues that opening a school such as this may birth. Students from low-income families already feel segregated from most other students, so how would opening a school such as this improve the situation? Will they forever be labelled as children who needed to go to “that” school because of their parents’ economic status instead of their own abilities?
These children from lower income families already face many struggles within the schooling system, and we need not add to the list. Instead of stigmatising the children based on what their parents did or did not accomplish (in regards to post-secondary education), we should, instead, focus upon what these children are able to accomplish themselves with regard to their college or university careers. Perhaps the money that is to be poured into the DSBN Academy may instead be filtered into the schools already in existence, utilising tutors, mentors, and academic pursuit programmes to build excitement and confidence within each child.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
5 Things You Need to Know Before Moving to Canada
So often, people from around the world come to Canada with certain expectations. I've lived my entire life in this country and there are a few things I'd like to share with those who may be thinking of moving here to either work or study:
#1 Not all Canadians live in igloos
For some reason, there is a notion being perpetuated throughout the rest of the world that it is always snowing in Canada. Honestly, this idea couldn't be further from the truth. I live in Toronto and it usually gets no colder than -7 degrees Celsius during the day in winter (with the exception of this past week). Our summer temperatures can soar well above the 28 degree mark, and that is without the humidex. So be prepared for some very hot weather as well!
#2 Not all Canadians are filthy rich
Although Canada is a very wealthy country compared to many others, it doesn't mean that everyone living here is loaded with money. A large portion of the population is Middle Class. Yes, there are many people living here who are high earners, but it doesn't mean that there aren't some people here who struggle financially as well. Fortunately, we have a government that aids its citizens who are needy, if so required.
#3 Canadians work hard and we play hard
There is a certain pace of life that you must get used to if you intend to move to Canada. We move at a fast pace and strive to be the best we can be in whatever business we may be involved in; this can create intense competition in the business world. However, when we go on holiday, we like to relax and unwind as much as possible, whether it's lying on a beach or skiing in Whistler. Full time employees have no less than 10 working days off per year, and that is exclusive of the federal holidays.
#4 Canada has some of the best schools in the world
Whether you are looking to place your child in primary or secondary school, or you are looking to enrol in a college or university yourself, it must be understood that a qualification from a Canadian school is highly respected throughout the world. We offer a plethora of degrees and diplomas from universities, colleges, and career colleges.
#5 Canadians don't always use the 2 official languages
Although Canada has 2 official languages (English and French), please don't assume that all Canadians speak each language fluently. Anglophones must take French as a Second Language training in school up until Grade 9, but it doesn't mean that we speak it very well. Unless you move to Quebec, the National Capital Region (Ottawa), or certain parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, you probably won't hear French being spoken all that often. In the same vein, we must remember that not all Francophones are able to speak English fluently either, and in particular, those living in the northern regions of Quebec.
So, whether you mean to come to Canada to work or to study, I truly hope this helps you prepare for your trip here and gets you excited!
#1 Not all Canadians live in igloos
For some reason, there is a notion being perpetuated throughout the rest of the world that it is always snowing in Canada. Honestly, this idea couldn't be further from the truth. I live in Toronto and it usually gets no colder than -7 degrees Celsius during the day in winter (with the exception of this past week). Our summer temperatures can soar well above the 28 degree mark, and that is without the humidex. So be prepared for some very hot weather as well!
#2 Not all Canadians are filthy rich
Although Canada is a very wealthy country compared to many others, it doesn't mean that everyone living here is loaded with money. A large portion of the population is Middle Class. Yes, there are many people living here who are high earners, but it doesn't mean that there aren't some people here who struggle financially as well. Fortunately, we have a government that aids its citizens who are needy, if so required.
#3 Canadians work hard and we play hard
There is a certain pace of life that you must get used to if you intend to move to Canada. We move at a fast pace and strive to be the best we can be in whatever business we may be involved in; this can create intense competition in the business world. However, when we go on holiday, we like to relax and unwind as much as possible, whether it's lying on a beach or skiing in Whistler. Full time employees have no less than 10 working days off per year, and that is exclusive of the federal holidays.
#4 Canada has some of the best schools in the world
Whether you are looking to place your child in primary or secondary school, or you are looking to enrol in a college or university yourself, it must be understood that a qualification from a Canadian school is highly respected throughout the world. We offer a plethora of degrees and diplomas from universities, colleges, and career colleges.
#5 Canadians don't always use the 2 official languages
Although Canada has 2 official languages (English and French), please don't assume that all Canadians speak each language fluently. Anglophones must take French as a Second Language training in school up until Grade 9, but it doesn't mean that we speak it very well. Unless you move to Quebec, the National Capital Region (Ottawa), or certain parts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, you probably won't hear French being spoken all that often. In the same vein, we must remember that not all Francophones are able to speak English fluently either, and in particular, those living in the northern regions of Quebec.
