Choosing a Post-Secondary Program – Where to Begin and What to Consider
Posted on August 24, 2015 by Maria Boublil, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Students are faced with the difficult decision of what to do after high school. An overview of what to consider when planning post-secondary education
What program to take? What to Study? Where to Begin and What to Consider:
Many students begin their search into post-secondary programs based on the classes they enjoyed and had success with in high school. However, this leaves out a key component of the equation (and one that should be at the forefront of consideration) – what will this degree get me in terms of job market opportunities.
Although high school classes can be a good indicator of strengths and interests, there are a number of key factors to consider.
If you were not successful in a particular course in high school could this have been due to reasons other than your ability or interest in that course? (ie: your learning style did not connect with the way the class was taught. Or simply put you did not have a good teacher?)
Should courses that you did not have success in be avoided completely in post-secondary?
Not necessarily. If you struggled in math, for example, and see that post-secondary program you may be interested in has a math based course, you should not avoid that program based on your high school experience alone. Yes, this may be a more challenging class for you, and it may require more work and effort, but that alone should not be the reason to change your career ambitions.
Start with the end in mind – the post-secondary program you choose is simply a step in achieving your career goal. It is not the destination!
You will spend the bulk of your life engaged in employment, not in your studies, so plan strategically and view your program of study as the tool to help you attain your career goals.
Rather than starting your post-secondary planning with what program you will enjoy, first consider the career options this program of study will offer. What type of work environment would you enjoy? What are the key factors you would like to have in your work? What problems do you want to solve? What contributions do you want to make? What aligns with your values and passions?
This may cause you to think, how could a student possibly know what jobs will be available to them when they graduate? The job market is changing and new jobs are coming on the scene faster than ever before. It is therefore not necessarily the” job” that students should consider but rather the skills they need to develop that will provide them the most opportunities once they enter the workforce. This should then be the guiding factor in choosing the program of study.
The amount of information and choices available to students can be overwhelming. Don’t let this be the cause of anxiety and stress. Break it down into a systematic approach and consider the following questions:
What type of work environment would you enjoy?
What are the key factors you would like to have in your work?
What problems do you want to solve?
What contributions do you want to make?
What aligns with your values and passions?
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