HELPING YOUR CHILD CHOOSE THE RIGHT ACADEMIC PATH
I HOPE PARENTS AND KIDS ENJOY THE PROCESS BECAUSE IT CAN LEAD TO SOME VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS. — CHRISTOPHER COUPLAND, QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY
It seems like just yesterday your son or daughter was heading off to junior kindergarten. Now, they’re starting to think about what they’ll do after high school and you’re wondering how to help them choose the option right for them.
“I hope parents and kids enjoy the process because it can lead to some very good conversations,” says Christopher Coupland, director of international undergraduate enrolment at Queen’s University in Kingston. Start the conversation early. “Parents can help their kids start knowing themselves better,” says Steven Ruhinda, a counsellor at Centennial College. “They likely have a fair sense of their child’s challenges, favourite activities and who they look up to. The key is to tease out some of their strengths and interests to help them move to the next stage” Discuss their interests, goals, objectives. What type of fields might they want to pursue? What type of education is required to get there and which institutions offer those programs? “They also need to understand the prerequisites to get into those programs so they’re planning their high school curriculum appropriately,” Coupland says.
“They’re likely selecting courses right now based on their interests and aptitudes and that’s likely going to drive some of the activities they want to do in university (or college) but they want to create their high school curriculum to give them maximum flexibility when it comes time to go to (post-secondary school). That’s where math and science courses can play an important role.” Consider career flexibility. Many students want to become doctors, lawyers or teachers and the pathways to those careers are well defined. “But there’s a lot about the future that’s unknown and there will likely be a lot of professions that develop over the next five to 20 years that we have no idea about right now,” says Coupland.
He encourages students to think about building skills and an education that’s flexible, adaptable and built
on interests and aptitudes. “I’m a strong believer that if students are pursuing things they have a deep interest in and a strong aptitude for, that that will lead to a lot of future opportunity.” Take campus tours.
Picking an institution where they feel comfortable, at home and part of a community is important so be sure to visit schools your child is interested in attending. “They need to shop around to discover what’s out there and to connect with the right setting,” Ruhinda says.
Many students are excited about attending school in Toronto, he says, because its entertainment, sports, cultural, health care and other facilities offer a wealth of co-op and internship opportunities. “Others prefer a quieter place where the focus might be more on campus experiences,” he says. “You want them to feel excited so when they show up on that first day they’re confident they’re going to do well. If they’re not confident, their choice might not match their strengths, likes and interests.”
Discuss f inances. Start to map what their financial plan will look like and how they expect to finance their studies. Are you planning to contribute to their postsecondary education and if so, how much can you afford?
Encourage your child to research scholarships and bursaries, financial aid and student loan programs using online calculators. Perhaps they’d like to consider programs that offer paid coops. A better understanding of finances may help them narrow down their list of potential universities or colleges. They may, for example, decide to commute to a school close to home instead of moving away. Talk to guidance counsellors. Find out when their school will host university and college fairs and information sessions. Learn about the application process and helpful resources. “Some students know exactly what they’re going to do and will let us know what they plan on doing for their undergrad, master’s, PhD and professional program. Some are ambitious and
have it all mapped out but I do encourage them to leave some room for exploration and discovery,” Coupland says. It’s OK to explore.
“Another group of students feels anxiety because they don’t know exactly what they want to do. I encourage them to follow their interests and not let the anxiety of the unknown prevent them from appreciating the experience they’re about to undertake. University is a time of discovery. That means you need to be open to challenging what you think and know and what you think and know about yourself.”
Many first-year arts and science programs are general because they’re meant to encourage students to explore and sample what’s available. Other programs, like commerce, are focused and may suit students who know exactly what they want to do. “The great thing about our system is that it’s not one size fits all,” Coupland says. “There are many different types of programs and offerings that can suit many different types of students.”