So, whether you mean to come to Canada to work or to study, I truly hope this helps you prepare for your trip here and gets you excited!
Monday, January 31, 2011
How to Earn Money Quickly and Avoid a Large Debt Load
I know, I know...the title sounds like a "get-rich-quick" scheme. Trust me. It's not. It's just simply my opinion about how to make money at a younger age and avoid debt. So here's my opinion:
I believe that living in Canada, we are taught many things: proper manners, how much maple syrup to put on pancakes, and how to withstand the blistering winds of Northern Ontario, in which temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius...without even having to wear a jacket.
However, I also believe that we are told some things that aren't necessarily beneficial to us: in order to get a job anywhere, in order to get ahead in this world, or in order to prove your abilities, you must have a university degree.
Now, I'm not trying to discount the almighty degree, here. I mean, I have one, so I understand the feeling of completion and relief when you finally graduate. What I take issue with, however, is that, almost from the time we say our first words, we are told that we need to go to university and obtain a degree. End of story. Well, speaking as a university grad who had a fair bit of trouble landing a career in my chosen field after graduation, I beg to differ with the status quo!
I have done a fair bit of research on the matter in the past week or so, even commenting on some other blogs of university graduates who are having/have had trouble finding a job upon graduation. One blog that I read was written by a graduate student who had just completed his PhD in Sociology and still could not find a suitable job. By now I'm sure that you're thinking, "Well, yeah...because he majored in Sociology. Of course he would have trouble finding a job. What can you do with a degree like that??"
Well, unfortunately, the same can be true for many other areas of discipline. For those of you who have a degree, how many of you landed the ideal job the moment you graduated? And, when you did finally gain employment in your field, were you making as much money as you thought you deserved? And what of your student loan debt? How long did it take to pay it off?
All I ask of you now is to cast aside your educational beliefs that have held you captive for so long and take a moment to consider another avenue. I think it's absolutely important for one to have an education, all I'm saying here is that a university degree is not the "be all, end all". I believe that there are many other roads you may take when choosing your educational career, and considering a college or a career college may actually be a better option for you.
If you choose to go to a college, you can complete your hands-on education in 2 years of less, usually. A career college can have you out working in your chosen field in a year or less, sometimes! You won't get rich quick, but you'll certainly begin earning money at a younger age and avoid being haunted by ever-growing OSAP loans (or whatever kind of student loan you may have had to use).
It's just something to think about...
I believe that living in Canada, we are taught many things: proper manners, how much maple syrup to put on pancakes, and how to withstand the blistering winds of Northern Ontario, in which temperatures drop below 20 degrees Celsius...without even having to wear a jacket.
However, I also believe that we are told some things that aren't necessarily beneficial to us: in order to get a job anywhere, in order to get ahead in this world, or in order to prove your abilities, you must have a university degree.
Now, I'm not trying to discount the almighty degree, here. I mean, I have one, so I understand the feeling of completion and relief when you finally graduate. What I take issue with, however, is that, almost from the time we say our first words, we are told that we need to go to university and obtain a degree. End of story. Well, speaking as a university grad who had a fair bit of trouble landing a career in my chosen field after graduation, I beg to differ with the status quo!
I have done a fair bit of research on the matter in the past week or so, even commenting on some other blogs of university graduates who are having/have had trouble finding a job upon graduation. One blog that I read was written by a graduate student who had just completed his PhD in Sociology and still could not find a suitable job. By now I'm sure that you're thinking, "Well, yeah...because he majored in Sociology. Of course he would have trouble finding a job. What can you do with a degree like that??"
Well, unfortunately, the same can be true for many other areas of discipline. For those of you who have a degree, how many of you landed the ideal job the moment you graduated? And, when you did finally gain employment in your field, were you making as much money as you thought you deserved? And what of your student loan debt? How long did it take to pay it off?
All I ask of you now is to cast aside your educational beliefs that have held you captive for so long and take a moment to consider another avenue. I think it's absolutely important for one to have an education, all I'm saying here is that a university degree is not the "be all, end all". I believe that there are many other roads you may take when choosing your educational career, and considering a college or a career college may actually be a better option for you.
If you choose to go to a college, you can complete your hands-on education in 2 years of less, usually. A career college can have you out working in your chosen field in a year or less, sometimes! You won't get rich quick, but you'll certainly begin earning money at a younger age and avoid being haunted by ever-growing OSAP loans (or whatever kind of student loan you may have had to use).
It's just something to think about...
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