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  • Choosing the Right High School Courses

    Choosing the Right High School Courses

    It’s back-to-school time, and you’ve probably planned out all your classes for the coming year. Course selection is usually done in the spring, allowing students to sign up for mandatory courses as well as choose some electives. Though course selection for the current year is likely now over, you might want to have another look at your timetable to make sure you’ve really made the right choices. Here are some tips to make sure your schedule measures up—and if it’s too late to make changes, you can take these helpful hints into account in the springtime.

    The majority of high school programs require certain credits in order to graduate. Generally speaking, for schools in Ontario, grades 9 and 10 have lots of mandatory courses (like Geography, French, or Civics and Careers). But once you get to grades 11 and 12, you’re given the freedom to play with your schedule a little bit; usually, the required courses at these levels are only English and Math. Of course, this doesn’t mean the rest of the classes you take in these years aren’t worth it! Oftentimes it’s the electives you choose, and not your required courses, that actually hold the most merit.

    When selecting courses, keep in mind that many post-secondary programs have high school prerequisites. In order to even be eligible for programs like sciences, math, or business, you have to have the courses they specify on your high school transcript. (It wouldn’t make sense, for instance, if you wanted to specialize in Biology, but you’d never actually taken a Biology course in high school.)

    You don’t have to know what you’re going to do with your life in order to choose courses in high school. But keep your options open, especially if you’re going into upper years. Check out a couple of post-secondary programs online, and see what kind of prerequisites you’d need in order to apply. If there’s a field you’ve really set your heart on, make sure you choose those required courses so you have a fair shot.

    That being said, your schedule doesn’t have to be all work and no play. High school, and wonderfully so, allows you to take what you’re interested in—even if you don’t want to pursue a career in that field. Don’t be afraid to try something new to complement your post-secondary prerequisites. If you’re interested in visual arts, computers, or even cooking, there might be a class out there for you.

    Course selection can be stressful for any student, but if you find a balance between what you like and what you’ll need, you’re going to wind up having a blast in the coming year. If you’re having misgivings about the courses you selected for this year, it may not be too late to switch things up. And it’s definitely worth your time to start thinking about what you’ll be doing come next fall. If you have more questions about course selection, you should see your school’s guidance counselor.

  • How to Choose Your Classes

    How to Choose Your Classes

    You’ve gone to university fairs, read the websites, explored your options, submitted your applications and have finally chosen your new university or college. That’s the hard part. Now you just have to choose your first year classes and you will be ready to go. For many this is the fun part, though you should give serious consideration to your course selection as it may shape the next few years of your post-secondary education. You don’t want to find yourself forced into summer school or an extra year of your undergrad just because you are missing those few extra prerequisites. Sometimes it is easy – you may know exactly what you want to do or have selected a program that has your classes laid out for you. Regardless, don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous.

    You want to cover your bases, that’s a given, but this is also your opportunity to explore alternative subjects, different ideas and new concepts. If you have an idea of what subject you want to pursue, maybe try some to help compliment that. Want to study English? Try taking a Sociology or Art History class as well. It’s always good to test the waters. First-year courses are often (though not always) designed to give students a taste of what could be in store for them if they decide to pursue that subject further. Or, if you are still set on studying English, then these classes may give you a unique perspective or could turn into an interesting minor that makes your degree distinct and stand out from the pack.

    You never know, you could surprise yourself and end up going a completely different route then you would ever have imagined. Just remember to think ahead. There is
    nothing worse than seeing that history class on the course list that so speaks to your own personal interests and would compliment your degree so well only to find out that
    you don’t have the necessary prerequisite. At the end of the day, it’s your degree and your choice. There are an infinite array of course, degree and specialization combinations out there that can reflect your individual interests and aspirations and you should make decisions that reflect that. Just remember to cover your bases and don’t be afraid to be a little adventurous – your post-secondary education can surprise you.

  • Study What Interests You

    Study What Interests You

    Going to college or university is a pretty big deal and the program or courses you choose can impact your future success, both financially and in terms of doing something that excites you.

    You may already know exactly what you want to major in, or you may not. Either way, don’t panic. Many students begin college or university without a clear idea of what they want to study or what kinds of jobs they’ll be qualified for at the end of their studies.

