Having second thoughts about your future? You’re not alone

If you’re reading this, you’re probably experiencing some level of uncertainty about your future. Let me start by telling you you’re not alone. In fact, according to an American study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, an estimated 75 per cent of students will change their course of study at least once. Personally, I changed mine three times before finding my way, so don’t panic.

Figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life is a major decision, and one you shouldn’t take lightly. Unfortunately it’s something most students may have felt “forced” into deciding, either by their parents, peers, media, or some other influence. For others, it may have been more retrospective: realizing the program you were passionate about at first just wasn’t what you thought it’d be. And really, how certain can you actually be in deciding what career is the right one for you out of the thousands of different jobs out there?

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with changing your mind about your future. We grow, we change and we continue to learn more about ourselves with each passing day. We build and develop personal values, goals and aspirations in life that may not necessarily be career-oriented, but might affect the type of career that suits our lifestyle and who we really are.

Students change their mind for a variety of reasons. I’ve heard about nursing students changing their minds because of a newly-realized phobia of seeing blood. Sometimes it’s for the simple reason that your heart just isn’t in it. And who can fault you for being true to yourself?

There are a couple of things to consider before making the decision to leave your current program:

• Determining the best time to withdraw: You can certainly withdraw any time you wish, however there are two dates you’re going to want to be aware of. The first, and earliest in the semester is the withdraw deadline for obtaining a partial refund. This is usually about the second week of classes. The second date occurs about two months into the semester, and is the withdraw deadline to avoid academic penalty. If you drop your program or course on or before this date there is no refund, but the courses and applicable grades won’t be added to your official student record.
• Sticking it out for classes that will help you down the road: There are a number of courses that you might need in a future program, such as college communications, global citizenships, mathematics and general electives. If you can find it in you to finish courses like these, it’ll definitely be worth it as you won’t need to take them again in another program you pursue.

You’re also going to need to make a plan for what you’re going to do next. To help find your calling, here are a couple of tips:

• Speak with a college advisor: Centennial College offers support services in helping students and potential students make well-informed decisions on educational programs and courses consistent with your career goals and personal values. Advisors offer great perspective and in-depth knowledge on what’s available at the college and can act as a guide to the types of courses that might best suit your needs.
• Talk to current professionals: In order to get a true sense of what a career in a certain field will be like, try reaching out to those currently working in those areas. They could be a relative, someone you play basketball with or a friend of a friend. Utilize LinkedIn by taking advantage of your connections and who they might know. Or you could reach out to a professor in the program to see what they might suggest. Most professors will have worked, or are still working in the industry you’re interested in, so they might be able to offer first-hand information and advice.
• Career counselling: If you’re currently enrolled at the college or are a graduate looking for assistance, Centennial provides career counselling through the Career Services and Co-operative Education centre. They put on a number of workshops and events, in addition to providing individual support. In order to help get you on the right track, counsellors might use a variety of assessment tools and customized career-coaching techniques.
• Self-Reflection: Sometimes taking the time to think about the things you did and didn’t like about the program you left (or are about to leave) can help you narrow your options. One exercise that worked for me was a writing exercise in which I put down on paper all the things I like, and to keep writing until I couldn’t think of anymore. It ranged from types of sports and animals to foods I like and songs that moved me. It didn’t matter how weird the combination got because I was essentially putting “me” on paper. When I felt I had an exhaustive list, it was time to analyze the results. I connected the proverbial dots, grouped some items together and looked at the common themes. For me, I realized I’m outgoing, creative, enjoy writing, and am a major “people person” (among other things). My new task was to search out a career that fit ME and not the other way around. For me, the answer was public relations. Maybe it’ll work for you, maybe it won’t, but it's a start.

Whatever you decide to do, remember the decision is yours to make. Only you can determine what’s truly important in your life, so if your heart’s just not in it, take action and do what you need to do. Remember to take advantage of key dates and courses, take the time to reflect and go after your passion. No one can hold you back except yourself.

Is a career in Food and Nutrition Management right for you?

Centennial College’s Food and Nutrition Management program is ever-growing and shows great promise for both employment and student satisfaction. As t he longest established two-year program of its sort in the Greater Toronto Area, Centennial’s Food and Nutrition Management has been the recipient of numerous awards for its approach to preparing students to pursue challenging careers as managers in the dynamic and growing healthcare and food service industry. With such recognition, Centennial is the obvious choice for prospective students.

The program will build your skills in the areas of food, nutrition and management. Students will be able to secure careers in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community agencies and catering services.

Our program

During your time in the School of Community and Health Studies, you will learn to combine food service administration and healthcare to interpret and apply nutritional needs and principles to promote health. Among the specific knowledge and areas of practical application in food labs will be:

• Nutrition
• Food service
• Business
• Human relations
• Human resources
• Financial management
• Sanitation of food
• Menu planning
• Large quantity cooking
• Menu design
• Medical nutrition therapy

Putting Nutrition on the Menu

Students will learn how to develop menu plans, the fundamental elements of nutrition and compose recipes for specialized diets.

Get hands-on experience

During the fourth semester of the program, students will embark on a field placement to develop the managerial skills required to fulfill an entry-level position in the health care food/nutrition industry upon graduation.

Nationally Accredited

The Canadian Society of Nutrition Management (CSNM) accredits the Food and Nutrition Management program. As a graduate, you will be eligible for membership in the CSNM and the Ontario Society of Nutrition Management. CSNM membership is a requirement of the Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to work in a long-term care facility and many acute care facilities.

What students are saying

"The Food and Nutrition Management program was pivotal in my success in the field - it equipped me with valuable knowledge and practical skills to succeed in a highly competitive industry. Teachers are very informative and highly connected to the vast partners in the field - allowing for valuable insight, input and education which open doors to great career opportunities".

-Nancy Au, Food and Nutrition Management Graduate, 2013

As a student of one of the highest regarded programs, you will feel confident knowing that Centennial is the right choice to help you get closer to the career you always wanted.

Step Outside The Classroom: Why College is More Than Your Courses

Your academics will always be important to your success in life. They're not the only factor, however, and there's more that you should be doing when you're in college than simply attending classes and doing the work. The social experience that comes with spending time at a Toronto College attending events, joining clubs, or simply hanging around can be equally valuable. It's not slacking. It's an investment in your future. Here's why:

Social links will help you in times of need
Everyone needs some help sometimes, and having the support of a community of student friends will be valuable when the going gets tough in school. Whether it's getting assignments finished, sharing resources like notes or textbooks, or just having someone to vent to when stress gets to you, there's numerous advantages.

Take studying for an exam, for example. I've found in the past that the best way to learn a subject is to attempt to explain it to someone else. Having to teach a subject embeds it in your own mind, and having a friend teach it back to you makes it an equal exchange. And on top of that, even if you think you've studied all the important bits, having someone else's perspective when cramming is an excellent way to pick up on things you possibly hadn't thought of.

Those social connections will also link you to a career
Getting a job these days is all about who you know, a process formally known as networking. Students, teachers, guest lecturers, and anyone else you need in school who's vaguely connected to your career field can be a potential connection to a job, so getting to know those around you is an essential part of the employment game.

There's ways other than networking that these social connections can help you, too. For one thing, you're going to have to do at least a few job interviews in your lifetime, and they include the question "tell us how your friends describe you?" Inevitably, you'll need to know some of those opinions. And even if that's not the question, it's harder than you think to describe yourself. Having some friends describe you can be a shortcut to that particular answer.

You'll need to know how for your job.
Life experience is more important than grades, and there's one practical bit of life experience that they don't teach in a classroom: How to connect with people. No matter your profession, you're going to need to know how. It could be to get the job, or it could simply be while you're on the job, interacting with coworkers and customers. Practice makes perfect, and the supportive ecosystem that is college is the perfect place to hone that skill. Socialization is universal, and something everyone should look into developing. After all, the people around you, being in the same school and being at the same point in their lives, all have something to talk about with you.

Why Grad School isn't a Refuge

It's an unfortunate cultural trend that college or university graduates returning to education after graduation are viewed as delaying adulthood, refusing to enter the real world in lieu of the safe space that is school. The reality is that realizing that a slog through a difficult job market when you lack necessary credentials is a waste of time and resources, and choosing to upgrade those credentials is one of the more adult decisions a young student can make. It's a reality in a crowded job market such as this that you need to stand out, and a post-graduate degree can move your resume to the top of the pile. Here's a few more reasons why participating in Graduate Programs in Toronto are a serious, mature investment in your career, rather than a prolonged adolescence.

It's designed to actively get you a job
At a school like Centennial College, graduate programs aren't general, but are instead specifically tailored towards one profession or skill, including Public Relations, Publishing, Television and Film Business, Media Management, and other, similar careers. In a postgrad, it's understood that you're finished the more general educational phase of your life, and are looking for a career, so you're taught how to specifically do that career. There's no electives, only courses aimed at teaching you practical job skill that you'll actively use in your profession.

The students around you are in the same boat, and can help you out
You wouldn't just be taking a postgrad for the educational experience, useful as that can be, but also for the people you'd be taking it with. Remember, your classmates will be the same as you, professionals looking to enter your specific career field. They represent an important human resource: Future working professionals you can network and connect with now, thanks to the shared bonding experience of moving through a postgrad together. In the coming years, if you can stay in touch, you'll be sharing jobs, resources, and tips while reminiscing about your school days with each other.

You'll be linked to a fresh set of resources, and connected to potential employers
It's a story I've heard a few times from students: They hit the job market before they were adequately prepared, and didn't take proper advantage of the resources that their school made available to them. Colleges, of course, have a wealth of job-hunting resources, including their own internal job boards, as well as centres to help you with resume-writing, interviews, and other job-hunting tips. By going back to school, you're getting another shot at making effective use of those resources, and this time, you have real job-market experience as context, meaning you get to start fresh with more wisdom. In addition to that, many post-grads include a field placement element, linking you directly to a potential employer, and allowing for further networking opportunities, if not a direct hire. At the very least, it puts your application to the top of the pile, since you'll have a chance to meet employers in person.

A Grad School Survival Guide for The Working Professional

It's an unfortunate cultural trend that college or university graduates returning to education after graduation are viewed as delaying adulthood, refusing to enter the real world in lieu of the safe space that is school. The reality is that realizing that a slog through a difficult job market when you lack necessary credentials is a waste of time and resources, and choosing to upgrade those credentials is one of the more adult decisions a young student can make. It's a reality in a crowded job market such as this that you need to stand out, and a post-graduate degree can move your resume to the top of the pile. Here's a few more reasons why participating in Graduate Programs in Toronto are a serious, mature investment in your career, rather than a prolonged adolescence.

It's designed to actively get you a job
At a school like Centennial College, graduate programs aren't general, but are instead specifically tailored towards one profession or skill, including Public Relations, Publishing, Television and Film Business, Media Management, and other, similar careers. In a postgrad, it's understood that you're finished the more general educational phase of your life, and are looking for a career, so you're taught how to specifically do that career. There's no electives, only courses aimed at teaching you practical job skill that you'll actively use in your profession.

The students around you are in the same boat, and can help you out
You wouldn't just be taking a postgrad for the educational experience, useful as that can be, but also for the people you'd be taking it with. Remember, your classmates will be the same as you, professionals looking to enter your specific career field. They represent an important human resource: Future working professionals you can network and connect with now, thanks to the shared bonding experience of moving through a postgrad together. In the coming years, if you can stay in touch, you'll be sharing jobs, resources, and tips while reminiscing about your school days with each other.

You'll be linked to a fresh set of resources, and connected to potential employers
It's a story I've heard a few times from students: They hit the job market before they were adequately prepared, and didn't take proper advantage of the resources that their school made available to them. Colleges, of course, have a wealth of job-hunting resources, including their own internal job boards, as well as centres to help you with resume-writing, interviews, and other job-hunting tips. By going back to school, you're getting another shot at making effective use of those resources, and this time, you have real job-market experience as context, meaning you get to start fresh with more wisdom. In addition to that, many post-grads include a field placement element, linking you directly to a potential employer, and allowing for further networking opportunities, if not a direct hire. At the very least, it puts your application to the top of the pile, since you'll have a chance to meet employers in person.

Inside or Out? The Pros and Cons of Learning From Home

If you want or need a post-secondary education for professional or persona development, but lack the ability to enter a school for personal, transport, or time-related reasons, then Distance Learning from a practical school like Centennial College may offer the answer you need. Via the internet or correspondence, you can receive skills-based practical degrees where and when you want, without the need to drastically reshape your life. So, where will you learn? Given the lack of a need to enter a school, your home may seem the ideal choice. However, it may not be the best option, and you may still need to venture outside to get your learning done. It's dependent on how you learn, and what your work ethics are, but here are some factors to consider.

Pro: Build your own workspace
The big idea behind distance learning is you can learn whenever or wherever you want, the "wherever" being a space that suits your learning conditions. If you're at home, your instinct is to make it as comfortable as possible, and you'll want to facilitate it. Put on a robe, grab a cup of coffee, wrap a blanket around you, sit in a bean bag chair, or don't even sit at all and prop a computer on your stomach in bed. The possibilities are endless, and you can fill your ideal home workspace with as many creature comforts as you wish.

Con: Comforts aren't always a good thing
There's a bit of a trap to working at home: If you spend too much time building your comforts, and preparing to study, you won't spend that time studying. Similarly, if you're in the safety of your own home, and accountable to no one, what's to stop you from simply nodding off to sleep in your comfortable space, or using that time at your computer to alt-tab between Facebook and Youtube. That's the trap of creature comforts: They aren't always good for productivity.

Pro: Learn to your own schedule
Aside from space advantages, time is the other appealing aspect of distance learning, specifically the ability to schedule your learning in at any time of day. If you're working, or have family to take care of, or just have any sort of commitment, distance learning lets you schedule it in whenever you can. In other words: You can sleep in, and tackle your schooling later on, instead of being forced to move your life around a schedule.

Con: Lack of a concrete schedule can cause issues
There's a trap to this, too. I have memories of reading a children's book about the "land of later," about how putting things off will result in them either never getting done, or getting done in an inferior form. And while distance education can be had where and when you want it, the onus is on you as a student to put the effort in to get the most out of it.

So, what's the solution? Ultimately, an understanding of your own work habits is essential, acquired through honest self-analysis. If you're in the comfort of your own home, do you have the discipline to still get work done? If the answer is yes, a home setting will be ideal for your distance learning. If not, you still have options. A library, a community centre, even a coffee shop will get you into a more focused environment, and enable you to get the education you deserve.

Joint Programs Give Post-Secondary Students Double The Education

As you search for your ideal path through the world of post-secondary education, you may be confronted with the dilemma of choosing college or university, and the unique experiences offered in each. Fortunately, both institutions understand the need in the current job market for the skills the other one possess, and have offered a way for students to have it all in the form of joint programs. These specialized programs represent a partnership between a university and a college, and have students participating in a Bachelor Degree Program at the university, before heading to the college for a practical side to the education. The goal is to prevent students from missing out on any aspect of the post-secondary experience, and ensure they have a total, multifaceted understanding of the program in question.

Practical college courses
The advantage of a college education is the real job skills training contained within. A good college course will get you on your feet and out of the lecture hall, and place you in a lab or field. Instead of passively learning about the job you want, you'll instead spend your time actively doing it. You'll be participating in a dry run of the job in a safe space where mistakes are a learning experience. That way, when you go out into the world and apply for a position, you'll be able to say you've logged hands-on time actually doing the job you're applying for.

Enlightened university theory
The practical can be further enhanced by knowing the theory behind a profession, which is what the University side id for. In other words, knowing how to write is useless without knowing what to write about. College is where you learn how to do, but university is where you learn what to do, in the form of theory, rules, philosophies, and best practices. Before you get on your feet, the university half of the education fills your mind with the theory, making sure that you're confident in your moves by the time you roll up you sleeves and get to practicing your profession, sound in your stable intellectual foundation.

Double the credits
Since you're getting double the education, you'll want something physical to show for it, even though the skills acquired are a reward on your own. In Centennial College's joint programs, you get just that, receiving both a college diploma, and a university degree from the participating institution, perfect for putting on a resume. Speaking of that…

A competitive advantage
Being able to show that you have a degree and a diploma puts you in a uniquely advantageous position in the job market, since possessing both a degree and a diploma can show employers you have a uniquely mixed understanding of the career you want to participate in. And in a crowded job market, that can make all the difference.

How to Organize Your Life in College

Thinking about getting a career-oriented education at a community college when high school is over? Or perhaps you're already enrolled, and are leaving soon. Either way, it will be a challenge, albeit a rewarding one, and you need to be ready. There's a lot of advice on how to prepare floating around the 'net, but I'm going to keep it simple, and base it on my own experiences navigating the college world.

Decide right now if you're working or not
This is an important decision to make, because it will shape your time and money situation for the rest of the year. There's ups and downs to both approaches: If you work, you'll have money in your pocket to survive on, and further life experience, but if you don't, you can focus on your studies. I'm personally in the camp of working, but only modestly, and in a position where you can reduce hours when midterms or finals rear their head.

Know where your money is, and budget
Job or no job, you'll need to be more aware of your finances in college than ever before, in an environment where spending is sometimes necessary, and often encouraged. If you don't already, place your money in a single account or two you can keep tabs on, and monitor it. Know how much you have, how much you're going to have, what you can spend, and stick to a budget. You're still at a point in your life where you can afford to figure out how to manage your money, so now's the ideal time to do so.

Put your classes first
Never forget that's why you're there. After all, that's why your tuition is being spent. Socialize, live, be independent, but always make it to class on time. After all, you need a career when this is all over.

Make a schedule
Speaking of making it to class, you'll need to budget your time as well as your money. There's more to this than simply printing your timetable and knowing when your class time is, though. You'll need to figure out when to finish homework, when to study, and yes, even when to socialize and participate in clubs. As an aside to that, don't take on more clubs and social activities then you can handle.

Create or decide on a study space
You're going to need a place to get your work done, a place where you can focus and not be bothered, and you should figure out where that is earlier rather than later. Your home or dorm room may seem to be the answer, but sometimes the creature comforts within don't really help you finish your work, and a school study space, such as a library may be the answer

Never be without a notebook.
This is a simple but helpful piece of advice, and I'm not talking about a laptop. A physical book with pages on it can help you in ways a computer never can, from jotting down notes, reminders, and phone numbers, to serving as a backup when you don't have your computer, or its batteries die. It's only a few dollars, and is one of the most solid investments you can make in college, aside from college itself.

How to Make Your Continuing Education Experience Worthwhile

In the constantly changing professional world, it's advantageous and even necessary to keep your skills up to date, and learn new talents for the sake of staying competitive. This is one of the reasons for college Continuing Education programs to exist. They come in several different forms, including weekend, evening and digital format, but all contain the same idea: Students learning the newest skills, practices and technology by engaging in practical on-your-feet learning. If you've decided to take the plunge into continuing Toronto Education, you may want to make sure your time and effort is being well-spent. Fortunately, there's a few things you can do before and during your program to ensure you're getting the most out of your education. These include…

Decide why you're taking it, and what you want out of it
There's more reasons for taking a con-ed program than simply advancing your career, though those are the primary reasons. You may simply wish to pick up life skills, or learn something for fun. What's important is that you establish a solid goal for your learning, even if it's just taking a class for the heck of it.

Decide if you can come to class or not
And if the answer is no, that isn't a problem, thanks to the existence of distance learning. At schools like Centennial College, distance learning allows a student to receive the same professional industry-led education experience either online or by mail, in the security of their own home, at a time of their choosing. So, if work, family, transportation or anything else is getting in the way, it's not a problem.

Be sure to make some friends
Regardless of the reason for taking the class, being sociable will contribute to almost any goal. If you're trying to advance your career, you can add these friends to your professional network. And if you're in the program for fun, new friends are always a good thing.

Focus on what you can get out of it
Don't spend too much time worrying about grades, so long as you're passing. You're there to pick up job and life skills, which is why the whole college setting exists. So instead of burning yourself out trying to put everything into the course, instead pay attention to the takeaways, the talents you're there to acquire.

Don't stress
This is general good life advice, but applies to continuing education specifically: you're finished making your way through the conventional half of the post-secondary system, something that's essentially mandatory nowadays, and are taking this education because you want to. In the classroom or out, the theme of continuing education is the same: Skills you want, delivered at your convenience one way or another. It's your choice to enter, and it's the college delivering you a service, so you can approach it with a calmness and confidence unheard of in your previous education.

How to Build a Media Portfolio

Perhaps more so than any other profession, getting a job in the media field requires a showcase of your work. While media covers a broad swath of jobs, including writer, photographer, game designer, animator, performer and videographer, the general idea is the same. In order for you to get your career going as a creator, you need to first demonstrate proof that you can create by showing what you have created. There's no better way to do this than creating a portfolio of your work, something college media programs enable you to do. Here's a few things you can do to create one.

Take a Post-Grad Program
If you've already taken a media program, but either don't have enough content to make a portfolio, or simply want more, you can participate in a postgrad at a school like Centennial College, which offers post graduate Bachelor's Degree Programs that each emphasize one strain of media, with an emphasis on creating content, essential for making something you can show off to prospective employers, which these programs will also work to connect you to.

Make use of your school's resources
If you're at a good institution, you won't have to build this portfolio on your own. Your program may have a segment dedicated to putting one together, and if it doesn't, your instructors will gladly help you out. In addition, your school's career centre will likely be able to give you help as well, since they'll be particularly well-versed in the needs of employers.

Get involved in portfolio-enhancing activities
While in your post-graduate program, join some clubs, and participate in some events related to your field of study. Aside from the valuable social experience and networking opportunities that can result from this, anything you produce from participating in these events and clubs, even photos of you getting involved, can create more material to show off.

Save Everything
Regardless of whether you're in a post-grad or regular program, make sure to save any media you create that looks impressive, so you can show it off later. Or, if it's not in a format you can easily show off, record it somehow, even if you just snap a few photos. The important part is that evidence exists. Aim for the visual whenever possible, too, since that will look most impressive

Make a website
There's plenty of free web hosting clients that can be used to do this, and it becomes all but necessary if the media you make is animated or audio-based. A good, professional website can be used to showcase this work, as well as providing something you can link to on your resume. This doesn't mean you should forgo something nice you can print out and show employers, though, and being able to pull work out on cue during an interview is equally impressive.

Four Reasons to Engage in Distance Learning

If you're looking to get a college education, but have to deal with personal setbacks and barriers, then distance learning may be the solution for you. Designed to be convenient and accessible, learning can take place online or through correspondence. If you're getting your education from a college with standard day classes such as Centennial, then you can be sure you're getting the same professional instructor-led content to work through in a place and time of your choosing, via 24-hour access to an online classroom. If you've never considered distance learning, here's four factors that it's designed to work around. If they sound like the barriers you face, then this sort of college education may be the solution you need.

1. You're working
   You need money to survive, and if you've managed to land a job that can pay the bills, quitting it to then pour money into education may be a luxury you don't have. Or perhaps your work schedule isn't flexible enough to allow you to return to school, and you don't want to reduce your hours and lose out on the cash that comes with them. Of course, the career upgrades that come with an education are worth the monetary investment, but thanks to distance learning, you don't have to sacrifice one for the other.
   
2. You're a family man/woman
   Family comes first, and if you have children or relatives that require care, school may keep you away from them for an unacceptably large amount of time. If that's the case, distance education can let you learn with your family around you, so long as you can block off a bit of alone time to work with your course materials.
   
3. You work better from home
   Maybe a school setting doesn't thrill you, and you feel like you learn better on your own. Particularly, if you're a mature student, you may not wish to physically return to a college campus. Fortunately, it's possible to learn from home and stay in touch with your instructors by email or discussion board, so you can have it both ways. And really, that's the main idea behind distance education: Letting you broaden your intellectual horizons without having to sacrifice your current life to do it.

How a Four-Year College Degree Can Help Your Career

Far from being separate institutions, colleges and universities communicate and learn from each other, and have begun to influence each other's programming. Universities are becoming more practical, and colleges are seeing the value of extending their programs to include a theoretical foundations. This has led to a special sort of college degree, a four-year bachelor program that offers students the hands-on abilities needed to get the job, combined with a foundation of knowledge that allows them to use those skills with confidence. This type of degree program is available in Toronto, and can offer a student looking to get their career going a competitive advantage. Here's how:

The focus is on getting you employed
You don't need to be told that it's hard to get employment at the moment, and that competition is fierce. Fortunately, the college mission is to clear the path to employment, and provide a shortcut to the job market. Colleges are all about the skills that can get you hired.

Your education will be specialized
Colleges will place an emphasis on practical job skills, and through laboratory settings, field placements and similar opportunities, essentially provide a dry run of the job you're going to do before you do it. If you're going to be a nurse, you'll work in a mock-hospital. If you're going to be a journalist, you'll work on a newspaper, and cut radio demos. The list goes on, but the end idea is that you'll be able to go to an employer and boast that you've already had experience doing your job, instead of simply listening to lectures about it. The grand idea behind college education is: A recreation of your future job, in a safe, secure environment where mistakes are both allowed and encouraged.

