How to Choose the Right Higher Learning Education

 A To-Do List for Mature Prospective Students

By Kaye Liao

It is ironic that living in a very technical and “instant access” world, more and more young people feel lost and isolated because more and more interactions are taking place in “virtual reality”. There is so much information in cyberspace of what to do, where to go, how to get there and why to bother. The expectation to perform and compete in the “real world” sometimes mean that one has to pursue a higher level or specialized educational training in order to achieve their career and personal goals. There are a broad range of courses, programs, diplomas, certificates and degrees out there, and so many schools to shop from. With so many options, a prospective student can easily be overwhelmed, sometimes to a point where they take the wrong educational direction or get stuck and they end up not making any moves to realize their aspirations.

Before you fill-out that application form, and start thinking about hitting the books, here’s a to-do list to consider to get the most out of higher learning experience:

• Have a list of your interests and personal activities or hobbies and write down why you prefer to do certain activities and get drawn to certain things, people and experiences. From this list, take the ones that you would like to transfer over to your career goals and write down a possible program or course where you will learn more and get educational credits at the same time. For example, if you have a passion and appreciation for art and enjoy attending art gallery events, mingling with artists and promoting their work, and at the same time you are an accountant working in the corporate world, assess if your hobby is strictly separate from your career aspirations, or maybe take a couple of courses in fine arts. This can help you better understand the fine arts industry and perhaps eventually make the transition to working that into your career.
  

• Make a list of your strengths and personal accomplishments. How can you maximize your strengths in order for you to attain success and satisfaction?

• Note the reason why you are interested in pursuing further education. Is it to advance from a current position, or is it because people have told you to pursue a particular “hot” industry and/or career?

• Acknowledge your challenges and areas that you feel are relevant to improve upon in order to attain success and satisfaction.

• Contact program advisors at several institutions. It is not enough to ask a few friends whether they liked the school or program they attended, as experiences and goals are different for every person. Once you have contacted the program advisors, set-up an appointment to meet with them face-to-face, as a lot more productive information exchange can happen during a face-to-face meeting. Be clear of your goals and expectations when communicating with the advisors.

• Ask about qualifications and alternatives if you do not completely meet the standard qualifications. Exceptions are sometimes, in fact, often considered.

• Be aware of extra costs and fees such as textbooks, student fees and residency options.

• Contact a head faculty of the program you are interested in and set-up a meeting to find out about the courses, student demographics, future plans for the program and availability of extra support and resources for students. Research the faculty as they can be great advocates for you when you decide to pursue a career related to the program or course you are interested in taking.

• Attend arranged information sessions as this is also a wonderful networking opportunity to meet with other people who may have similar interests and goals. Advisors, alumni and faculty are usually in attendance to answer any questions.

• Understand that it is up to your focus and determination to make the most of your learning experience. With this point in mind, it also helps to have a strategic personalized plan to help you advance towards your goals and make sure that your educational investment is worth it!

Kay Liao is a Vancouver-based image, career and lifestyle consultant, providing specialized coaching for new high school and post-secondary graduates. She owns and operates KLiC Consulting.