    The perfect mix
    We take courses to expand our knowledge, hopefully in things we’re interested in, so we can find ways to enjoy what it is we do for a living – however far on the horizon that may be.

    The perfect job covers three main points. It’s: 1) something you’re good at, 2) something other people will to pay you to do, and 3) something you’re interested in or excited about. The sweet spot is right at the center of all three.

    Study what you’re good at
    If you’re good at something, it may be because you’ve spent a lot of time doing it because you enjoy it or simply because it comes naturally to you. Either way, taking courses where you’re likely to get good marks can beef up your transcript and you may find that these courses lead to new opportunities. They may be requirements for another course, or you may discover new aspects of the course that lead to something you’re more interested in.

    Study what other people will pay you to do
    Long term, you probably want a career you’ll enjoy where you have opportunity to do new and interesting things, but there are few jobs available playing video games or ultimate frisbee (though they do exist).

    Check out career fairs and look online for jobs related to what you like to do and see how other people are able to make money in related fields. You’d be surprised by the variety of jobs available, and it helps to have something to work towards.

    Study what you love
    School’s expensive, both in money and the time it takes to complete the coursework, so you might as well spend it doing something that you find inspiring. The best courses are sometimes the most difficult because that’s where you find room to grow, expanding your knowledge and skills.

    You may be able to take electives in subjects that are outside the scope of your larger program, but ones that are fun and teach you things you never knew you were interested in. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these opportunities when they arise.

    Explore your options
    Look for programs or courses that complement your strengths, attributes and interests – it can make all the difference. Choosing a path you feel comfortable with, that builds confidence and challenges you to accomplish more, can be incredibly rewarding.

    The earlier you begin, the easier it is to create a map of where you want to go. And don’t worry about making wrong decisions; you can always change track if something more suitable comes up.

    While the sweet spot may be where these three things collide, also consider courses which only hit two of these points. Take a look at course catalogues for different universities and see what’s out there.

  • Following (and Loving!) Your Path

    Following (and Loving!) Your Path

    Education, much like a career, means different things to different people. In school we each have unique study habits, subject preferences and academic goals while maintaining different ideals regarding our own career paths.

    Some prefer the humanities while others lean toward the sciences. Some are interested in the computer sciences while others advocate the visual arts. Everyone has his or her own interests and that is important. As a student, it is your responsibility to pursue and practice something that you are passionate about or follow an academic path that will allow you to best achieve the career objectives you have set out for yourself.

    This can, however, be difficult. Many of us do not have a clear idea of what we want to pursue or do with our lives, let alone what classes we want to take. As such, our education becomes something of a trial and error until we manage to find a particular subject, skill or topic that we can be confident in pursuing.

    Joining clubs, choosing classes or attending lectures based on what you are passionate about or feel naturally drawn to will prove to be your means to this end. You can’t go wrong by pursuing your interests! University and college is a place for self-discovery, personal development and academic growth. It helps you to figure out who you want to be and what you want to study.

    Try not to stress too much. The decisions you make are important, but if you follow your passions and try to keep your options open you won’t stray too far. Over the course of your degree you’ll be spending countless hours in the library, lab and lectures so you might as well enjoy what you study.
    Always choose your classes carefully, but if you navigate your options successfully you will end up do what you love. Keep your options open, listen to your heart and you will soon be on YOUR path to the perfect career for you!

  • Try Courses That Seem Interesting To You

    Try Courses That Seem Interesting To You

    With a new semester almost upon us, it may be time for you to choose specific classes that can help you get where you want to go. Choosing a major is one of the hardest parts of applying to university. Whatever you decide to study, try some courses that seem interesting to you whether they’re in your major or not. If you’re drawn towards philosophy and you don’t know why, try out a class anyway. See what it is and whether you see a place for yourself in it.

    Remember – university is basically the start of your career, even though it can be difficult to decide so early in life what you want to do. That’s why it’s designed to let you experiment with electives. It could be that you’ve always wanted to take a sculpture class, or it could be that, while registering for your classes, film history to 1940 somehow just jumps out at you. Try it. Find out why. You might find a new passion!

