Category: College & University

Despite the common misconception, colleges and universities aren’t out there to make you broke and leave you with a ton of debt. The truth is that most schools are willing to work with their students and their families to find viable solutions for any financial concerns or problems. Whether it’s a grant, scholarship, or other bursary and payment options, they are worth considering as they can help cover the costs of your child’s education and future. The more information you can gather, the better. To get you started, here are 10 scholarship and bursary questions every parent should ask:

1. Do Government Student Loans Cover all Expenses Associated with College or University Studies?

This is an excellent question, and the answer you receive will be dependent on the area in which your child is attending school. However, generally speaking, government student loans, such as OSAP (Ontario Student Assistant Program) are designed to help with the costs. In other words, they are not designed to completely cover them, and are only a supplement to the expected costs.

2. What Other Types of Financial Aid are Available?

There certainly isn’t a shortage of available financial aid options. However, it can take some time to find them. Some are highly advertised and easy to come across, but you must also consider that the more popular they are, the more applicants there will be. Financial aids often have a limit to the amount they can contribute, and as such, the number of applicants they can provide financial assistance to. It is highly recommended to invest some time into researching all available scholarships, grants and other bursary options available. The more your child can find and apply for, the better.

There are also some financial aid programs that provide more than just monetary value. For example, some offer bursary assistance as well as a work study program, which helps students cover the costs of post secondary education. These work programs are often on campus and favourable to the student’s school schedule and study requirements.

3. When is the Application Deadline?

Each financial aid option will have its own deadline, so, this is an incredibly important question to seek the answer to for each and every financial aid program your child is considering. Write the name of the financial aid and application deadline on a calendar to ensure all requirements are met and submitted prior to the due date. Although, the earlier the application is submitted won’t affect whether or not someone is declined. It’s more important to submit a full, high quality and completed application.

4. If I Make $(XX,XXX), Will my Child Qualify for Financial Aid?

It’s a common misconception that the higher the household income is, the less chances a prospective student has of obtaining financial aid. However, the eligibility of financial aid isn’t solely based on the parents’ gross income, and there are many additional factors that come into play. Many financial aid programs will also consider the number of dependents in the house and if the student will be living at home, on campus or off campus, etc. Furthermore, each financial aid may have different qualifications, so it’s important to seek the answer to this question based on the specific financial assistance your child is seeking.

Additionally, many government student loans don’t consider a family’s personal loan.

5. What is Required for Scholarships and Other Bursary Options?

Each bursary option will have its own set of requirements. Some simply require a submission fee, whereas others also require an essay. Some require you to have completed so many hours of community work, whereas others will require that the student is studying in a specific field. Some are specific to orientation, whereas others are a free-for-all. It depends on the individual scholarship being sought. Needless to say, it’s highly important to read the requirements of each.

As parents, you want to be able to investment fully into your child’s future and education. However, this can be quite expensive and isn’t always a viable option for every family out there. Fortunately, financial aid is an option, and there are many scholarships, grants, student loans, and programs available that can help cover the costs of furthering your child’s education.

Congratulations! You’re about to move onto an incredible and important step in life – and one that can lead you towards achieving plenty of happiness and success. Since applying for college or university is such a paramount moment, and with so many institutions accepting hundreds or thousands of admissions each year, it can be hard to narrow in on the ones that are best suited for you. So as a prospective student, it’s crucial to ask these top 10 admission questions to make the process of finding the perfect college or university much easier. These 10 questions are split into 3 categories, which pertain to admission requirements, finances, and academics.

Admission Requirements

In Canada, you are required to have a Secondary School Diploma or equivalent in order to attend a college or university. While the college and university application process is quite streamlined across the board, many schools also have their own set of admission requirements that must be met before they’ll even consider your application.  For example, some require an additional essay to be written with your application, portfolio submissions, or even S.A.T. testing if you’re applying to a school in the United States. Determining whether there are additional admission requirements outside of the standard for each particular school allows you to properly organize and prepare yourself before clicking the application submit button. Doing so will also give you plenty of time to produce the highest quality of application. Ask an admission rep some of the following questions about admission requirements:

• What is the deadline for admissions?
• Are there any admission requirements outside of the standard?
  • If so, what additional materials or actions are needed to complete the application?
• What criteria are you looking for from prospective students or what criteria do you look for in applications?

