Why choosing your post-secondary major matters more than ever

Whether it's primary, elementary, secondary or post-secondary school, a large majority of British Columbians are getting ready to hit the books.

But more and more students are driving up enrollment in post-secondary institutions, making for a more competitive job market.

In the last few years, Okanagan College (OC) has seen significant growth in the number of students attending post-secondary school.

Many British Columbians are finding the employment options fairly bleak unless you've got the right credentials.

While previous generations were able to have the fun, exploratory first- year experience, prospective students are showing up with their ducks in a row - ready to perform.

"We find students who come with a lot of purpose and they're not saying, 'I'm going to show up and see what happens,'" said Christine Ulmer, director of public affairs for Okanagan College.

According to Ulmer, students are starting to attend with a more focused frame of mind than previous years.

"I always ask them just out of curiosity, 'Why did you go to Okanagan College, how did you choose your program?'" she said. "We have some very focused students who will go to employers, they'll know what they want to do and where they want to end up and they'll ask advice: Where should I go, what should I do, how do I get there?"

Okanagan College's president, Jim Hamilton, said he's seeing an increased in enrollment and that making informed decisions on majors matters in a tough job market.

"We are experiencing an unexpected surge in applicants and registered students this year," said Hamilton.

Last year at OC, enrollment increased by 5.8%. This year, enrollment has increased by 9.9%.

"We've become pretty adept to what enrollment will be over the years but this year crept up more than we thought," he said.

"I think one of the reasons is students are looking around and they're becoming aware that some sort of secondary credential is almost a necessity in order to be gainfully employed in a career that's going to go somewhere."

The number of different programs available has also increased. Choosing a major can be a difficult decision, especially when you've been told everything from ‘go with your heart’ to ‘go with what makes the most money.’

But the more informed you are, the better the outcome, most of the time.

For instance, looking for programs that fill early, could be a sign that employers are valuing those types of programs.

Currently, the following programs at Okanagan College are in high demand:

Business Administration, Nursing and Dental Assistant, as well as Civil Engineering Technology.

With 1600 seats available, Hamilton said Business Administration already had to suspend registrations for the fall.

"We always want to give people a quality experience," he said."Would need more professor to teach on short notice but also don't have space on Kelowna campus."

Regarding both Nursing and the Dental Assistant program, he said space always fills up immediately.

The technology programs are growing in popularity, especially Civil Engineering Technology.

But Hamilton said that passion or an interest is still important when choosing an area of focus.

"It starts with having an interest and a passion and you can make that decision and come to those realizations better if you are actually actively seeking out information about the places you're going to go," said Hamilton.

As well, Hamilton encouraged propsective students to stop by and talk to staff in the program they're considering.

"Come and visit and talk to people who teach the programs. Talk to the advisers. They're always open to it," he said.

So while students of all ages are trying to squeeze into various programs and institutions this year, here's a recap of how to help you make better, informed decisions about your future:

1. Do your research: Find out which programs are the most popular and fill up the fastest.

2. Talk to employers and ask what credentials and skills are required for that particular job.

3. Visit post-secondary institutions and talk to instructors and professors in the programs you're thinking of entering.

4. Consider your passions and interests.

5. Combine what you've learned with where your interests are and go for it.

We want to hear from you!

What have you found helpful in making decisions about your future?

What advice would you give to students trying to decide on a program?

Tell us your thoughts in the comments below, or email us at news@kelownanow.com.