-By Madeline Matcheski

Deciding what you want to do after High School is a huge commitment for any teenager to make. Whether it be choosing your program and which university or college you plan to attend, or how to improve your resume and successfully get your dream job, it’s always nice to have a helping hand. With University and College Applications getting submitted and approved right now, we have to take some time to appreciate the guidance counsellors that have helped the students choose in these struggling times.

“My role is such that I am often working with students, families, teachers and administrators to solve problems, make positive changes and organize events,” reports Aimee Vereeke, guidance counsellor at OSDSS,“The most exciting part of my job is helping students plan their post-secondary lives. Whether it be head[ing] to work, university, college or an apprenticeship, helping students find their way is very rewarding.”

Counsellors at Owen Sound District Secondary School report seeing every student (over 400 Grade 12) students in total per year. Along with that, they make classroom visits multiple times during class time. They are constantly there to discuss career paths and send students off on their way after high school.

There are plenty of tips and tricks for choosing the school and program for you. Mrs. Vereeke recommends virtual and in-person tours to get to know the feeling of the campus and ask more questions. It’s valuable to consider tuition cost and what the school provides, as well as what type of community and housing you want to live in. Co-op, travelling, courses and extracurricular activities should all be analyzed so you can easily eliminate some choices.

Scholarships and bursaries are very helpful in raising money to aid you in post-secondary. An estimated five million dollars worth of scholarships go unclaimed in Canada each year. Counsellors at OSDSS are constantly sending out emails to update students on new financial aid opportunities and promote websites like Scholarships Canada, Student Awards, Yconic and local resources like Pay for School Grey Bruce. OSDSS itself also awards around $100,000.00 annually to students at commencement.

“OSAP is also a fantastic resource for students to receive grants and loans to support students in paying for their post-secondary investments,” says Mrs. Vereeke.

Ontario universities require that you have a minimum of 6 Grade 12 university or mixed level courses in order to apply, including English. To apply to universities and colleges within Ontario, students are required to obtain Ontario University Application Center  (OUAC)  and OCAS codes from the school office and follow the steps on the official websites. OUAC  required these applications before January 13th although they can be changed before mid-April. Highly competitive college programs required applications before February 1st although you can apply after this date. For schooling outside of the province or country, it’s best to contact the schools directly.

For those who don’t wish to go to university or college, there are always other options. Co-op is recommended for those planning to go directly into work-place level jobs or anyone who is undecided on what they want to do in the future. Danine Rutter, a co-op counsellor at OSDSS, gave her thoughts. 

“It is a natural transition to go from school to the workforce using co-op,” she detailed, “Apprenticeships and co-ops connect you with people to find employers and mentors.”

YMCA Employment services are also great for connecting employees and are often promoted by the guidance counsellors.

“[Co-op] placement opportunities allow you to develop positive relationships, work ethic and connections to our community.  Co-op also provides opportunities for students to start their apprenticeship while in secondary school,” adds Mrs. Vereeke.

Everyone can do a co-op either in high school, college or university to get the experience they need to decide for the future. For those that change their mind, it is possible to change majors in post-secondary or even change levels. 

“You aren’t stuck [or] pigeonholed in one area anymore,” assures Mrs. Rutter. She details that courses are readily available for those who change from college to university and vice versa. 

Whatever path you choose, it is good to know that there are people who can help at every step of the way. It’s important to appreciate our teachers and guidance counsellors who help us on the path to success.