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Category: Advice

  • Some Differences Between College and University

    Some Differences Between College and University

    If you’re thinking of applying to either college or university, it’s important to understand the differences between the two. In Canada, college and university are two separate pathways. However, in other countries like the United States, college and university are considered the same thing and are one pathway altogether. There are many differences between college and university, and it’s encouraged to understand each before applying to make sure it’s the correct option for you. The main differences between the two options are the degrees, the amount of time it takes to earn those degrees, learning styles, pricing and of course, content.

    Depending on the job you hope to acquire when you’re older, these pathways can determine your likelihood of getting a job based on the degree you get, and the suggested pathway for that specific field. In college, students typically spend 2-3 years earning either an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree. In university, students typically spend anywhere between 3 and 8 years earning a PhD, doctoral, master’s or bachelor’s degree.

    It can take:

    • up to 8 years for a PhD ( doctoral degrees are 4-6 years)
    • master’s degrees are 1.5-2 years on top of the amount of time it takes to earn your bachelor’s
    • bachelor’s degrees usually take 3-4 years.

    Depending on your field of interest, you may be spending a lot of time in school, or maybe, a little amount. For example, if you want to become a doctor, either a doctoral degree or a Ph. D is required. If you want to go into one of the trades such as an electrician, an associate’s degree from college is recommended.

    Another important thing to keep in mind while choosing your pathway is the learning style; are you hands-on? Or more book-worm oriented? Colleges and universities have separate teaching styles and provide information in different ways to help students learn. In high school when selecting courses for grades 9-10, you are required to choose either applied, academic, workplace and open level courses. Applied typically leads to college, academic usually leads to university, workplace sometimes leads to community college or other pathways, and open leads to any of the above. However, if you take these courses, it doesn’t mean you can’t apply or be accepted into the other pathways, it just limits your likelihood. These types of courses also use different learning techniques. Applied uses hands-on learning while academic students are taught using books and listening to someone speak. Open level courses are often trades, arts and phys-ed courses in high school which can use any of the teaching techniques to accept all students and their learning styles. Workplace courses are courses such as Cooperative Education (CO-OP) to give students a better understanding of what it’s like to choose the workplace as their pathway after high school. Depending on your high school, these types of courses and levels may vary. After grades 9-10, many high schools switch from applied and academic to college and university so students are better able to understand and plan the courses they are choosing based on their pathway.

    Along with this, colleges and universities have a price difference. While attending both, the main costs are tuition, books, and transportation/housing if that applies to you. The price of books ranges from course to course. Transportation also depends on a variety of things; whether you have a car, are using public transportation, where you live, where your campus is, etc. Housing prices are typically the same at colleges and universities. However, the biggest price difference is tuition. The type of degree and course you choose to learn will determine the tuition price but universities are typically more expensive than colleges. For both, there are scholarships and financial aid available to students who are suited for it.

    Despite all of these differences listed above, try to avoid choosing a pathway based on economic convenience. You need to do what makes you happy and what can lead to an independent lifestyle.  Instead, choose the pathway best suited for you and the career you hope to achieve.

     

    References:

    https://settlement.org/downloads/didl/english/difference-college-university-en.pdf

    https://www.franklin.edu/blog/what-is-a-doctorate-degree

    https://www.geteducated.com/career-center/detail/what-is-a-bachelors-degree/

    https://www.bestmastersdegrees.com/best-masters-degrees-faq/how-long-does-it-take-to-receive-a-masters-degree

    https://www.geteducated.com/career-center/detail/what-is-an-associate-degree/

  • A Student’s Guide to Surviving Winter

    A Student’s Guide to Surviving Winter

    The chill is coming! Colder, whiter days are ahead. We all have to deal with the torment of winter, but there are a few ways to make it easier for all students in high school and college.

