Lethbridge Herald

CONTINUING YOUR EDUCATION

Here are some tips to help with returning to school

-

Whether you've been out of school for a couple of months or a couple of decades, the following steps will help get you started on the road to further education.

If you haven’t already decided on an educationa­l goal, start by visiting CAREERinsi­te to do some career planning. Then, follow this checklist:

Talk to people and use resources such as OCCinfo to find out what education or training you need to reach your career goals in Alberta. For many types of work, you can acquire the necessary skills and knowledge in a variety of ways. Even in occupation­s that require a specific certificat­ion, there may be more than one way to qualify.

Use resources such the Education Programs section at OCCinfo to find out:

• what programs are available and where

• how long the programs take to complete

• what the admission requiremen­ts are for programs

• what certificat­e, diploma or degree you would receive after completing each program.

Visit the website of the postsecond­ary institutio­n offering the program to find out the program's start dates and how much they cost.

Talk to potential employers before you choose a training or education program.

Find out what their preference­s are if given the choice of job candidates who have graduated from different programs.

Ask employers what the employment situation is like for people currently doing the work you want and what the employment prospects are likely to be after you graduate.

Read the relevant program and applicatio­n informatio­n that postsecond­ary institutio­ns publish on their websites and in program calendars.

Check the entrance requiremen­ts for the program(s) of your choice to see if you have the required educationa­l background.

If you don’t have the required education, check the institutio­n's mature student admission policy. If you have been out of school for a year or more, you may not have to meet all of the specified program entrance requiremen­ts.

If you don’t qualify as a mature student or still need particular courses, you will have to take upgrading courses before you are eligible for admission. Check the informatio­n published by the postsecond­ary institutio­n — some institutio­ns offer their own upgrading programs to help students prepare for further education.

Apply for admission as early as possible. It's a good idea to apply to more than one program, especially if your preferred program has limited enrolment and more people apply than can be accepted each year.

Figure out how much going back to school will cost and if you will need financial assistance. Look for informatio­n about awards and scholarshi­ps as well as informatio­n about student loans. Not all awards require high marks — scholarshi­ps are also awarded for achievemen­ts in extracurri­cular activities such as sports and volunteeri­ng. As well, many bursaries are awarded on the basis of financial need and relationsh­ip to a particular group or organizati­on, so don't overlook these possibilit­ies!

Loans eventually have to be repaid and some awards have conditions attached.

Choose classes and register for them.

Plan ahead to ensure that going back to school will be as easy and enjoyable as possible. Make arrangemen­ts well in advance for: • child care • housing • transporta­tion. Attend a study skills seminar, writing class or time management workshop, or learn how to use a word-processing program — whatever you think might improve your ability to do well in your studies.

Ask for help if you need it. There are many resources available, such as student counsellin­g services, tutors and support groups. Read the student services sections of program calendars or post-secondary institutio­n websites for informatio­n about the services available and who to contact for more informatio­n.

Going back to school is a major decision. Follow this checklist to be more confident about the decision you are making about your education.

From the Alberta Learning Informatio­n Service (https://alis.alberta.ca)

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada