Choosing the right path

There are many things students need to consider to when it comes to choosing a pathway between college and university. How much will it cost? How long will it take? Have you done what you need to do to prepare yourself academically? But, according to McKeil School of Business professor Laurence Smith, the one question every student should to ask themselves first is: “What's my end game?”

“What’s your long-term plan? What do you want to achieve after you graduate?” he asked a group of second-year business students who came out to an information session with Scotland-based Robert Gordon University.

For many Canadian Universities, gaining entry to a graduate program requires a four-year degree, so if more education is the goal or could be at some point in the future, then a student should choose the path that will leave those doors open, he explained.

Whatever the goal, Mohawk students have lots of options. The college has more than 200 articulation agreements with colleges and universities in Canada and around the world (You can find out more about them here.). Some of those agreements are with institutions located right in our own backyard such as McMaster University, one of the longest and most successful college-university partnerships in Ontario. Others are further afield, including an articulation agreement with Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen, Scotland.

“The agreement with Robert Gordon University is great because students can walk away with a four-year Business Management degree in just one year,” says Linda Basso, Pathways Coordinator at Mohawk.

It’s a credit for credit match, says Basso. What RGU has done is looked at three of Mohawk’s three-year advanced diploma programs, which are similar to programs offered at the university and agreed the credits in those programs are equivalent to the first three years at RGU. Similarly, graduates of another four two-year diplomas can receive credit for their two years of college study. Some of programs available at RGU include Architectural Technology, Business – Accounting and Journalism. To find out what other programs are on the list visit Mohawk’s Pathways and Credit Transfer page.

Basso says the two most frequently asked questions from students who are thinking of completing a degree through a pathway is “How long will it take?” and “How much will it cost?”

Going to a school like RGU will get them there a little faster and cost a little less, even though they’re going overseas, she says.

RGU’s Business Management honours degree program will cost a Canadian student about $19,000 CAN in tuition for the year, and could be considerably reduced to about $7,000

if they are successful at applying for one of the school’s scholarships for Canadian college students. Accommodations are also reasonable at about $600 CAN per month and food prices are comparable to what they are here. RGU is also registered with the Ontario Student Loan Program (OSAP).

“Studying abroad is great option for anyone looking to advance their education while having an incredible experience,” says Keith Monrose, Mohawk’s Dean of International and Partnerships. “You can learn a lot from spending time in a foreign country and the experiences will last a lifetime.”

If studying abroad is the route a student wants to take they need to start planning for it early. Obtaining student visas and applying for scholarships takes time and in many cases there are deadlines that must be met.

“Explore the options and choose what’s best for you,” says Smith. “I can’t emphasize enough that it’s very important to understand what you want to get from your education and then choose the path that will get you there and help you succeed.”

Where to go for more information:

• Mohawk’s Pathways and Credit Transfer site
• Talk to a Transfer Advisor.
• Robert Gordon University Aberdeen

About the Author: Sean Coffey works in Communications and Public Affairs at Mohawk College