    What do we hate about winter most? The cold, right? It’s only half Mother Nature’s fault, the other half is our own. Many of us want to look fashionable in winter, but at the expense of our own warmth and comfort. We’ve all seen guys walking around in the dead of winter with no coat on or only wearing a hoodie, and girls still wearing skirts and small jackets. Don’t be one of those people! Bundle up! Shop around for good quality winter apparel that will keep you warm! Protect your ears, neck and feet. This should go without saying, because if you don’t you’ll end up getting sick and that leads us to…

    Feeling terrible! This will not help you in school. So what can you do when you do get sick? Friendly Dr. Kylie (that’s me!) says that drinking lots of fluids and hot showers usually does the trick for me. Rest is required, but try going to bed earlier rather than taking full days out of school. I have always missed important information on my sick days. We all know that being sick is all too good of an excuse to over exaggerate our need to take a sick day when really a box of Kleenex and some Buckley’s would be all you need. Additionally, in the winter our bodies require extra vitamins because it has to work harder. Taking a vitamin C pill, for example, will decrease your chances of getting sick significantly.

    So you’ve protected yourself, but this doesn’t mean everyone else did, too. Wash your hands as much as possible when using public facilities. You can also try alternatives to using your hands to touch things; whether you’re using your sleeve or shoulder to open a door or grabbing a piece of paper towel before touching the faucets in the bathroom, it all makes a difference. You can also equip yourself with travel size antibacterial gel. If can’t stand the smell of regular antibacterial gels, many companies now make fruit scented ones to counteract the alcohol smell.

    Finally, if you’re like me and are always cold, here’s something I found helped me in my daily commuting. Carry a thermal mug with you and keep it full of whatever delicious hot beverage you like! Whether it be coffee, tea or even hot chocolate, this will not only keep you warm but it will postpone and lessen your hunger resulting in fewer pounds gained during the less active season! You can also make an effort to eat heartier meals with lots of nutrition rather than greasier meals that will only encourage seasonal depression.

    Following the tips above should help you stay warm, cozy and happy throughout the long Canadian winters!

  • Making and Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

    Making and Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

    By Erin Rebello

    When December 31st rolled around, we counted down the seconds until the New Year, crossing our fingers for a better 2025. Although we can’t control external events, there are things we can do on a personal level that can make 2025 the best year ever! One way to stay in control is by making New Year’s resolutions, which is a tradition for many people around the world. While you certainly don’t have to wait until New Year’s Day to set a goal, having a fresh slate might just be the motivation you need to start!

    When thinking about potential New Year’s resolutions, think about what you’d like to achieve next year. One thing that helps me when creating new year’s goals is looking at how I can improve in the different areas of my life, such as at home, in school, with my hobbies, or even my health. I usually start with a general idea of what I want to achieve, and then go more into detail. Below are a few generalized goals that you can use to jumpstart your ideas for resolutions:

    • “I want to exercise more”
    • “I want to do better in school”
    • “I want to be a kinder person to others”
    • “I want to eat healthier”

    After you have a general idea of what you want to do, you’ll need to go a step further and change your goal into a SMART goal. A SMART goal is essentially a goal that is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. Let’s take the goal “I want to exercise more” and transform it into a SMART goal!

    • Specific: Be as clear as possible when writing out your goal. You want to exercise, but perhaps you’d specifically like to do more cardiovascular exercise, like running.
    • Measurable: In order to know if you’re coming closer to your goal, you need to have a way to measure your progression. In this case, you might choose to measure your progress by seeing how your long-distance running improves over time.
    • Attainable: Your goal needs to be realistic and doable, otherwise you’ll feel overwhelmed and you might not even want to start. For example, it may not be realistic to set a goal of running a marathon, so your goal might instead be a 5 km race by the end of next year.
    • Relevant: In order to feel motivated to follow your New Year’s resolution, it needs to be relevant to your life. In this case, exercise may be relevant to you, as you want to get fit, or maybe make the cross-country team.
    • Time-Based: Perhaps the most important part of any SMART goal is the time-based aspect. By setting a deadline, you make your goal easier to understand and follow through with. With this goal specifically, you might say that you want to exercise four times a week instead of simply “more often”.

    When we combine all aspects of the SMART goal, we transform “I want to exercise more” into the following:

    “I want to do cardiovascular exercise four times a week so that I can make the cross-country team and reach my goal of running a 5 km race by the end of next year. I will know that I’m making progress if I’m increasing how far I can run over time.”

    Using this simple template, you can create your very own SMART goals and make 2025 your year to shine! Good luck!

  • Bringing in the New Year Positively and Progressively!

