When it comes to choosing your university, the place you will be spending some of the most important and exciting years of your life, the endless options available can make this decision feel almost impossible to make. Because each university offers such a uniquely rounded experience, it is important to do your research, and trust which university really resonates with you. Maybe you are lucky enough to be one of those people who have always known exactly where they want to go to school, or, perhaps you are like me and had absolutely no idea where to begin looking. Unfortunately, for those of us who are clueless as to what we are looking for, there is no plain and simple way to know where the right university may be, and if we will end up choosing somewhere that can meet or exceed our expectations. An effective approach to ease this decision requires breaking down each aspect of university to examine yourself beside the different universities in the top areas concerning most students. Getting in touch with current or former students, attending local university recruiting events, reading view books, and searching through details on university websites, are some of the best ways to get accurate info about different universities. To help get a better understanding of what is important to you, look through the following list and write down what you are looking for in your university experience. After you do the research necessary to understand the dynamics of each university, it can be easier to see exactly where will be the best fit for you! Choosing Your University Location Although the geographical place you are learning in may not seem as important as the quality of education itself, the diversity in locations will be a major contributing factor to your overall learning experience. It is important to realize that where you go to university is where you will most likely create that new feeling of comfort where you will form life long friends, and future business networks and job opportunities. Others may see relocating at this time as an opportunity to travel and live in a destination you may not otherwise have the opportunity to live again, which can be fun if you are looking for adventure. If you are more comfortable being in a familiar environment where you already know you have people to count on, don’t force yourself to leave your family and friends during this transition, if you feel the need to have a strong support system nearby. After you know how independent you are willing to be, you can look at the different pros and cons of different locations such as climate, culture, landscape, and population size. Cost Going in to university, everyone has a unique financial situation to consider, to ensure making the best possible decision when investing in your future. Comparing all living expenses, including transportation, housing, food, and extras, as well as tuition and book fees, is a great place to start to find [...]
Choosing Your University
Quebec Student Strike
As someone that blogs extensively about the post-secondary student experience, and specifically about the Canadian scene quite often, I have tried to stay away from the contentious issue that is going on right now. I’m talking about the Quebec student strike. For those of you that are not familiar with the situation, many Quebec students have taken fairly extreme activist stances in regards to a proposed tuition increase over the next few years. Here are a few facts about the situation (all taken from various Globe and Mail articles on the topic): • Quebec has by far the cheapest tuition this side of Scandinavia (currently the average sits about $2500 per annum) • The original deal seen a phased in 5 year increase, of $325 per year. Premier Charest as now amended this to a more gradual phase in over 7 years. • Even after the full phase in, Quebec students would still have the cheapest university tuition in Canada at TODAY’s rates (not 2017’s rates). • Over 200 hundred students have been arrested in protests since this tuition raise was announced. • An extra $1.5 million worth of police efforts has been needed so far. • Quebec announced a $3.8 billion deficit. • In inflation-adjusted terms, today’s Quebec students pay less for a degree than they did in 1968. • Quebec post-secondary graduation rates are amongst the lowest in Canada. Quebec Student Strike – Excellent Ambassadors I think the Quebec student strike is one of those issues that it is tough to feel neutral about (or even write neutrally about for that matter), so I’m not even going to try. I think what is going on in le belle province is atrocious. It is a black eye on students, a black eye on the province (although one that has had so many, I guess they’re used to it by now), and actually a black eye for Canada on an international stage as well. I mean, is there really any better example of entitlement that has run amok? The blatant disrespect to a Premier that is trying to make concessions and balance his responsibilities is disgraceful, and the violence directed at police officers is blatantly criminal and should be treated as such. Education Is Free, a Degree/Diploma Isn’t I’m currently a graduate student, and I was an undergrad not long ago. I am also a teacher. In any of these capacities, one might think I sympathize with the plight of students – and I do, but the reaction to this gradual increase in tuition has been too extreme to even label ridiculous. People like to argue that education is a right, and that school should be free. My response (which has been hardened as I watch the news on the Quebec student strike and see students attacking police officers who are just doing their jobs) is that education is a right – you should have the right to read whatever you want, discuss whatever you want, and get into study [...]
How to Stand Out in the Scholarship Process
Like many other aspects of the transition from high school to university, applying for scholarships is another way it can be easy for students to become overwhelmed and easily discouraged. Unfortunately, many of us have the tendency to ignore anything which involves more thinking and paperwork that isn’t mandatory, despite our teacher’s and parent’s best efforts to install the importance of applying for scholarships into us. Although the attitude of, “why bother,” takes less time and effort than dedicating yourself to create an outstanding essay and application package, the possible reward for this small price is more than worth the risk. After all, the only way to eventually stand out is by taking the first steps to apply. How To Stand Out? - Don’t Give Up Before my English teacher directly handed me the information for an undergraduate scholarship worth $75,000, I had completely tuned out the idea of applying for such a prestigious award, thinking only unrealistic overachievers won scholarships of such value. I figured the only money I had a chance at winning was through the smaller local scholarships available through the school, which all involved a much easier application. I asked how could I stand out on such a large stage. It wasn’t until after reading more about the incredible history and other opportunities that came with the financial aspect of this award that the idea of even having the chance to win eventually motivated me to apply. Half way through my application, I reached a point of frustration trying to properly gather my ideas and words that made me decide it wasn’t worth the trouble and call it quits. After taking a long break from the process and getting encouragement and input from others (hence the importance of starting weeks before deadlines) I was able to push myself through the final steps and ended up receiving more than I could have ever hoped for! As it turns out, these scholarships aren’t only for the magical people you only read about, but for normal people like me as well! Although there are so many factors which play into whether or not you receive different scholarships, I believe these are some of the major things I did right throughout the process. Anyone can follow these steps to better their chances of ending up with the same amazing opportunity! Start Early When most people think of starting the scholarship process early, they are probably picturing applying for scholarships during the beginning months of their grade twelve year; however, my definition of starting early begins the moment you enter high school. Of course this does not literally mean begin searching and writing for scholarships in grade nine (although this probably wouldn’t hurt) the idea of starting early involves beginning to build skills through extracurricular involvement and academics as early as possible. The lessons you take away from volunteer and extracurricular involvement are priceless, regardless of whether you are lucky enough to receive financial reward for your contributions. Welcome a Challenge While [...]
