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EXPERIENCES CANADA

Career Choices

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Post secondary planning

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Ice breaker

Get a piece of paper out and number your paper from 1-5. Write down you best guess for each question.

How many universities were there in Canada as of 2021

223 public and private universities

How many colleges and institutes were there in Canada as of 2021?

213 public and private colleges and institutes

What year was the first post-secondary school In Canada established?

1663

In what Province was the first post secondary school established?

Quebec - Grand Séminarie de Québec

As of 2021, what was the average annual tuition paid (undergraduate university degree)?

$6,580

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What is post - secondary?

    • “Post-secondary” education, sometimes called tertiary education, is education that follows high school (or secondary) education
      • This is includes universities and colleges, as well as trade and vocational schools
    • People with post-secondary education can get specialized jobs, such as teachers, scientists, nurses and electricians

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Types of Post-Secondary

    • There are three types of post-secondary in Canada
      • Universities
      • Colleges
      • Institute

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Post-secondary academic year

    • In post-secondary, there are 2 main semesters
      • Term 1: September to December
      • Term 2: January to April
      • Optional summer term: May to August

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Qualifications

    • A recognized school can grant:
      • Degrees
      • Diplomas
      • Certificates
      • Other qualifications

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Universities

    • Bachelor’s Degree: Simplest degree offered by Canadian universities. It typically takes 3 to 4 years to complete.
    • Master’s Degree: More advanced degree that usually takes 1-3 extra years of study after you get a bachelor’s.
    • Doctoral Degree: This is the most advanced degree offered by Canadian universities. It can take another 3 to 4 more years of study and research following a master’s.
    • There are also professional programs that have separate degrees: law, medicine, education, dentistry, optometry

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Colleges and institutes

    • These include
      • Colleges
      • Community colleges
      • Colleges of applied arts or applied technology
      • Institutes of technology or science
      • Collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEPs) in Quebec
      • Career colleges
    • These are usually shorter programs than universities (1 to 3 years)
    • Instead of degrees, they issue diplomas and certificates that qualify graduates to do specific jobs in different industries.

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College and institutes

    • Some of the programs offered at colleges and institutions include
      • Dental hygienist
      • Personal support workers
      • Early childcare assistants
      • Estheticians
      • Trades (plumbing, carpentry, electric, automotive, hair)
      • Cooking
      • And many more!

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Planning for post secondary

    • Post-secondary is a huge investment and it’s important that you plan accordingly for the following:
      • Tuition and additional fees
      • Course materials like textbooks and school supplies
      • Housing
      • Food
      • Transportation
      • Other things (clothes, entertainment, etc)

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https://www.canada.ca/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/budget-student-life/student-budget-worksheet.html

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Funding post secondary

    • There are a few ways to finance post-secondary
      • Provincial student loan programs (e.g., OSAP, StudentAid)
      • Scholarships, grants and bursaries
      • Loan from your bank
      • Working while studying or taking gap year(s) to save up
      • Certain programs are free or low cost, or universities or governments will fund a huge portion of the program (e.g., select trade programs in some provinces)
      • Support from family

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Do i have to go to post-secondary?

    • NO! Going to post-secondary is a decision you get to make
    • Some students will take a gap year or a few gap years after high school and work to save up money to go to post-secondary
    • Some students got to post-secondary part-time while they work a part-time or full-time job
    • Some people return to post-secondary after many years of working
    • YOU get to decide where you future takes you

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post secondary planning webinar highlights

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Conclusion

    • Post-secondary education can be a vital step to attaining your dream career. What do you aspire to become?
    • When choosing whether to enter post-secondary or not, think about your own passions and interests, and what you would like to work as in the future and the fields you enjoy or like to learn about
    • Explore resources online or go visit the universities or colleges in your community and ask questions
    • Make sure to plan ahead - think of your own goals, and make sure you have a good financial plan before you enrol
    • Remember, not everyone will choose to go to post-secondary. It is a decision YOU get to make.

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