Category: College & University

College and university – two terms often mistaken for the same thing. But the reality is that, although they are similar, both have their own set of distinct purposes that separate one from the other. From learning styles, degree values, courses, and much more, there are some major differences between college and university. Evaluating the characteristics of each can help you find the best option to advance your education – so as you begin to explore the available opportunities for your postsecondary education, there are some things to consider.

What is College?

There’s a common misconception that colleges are less valuable than universities, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Colleges are simply different from university programs, and depending on the educational and career path you’re pursuing, college could very well be the better option for you. In fact, college is more career-oriented than other options, and as such, they typically offer more hands-on training – and that’s only naming a few reasons why people choose college over university. Here are a few of the major distinctions:

• Education and training in trades, apprenticeship, language, skill upgrading, entry-level and vocational positions, etc.
• Hands-on learning
• Full and part-time study opportunities
• Smaller class sizes
• Three levels of certification
  • Certificates
    • Takes 1 year to complete
    • Sometimes required for employment
    • Typically taken to advance in their field
  • Diplomas
    • Takes 2-3 years to complete
    • More general than certificates
  • Bachelor (Associate) degrees
    • Takes 3-4 years to complete
    • Training for entry-level positions and vocational fields
    • Some courses can be considered (and transferred) at par for a 4-year university education

What is University?

There’s no denying that universities are different from colleges, with one of the main distinctions being that universities offer more academic and professional programs. For example, you can attend college for nursing, but in order to be a doctor, you would have to go to university. The education and training tends to be broader than college, and focuses more on critical thinking and independent learning. You also have the option to major, minor, and specialize in different fields, depending on the courses you take. For example, you can major in Psychology but specialize in Social Work. There are also many other programmatic differences that set university apart from college:

• Specialization in different programs with a major and minor
• Education and training are less hands-on
• More diverse classes and programs
• Larger class sizes and enrollment
• Three levels of certification
  • Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) Degree
    • Takes 3 years to complete
    • Involves a major field of study
    • Qualification for entry-level and management positions in their field
  • Master’s (Graduate) Degree
    • Takes 1-2 years to complete
    • Qualification for those with high level of expertise in respective field
    • Study is completed with a thesis
  • PhD (Doctoral) Degree
    • Takes 4-6 years to complete
    • Master’s degree must be completed prior to obtaining PhD degree
    • Most advanced level of degree
    • Qualification for being an expert in respective field

Neither college nor university is better than the other. It ultimately comes down to the actual career path you’re pursuing. Additionally, the education and training is provided differently in each setting. It’s important to evaluate and understand the differences between college and university, and research the different programs available. Doing so can help you decide which option is best for you to pursue. Both are reputable, prestigious ways to advance your education, and can land you that dream job.

Perfecting Note Taking for University

There is no doubt that the standard of note taking expected in high school in comparison to university is incredibly different. Teachers provide more group time and are more attentive if a student is distracted in class. Professors on the other hand have so many students to cater to that they seldom ask students to get off their phone and pay attention. Because of this they are also incapable of monitoring the notes that are written by their students.

Melanie Timmons, a first year student at Ryerson says that she cannot believe how vast the difference is, and how she was never expected to stay fully alert for two hours taking notes. This is why it is important to develop note taking skills in high school; this is what the student will use to study from.

There are a number of note taking methods that are useful to university students for example:

• Summarizing the notes in your own words: don’t copy what a teacher says verbatim, it will make it hard to follow along with the teacher and it will also be difficult to find important elements of the class when studying
• Use abbreviations: it is helpful to use abbreviations in class, especially big words when the professor is still talking. If it helps write a legend in your textbook what each abbreviated word means
• Ask a tutor: if the student finds that it is hard to get the essential parts of the class written down, sit with a tutor and they can discover what method would benefit the student with their learning style
• Using symbols: it may be useful for a student to use symbols on a computer or writing on paper. These symbols can also be used to draw attention to certain parts of the text so they know what will be useful to study for upcoming tests
• Make sure to attend every class and if one was missed it is always possible to ask a peer and to read their notes immediately to make sure they are easily understood

There is a common misconception that university students gain more from their education in comparison to those that attend college. Due to this, there are students who apply to university classes in order to appear a certain way with their peers.

Linda Franklin, the president and chief executive officer of Colleges Ontario emphasizes the importance of eliminating this misconception, as there has been a 40 percent increase of university graduates going to college in the past five years.In order to clarify the differences between these two institutions, let us define what they will provide your kids.

University is an institution that can grant degrees. In university the first four years are referred to as undergraduate (or bachelor) degrees which usually take 3-4 years as long as the student is attending full-time. A bachelor’s degree is essential if your child wants to progress in their education into graduate programs. Universities focus tends to be on academic and professional programs.

College is different from university as the subject matter usually involves career training and trades. As a result, colleges are considered more career-oriented, and offer hands-on training. Attending college provides the student with a certificate, and the program is usually a year or less; a diploma program is usually two or three years.

Of course the degree of choice greatly influences the education, as some value university over college, and vice versa. For example, paralegals and retail managers would have better chances in their career if attending university, while chefs would be valued more through a college education.University graduate Amanda Kural demonstrates why it is essential to research both alternatives before making a final choice:

“There are these strange assumptions as to what university and college means. People think University is where you excel and college is where you slack around. While I have never attended college I can honestly tell you university is not providing me with the career I thought it would. I wish someone cleared that up for me before I started my degree”

What has changed in the job market is that employers wish to invest less time into training new employees, and instead expect to see their experience on their resume and cover letter. They want to see why your child’s education has impacted their authority in their business, and ensure that they have the proper skills before entering their market.

The competition has risen considerably says Lauren Friese, founder of TalentEgg, a Toronto-based company for postsecondary students and recent graduates. This is validated by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, a federal government department which states that today 22 percent of Canadians have a university degree, which is contrasted with less than 11 percent in 1990.

It is therefore essential to acquire the proper education your child needs, be it college or university, to succeed in their future endeavours.

 
By Shelly Koren