Education planning for students at every level
>> CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROGRAM REQUIRES RESEARCHING ALL THE OPTIONS
B. C. students face increasing challenges to find the right fields of study, and one day be competitive in their chosen career. Educators advise prospective students to research unique factors in choosing a school or program that will be beneficial to their long term individual growth. The opportunities for students include fulfilling entrance application requirements, co- op training, job industry demand and seeking financial aid. B. C.’ s Education Minister summed this up in a recent public statement saying, “Every student has their own unique learning style, as well as individual interests and passions, and we need to give them opportunities to achieve their goals.” “The reality is that our world has changed, and continues to change,” said Minister George Abbott. “An education system designed in the very different circumstances of an earlier century can’t possibly meet the challenges students face — both now and in the future. Education, to be truly meaningful for students, must reflect the times in which we live and recognize the promise of every child.” Co- op is particularly valuable for students looking to gain work experience. “The experience and industry connections gained during the process are pea resumé and differentiate graduates from their peers when applying for that dream job. “Students and their families visiting the Study and Go Abroad Fair can meet facetoface with top- ranked universities from around the world to find out about diploma programs, undergraduate and postgraduate programs abroad, as well as available scholarships,” says Katie Idle, director of sales and marketing for Study and Go Abroad Fairs. There is no need to stick with Englishspeaking countries these days as many universities worldwide now offer programs in English, she says. “Universities in The Netherlands were the pioneers in offering programs in English, and now have over 1600 programs throughout their universities, taught in English,” explains Idle. “At our Vancouver Study and Go Abroad Fair on March 1, we will have universities from the U. S. A., Australia, U. K., the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland. All of them offer programs in English.” Most post- secondary schools in B. C. offer fall, spring and summer enrolment with application openings up to nine months before the start of the program. International admission dates and deadlines depend on the university and can vary
‘ Education, to be truly meaningful for students, must reflect the times in which we live …’
greatly — but universities abroad are generally pretty flexible especially for international students. For example, the U. K. offers “rolling applications” which means that they will keep accepting applications after the official deadline if space if available. Costs can vary greatly depending on the program and the university, but they are not necessarily that high – and most universities offer scholarships and bursaries. International students in the U. K. now pay more or less the same as local students — around £ 8,000 to £ 10,000 ( S12,500 to $ 15,800 Cdn) per year. In the U. S., foreign students can expect to pay anything from about $ 5,000 per year to $ 30,000 per year for undergraduate programs. State universities in Florida even give Canadians the same rates as local students. In Australia, the tuition starts in the range of $ 10,000 to $ 20,000 AUS ($ 10, 800 to $ 21,500 Cdn) per year. Schools also offer advice on scholarships available — offered by government, independent organizations or the individual school. In some instances, prospective students can also apply for financing and loans available directly from the institutions. Figuring out of the future does not have to be a stressful task for students trying to work out a potential career path. At Collingwood School in West Vancouver, students engage in a multi- year program of university guidance. “Our guidance department also offers multiple evening information session s for parents and students looking to apply to Canadian, American or international post- secondary institutions,” says Susan Hazell, Collingwood’s executive director of advancement. The school also offers university tours for students in Grades 10, 11 and 12.