Playing Marco-Polo with Post-Secondary Institutions

Autumn is here, the new school year is underway, and post-secondary institutions across the country are starting to open up applications for the Fall 2013 semester. Take a deep breath. The breadth of choices in schools, programs, and careers can be very overwhelming, but there are things you can do to help with the decision.

First off, don’t be afraid to change your mind! Post-Secondary is a chance to really discover your passions, so don’t get set on one idea too early.

Secondly, even a school with the right program might not be the best fit. Be sure to look into the school’s atmosphere, extra-curricular activities, athletics, and anything else that you might deem important. The academics are important, but there are other things to weigh in as well. This is your school, so you can be as picky as you want.

The best way to really get to know your potential schools is to go to open houses. Most schools have at least two every year: one in the Fall and one in the Spring (for instance, our next open house at St. Mary’s University College in Calgary is on October 13th).

The key is to make sure you know as much as you can about all of your options, and then make an informed decision. You also want to make sure you don’t limit your options; apply to different kinds of institutions and different kinds of programs. Remember, this is exciting, don’t be nervous. Take a deep breath, you can do it.