You'll still get theory along with the practical
Something previously exclusive to the university experience that college degree programs offer is a theoretical foundations. The reason theory is important is that it ensures before you practice your skills in a college setting, you know how to do them correctly. With a theoretical knowledge base, you can participate in practical labs with confidence, secure in the fact that you're making the right moves, because your instincts come from a place of knowledge.

There are benefits to the college setting
Colleges have a tendency, particularly in later years of a degree program, to have smaller class sizes. Far from being a drawback, this means that your instructors will have a chance to know who you are, and you'll get to know your friends, both perfect for forging your first professional network of contacts in whatever industry you venture into.

Myths About Post-Graduate Programs, and Why You Should be Taking One

I'll start this off with an overall misconception I'd like to smash: Returning to school after graduation is not a sign of failure. Returning and taking an undergraduate degree program is frequently necessary to get the best possible career, and I'd consider it an investment in your future. Speaking as someone who managed to achieve success through a post-graduate program, here's some things you should consider.

It's not about running back to safety
That's the preconception you have to confront, and I have to deny, having been there myself. There's this backlash against post-graduate students, seeing them as immature, incapable, or afraid to make it in the real world. That's not really true. Postgrad studies are really about adding an extra leg for your education to stand on, in the name of giving you the advantage when job hunting.

You're older and wiser now
If you're returning to school, that means you're no longer a wide-eyed freshman, confused about what you want out of life. You're not at school to find yourself. You know why you're there. You've had a taste of the real world, so you're there to get a link to a job. This means that you'll motivated to work and study much harder, and be able to take school seriously, rather than returning to a safe space.

You're getting another crack at job-hunting resources
There's a few sides to this. For one thing, you'll gain access to your college's job board. On top of that, there will be a host of career-hunting resources available only to students, so getting that status back can be beneficial. In addition, the program you take will be oriented towards getting you a job, and that includes the instructors you'll be working with. For example, in my postgrad at centennial college, my professors actively sent me links to job postings they knew were reputable.

If you pick the right program, the connections will be made for you
Placement is not a dirty word, and when it's an academic field placement, you can be certain you're not serving as free labour for a company with no intention of helping your academic and career progress. For one thing, they can even be paid, as my field placement was. Maybe you bungled your first placement, and want a chance for a do-over, to leave your mark on a company. If so, this is the time to do it. At the very least, you can use the free "in" that comes with a placement to network with the company, create a portfolio, and leave an impression.

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 Ways to Make The Most Out of a Joint Education

First, a primer on what a joint program is, if you don't know. It's a unique sort of post-secondary program that allows you to participate in both college and university education, by taking a Bachelor's Degree Program that involves classes at both schools. You'll get the theory from university, and the practical from college. Schools like Centennial College offer these programs in association with universities like Ryerson and the University of Toronto for programs including Journalism, New Media, and Paramedicine. The benefits of this unique combined experience should be obvious, and if you've decided to take this educational path, here's a few tips on getting the most out of this special kind of education.

1. Don't just interact with students in your program
   One massive advantage of a joint program is that you'll spend time at two different university campuses. You won't be alone on this journey, as there will be a group of fellow students also participating in this joint education with you. But you'll have time to get to know them, so you don't need to rush it. A student looking to advance their career would do well to get to know as many people at these two campuses as they can, as you never know what connection will advance your career, and you're getting the chance to build a double-sized professional network.
   
2. Make sure to participate in student life on both campuses.
   Another advantage of two campuses: The student life. Try joining some clubs and going to events at both schools, especially because the culture of college and university will inevitably be interestingly different. Experiences shape the person, and as a student in a joint program, you're positioned to have a broader variety of experiences.
   
3. Stay in touch when you switch schools
   Around the halfway point in your education, you'll make the move from one school to the other. That social networking you did will fall by the wayside if you don't maintain it, so be sure to stay in touch with the friends you made at one school. Visiting the campus sometimes isn't a bad idea, either, especially when the set-up tends to place the two schools close to each other, like with Centennial College and the University of Toronto.
   
4. Think about your career as soon as you begin the second half
   In other words, start looking for work before you graduate, as it's going to take time. Even if you don't literally begin handing out resumes as soon as you enter the second leg of the joint program, never lose sight of your ultimate goal in taking it: To give you the kind of specialized educational background that makes you irresistible to employers. To that end, as soon as you move from one school to another, you need to consider how this career will be shaped. Fortunately, a practical college education can be the perfect bridge between school and work, and with your professional network behind you, you have a strong platform to start your job hunt with.

Five Reasons to Curb Your note-taking in College

If there's one thing it's assumed you're going to be doing a lot of during your post-secondary education, it's note-taking. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you're taking them? Perhaps it's to ace the next test, or as references for your eventual career. Well, based on my own college experience, I can say there's a good chance you're hitting the notes too hard, and you need to ease up and spend more time listening, especially if you're at a community college, where the emphasis is more on practical skills. This isn't to say that you should never take notes, but you should definitely be a bit more selective about what you jot down, and here's why.