Student Tax Return
It’s that time of the year again. The time for beer that is cheaper than the usual cheap. When pasta and “red sauce” 5 days a week consists of budgeting. Spring time for post-secondary students is often a lean financial period. Those savings from summer are badly depleted. Often credit cards are rung up higher than most feel comfortable with. Not only are bank accounts depleted, but that negative sign that indicates a line of credit is going lower and lower. Students everywhere are craving their income tax returns. If they are keeners they have already sent in their taxes and organized an automatic deposit system with the government to get their money as fast as possible. Who are we kidding though, most of us will always wait until the last minute right? Yay… Tax Time In my general experience, most people find taxes one of the least motivating subjects on the planet; however, they can make a real difference to your financial situation if you plan them properly. Students are notoriously bad for not caring about their tax situation. They know that they will almost assuredly get back everything they paid in income tax for the year, so they don’t really look at the bigger picture. Raise Your Hand If… Here is what I see from about 90% of students out there. They go to the nearest corner tax place which is almost always an H&R Block. H&R has a great pull in where they will give you your student tax return up front for a small percentage of the return itself, plus a $30 fee. This might actually be ok if you received some tax guidance for your money, but instead, they set you up with the lowest run on their ladder (and that ladder starts pretty low). In the eyes of a tax service, students are a long-term investment, they’re playing the long game of brand management, and hoping they can build brand loyalty in you. They know that as a low net worth student, doing your taxes isn’t going to generate a lot of profit for them; therefore, they set you up with someone who is probably only hired for the tax season, and in my experience they rarely speak fluent English. This person then asks you the same basic questions that any online tax program such as TurboTax asks you. In return for walking out with a money order, you lost a percentage of the return and $30, but you also probably lose quite a bit of future tax savings in the form of tax credits you can carry forward. Just Because You Don’t Think About Tomorrow Doesn’t Mean It Won’t Come Most students are not aware that they can either carry tax credits forward to a time when they can use them to their full advantage (likely the first year they work full-time) or they can choose to allow their parents to use them. Since parents are often in fairly high tax brackets, it [...]
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
In the spirit of my recent rash of political commentary articles (rash and politics just seem to go together so well) I thought I would give a shout out to a recent idea proposed by a Liberal Party in Canada. Ok, so it isn’t THE Liberal Party of Canada (federal), but the Alberta Provincial Liberals. Not that I really know anything about provincial politics in the oil-rich province, but I would assume that the left wing of that political spectrum would probably still be called fascists in metropolitan Quebec. Anyway, I read something in the paper that really got me thinking, and it had my inner educator and “plan for the future” side debating furiously with my libertarian leanings. Best Bus Design Ever For those of you that aren’t familiar with an election that has already included one of the greatest political photo-ops ever (see above) the only parties with a real chance to win are the Conservative party, and the Wildrose party. Only in Alberta could one of the most right-wing political parties in Canada be outflanked on the right (definitely of note, both party leaders are female… only in Canada would the most right wing parties both be led by females and not old white men, but I digress). Interestingly, with nothing to lose, the Liberals have proposed a very original idea that I believe at least deserves debate. Much of this election has revolved around what to do with the embarrassment of riches Alberta will receive from oil royalties in the next 5+ years. While various proposals have been heard, the two opposing arguments that really stuck out to me were these: 1) The Wildrose Party: Simply give the money back to the citizens of Alberta in the form of direct cheques (to the tune of $300 or so). 2) Create an income trust that will be used to fund post-secondary education in the province with the eventual goal of free tuition by 2025. Now I’m not really a fan of free tuition. I believe that post-secondary education should not be a right and that there should be a balance between what society subsidizes and what the individual pays because both sides do benefit from having an educated citizen. That being said, a government-created income trust designed to benefit education is a uniquely original idea (to me anyway). I would argue that the money could be better invested in terms of giving grants to innovation, or something like that, but the overall premise and juxtaposition with the Wildrose Party’s proposal gives us an interesting contrast. I also find it ironic, that the “Crazy Cowboy” West is throwing around the idea of free tuition, while the “Pinko Commies” in Quebec are having to raise tuition 75% over the next few years and having violent protests on account of this. The Gift That Keeps On Giving – An Angel On Both Shoulders? So who wins this internal debate? I’m leaning towards my plan for the future side. I’m not saying [...]
Free Expense Tracking Software