    Bringing in the New Year Positively and Progressively!

    There are lots of New Year resolutions that many people break within half of a year, or less. If the resolutions work for you, great! You can find something that you want to work on for school: better grades, for example. How would you accomplish this? Would it be developing more effective studying habits, getting additional help from a tutor, your teacher, or a classmate to help you understand the material better? If it’s due to lack of time, scheduling your time wisely can help. You can create blocks of time that cannot be moved: school, sleep and work. Those are the things that you must do- after that, you can maneuver your schedule to make other things fit. Make sure to keep some breaks for yourself after finishing the day’s must-do’s- you deserve it!

    You don’t have to make resolutions if you don’t want to, of course. Instead, you can choose instead to bring in the New Year doing something positive in your student life. Things can always be turned around for your grades which are very important for senior year, but what happens if you’ve had a really lousy year?

    It can happen. Today is a brand new day.

    You can turn things around if you want to, and if you try hard enough. You can focus on your grades if that’s a weak spot. You can focus on doing something you want to do, whether that means your grades, your confidence (a new haircut, maybe?), volunteering (this can help with university and college, but also future job prospects), or even a new team sport (soccer, lacrosse?). This is all progressive thinking: new ideas can help you think creatively in both your academic and personal lives.

    When it comes to bringing in the New Year positively and progressively, you are looking to help yourself first. You want to be the best person you can be. Don’t compare yourself to others, because we all have our strengths and weak spots. Look for ways to improve. Look for ways that will help you develop your future: volunteering, getting better grades or expanding your knowledge and range of experiences with something not taught in your school.

    Making new friends is another possibility. It’s intimidating to consider that when you’ve grown up with same group of people, but think of it this way: it’s a new chance to make a new friend, and you may have a lot in common. It could be someone new who can help you have a great year!

  • Healthy Habits for the New Year!

    Healthy Habits for the New Year!

    To stay positive and healthy, mentally and physically, it’s important to focus on yourself. A lot of people are consumed with their lives, their busy schedules and day-to-day lists, that they ignore taking care of themselves. In order to thrive, you need to pay attention to yourself mentally and physically.

    To take care of yourself mentally, you need to take a second and slow down. Pause, relax, and think about the things in your life that make you happy and the things that bring you down. Oftentimes we get hurt by little annoyances in our life or even habits that we form over time. If you take a second to observe these things, you realize how minuscule these problems are in comparison to the bigger picture. Especially if you’re going through a tough time in your life, focusing on your mental health will make a huge positive impact on your life as a whole in the new year.

    Every day, try to write in a journal or talk to a close person in your life about what’s going on. It can be anything; good things, bad things, small things, big news. Talking lets out feelings that we didn’t know we had, and it’s usually a huge relief to talk about it and let out your emotions. People underestimate the importance of doing this. However, dwelling on emotions too much and letting them take over can make you feel depressed and anxious. Find a healthy balance that is right for you. Practicing mindfulness is another quick and easy way to feel much better. Breathing exercises may calm you down; especially if you are in an anxious or wound-up state, mindfulness and breathing exercises can be a great way to improve your mental state.

    Physical health is important as well. Not only does it make you feel better, but it also improves your mental health as well. Eating healthy, drinking water, exercising and getting enough sleep are all key components of taking care of yourself both mentally and physically.  You need to eat a proper amount of food each day, otherwise, you can become even more unhealthy than before. The idea is to eat healthier food, but the same amount of food to satisfy your hunger. Drinking water has multiple effects including clearing your skin of acne, boosting your health and levelling out blood pressure. Exercising healthily can improve your physical and mental health as well. There are countless positive effects on exercising including decreasing anxiety, depression and other mental health disorders, building muscle, improving your heart and lung health, and much more. Exercise 3-5 times a week, but be careful not to over-exercise as that can make your health worse as well. Simple exercises such as walking and yoga are an easy way to keep this in your busy schedules. Keeping a healthy balance is most important. Lastly, get enough sleep. Due to everyone’s busy lives, they forget how important getting enough sleep is. It improves all of 2 your ability to function, and work efficiently and quickly, lets you focus easier, and decreases mental health disorders such as anxiety as well

    By forming these habits in the new year, you are bound to be happier and healthier, overall. Always keep in mind that the most important thing is to take care of yourself and to keep a healthy balance of these positive habits. Physical health goes hand in hand with your mental health; by helping one, you are improving the other. This year, try to focus on yourself and your health. Even though it’s easier, don’t allow yourself to get caught up in the business of your life.

