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...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
OSAP: Love It or Hate It?
If you are a post-secondary student within Ontario, there is one acronym that you are most likely all too familiar with: O.S.A.P.
For those of you living outside of Ontario who may not be familiar with the term, OSAP stands for Ontario Student Assistance Program and is regulated by the government through the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. It is a way of offering lower income [potential] college/university students in Ontario a way to achieve the goal of earning a diploma or a degree; it is a means to an end. It is through this program that many students are even able to pursue an education beyond high school as the rising costs of tuition and books have made it nearly impossible for some families to finance the educational quest.
So, do you see OSAP as the Ontario Student Assistance Program or the Ontario Student Account Program? Basically, do you believe that the Ontario government should be responsible for the entire sum of of educational costs associated with college/university life for a student, or should it remain, simply, a supplement to the cost that a post-secondary education can incur?
Many student do not receive nearly enough from OSAP to cover the cost of tuition, books, rent, food, etc. for the years that they are in university. They are also expected to work during the summer and contribute about $2500 towards their education each year. Most of these students are frustrated because it seems nearly impossible, either because they are from lower-income families who do not have the means to contribute, or because they themselves are unable to contribute so much on a student's meagre salary.
So, the question is: when it comes to OSAP, do you love it or hate it?
I would venture to say that if you are currently enrolled in school and are able to do so through the aid of OSAP, then you may well feel as though you love it (otherwise your chances of being able to pay for your education would have been severely diminished), and if you are currently paying back your OSAP loan, I would almost like to say, with absolute assurance, that you hate it (with it's interest rate being prime plus 2.5).
But, correct me if I'm wrong...
For those of you living outside of Ontario who may not be familiar with the term, OSAP stands for Ontario Student Assistance Program and is regulated by the government through the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities. It is a way of offering lower income [potential] college/university students in Ontario a way to achieve the goal of earning a diploma or a degree; it is a means to an end. It is through this program that many students are even able to pursue an education beyond high school as the rising costs of tuition and books have made it nearly impossible for some families to finance the educational quest.
So, do you see OSAP as the Ontario Student Assistance Program or the Ontario Student Account Program? Basically, do you believe that the Ontario government should be responsible for the entire sum of of educational costs associated with college/university life for a student, or should it remain, simply, a supplement to the cost that a post-secondary education can incur?
Many student do not receive nearly enough from OSAP to cover the cost of tuition, books, rent, food, etc. for the years that they are in university. They are also expected to work during the summer and contribute about $2500 towards their education each year. Most of these students are frustrated because it seems nearly impossible, either because they are from lower-income families who do not have the means to contribute, or because they themselves are unable to contribute so much on a student's meagre salary.
So, the question is: when it comes to OSAP, do you love it or hate it?
I would venture to say that if you are currently enrolled in school and are able to do so through the aid of OSAP, then you may well feel as though you love it (otherwise your chances of being able to pay for your education would have been severely diminished), and if you are currently paying back your OSAP loan, I would almost like to say, with absolute assurance, that you hate it (with it's interest rate being prime plus 2.5).
But, correct me if I'm wrong...
Monday, January 17, 2011
Making the Cut
It doesn't matter how old we are, or what we do in life, no one likes being cut from the team. Whether it's by an individual or an organisation, we don't want to be made to feel as though we just don't measure up.
It seems that the Ontario government has made it rather difficult for private colleges and universities to either confer a degree or, " provide a programme or part of a programme of post-secondary study leading to a degree to be conferred by a person inside or outside of Ontario" (PSECE Act, 2000). While I agree with its standards, the administration of those standards bothers me a fair bit. I mean, yes, if there are sketchy private schools out there (which there are) wanting to have the privilege of conferring degrees, we should make it more difficult for them, but don't lump the reputable private schools in with the rest of them!
When the Post-Secondary Education Choice Excellence Act first came into play in Ontario in 2000, Dianne Cunningham was the Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities, and she wrote a very promising non-descript letter to all educational institutions intending on applying for degree conferring status. She stated that the Act would provide the "foundation for a new, dynamic degree-granting environment in Ontario - consisting of our excellent public universities and other institutions, both established and new". Furthermore, she added, "I welcome your interest in providing new degree opportunities to Ontarians and hope you will follow through on your application".
Hmm...so why wouldn't a private school follow through on an application when such a letter from the Minister sounded so very promising?
