1	Kelvin High School GRADUATION…to be or not to be? Parent Presentation
2	Agenda Credit checks Graduation requirements Programs and Schools Career Exploration Admission requirements Financing your dream Career development
3	Credit Checks Counsellor checks every Gr. 12 student Student has final responsibility Compulsory courses must be completed Optional credits to a min. of 28 credits (4 at Gr. 12 level) French language credits must = 14
4	Grad requirements for Gr. 9-12 at Kelvin
5	Post Secondary Programs and Opportunities Universities Public and private colleges Technical institutes Apprenticeship training Private vocational schools Cooperative Education Programs The workplace Experience, travel and discover
6	Choosing the right school for you Should I go to university or college? How will I know what is right? What are my options? Which school is best? What factors are important to me? What if I’m intimidated or overwhelmed?
7	Career Exploration Research www.careercruising.com User name: manitoba298 Password: careers YES – Youth Employment Services Rotary Career Symposium Attend an Open House Find a mentor, take a class, volunteer, work part-time, do some research
8	Career Exploration (cont’d) Sector councils provide information on sectors of employment -www.councils.org Professional Associations are a good source of information -www.canadainfo.com/associations.html Career possibilities for Women in Trades and Technology -www.wittnn.com
9	Career Counselling Career Decisions U of M (Student Counselling and Career Centre 474-8592) U of W (Career Resource Centre 786-9231) RRC (Academic Advisors 632-2335) CUSB (Service d’orientation et d counselling 237-1818)
10	General University Entrance Requirements at U of M for U1 28 credits which satisfy Manitoba Ed’s description of the high school program 5 credits at the Grade 12 level 3 – 40S courses One credit of English with 60% average Average of 70% in top 3 – 40S courses If students have 63-69.9% average they can still be accepted under “limited admission”
11	General University Entrance Requirements at Uof W 28 credits which satisfy Manitoba Ed’s description of the high school program 5 credits at the Grade 12 level in one of the following combinations: Pre-Cal + 1 English, any math + 2 English * An average of 60% in top 3 – 40S courses from the list (from 3 different subject areas) and must include one of English (2 credits), Pre-Cal or Applied Math
12	Faculty Admission Requirements Numerous schools and faculties, including colleges, each with their own admission requirements. EXAMPLE: Engineering at U of M (direct entry) Requirements for General Admission Chem 40S, Pre-Cal 40S, Phys 40S (60% min. in each) Minimum average of 85% over these three subjects is required to be admitted directly from high school
13	College Admission Requirements Generally - Manitoba Grade 12 – high school diploma Admission requirements vary a great deal between programs Individual research must be done
14	For Specific Faculty and Program Requirements University of Winnipeg www.uwinnipeg.ca University of Manitoba www.umanitoba.ca Red River College www.rrc.mb.ca Collège universitaire de Saint-Boniface www.ustboniface.mb.ca
15	To take a year off…or not to take a year off… Student Concerns: “I will be a year behind all of my friends” “I might forget everything I learned in high school and be lost when I get to university!” Parent Concerns: “If my child works for a year, they may get too comfortable with that steady pay cheque and not want to go back to school”
16	To take a year off…or not to take a year off…(con’t) Potential Advantages Using the year for self-exploration Saving money Taking a “break” from school Gaining valuable work and volunteer experience Potential Disadvantages The year is not spent productively No closer to realizing what they want to do They do not pursue their educational/career goals
17	To take a year off…or not to take a year off…(con’t) Making the Decision… Emotionally charged…many using fear as the basis for the decision Realizing the importance of self-exploration Important to discuss future plans Creating a supportive environment Very individually based
18	To take a year off…or not to take a year off…(con’t) University of Manitoba Not necessary to apply from high school if planning on taking a year off Students will be eligible for same entrance scholarships regardless of the year they apply University of Winnipeg Students are encouraged to apply from high school and ask for their acceptance and scholarship to be held over to the following year (not guaranteed) If this is not done, the student will not be considered for an entrance scholarship the following year A $25 Continuance Application will also be required
19	Financing Your Dream Bursaries: based primarily on financial need, may need to share family income information Scholarships: based on academic or personal abilities Awards: money, certificates, medals, etc. given in recognition of excellent performance Loans: must be repaid after completion or discontinuance of studies
20	Financing your dream (cont’d) Preparation to win scholarships starts early Financial assistance from post-secondary institutions Scholarships available if you take a year off Student Financial Assistance www.studentaid.gov.mb.ca Canada student loans www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/individuals/cluster/tl.shtml Websites -www.yourmoney.ca -www.cba.ca -www.fastWEB.com -www.finaid.org -www.canlearn.ca -www.wsd1.org
21	Preparing for the work force Resumés Help your child brainstorm Awards and accomplishments Activities involved in (sports, hobbies, etc) Work experience (volunteer and paid) Skills built and demonstrated in these activities and experiences Check out www.jobbank.gc.ca/ or www.careercruising.com (username: manitoba298, password: careers) for resumé builder programs A skills portfolio can be a bonus Students are encouraged to see Andrea, the Career Intern (in the Library) for help with resumés
22	Work Search The hidden job market -Tell everyone you know you are looking for work -Identify local employers -Job boards in the community -New businesses opening -Seasonal businesses and services A young entrepreneur Business Development Bank of Canada www.bdc.ca Cdn Youth Business Foundation www.cybf.ca Aboriginal Youth Business Council www.aybc.org Youth in Philanthropy program
23	Something to Reflect On 65% of adults say they are in the wrong work. 70% feel disengaged from their work. Most people will have 12-25 different jobs in up to 5 different professions.
24	Interesting information 85% of people never end up doing what they planned in Senior High. 80% of first year university students are unsure of the career they are training for Half the jobs don’t exist today that will exist in 20 years
25	Career Development We tend to push people rather than find out what pulls them Knowledge & skill don’t create movement – movement occurs with feelings, beliefs, information and finding a purpose Career decision-making is not a rational, linear process. Best to do your research, then let go
26	Career Development – some things to think about…. “We get stuck in the certainty of misery rather than risking the misery of uncertainty” “Getting kids to make up their minds is almost as important as getting kids to change their minds” “Relationships are more important than information: people will harness relationships to gather information but rarely use information to create relationships”
27	The Parents’ Role Young people should not feel they need to make a decision that will last for 50 years, but a decision for now Self-confidence built on successful performance (self-efficacy) and hope are more powerful than self-esteem When a focus group was asked “What would have helped you to make future plans when you were in high school?” Nobody answered “more information” what they said was “more support” Parents are the single most influential person to students’ post-secondary career choices