    Referances:

    https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/290814.php#benefits

    https://interestingengineering.com/15-mental-health-habits-to-try-this-world-health-day

  • Too Much Coffee: Pros and Cons of Drinking a Cup of Joe

    Too Much Coffee: Pros and Cons of Drinking a Cup of Joe

    What is coffee? Why is it such a cultural norm?

    Is it safe for teens to consume?

    Coffee is peddled everywhere and is obsessed over by our work-heavy, overly productive culture. It’s no surprise why everyone is obsessed with the stuff since it increases our alertness and wakefulness, which is particularly helpful when we’re starting off our work days and need an extra boost. It can also make for a good pick-me-up throughout the day while we’re grinding at our cubicles, cramming for that exam, or working to get that project done the night before. It’s also an addictive substance made from the brewed beans of a coffee plant which is native to African countries like Yemen and Ethiopia that can have varying effects on the brewmaster’s health. Before going over all of the positive and negative effects that caffeine can have, it is important to understand that these effects really all depend on you and your relationship with coffee. Coffee can give some people the jitters and an irritable stomach after a cup or two whereas some can drink it by the pot and feel perfectly well and good. If you’re worried about your caffeine habits, it may be a good time to review the pros and cons to having that second cup.

    The Good

    Despite the fact that it is an addictive substance, this coffee bean drink brings many health benefits with it. According to the National Institutes of Health, research from 2012 stated that older adults who were coffee drinkers had an overall lower risk of death from conditions like heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, diabetes, infections, etc. The more common upsides to coffee is the alertness and focus that it brings to the drinker – effects that students would find particularly helpful as they’re trying to succeed in their studies. It’s not all peaches for the younger demographic, however, there can be a few downsides to grabbing too many cups of joe.

    The Bad

    Being a teen can be an overwhelming, anxious time in your life. Piling on a caffeinated stimulant could worsen your nerves and give you undesirable side effects such as: the jitters, an upset stomach, headaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, heightened blood pressure, etc. (according to KidsHealth). Excessive consumption can lead to issues like dehydration (coffee is a diuretic, which means that it causes the body to lose water through excessive urination) and withdrawal symptoms if the consumer decides to stop drinking abruptly. These side effects aren’t insignificant, especially for teens. Most health guidelines will recommend to keep caffeine consumption moderate in general and to stay caffeine-free if you’re a teenager or a child.

    The Verdict

    Little is known about the long-term impacts of caffeine consumption for younger people, though if you decide to be a full-time coffee drinker, you do so at your own risk. There are benefits to resorting to coffee and it can be tempting to take it cup-for-cup, especially on the night before a major paper is due. But like with anything else, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

  • Winter Woes: Student Tips for Surviving the Season (French version available)

    Winter Woes: Student Tips for Surviving the Season (French version available)

    Has the weather got you down? For many of you busy students, the cold couldn’t come at a worse time—either you’ve just begun a new semester, or your exam period’s coming up next! Don’t let the sub-zero temperatures keep you cooped up inside the house. A little (or a lot) of snow can try and slow you down, but you simply don’t have the time to spare.

    The key to beating the winter woes is being prepared for anything because, let’s face it, anything could happen. A lot is at stake around this time of year, so make sure the harsh weather doesn’t interfere with your day-to-day habits. Here are some suggestions for surviving the season as a student.

    Dress the part.
    It can be tough to figure out what to wear in the winter. How do you prepare for both a warm classroom and the freezing wind outside? You should invest in good outerwear: a coat and pair of boots will be your best friends throughout the next couple of months. Layering your clothes is another great, twofold solution to winter dressing. Multiple layers will keep you warm in the chilliest temperatures, not to mention you’ll be ready for a sudden increase in temperature when you duck inside a crowded school building.

