The post-secondary experience

Helping your grad choose a university, college or plan for a post-secondary experience is no easy feat . Many high school graduates don’t really know where they want to go, what they want to study or what career they might like to pursue. Although it’s the choice ultimately of the individual, parents can help.

Talk about it. Start when your son or daughter is in Grade 10 or 11. The courses they select, even at this level, may impact their future choices.

Keep all doors open and choose a wide range of courses that may be applicable for various areas of study. Remember that teens, like anyone else, change their minds again and again before finding a career that fits.

Even in university, many students change their course of study after a year

ot two. Finding your path is a process.

When looking at universities, there are so many factors to explore. Where is it located? What programs do they offer? What are tuition fees? What residence or housing options are offered? What activities or sports are available? What other facilities are available? What scholarships or bursaries are given? What are the admission guidelines?

Often, students choose a university based on the location and programs offered. There’s an excellent website for comparing Canadian universities that gives pertinent information about every university across Canada, so use it as a resource.: www.aucc.ca/can_uni/our_universities/index_e.html

College a popular choice

Community colleges are another popular choice for graduates, and these offer a wide selection of courses and programs that may not be available through universities. Campuses are located in rural and urban communities across the province and programs are varied and geared to vocational goals.

A picture tells a thousand words, so once you’ve narrowed down your search to a few institutions, plan to visit a few universities and colleges with your kids and arrange tours, look at residences and dining halls and meet with admissions staff.

You’ll get a feel for the campus that you might not get by leafing through an academic calendar or searching a website. Why not combine a summer vacation with a few stops at potential schools?

Not for everyone

University and college are not for everyone. Some students want to take a year off to travel or work overseas while others choose to work so they can earn some money for college in the future. There are programs like Katimavik or Canada World Youth that offer valuable experiences while exploring other cultures, languages and work options. Google International Youth Programs for more choices.

It’s a tough choice. Youth are expected at a young age to forge a life plan and pursue it. It’s not only a difficult decision, but a potentially expensive one as well, so it’s worth taking time and putting in effort to help your teen look at what’s out there.

My youngest daughter still has another year of high school, but we have already begun the process of exploring her interests, skills and goals. I have already had the experience of watching my two older children go through the process so I know it’s not straightforward, but it is rewarding.

I also learned a few things along the way. One is, you can’t do it for them. Oh, you can do some research, send away for applications and even help fill them out, but the choice is not yours to make; it’s theirs.

As parents, we have to respect our kids’ decisions, even if we would not choose them ourselves or if we see flaws. That’s the hard part, but it’s a wonderful experience to watch their lives unfold and witness the process it takes for young people to find themselves, learn from their mistakes and grow from their challenges and choices.

There’s no right or wrong approach to education and experience. Help your child explore the options that are available so he or she can make educated choices, then be there to cheer them on as a support, fan club and resource.

It might be as simple as sending a care package while they’re living away, money for a bus ticket home, or regular phone calls and e-mails to let them know you’re there for them, now and always.

Lila Hope-Simpson is the Director of the Home and Heart Nursery School in Wolfville