Finances

Attending college or university can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to leave you with a degree or diploma that is complimented with an abundance of debt. With the plethora of scholarships and grants available, you can significantly decrease the amount of money you have to pay out-of-pocket. While asking about scholarships seems like a no-brainer, there are many scholarships and financial aid programs available that aren’t as highly advertised as others – yet they’re just as valuable. Be sure to ask these additional admission questions to ensure you know what the total cost of enrollment is, while also finding all viable financial opportunities available to you. Here are a few questions that can keep you on the right track:

• What is the yearly tuition and average of additional expenses I should be aware of, such as books, parking, cafeteria passes, etc.?
• What are some less common scholarship opportunities you wish more students would take advantage of?
• Does your application system automatically consider me for financial aid programs and scholarships, or is this an entirely separate application?

Academics

Academics are an important category of admission questions to ask because, after all, you’re going to college or university for the educational opportunities. Unfortunately, not all schools are created equally, and this is particularly true if you are seeking acceptance at a college or university outside of Canada. Take the time to come up with as many questions as you can that pertain to the academics of the school. The answers you receive could change your opinion on a school, and can even change the direction of your college career. To get you started, here are some important admission questions to ask that will help you determine the value and experience of the academics provided at each specific school:

• How accessible are academic advisors, and what are the professors’ standard, posted office hours?
• What is the average Freshman class size?
• Are there any special facilities that are important for your particular field of study, such as a theatre, art gallery, planetarium, aquarium, etc.?
• Is there an honours program and if so, how does it work?

Although these are 10 of the most important admission questions to ask when applying for college or university, it’s just as imperative to remember that any question or concern you have should be addressed.  Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as you can, because the more information you can have, the better choice you can make for your future.

As you head onto the next chapter in your life and education, you’re faced with the inevitable debate as to whether you should attend college or university. While the decision simply comes down to whether you want a diploma or a degree, or rather, what career you want to pursue, there are many other deciding factors that will and should come into play.

Colleges offer more career-focused opportunities, such as education and training in trades, apprenticeship, language, skill upgrading, entry-level and vocational positions. University offers more academic and professional programs that are broader in terms of what careers can be pursued after completion. However, both college and university focus on different learning styles, and understanding the differences can help you make the decision as to which one is best for you.

Why Choose a College Education?

There’s a common misconception that a college education is less valuable than a university education. However, the truth is that college is simply different from university. It provides education for more specific fields with a tactical, hands-on learning experience. As such, there are many benefits that follow:

• Education focuses on specific careers, such as journalism, nursing, skilled trades, etc. as opposed to English, medicine and science
• Theoretical and hands-on learning
• Gain actual field knowledge and experience, as opposed to education from a textbook
• Available apprenticeship programs to get you in the industry
• Less time is required to obtain a diploma
  • 2-3 year programs
  • 4 year programs
• Tuition is generally cheaper

Why Choose a University Education?

With all the amazing benefits that come with a college education, you may be wondering why you should consider a university education. As mentioned, it all comes down to what you want to do for a career. Universities offer graduate and professional degrees in a variety of fields, such as psychology, mathematics, history, etc. The programs are less specific than those of a college. Additionally, you have the benefit of majoring and minoring in specialized fields, and can advance your education with a Master’s or PhD. There are many more benefits that follow:

• Higher degrees can open up more career advancement opportunities
• Education focuses on independent learning
• Learn from lectures, textbooks, theses, etc.
• Learn the value of independence
• Participate in research in your respective field
• Specialize in your particular field, and be qualified as an expert
• Good investment that looks highly reputable on a resume

What About Joint Programs?

Although  college and university educations are quite different from one another, many now offer joint programs that apply both field and theoretical learning. In these cases, the courses you take in college can be part of a 4-year education at university. However, generally, both college and university programs are kept separate as they are quite distinctive to begin with, but it may be worth it to get the best of both worlds.

While there are many benefits to both a college and university education, it ultimately comes down to the career you want to pursue. However, if you struggle with textbook learning structures, college could be the better option for you. And if you want to obtain a minor and major in your field of study, university may be the better option. Consider your career goals, and the type of environment that caters to your learning style, and you will quickly discover which educational path is the best one for you.