    Pack smart.
    You may groan at the prospect of carrying more stuff in your backpack, but there are certain things you just can’t leave behind. Hand cream and lip balm will protect you from the elements, and keeping tissues and some cough drops in a side pocket is a great idea in case you feel a cold coming on. If you’re used to a hot lunch, a thermos will keep your food warm even when it’s frigid out—and in case you need a pick-me-up, having a couple of tea bags on you will save you the cost of a hot drink at a café. Most importantly, pack an extra pair of socks. You never know when you’re going to step in a puddle or get splashed by an incoming car.

    Plan your travels.
    There are ways to avoid winter delays on any commute (and save yourself the trouble of making excuses for your chronic lateness). If you walk, see if you can find shortcuts around icy sidewalks or streets that haven’t been plowed yet. If you drive, keep yourself updated on traffic with the radio or the Internet, and find alternate routes before you leave the house. If you’re taking transit, get to know your routes and schedules and bring something to do in case you get stuck in traffic. But regardless of how you get to school, make sure to leave early to account for any possible delays that could come up.

  • How to Make Friends in your Class

    How to Make Friends in your Class

    It sounds a bit strange, but it’s not always easy to make friends. Everyone has their own unique personality, and because of that, it’s important to have a range of different ways to get to know people who might just become good friends. Everyone knows that you may not be able to make friends with a certain person, but you may with someone else. It really depends on personalities, so don’t give up. You may just be able to chat with someone in a friendly way at first; it takes time. I also suggest that you do not change your personality or your interests just to be someone’s friend, because that will not work well for anyone involved, and might sour the relationship even further.  Besides, if you keep changing yourself for other people, before long you won’t even know who you are.  I learned the hard way.

    So here are few options:

    • Consider informal conversations. There’s quite a few ways to do this. Bring up a conversation or 20 questions (the game, your favourite TV or something similar) about your interests during a project or a break together, to see if you are a match. Sitting beside another on a school bus trip can also help with this, if they are bored and want to pass the time as well: you can discuss schoolwork, games, or television games. Ask someone to help you with a crossword puzzle or a Sudoku, or to help carry something to where it’s supposed to go.
    • Some people may surprise you talking about a book they read recently, or maybe a television show, a video game- online or through the game systems. This could help get to know one another more. Next thing you know, it’s gone on like that for a while and you have a new friend, which is always a good thing. Remember that most other people are looking for new friends, too.  It’s not just you…
    • Sharing is caring. In this case, I mean, that sometimes giving an ear out for someone who needs to talk, or someone who needs a pen right now to complete that test can go a long way. In this case, when a friend is in need, a friend is what they need.

    So, in conclusion, when it comes to making friends in your grade or class, remember that it can be difficult and there’s no guarantee of success. You can have several attempts as you need, and don’t worry if things don’t go well: just try again with another person. You will find a friend – perhaps a stronger, “sibling from another mother” kind of friend, someone you couldn’t part from and would want to keep in touch with long after graduation.

  • Know When to “No”

    Know When to “No”

    Finish your homework. Clean your dirty clothes. Help your friend with their project. Apply to jobs. Help another friend move into their new dorm room. The list of things to get done grows like a self-sustaining organism, never-ending and duplicating with ease. Before you know it, there are so many items on that list that there are simply not enough hours in the day to check them all off. We all experience this at one point or another, but for some of us, knowing our limits and when to stop adding items to that list can be nearly impossible to decipher.

    Saying “yes” to a request is easy. The English language offers so many positive words and phrases in order to do so: “sure”, “absolutely”, “okay”, “no problem”, and so forth. Yet saying “no” is harder, and it might not be a coincidence that we do not have as many phrases to offer a negative response. We evolved as a communal species; helping one another has been crucial to our survival. Saying no and turning someone down means fighting that instinct.

    “No” takes practice. It is a skill that must be cultivated. Yet it is a necessary skill. When that to-do list explodes in excess, the inevitable burnout means accomplishing few or even none of the tasks that you set out to do. Saying “yes” to every request becomes a burden, and one that could result in homework left incomplete and bitter friends left to move into their dorm on their own after you failed to show up like you said you would. It can damage many aspects of your life.