Well, almost within the same breath, the very government that encouraged private institutions to apply for degree conferring status then stated that "private organisation applicants...are not entitled to treatment that is as favourable as the treatment that may be accorded, in like circumstances, to public organisation applicants".
That's why.
And not only that, but for every proposed programme, the application fee alone is $5000. I should point out here that this cost is not exclusive to private institutions, but pertains to any institution wishing to apply. The crux of the matter is that private schools will be held to a much higher standard in that the assessment of the campus will be more rigorous (and take much longer) than that of public institutions. The Act then states that the costs of these assessments will "likely range between $5000 and $15,000 per programme for uncomplicated proposals".
Since the legislation has been passed, there have been private universities within Ontario that have been given the green light to confer certain degrees, but each of these universities has some sort of religious affiliation. The government doesn't want to get involved in all of that; they want to maintain the separation of church and state, so it is much easier for them to grant them the status. There is only one private career college in Ontario that has been allowed to offer degree programmes in the past 10 years since the legislation has gone through. There are many others that would like to attempt putting through an application, but there is a fear that the government will not allow it anyhow, so why put the money out to try?
It's like having the coach encourage you to try out for the team, watch you practice for months, and in front of everyone, announce that you're cut...and then take your lunch money.
So, to sum up: the Ontario government will permit any learning institution to apply for degree conferring status, whether they are publicly or privately funded. They will also be boldly and unabashedly biased against you if you are a private institution; they see you as the weakest link in the potential team. So, if that does not deter you from trying out for the team (all of you poor little private schools out there), they would also like you to know that they will charge you an arm and a leg just for the privilege of having them watch you try out, by scouring through every detail of your college/university, and then they will (most likely) tell you that you do not live up to whatever standards they deem necessary...just because you're not a publicly funded institution.
Basically, to all of you private institutions out there wishing to bring your college up to the next level, thanks for playing, but...no dice. What if the same attitude had been adopted south of the border? Just think of the schools that would have been left out: "Sorry Yale, NYU, Stanford, Cornell, Harvard, and MIT...you're privately funded, so you're cut. *Shrugs shoulders* Maybe next year, kids."
So, I ask you, dear government, will you please give the smaller kids a fair chance to play the game? You may just be pleasantly surprised by how far the team may go...
It seems that the Ontario government has made it rather difficult for private colleges and universities to either confer a degree or, " provide a programme or part of a programme of post-secondary study leading to a degree to be conferred by a person inside or outside of Ontario" (PSECE Act, 2000). While I agree with its standards, the administration of those standards bothers me a fair bit. I mean, yes, if there are sketchy private schools out there (which there are) wanting to have the privilege of conferring degrees, we should make it more difficult for them, but don't lump the reputable private schools in with the rest of them!
When the Post-Secondary Education Choice Excellence Act first came into play in Ontario in 2000, Dianne Cunningham was the Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities, and she wrote a very promising non-descript letter to all educational institutions intending on applying for degree conferring status. She stated that the Act would provide the "foundation for a new, dynamic degree-granting environment in Ontario - consisting of our excellent public universities and other institutions, both established and new". Furthermore, she added, "I welcome your interest in providing new degree opportunities to Ontarians and hope you will follow through on your application".
Hmm...so why wouldn't a private school follow through on an application when such a letter from the Minister sounded so very promising?
Well, almost within the same breath, the very government that encouraged private institutions to apply for degree conferring status then stated that "private organisation applicants...are not entitled to treatment that is as favourable as the treatment that may be accorded, in like circumstances, to public organisation applicants".
That's why.
And not only that, but for every proposed programme, the application fee alone is $5000. I should point out here that this cost is not exclusive to private institutions, but pertains to any institution wishing to apply. The crux of the matter is that private schools will be held to a much higher standard in that the assessment of the campus will be more rigorous (and take much longer) than that of public institutions. The Act then states that the costs of these assessments will "likely range between $5000 and $15,000 per programme for uncomplicated proposals".
Since the legislation has been passed, there have been private universities within Ontario that have been given the green light to confer certain degrees, but each of these universities has some sort of religious affiliation. The government doesn't want to get involved in all of that; they want to maintain the separation of church and state, so it is much easier for them to grant them the status. There is only one private career college in Ontario that has been allowed to offer degree programmes in the past 10 years since the legislation has gone through. There are many others that would like to attempt putting through an application, but there is a fear that the government will not allow it anyhow, so why put the money out to try?
