Getting Ready for Post-Secondary

Students, parents and teachers are life-long learners. The idea of planning a pathway toward an educational goal should be focused, Sign pointing to apprenticeship, college, university, community living, workplaceyet flexible. Educational goals can change over time. The ultimate goal of a student is to find and enjoy meaningful work.

There are many ways to journey toward work or a career/vocation. The pathways planning journey involves the transition from grade-to-grade and to life after high school to one of the post-secondary destinations of: 

  • Apprenticeship
  • College
  • Community Living
  • University
  • Workplace

 

Researching Your Options

In order to become better informed about your post-secondary choices, it's never too early to start researching your options. Contact your Guidance Teacher, myBlueprint, or a Post-Secondary Fair for more details. 

 

Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship a post-secondary pathway that combines on-the-job and in-class technical training with work experience that leads to certification in over 150 skilled trades. 
  • Employers provide about 80-90% of the apprenticeship training in the workplace.
  • All apprentices attend in-school sessions offered by approved training delivery agents (e.g. colleges, unions)
        for the remaining 10-20%, which involves classroom instruction on theory.
  • Once both school and on-the-job components have been satisfied, apprentices will receive a Certificate of
        Apprenticeship.
  • For trades with exams, apprentices must pass the exam before they can receive their Certificate of
        Qualification.

Resources

 
College 

Colleges offer a variety of diploma, certificate and applied degree programs. Ontario's publicly-funded colleges offer more than 5,000 program choices in 200+ areas of study. Programs are career-oriented and geared toward marketable skills.

Resources

Community Living 

Transition planning is about looking ahead to the future and preparing for adulthood. It is a partnership involving student, parent/guardian, and DCDSB staff (e.g., Program Support, Guidance, Administration, Student Services), and community support agencies. Students on this post-secondary pathway may be working towards a Certificate of Accomplishment or a Ontario Secondary School Certificate.

As part of a student's Individual Educational Plan (IEP), a post-secondary transition is developed. Options include, but are not limited to volunteer work, paid employment and participation in recreational programs. 

Resources

  • Watch for information on DCDSB: Pathways to the Future: Please join Durham Catholic District School
        Board and various community agencies, to learn more about post-secondary services, and recreational,
        employment and educational opportunities available for students with exceptional needs.
 
University 

To apply to university programs, students must earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma and 6 of their Grade 12 courses must be at the University (U) or University/College (M) Level. There are 21 universities in Ontario, offering professional programs in a variety of fields. 

Resources

  • Ontario Universities' Info (OUInfo) is a guide to Ontario universities for Ontario high school students and
        their parents/guardians. It provides information about university programs, admission requirements and
        more. OUInfo should be used as a starting point for researching university options.
  • Map of Ontario Universities 
  • To apply to Ontario Universities, students do so online through Ontario Universities Application
        Centre
     (OUAC). 
  • College or University? Both? There are many decisions to make as you begin your postsecondary studies.
        Use ONTransfer resources to explore how you can combine both college and university studies and tailor
        your education to your unique goals and interests. For high school students and graduates, the site can help
        plan a postsecondary route that starts in a college diploma program and ends with a degree, and provide
        information on college-university collaborative programs.

 

Workplace 

The goal of all students is to find employment that is fulfilling and of service to society. There are many ways to get to the world of work and one of the ways is through an entry-level job. You may choose to seek the advice of an Employment Counsellor or attend a workshop at one of our Community Agencies. 

Resources

 
Employment Ontario and Canada's Labour Market 

Ontario Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development can help you get the education and training you need to build a rewarding career after high school. You can choose from university and college programs, apprenticeships and many other kinds of training and education. Through Employment Ontario, MAESD's employment and training network, we'll also help you build your career, and keep learning, throughout your working life. Employment Ontario connects people looking for work with employers looking for workers. It's your one-stop source of information about jobs, job search skills, training, education, and other services for employees and employers. 

When planning a career-life pathway, students should consider a variety of factors in a chosen career before beginning post-secondary education and/or training. Learn more about an occupation you are interested through Canada's Labour Market Information. Investigate wages, employability outlooks, education, and skills needed for a career. Informed education choices early in life can help young Canadians obtain the skills and experience necessary to find work quickly, avoid unnecessary debt and get a better start to their careers.

 
Financial Support, Scholarships, Awards and Grants 
The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development provides a variety of student aid programs:

The Employment and Social Development Canada: Education Planning page is an excellent source of information. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada also provides a variety of resources for Students and their Parent/Guardians on how to pay for post-secondary education. 

A recent study showed that 85% of Canadian students will graduate from higher education with an average of $27,000 of debt. It doesn't have to be that way, though, because there are many sources of funding available for higher education - from birth, through to post-graduation - that can make access to post-secondary education possible and reduce potential debt. A Parent's Guide to Funding Higher Education describes sources of funds and resources for each stage. 

Students also have access to "The Scholarship Report" via their Edsby account in the Grade 12 Potential Graduates group. "The Scholarship Report" is a bi-monthly digital information resource for high school guidance counsellors, students and parents. It features current national and provincial scholarship listings as well as helpful tips in the search for all forms of post-secondary funding. Information on University/College Open Houses, application deadlines and fees, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and other material pertinent to the graduating high school student is also provided. "The Scholarship Report" also includes listings of other types of awards as well as programs and activities that will enhance students' skills as well as their scholarship applications! Also available at Seeking Scholarships, coaching parents / students on their quest for scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of financial aid for postsecondary education. Please visit Seeking Scholarships - Services for more information.

A scholarship is an award based on a prescribed set of criteria. Scholarships are available from post-secondary institutions, companies or organizations. Speak to a Guidance Counsellor for more information. You may want to begin your research from the following websites:

 
Gap Year 
gap year is a break after secondary school, before making a commitment to an apprenticeship, college, university or the workplace. It can be any length of time, before and during studies, time off from work or other career pursuits and include any number of activities. You can figure out who you are, what your opportunities are, who you want to become and what you need to get there. Students may opt to volunteer, work, travel or explore. See Ontario Ministry of Education gap year fact sheet for more information. 
Military 
Students may also consider a career in the Military. The Canadian Forces are made up of three armed services - the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. One of the key benefits of joining the Forces is paid education. When you enroll through the paid university or college programs, the Forces will pay for your university or college tuition, books and academic equipment in addition to providing a salary and benefits while you attend school. In return for paying for your education, the Forces requires you to serve in the forces for a period of time following graduation. Time served is calculated on the basis of two months service for each month of paid education. Military Education is provided through a wide variety of Colleges, Schools and Training Centres distributed across the country. 
Post-Secondary Education in the United States 
Considering attending post-secondary in the United States? See a Guidance Counsellor for more information, and advice on how to select OSSD courses to plan for this pathway. Start your research with these resources:  
Students with IEPs and/or Disabilities 
If you have an IEP, you are supported by Program Support at our Durham Catholic Virtual Learning Centre. Once you transition to Post-Secondary, your support is through Office of Students with Disabilities or Accessibility Centre at the College/University. Incoming students will not automatically receive the same accommodations at college or university that they received at high school. To discuss available accommodations, students should contact the OSD at the post-secondary school directly. Your Guidance Counsellor and Program Support Teacher are also available to assist you. 

Resources

 
Post-Secondary Resources for Minority Groups 

Aboriginal Post-Secondary Information Program (APSIP). APSIP is a collective of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) representatives from Colleges, Universities, and Indigenous learning institutes in Ontario and Quebec. The collective allows member institutions to engage more Indigenous students and their communities in a cost effective and collaborative manner.