Choosing the Right Program out of High School Saves Students Thousands of Dollars

EDMONTON, Alberta - Aug. 22, 2013 - PRLog -- With the average cost of Canadian tuition being over $5,500^*/year and increasing, and the average student living expenses being $1,750/month^**, most students expect to graduate with more than $20,000^*** in debt. Add an extra year or two by choosing the wrong major and student debt load dramatically increases.

 

Tips for Choosing the Right Major:

1.      Consider which work activities you might enjoy, like conducting research or building things.

2.      Think about what gets you energized such as working as part of a team or on your own?

3.      Consider the lifestyle you would like (shift work, 9-5, travel, work from home).

4.      Think about your work values, for example do you like helping people, how important is prestige and income, how important is creativity to you?  

5.      Then, most importantly visit an academic advisor at your College or University to learn moreabout your personality traits, interests and values through career assessments (http://www.psychometrics.com/en-us/solutions/career-asses...), and how these match with various careers. 

 

“Students struggle (https://www.psychometrics.com/docs/vibe-cs_en.pdf) to choose a College or University major, especially when they are coming right out of high school,” says Mark Fitzsimmons, President of Psychometrics Canada. “Most [students] haven’t had enough work experiences to know what occupational activities, lifestyle and organizational values would suit them.”

Career assessments help students direct their career path decisions.  “They link what people like to do and what they want to get out of their careers with career options,” says Shawn Bakker a Psychologist from Psychometrics Canada.  “The key is to realize what they are good at and what they like to do, and match this with career opportunities.” 

Psychometrics Canada’s expertise is in the application of business psychology for career guidance, personal and leadership development, team building, conflict resolution, employee selection and skills assessment.

 

For more information contact: Dan Costigan; 7125-77 Ave; Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6B0B5; 1.800.661.5158 ext 245; dcostigan@psychometrics.com; www.psychometrics.com

* Stats Canada reports the average cost of tuition in Canada for 2012/13 school year was $5,581 a 5% increase from 2011/12. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/educ50a-eng.htm  ** Reported by UBC http://connectionsforlife.ubc.ca/tuition-costs/ *** Globe and Mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/home-cents/most-students-expect-to-graduate-more-than-20000-in-debt/article4484530/