It's like having the coach encourage you to try out for the team, watch you practice for months, and in front of everyone, announce that you're cut...and then take your lunch money.
So, to sum up: the Ontario government will permit any learning institution to apply for degree conferring status, whether they are publicly or privately funded. They will also be boldly and unabashedly biased against you if you are a private institution; they see you as the weakest link in the potential team. So, if that does not deter you from trying out for the team (all of you poor little private schools out there), they would also like you to know that they will charge you an arm and a leg just for the privilege of having them watch you try out, by scouring through every detail of your college/university, and then they will (most likely) tell you that you do not live up to whatever standards they deem necessary...just because you're not a publicly funded institution.
Basically, to all of you private institutions out there wishing to bring your college up to the next level, thanks for playing, but...no dice. What if the same attitude had been adopted south of the border? Just think of the schools that would have been left out: "Sorry Yale, NYU, Stanford, Cornell, Harvard, and MIT...you're privately funded, so you're cut. *Shrugs shoulders* Maybe next year, kids."
So, I ask you, dear government, will you please give the smaller kids a fair chance to play the game? You may just be pleasantly surprised by how far the team may go...
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In...
Those of us who have completed our university careers completely understand the meaning behind the title of this blog (and, incidentally, the immortal words of Michael Corleone in The Godfather III) in regards to your education.
Knowing that you've completed 2 years of higher education is fantastic...until you remember that you have another 2 more to go. I remember finishing my 2nd year at university and thinking to myself, "All that and I'm only halfway though?!" It was frustrating and, in a sense, rather demotivating (as my 3rd year transcript can most assuredly confirm). So, I thought I had completed a fair chunk of my degree, but then they sucked me back in. I had to stay for another 2 more years in order to complete my degree; if I didn't, then the 2 years I had already put in would be completely useless. Also, once you've obtained your undergrad degree, universities like to fill you in on the big joke that sounds like it was written by some fair-weather friend: "Sorry, but you need to come back to complete a Master's degree. If you don't, you'll be left behind in the job market, you won't have the skills you need to compete for jobs, and although you've completed a degree, you're really considered useless until you get your Master's...*shrugs* just thought you should know." Unbelievable.
In Canada, we're told that we need to get a university degree to get anywhere in life, and along with that degree comes 4 years of sleepless nights, stressful visits to the library, an unhealthy and unwavering addiction to caffeine, and an ever-growing debt load.
There are other options out there. There are many private career colleges within the province that will allow you to complete the training you need in a year or less. I think that, as Canadians, we freak out a bit when people mention private training because there are so many horror stories floating around about sub-par institutions operating out of someone's basement, or something. But we have to remember that there are many accredited and reputable schools out there as well. If I had to prepare for my future, knowing what I know now, I probably would have given private training a little more thought when I was younger. Instead of relying on my parents to finance my 4-year academic career at a public university for $25,000+ (that was some time ago, so I'm sure it's more expensive now), I probably would've looked into some private schools that offer programmes that prepare you in under a year or so and cost closer to $10,000. It kinda makes more sense.
So, bottom line: If you go to a private career college, you will be out in a year or less (depending on the programme, of course), and will be prepared for the workforce; it's an offer you can't refuse (you see what I did there? With another Godfather quotation? Did you see that?).
If you go to a public university, just be prepared for the inevitable moment when you think that you're almost out because they will find a way to pull you back in...oh, and also charge you another $20,000 while they're at it.
Just make sure that if you decline to return, they don't go and leave a horse head in your bed...
Knowing that you've completed 2 years of higher education is fantastic...until you remember that you have another 2 more to go. I remember finishing my 2nd year at university and thinking to myself, "All that and I'm only halfway though?!" It was frustrating and, in a sense, rather demotivating (as my 3rd year transcript can most assuredly confirm). So, I thought I had completed a fair chunk of my degree, but then they sucked me back in. I had to stay for another 2 more years in order to complete my degree; if I didn't, then the 2 years I had already put in would be completely useless. Also, once you've obtained your undergrad degree, universities like to fill you in on the big joke that sounds like it was written by some fair-weather friend: "Sorry, but you need to come back to complete a Master's degree. If you don't, you'll be left behind in the job market, you won't have the skills you need to compete for jobs, and although you've completed a degree, you're really considered useless until you get your Master's...*shrugs* just thought you should know." Unbelievable.
