How You Know You've Chosen The Right College Program

When picking your college pathway, it can seem as though you have a tough choice ahead. What you go to school for will determine the career trajectory of the rest of your life, and choosing the right path is essential. You can prepare as much as you're able to in advance, yet in some ways, you won't know you've found your calling until you get down to actually working in your program. It's not doom and gloom if you realize you've chosen something that fits poorly, though, as the schools that provide you with your college programs in Toronto can help you transfer to something that fits you better. What is important is recognizing if the program you're in fits you. Here's some signs that you've made the right choice.

You possess natural talent
While you're going to college to get skills, it helps if you go into a field that you have some natural ability in. If your program serves to enhance skills you already have, you'll know you're in the right place. On the other hand, if you're really struggling, it can be a bad sign.

You don't mind waking up early, and you're willing to work on it on your day off
Just as skill is important, so is passion. If you've found a program you love, then early morning classes, a long commute, and the other factors that make getting there a problem won't seem as bad. Similarly, if you're clocking out mentally as soon as your last class ends, then you're not really invested in your program. But if you live and breathe your field of study, and are willing to look into it for its own sake, then that means you've found a field you'll excel in, because you can bring that same level of passion and commitment to the workforce.

You easily made friends
You'll be surrounded by people with a similar interest to you, so it only makes sense to bond with them. This is especially important, as they're the type of people you'll eventually be working with, so how well you get along with them will directly translate into how well you'll flourish in your eventual workplace. More so than, getting along with like-minded people in your profession is the cornerstone of networking, necessary to get the job to begin with.

There's nothing wrong with changing your path if it suits you, and schools like Centennial College feature academic advising that can help you make that transition easily. What's important is making sure you've found your passion, since that will ensure career success.

Four Types of College Programs You Probably Didn't Know About

Everyone has a right to an education, no matter what your situation is. If you're looking to get your career moving, or enhance what you already have, then a college education can give you the practical background you need to succeed. But not everyone's situation is the same, and a traditional few years of college courses may not suit your needs. Fortunately, college programs in Toronto, such as those offered at Centennial College, are nothing if not flexible, and there are several alternative ways to get that education, including…

1) Fast Track
If you already possess post-secondary credits, but either did not graduate, want to change majors, or are returning to school, it's possible to finish your education in a shorter time thanks to fast-tracking. You can complete your diploma in a shorter timespan, often two semesters, while engaging in a more focused education that pays attention to the relevant skills, since you should now have a solid general educational foundation. Programs at Centennial College then lead into a field placement, designed to make you job-ready in a shorter span of time. Of course, the catch is that you must have the relevant pre-requisites before you can enter a fast-track, but if you're qualified, it's a faster way to get your career moving.

2) Joint Programs
Designed to give students a look at two different sides of education, joint programs take the practical teachings that come with a college diploma, and partner them with the intellectual foundation and creative theory that come with a university bachelor degree. A student participating in a joint program with take courses at both a college and university, and receive credit from both, giving them a uniquely blended experience they can then bring to the job market. Centennial College, for example, partners with with Ryerson University and the University of Toronto in nursing, applied microbiology, environmental science and technology, journalism, new media studies and paramedicine.

3) Distance learning
If you want an education, but your job, family, or other life responsibilities are in the way, then you can find a solution in the form of Distance Learning, designed for students who can't make the journey to class on a regular schedule, or at all. Distance learning enables students to get their education on their time and in their preferred space. And when it comes from a respected institution like Centennial, you can be sure you're receiving the same quality education in a form that fits your needs.

Pre-College Preparations: How to Make the Right Choice

There's a number of factors to consider as you look into entering the post-secondary world of college programs in Toronto. You need to chose a career, choose your college courses, get your tuition and finances in order, and prepare your life for a big change, all on top of figuring out where you're actually going to go. A lot of it comes down to yourself and your personal attitudes about education and life. Here's a few ideas to consider when it comes to making an informed decision about your education:

Know why you're going to college

This is really a pair of questions. Firstly, are you going to college because you want to get a career, or because it's just what you do after high school? If it's the latter, maybe you should stop that mad scramble to prepare, and analyze your life priorities. If you can answer that, you're probably in a position to answer the next query: Is the subject you're going to school for something you enjoy, are good at, and can net you a reasonably profitable career in the future? Take some time on that, and seriously consider it before you take the college plunge.

There's another important angle to this: If you're not sure of the answers, it's better to hold off on attending a school until you do know. Making mistakes is an important part of life, but when it comes to your education, it's better to wait and get it right the first time then spend years and dollars having a do-over. And to answer these questions, you'll need to…

Do the research

Firstly, you'll need to research your chosen career path. Check how the job market is on it. When school's done, are you going to be employed? And if so, how much money are you going to make? Search for work-life balance, too. How busy, happy, healthy, and fulfilled are the people who've chosen this career? After all, you're going to be one of them, so that's an important question.

Secondly, research your colleges of choice. This includes, but isn't limited to: Reputation, campus life, variety of programs, tuition, services, and financial compensation. Don't go in blind: Make a choice backed by knowledge. The final step to this research, though, should always be in the flesh.

Visit the campus

Never going in blind can apply to the physical space of a campus, too. For all the academic accolades you might find, you'll still need to be spending a few years on that college campus, and your education will be a lot harder if you don't care for the setting. You need to make sure it suits you. Go to the campus, go on a tour, learn what amenities the campus has, and absorb the culture and the people around you. And speaking of those people…

Be ready to make friends

You're there to develop your career, and an important part of a career will be the people around you. They'll be your support during your academic career, and a professional network when your post-grad career gets going. It's a new set of peers to interact with, and you need to make sure you're ready. If you're an introvert, or don't consider yourself particularly sociable, take the time to practice meeting new people and networking. It will put you ahead of the game right out of the gate.

In the scramble to get ready for the post-secondary world, there's a lot of important things you should consider that can get left by the wayside if you're not careful. There's questions that are essential to answer in order to ensure you enter college and the next chapter of your life ready for success.