No matter where you are in life, you can always get an education, even if you feel like life is putting up barriers. That’s why Centennial College doesn’t just offer a lot of different programs – it also offers flexible delivery, meaning there’s a bunch of different ways to take those programs, including:
- Full-Time: The traditional way of taking a college program, which sees you learning for, on average, about 20 hours a week, in classes that typically happen during the day.
- Part-Time: College programs and courses that take up fewer hours per week, and can even take place on evenings or weekends, leaving you with more free time during your days.
- Online Learning: Taking place almost entirely virtually, these Centennial College programs and courses let you learn from the comfort of your home, or any other space you want. You can come to college without coming to college, and still enjoy the same Centennial College education.
No matter which you take, these different formats exist to give you the chance to get the education you want in a way that won't interfere with your life responsibilities. There's no such thing as an "average student" in college anymore. Instead, there’s a broad variety of learners who need different types of programs. So, do any of these five people sound like you? If so, you'll find that part-time or online learning can help you get the education you're looking for.
The Focused Learner
We all learn at different paces, and some of us take more time than others. A focused learner is someone who doesn’t have other life commitments tying them down. Instead, they simply can't handle a full program schedule, and need to take a smaller amount of courses, so they can really focus on them. The ability to make their own schedule, or just have more free time to study, is important to a focused learner.The Working Student
A working student wants or needs to have a steady cash flow while in school. Specifically, they’re looking to work more than a few evening or weekend shifts at a part-time job, which is usually all an average full-time student can handle. Maybe they want to graduate with less or no debt, and have more spending money during and after their schooling. Or maybe their financial situation means they can't afford to not be working. Either way, part-time and online learning benefits them by letting them work a more dedicated job. That way, they’ll accumulate less debt, be able to pay off their courses, and take part in school while having a more solid financial base.The Career Enhancer
The career enhancer is someone who already works full-time at a job they're satisfied with, but has career advancement on the mind, and is looking for promotions and pay raises. A good way to advance themselves is through part-time learning courses at Centennial College. This is because they don't have to leave their job behind to pursue that education, thanks to the way part-time learning is scheduled, letting them climb the career ladder without having to get off of it first.The Career Changer
The career changer is the opposite of the career enhancer: They're looking to change the career they're in, and find something they like better. But, similarly to the working student, they want or need to keep working while they're in school, and don't want to quit their current job while they work on getting a new one. Again, learning part-time and online gives them what they need in a way that fits their life.The Parent
Family is important, and if you have children, or any other dependants you care for, taking care of them while getting your education can be a challenge, one that a flexible program can potentially help you cover. In addition, if you're close to Centennial College, you can access one of our Early Learning Centres. They're open to the public, have potential availability for the children of students and staff of the college, and have programs for children ranging from newborns to four-year-olds, perfect for taking care of your kids while you get your education in a place and time that suits you.
By Anthony Geremia