In Canada, we're told that we need to get a university degree to get anywhere in life, and along with that degree comes 4 years of sleepless nights, stressful visits to the library, an unhealthy and unwavering addiction to caffeine, and an ever-growing debt load.
There are other options out there. There are many private career colleges within the province that will allow you to complete the training you need in a year or less. I think that, as Canadians, we freak out a bit when people mention private training because there are so many horror stories floating around about sub-par institutions operating out of someone's basement, or something. But we have to remember that there are many accredited and reputable schools out there as well. If I had to prepare for my future, knowing what I know now, I probably would have given private training a little more thought when I was younger. Instead of relying on my parents to finance my 4-year academic career at a public university for $25,000+ (that was some time ago, so I'm sure it's more expensive now), I probably would've looked into some private schools that offer programmes that prepare you in under a year or so and cost closer to $10,000. It kinda makes more sense.
So, bottom line: If you go to a private career college, you will be out in a year or less (depending on the programme, of course), and will be prepared for the workforce; it's an offer you can't refuse (you see what I did there? With another Godfather quotation? Did you see that?).
If you go to a public university, just be prepared for the inevitable moment when you think that you're almost out because they will find a way to pull you back in...oh, and also charge you another $20,000 while they're at it.
Just make sure that if you decline to return, they don't go and leave a horse head in your bed...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Idiots: Dostoyevsky and My Desktop
I'm not afraid to say it. I'm an idiot. Not in the way that Dostoyevsky viewed what idiots were; idiocy, to him, pertained to an innocence, and was, perhaps, even a physical ailment. My idiocy is completely mental. I just make stupid, idiotic mistakes. Not in all things, mind you...just when it comes to computers.
Just this morning, I had to ask my boss to help me fix a problem with my computer. For some unknown reason, I was unable to open up any of my PDF documents without it automatically opening in Word, causing the entire document to be encrypted. I was fighting with the stupid thing for so long that it was border-line ridiculous. I wanted to curse at it and then throw it out of the window for doing something so stupid that I never asked it to do! I blamed my computer for all sorts of things today, from causing me mental stress, to wasting my time, to causing the breakdown of society in general (and I'm pretty sure I threw world hunger in there too...stupid computer). And, may I add, I was the complete opposite of Dostoyevsky's idiot, Myshkin, who was just far too generous, innocent, and kind. I was not kind to my computer. I sat there, after fiddling with it for [what seemed like] forever and said to it (a la Napoleon Dynamite): "Idiot!"
Thankfully, however, my boss came along and was able to fix the problem, and then showed me how to prevent it from happening again. He told me that I had probably tried to open a PDF document with Word and forgot to uncheck the "always use this programme as the default programme" box. Simple as that.
Now, as it is, I am the idiot...not my desktop.
It is because of these inane errors that I make when working with my desktop computer that I have decided to learn a little more about it; I am planning on completing a Microsoft Office course in the coming year.
Once I complete my course, I will be able to shed my computer-idiocy, and deal with whatever technological problems may come my way! And, if I do have a momentary lapse in anger, I must remember that just as Myshkin cannot be called an idiot simply because of his innocence, neither can my desktop.
Just this morning, I had to ask my boss to help me fix a problem with my computer. For some unknown reason, I was unable to open up any of my PDF documents without it automatically opening in Word, causing the entire document to be encrypted. I was fighting with the stupid thing for so long that it was border-line ridiculous. I wanted to curse at it and then throw it out of the window for doing something so stupid that I never asked it to do! I blamed my computer for all sorts of things today, from causing me mental stress, to wasting my time, to causing the breakdown of society in general (and I'm pretty sure I threw world hunger in there too...stupid computer). And, may I add, I was the complete opposite of Dostoyevsky's idiot, Myshkin, who was just far too generous, innocent, and kind. I was not kind to my computer. I sat there, after fiddling with it for [what seemed like] forever and said to it (a la Napoleon Dynamite): "Idiot!"
Thankfully, however, my boss came along and was able to fix the problem, and then showed me how to prevent it from happening again. He told me that I had probably tried to open a PDF document with Word and forgot to uncheck the "always use this programme as the default programme" box. Simple as that.
Now, as it is, I am the idiot...not my desktop.
It is because of these inane errors that I make when working with my desktop computer that I have decided to learn a little more about it; I am planning on completing a Microsoft Office course in the coming year.