    Plenty of people end up switching their majors part of the way through university. Someone might start in biology only to realize, after taking a photography class, that they have a great passion for cameras.

    Lots of people also like to try out a minor. Just because you’re a biology major, it doesn’t mean you have to take all science courses. You can have a minor in theatre if that’s what interests you. Who knows – maybe some day your interests will intersect in a spectacular theatrical production explaining the process of digestion!

    The work involved in doing well at university is more than a full-time job. When it comes time to read 50 pages from the textbook every week or write that final essay, it will be painful to do if you’re not interested in the material. You’ll learn plenty of fascinating stuff in pretty much any class, but if the subject interests you, you can have a lot of fun while you’re at it.

    University is also the time when most people start taking charge of their own lives. Many people move out for the first time and start paying rent or working at part-time jobs. In the end, you’re the only one responsible for whether you succeed or fail. Keep in mind that taking responsibility for yourself means more than meeting deadlines and paying rent. You have to start putting your life in motion, which means learning about what interests you, what you’re good at and where you can go with it.

    A career isn’t the only thing that defines you. The famous author Vladimir Nabokov studied butterflies and made up chess problems in his spare time. A successful salesman may be part of an amateur radio club or a hockey team. It’s good to know what you want out of life and to have a career plan, but don’t forget about all those things that make you who you are.

    In the end, following your interests is the practical thing to do. Even for a doctor, there are so many specializations that you are able to go in any direction you want. What area you choose to focus on is going to be the thing that helps you to stand out and helps to define your life. In the meantime, it will make your education a lot more fun.

  • How Many Grade 12 Courses Should I Take?

    How Many Grade 12 Courses Should I Take?

    The following tips, originally posted at the Studentawards Forum, were contributed by students in our membership.

    Q. Do universities care whether you took a spare in grade 12? I’m currently taking 8 courses, but it’s just too stressful. I want to drop [a course] which I don’t really need for university but then I’m afraid that they will think I’m just lazy, and pick someone who took 8 courses over me. (Posted by: xugengyu )

    A. [Universities] don’t care about whether you take a spare or not, all they care about is your top 6 U/M marks. (Posted by: Joshki)

    Take the spare. Universities do not really care about that. And for you, it will relieve stress, may help with studying and grades, and for me…it gave me time to fill out scholarships and applications. (Posted by: Emlily)

    Q. It’s almost midterms and I’m doing really badly in grade 12 physics. Should I drop the course and will it affect my transcript? (Posted by: Chelleee)

    I currently have a full 8 course load, with 7 of them being U level courses. My question is, will dropping [a course] look bad on my record? I’d like to drop it because I don’t need it for any of the programs I’m interested in, and I feel that if I keep it, my other course grades (which I do need) will suffer. (Posted by Jagxyz)

    A. If you can’t keep up with the workload and don’t need that course, feel free to drop it. There is no guilt in that, unless you drop it after full disclosure day when your up-to-date mark appears on your transcript. (Posted by: superstar2011)

    If you do decide to drop [a course], do it before the OUAC drop date (early-Nov) so it does not show up on your transcript as a dropped course. (Posted by: Meridian)

    Take only 3 courses each semester … you need the extra time to do well in your top 6. I took 3 each semester and it was the smartest thing I have ever done. (Posted by FutureEng)

    I only did 6 grade 12 courses towards my top 6. You may still want to plan for 7 in case you totally burn a subject … Start with all 4 and you can always drop [one] if you are having trouble. (Posted by: Meridian)

    It’s a good idea to take at least 7 courses in grade 12 because you should have one back up course in case you end up screwing up a mark in a more challenging course. (Posted by emcee0)

    I agree strongly with this, but you should keep in mind that the 7th course is not going to save you from screwing up in a mandatory course such as English. (Posted by: superstar2011)

    It is better to take 6 courses and get relatively high marks than taking 7-8 and getting mediocre marks, unless you really wish to have that safety net. (Posted by: heesoup)

    The only disadvantage of taking 6 courses is that all 6 will be used in your admission average calculation, so you have no “back ups” to fall back on if you end up not doing so well in 1+ of the 6 courses you’re taking. (Posted by: cyynthiia)