    It is important to remember that when you start using “no” more often, it will not go well at the beginning. You will stumble over your words and likely upset people who are used to you saying “yes”. But that is okay. This is a great exercise in really understanding yourself and your own personality, and determining how you feel comfortable delivering a negative response. Some people are more effective with a harsher “no”, whereas others are suited better for a softer rejection.

    This raises perhaps the biggest question to ponder – when should you say no? There is the obvious fact that you can only divide your time into so many different activities. Ultimately, anything you say “yes” to must pass these two criteria: Is it true to your character and your values? Will it benefit you in some way? The more you say no, the more you will be able to assess the first question. As greedy as the second question may seem, it is far from greed. When you help a friend because it makes you feel good or because you want to strengthen that bond, you will provide better help. When you volunteer for the experience or to meet new people, you will put in a better effort. A healthy dose of self-interest is ironically quite selfless.

    Sources:
    Bernhard, Toni. When to Say “No” or “Not Now”. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/turning-straw-gold/201108/when-say-no-or-not-now?collection=88636
    Mamas, Michael. How to Say “No” the Right Way, and, Yes, There Is a Right Way. www.entrepreneur.com/article/253523

  • How to Handle Rejection

    How to Handle Rejection

    One of the most important lessons you can learn is how to deal with rejection and the feelings that accompany it. No matter how successful someone is they will inevitably face some form of rejection at some point in their life. Take Michael Jordan for example; he was cut from his high school basketball team, but he used his rejection as motivation to get better, and went on to become one of the most successful NBA players of all time.

    Everyone has a fundamental need to feel valued, to feel worthy and to be accepted. When rejection happens it can impact your self-esteem, making you feel inadequate, unworthy or like a failure. You could feel hurt, pain, disappointment, anxiety, loneliness, disconnected or angry. You can face rejection in various aspects of your life; in social situations, relationships, careers and school. It can come in all forms, big and small. A friend may not return a text, someone you like and ask out might say no, you could be passed over for a part in the school play, not get accepted to your top pick for university or not get hired for a part-time job you applied for. Whatever the situation, it’s important to know how to cope with your emotions when they arise, so you can work through the pain of the rejection and move on.

    Here are 8 ways to handle rejection:

    1. Talk to someone you trust. It could be a teacher, counselor, relative or coach. Pick someone who will listen to your situation and your feelings surrounding it. Someone who want judge. Often talking about your feelings can help ease the pain. The person might also be able to help you sort out what went wrong (if anything).

    2. Allow yourself to feel bad about the rejection. Don’t try to cover up your feelings or burry them. It’s healthy to let yourself feel what you feel. Try to process your feelings; it may even help to journal about them.

    3. Don’t go on social media to complain about the situation. Angry Facebook posts and Tweets blaming others will not help you deal with your feelings. It may even cause more problems.

    4. Try not to take it personally. It is not a personal attack. If someone you ask out says no or you don’t get a job you applied for, they are not rejecting you. They may be rejecting your request, but not you as a person. They don’t know you well enough to reject you as a person.

    5. Distract yourself. After you’ve given yourself time to process your feelings do something to take your mind off the situation. Read a book, hang out with friends, watch a movie, or go to the park to play basketball, do something you enjoy to help take your mind off the rejection.

    6. Think of a time in the past when you overcame a difficult situation. It’s helpful to remember what strategies you used then and apply them to your current situation.

    7. Learn from the rejection and use it to improve. If you didn’t make the football team you may need to practice more to improve your skills. Just because you didn’t make it this time doesn’t mean you never will. And it certainly doesn’t mean you’ll never make any other teams you try out for. Be sure not to overreact and turn one rejection into thoughts of, “I’ll never be able to…” or “It’ll never happen.”

    8. If you can’t shake off your feelings of rejection and you start experiencing feelings of depression be sure to talk to a school counselor, teacher or care giver so they can help you. It’s okay to need support from others. Seeking help for depression, anxiety and other mental health issues is nothing to be ashamed of. It takes a strong person to recognize when you need help. Don’t let shame or embarrassment prevent you from doing so.

    Remember, everyone faces rejection in their lives. But you can’t let it define you. How you cope with and overcome hard times says more about you as a person then the rejection ever will. Sometimes it’s hard to move past your feelings, but it’s important to remember to keep trying, and to believe in yourself, after all rejection is part of success.