1. Notes make you pay less attention to what's being said
   Think about it: When you're frantically scribbling or typing up everything your instructor is saying, are you really listening to them? Sure, you're listening to the words, but you're not absorbing them. You're just putting them in your head long enough to spit them out on the page, rather than absorbing the knowledge. Sure, you could always re-read your notes later, but it's likely double the work. And it may be unnecessary, since…
   
2. It's probably in your readings
   Pay attention to whether or not there's a textbook for the course. Or, if there's a slideshow or power point, check if they're going to be posted online. While it's not an exact duplicate of a lecture, if you want to review things at a later date, especially if there's a test, you can use that instead. The important thing is that it frees you from the need to take notes, and instead allows you to spend time listening to the lecturer, and actually absorbing what they're saying, which is a good thing, because…
   
3. Your education is about more than simple notes
   If you're at college, you're there to become employable, and pick up some job skills. Job skills aren't acquired by lectures alone. Instead, you get them by getting off your feet and working on things. Lectures and the notes they generate have a purpose, in that they provide you with the theoretical foundation to engage in practical skills, but they're only the first part. Learning by doing is the second component, and if you're at a college like Centennial, then you'll be encouraged to get on your feet and work on your profession.
   
4. You won't use them when your semester is over.
   Finally, a bit of honesty. If you're like me, you saved your notes, thinking that you'd refer to them afterwards. The truth is, I never once looked at them again after the year had ended. Instead, I remembered the skills I'd practiced through sheer muscle memory. Taking minimal notes leaves you with less clutter, and more room both mentally and physically for the useful skills you will have picked up by the time your education is over.
   

Five Ways Your Life Will Change in College

If you're a high school student, you probably already know that making the transition to the post-secondary world of community college is going to involve a lot of changes. You'll be doing harder, more focused work, you may be moving away from home for the first time in your life, and you have to seriously begin thinking about what you'll be doing when your education is over. What you probably haven't realized is that there will be all kinds of tiny lifestyle changes. Some of them may seem daunting, but they all come together to help form you into a stronger, more mature person. Some of these life changes are….

1) You'll learn to have a flexible schedule
In high school, you effectively have a 9-to-5 routine: Wake up, eat something, get to school, have two classes, have lunch, have another two classes, go home, do homework, eat a third time, then amuse yourself until you have to go to sleep. Then you do it all again the next day. In college, this all goes out the window. Classes can be at odd times, and odd days of the week, and assignments are erratic enough that the same day may be empty one week, and jam-packed with work the next. This will teach you how to roll with unpredictability, and not sleepwalk your way through a schedule.

2) Freedom, both great and terrible
In college, no one will keep tabs on where you are and what you're doing. You want to skip a class? There's no punishment. You can also wander the halls of the building freely. Overall, you're left to your own devices. This can be a great thing, as you can work at your own pace, and prioritize things in a way that suits you. The downside can be that a lack of structure and oversight can lead to slacking off, since no one's making sure you're in class, or getting work done. Ultimately, it comes down to you disciplining yourself, since you'll be the only one monitoring your actions.

3) Your school will become your home away from home
Regardless of whether you live on campus, near campus, or at home, you'll be spending a lot more time at school than you used to. This isn't really a bad thing, though. Remember, people have to live there, so you'll find everything you need to survive on campus, including food, shopping, entertainment, and study space. A college is far more of a community hub than high school ever was, and you'll find yourself cozy and entertained.

4) You'll care more about money
While there's plenty of scholarship and bursary opportunities available, college will still be expensive, and if you weren't money-conscious before, you will be now. Between transportation, textbooks, buying lunch, and all the other little necessities of student life, you'll find yourself having to manage your savings. Everyone needs a bit of financial know-how to survive, and college is an excellent space to learn about it.

5) You'll learn who your real friends are, and get some new ones
It's natural that you'll drift away from your high school friends, since you no longer have a convenient social setting to see them in five days a week. Don't fret, though. You'll still see some of them, and in the process, learn who the ones who care enough to keep up with you are. Regardless, though, you'll meet a new set of friends in college, and these ones can be used to build your career. If they're in your program, then they want to be the same thing as you post-graduation. Getting to know them can benefit you, since you'll serve as each other's personal network of support and job tips post-graduation.

Five Rules for Surviving Your First Year of College

Ready to begin your post-secondary journey at a Toronto college? The good news is that it's not as hard as media would have you think. The bad news is that it's possible to stumble if you're not prepared. Based on my own freshman experiences, here's five rules I wish I'd known when I began college that you can use to succeed.

1) Figure out what you need to buy in advance
This includes textbooks, pencils, pens, notebooks, clothes, and bags. At the very least, you need to inventory what's left from high school, and verify what's still useable. The same goes for textbooks: You may want to wait and see if a) you really need them, or b) you can't get them for cheaper somewhere else. Regardless, figure it out, and purchase it all well before you arrive for your first day of class.

2) Add an extra half-hour of "getting lost" time
If you're not living on campus, transit will take longer than you think. If you're trying to find where your next class is, it will take longer than you think. If you think you're going to get your readings done in an hour, or an assignment written in two…well, you get the idea. My personal experience is adding an extra 30 minutes to every major task is a good cushion to ensuring you're never late, and meet your deadlines.

