Do you think you may have made the wrong academic choice?
Credit to Author: Geneviève Beaupré and Susan Qadeer| Date: Sun, 01 Mar 2020 20:45:06 +0000
A sizable number of post-secondary students may be guessing at what should be their academic direction. Some may be young students who haven’t fully explored options yet; others could be new to Canada and may not be aware of the academic demands and requirements of a particular program. Some others could have a variety of interests and be reluctant to choose one program over another. Often, students in highly competitive programs may have to take a different path eventually. This is often seen among science students vying to get into medical school. Since the acceptance rates in competitive programs are low, many applicants will need to consider alternative paths.
Mistakes are sure to be made, but take it in your stride. If you are disappointed with your studies and feel you made an incorrect choice, there are some things you can do about it.
While you need to look at the reasons for your regret, you also have to look at how far you are in your studies and what your academic record looks like. Finding an alternative may be easier than you think, especially with the help of knowledgeable staff and faculty at your institution.
Early on
If it is very early on in your program, you may be able to drop courses or the entire program without much expense of time, money or academic penalty on your record. If you have completed a few courses, you may be able to change your field entirely and make use of these existing credits as electives toward a different program of study. Many courses come in handy on the job. For instance, understanding marketing is important in a social service agency. The research and writing skills you learn in the social sciences and humanities are useful in the corporate world. When you are considering dropping courses, think about this or get advice from staff at your school’s Career Centre.
Further on
If you are further along, you may want to consider finishing the semester or year and taking on a shorter program such as a certificate instead of a diploma. Another option could be to work towards a three-year instead of a four-year program. If you are nearer to completing your program and intend on finishing it, consider additional credentials you can add to your existing program that can help you alter direction and get job focused. Whether you are working toward a degree or diploma, postgraduate certificates generally offered in a one-year format at colleges can help by giving you a new orientation and specific training and qualifications for jobs. For instance, you may earn a one-year postgraduate certificate in Human Resources Management from a college if you have a degree in almost any discipline. Similarly, admission requirements for a one-year postgraduate program in Sport and Event Marketing ask for a three-year diploma or degree.
Certain graduate degrees and professional programs welcome degree holders from a variety of undergraduate fields. Most people are aware that this is often the case for a Law degree and a Master’s in Business Administration, but there are other, lesser-known options. If you are locked into finishing a program that you know is not the right fit, use the opportunity of being at school to try out work and volunteer experiences. These experiences could help you change direction and add work experiences to your resume.
Exploring your options
You may discover some options through online research and also by consulting with those working in the field of interest and in post-secondary schools where these programs are offered.
Personal and career counsellors can help you determine an alternate plan. They may do this through exploration of your interests and abilities and an in-depth discussion of your current situation and possible future direction. Academic staff can advise you on what is possible and make recommendations on any changes within your current program. Staff in the Registrar’s Office can guide you through withdrawing or changing programs, managing your academic and financial record, and other requirements and regulations.
At the end of it all, if leaving your program is what you decide, ensure that you are doing so having explored your options and taking note of the necessary withdrawal requirements. Failure to withdraw correctly could negatively impact your future academic and financial record.
Finding what you want to study and work at is a process and sometimes mistakes are part of discovering what is a good direction. There are ways to recover from these mistakes and there is no need to find a solution on your own. Support is available to help you develop options and change any regret into opportunity.