Once I complete my course, I will be able to shed my computer-idiocy, and deal with whatever technological problems may come my way! And, if I do have a momentary lapse in anger, I must remember that just as Myshkin cannot be called an idiot simply because of his innocence, neither can my desktop.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Evolution of the Computer Geek
If I asked you to picture the type of person that may be involved in the IT industry, what immediately comes to mind? If you're being as honest as I'm going to be right now, then you will agree that the picture looks something like this: a lonely body sitting behind a computer screen in a dark, dingy basement, typing all sorts of nonsensical [what they call] "code", with glasses as thick as the coffee mugs they're drinking from, and probably wheezing away due to some allergic reaction to sunlight, dust, grass clippings, and social interaction with others. Let's face it...this is our picture of the typical computer geek.
But in the legendary words of Bob Dylan, the times they are a changin'.
The previous face of the IT guy is as passe as Windows 98. The old stereotype no longer fits. These guys have put away the pocket protectors and have pulled out all the stops, creating impressive and imperative items that we all love (such as the iPad), and are gracing the covers of Newsweek, Forbes, and Time Magazine (a la Steve Jobs). However, there is one thing about the old image that remains: in the picture in your mind's eye, you're still envisioning a guy, right?
Why is that?
Well, speaking as a woman, I can honestly say that I had absolutely no interest in IT when I was contemplating my educational/career decisions. I mean, I knew how to turn my computer on, send emails, and pretty-up my wallpaper, so what else could there be??
Turns out a heck of a lot.
For years, I avoided having to understand what a computer language was, what relational database design was, or even what A+ Preparation actually prepared you for...until recently. It turns out that I'm a bit of a computer geek. I think that I suppressed my inner nerd for so long that, one day, it just had to escape. When I first learned about designing a relational database, it was like opening Pandora's Box.
For many years, I had been bound by society's belief as to why women rarely entered the IT field: we are genetically predisposed to a lack of mathematical skills and have an aversion to science. And I accepted that. We have always been taught to develop our creative sides, and have been praised for our linguistic prowess. While that is all well and good, it is high time that we put down our dictionaries and cast our poetry readings aside, and stop being satisfied that the only "IT knowledge" we have is how to upload photos onto Facebook.
So I charge you, ladies: put down your lipstick and pick up your flash drive. Forget about only writing catchy slogans and start writing pseudo-code. With the way the world is moving these days, now is the time to embrace your inner computer geek! Enrol in a college with IT courses and free the IT beast inside!
After all, your greatest accessory is no longer your new bracelet; it's your new ultra antistatic wrist strap...
But in the legendary words of Bob Dylan, the times they are a changin'.
The previous face of the IT guy is as passe as Windows 98. The old stereotype no longer fits. These guys have put away the pocket protectors and have pulled out all the stops, creating impressive and imperative items that we all love (such as the iPad), and are gracing the covers of Newsweek, Forbes, and Time Magazine (a la Steve Jobs). However, there is one thing about the old image that remains: in the picture in your mind's eye, you're still envisioning a guy, right?
Why is that?
Well, speaking as a woman, I can honestly say that I had absolutely no interest in IT when I was contemplating my educational/career decisions. I mean, I knew how to turn my computer on, send emails, and pretty-up my wallpaper, so what else could there be??
Turns out a heck of a lot.
For years, I avoided having to understand what a computer language was, what relational database design was, or even what A+ Preparation actually prepared you for...until recently. It turns out that I'm a bit of a computer geek. I think that I suppressed my inner nerd for so long that, one day, it just had to escape. When I first learned about designing a relational database, it was like opening Pandora's Box.
For many years, I had been bound by society's belief as to why women rarely entered the IT field: we are genetically predisposed to a lack of mathematical skills and have an aversion to science. And I accepted that. We have always been taught to develop our creative sides, and have been praised for our linguistic prowess. While that is all well and good, it is high time that we put down our dictionaries and cast our poetry readings aside, and stop being satisfied that the only "IT knowledge" we have is how to upload photos onto Facebook.
So I charge you, ladies: put down your lipstick and pick up your flash drive. Forget about only writing catchy slogans and start writing pseudo-code. With the way the world is moving these days, now is the time to embrace your inner computer geek! Enrol in a college with IT courses and free the IT beast inside!
After all, your greatest accessory is no longer your new bracelet; it's your new ultra antistatic wrist strap...
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