3) Get your work done now, for tomorrow, you may be buried
It's a universal truth that life likes to throw curveballs at you, and the best plans will go wrong. There's a reason why I'm repeating this, and it pertains to your work. Let's say you have an essay to be done at the end of the month, and you know for a fact you can write it in a week. You might be tempted to leave it until the final week, and relax before then. But, for all you know, you may get assigned three other things during that final week, or the essay may be harder than you previously thought, or life itself outside the school may get in the way. And when that stuff happens (and it will), you'll be grateful that you did your essay at the beginning of the month.

4) Join some clubs while you can
Despite the scare tactics above, one advantage of your first year is that you'll have more free time than in your upcoming years, so you should take this opportunity to experience campus life through clubs and events. Aside from being a stress-buster, you can begin meeting people and forming a network of peers, something that will be important in the years ahead.

5) Take some weird electives
Depending on your exact program, you'll probably have space your first year to take electives, or random general-education classes to fill up your schedule. This is the time to take things that are odd, or that you don't know how to do, but are curious about. It'll expand your horizons, and may just allow you to discover talents you didn't know you had.

Five Different Reasons for Taking a Continuing Education Program

Returning to college after graduation and taking a short, focused program dedicated to a specific job is the foundation of continuing education. Unfortunately, there has been something of a backlash against the practice, with some seeing it as delaying entry into the real world, a sort of prolonged adolescence. In reality, its a means to upgrade and enhance your job skills, and numerous groups of people can benefit from Continuing Education programs. If any of these sound like you, it may be something to consider:

You need a job
First, some reassurance: Its a tough market out there, and if you've been having trouble finding employment after graduation, it doesn't mean your education was inadequate, or that there's something wrong with you. Simply speaking, the markets flooded, and you need to stand out. A focused, specific continuing education program can be used to give you specific job skills, letting you stand out from that crowd of job seekers.

You need a better job
These same advantages also apply if you're unsatisfied with the job you have. Maybe its only part-time, or seasonal, or doesn't really represent what you went to school for. Or maybe you're unsatisfied with your chosen career path, and want to change paths. That same education can be used to alter your career path for the better.

You need to keep your job
One advantage of continuing education is that its current, and can be used to ensure that your knowledge of software, technology and best practices in a career field is up to date. If you're working in a sector that's rapidly changing, it can be to your advantage to keep your knowledge fresh, particularly if its in a sector with high turnover, or a shrinking market. Making yourself valuable with knowledge can be insurance.

You want to advance your job
Similarly, if you're ambitious, and want to climb the corporate ladder, you can use con-ed to enhance your skills and receiving the credit that goes with them, using that extra credibility to earn recognition, promotion, and bonuses.

Ill take a moment here to note that if you are employed, and your schedule seems to make attending school impossible, you can opt to take either weekend or evening classes, or even distance learning, where you can receive your education either online or in print form.

You want to advance yourself
Some think of continuing education not as a matter of career enhancement, but as a method to pick up life skills for their own sake. Its possible to enrol not because you have to, but because you wish to pick up a new skill simply to enhance your own life, or meet similarly-minded people. Between the aforementioned evening and weekend classes, and distance learning, you can augment your life with learning without having to severely disrupt it.

Four Study Tips for a Distance Learner

If you're looking to get or complete your post-secondary education, but your job, family, or life commitments prevent you from attending school, then a course in distance learning can help you get that education at a time and place of your choosing. While it can be convenient and relaxing, it's important to remember that it's still a college education, and distance learning in Toronto can still be challenging. Here's a few tips to ensure you complete your education effectively.

• Make a schedule and stick to it
  When something can take place without a set schedule, the temptation is to let it slide, and do it "later," with later translating into "never." If you don't set aside specific time for your schooling, it's entirely possible that it won't get done. Even if it's not during the 9-5 workday, you still need to specifically block some time off to get your studying and work done, and stick with it.

• Set specific goals
  It's not just enough to say "now I will work on my school stuff." Two hours in the evening is wasted if you don't accomplish anything in that time. If you have notes to read, resolve yourself to finish them that evening. If you have an essay to write, get a certain amount of words done. Setting goals for yourself also has the advantage of ensuring you stick to your work, and don't wander onto social media or Youtube.

• Choose a study space in advance
  Before your education even begins, figure out where you're going to work when it comes time. If you're at home, figure out a spot where you can be undisturbed and undistracted. It's entirely possible that your home isn't even the best place to work, and you're better off clearing out and heading to a library, community centre, or even a coffee shop somewhere. Only you know what will work for you, but the important part is to figure it out before you begin.

• Don't overthink the prep work
  At the same time, don't waste too much effort building your ideal study space. You know, making coffee, getting snacks, maybe a pillow and blanket if it's cold, shooing everyone away, queuing up music, all those things. I've heard it referred to as "building a nest" before, and it's entirely possible to waste your study time preparing to study if you're not careful. While it isn't always the case, if there's little problems or distractions with your study space, it may be better to grit your teeth and keep working then waste time moving to another one.