Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Apart from a Master Gardener's course in 2008 which I did for fun, I have not done any schooling for 20+ years. I completed my first official 3-credit course last semester (hey, get me - semester), and have just signed up for another. They are business courses and are, to me, reasonably interesting but won't exactly set the world alight.

I left UK schooling in the late 80's with A levels and a Two-Year Diploma. University wasn't really an option at that time - and the lack of a degree has never bothered me, nor been an issue. If the world had been my oyster back then I might have studied English/Drama/Music type of stuff.

In my mid-40's now, and currently working as an admin assistant in a college, I am in a dilemma. I am not out to carve a new career but can see no other way of making any progress, albeit in the bureaucratic world of administration, without more qualifications. Bizarrely, if I did possess that Music degree, I would be qualified - to better administrate! Luckily, my employer is funding this latest foray into the classroom. I am the old fart of the group. It turns out I am actually quite a good student. Who knew? ;)

Further/Higher Education is massive in this country - or so it seems. Everyone I know is studying something. Adults in their 30's, 40's and 50's are still striving for their professional certifications, degrees, Masters and PhD's. I am a little taken aback that they have the time, inclination and motivation to do so. Don't even mention the costs. It is totally acceptable, or even expected that you just keep on learning a bit more, and a bit more.

I'm struggling with a Wednesday evening and bit of homework. :sneaky:

I know many people on this forum, new to Canada, have had to study to get their qualifications recognized or offered equivalencies in their field.

How many of you have completely changed career direction? How many of you are doing full-time studies? And I'm addressing the more mature people here, not the 19 year olds. How many of you are doing part-time Con Ed classes? Would you have opted for any of these if you were still in the UK?

Is the old (and I love this phrase) "life-long" learning just something I missed out on, or is there the same passion in the UK for this? I've obviously never been in my mid-40's before - so is this a common mid-life crisis point? My lovely husband is considering upgrading a recent diploma to a degree.

I'm not really going anywhere with this - just pondering really. Who currently "goes to school" ?

And for the teachers/instructors/professors out there among you, how is your faculty life, and are you still learning?!

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I think it is partly a mid-40s thing ..... You tend to re-evaluate your life from time to time, and this is one of those times. You suddenly get the urge to do something daring and/or stimulating.

I guess it's cheaper to go back to studying than to emigrate! ;)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Aha, Ann - I wonder if my thread has anything to do with this too??

I am 'early forties' but have not gone back to school - to the despair of my family I have never left and never stopped loving learning. That said, I never anticipated still doing exams when I arrived in Canada! My career history had gone like this (with appropriate qualifications gained along the way) : lawyer, health governance, music teacher, music therapist, mental health policy, psychologist and guess what....now (nearly!!) lawyer again, though working as legal assistant. We moved to Canada on the basis of my occupation 'manager in healthcare' only to discover that there were no available jobs in that field in NS. By chance, networking ended up with me covering a couple of weeks in a legal office and I am still there, now getting my original Scottish qualifications equated with Canadian ones.

I do think though that moving to a new country so often opens up lots of new opportunities that may not have been available or apparent in the UK - if it's what you are happy and fulfilled doing right now, then it's right.

Good luck!

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I am one that went back to school once I came over here - and I did a complete about turn from what I was doing previously.

my background is in Nutritional Biochemistry (degree and PhD), but I went back to school to study massage therapy.... a 2 year full-time course (2200 hours in total).

And I absolutely LOVE my new career. So much so, that MrChookie has become really jealous of how much I love it and has decided to do a career change himself - he is giving up IT and going back to school to do massage therapy as well, with the eventual aim that we will run a business together. He starts his course next week.
.
I should add that I am 42 years old and Mr Chookie is 39.

I still do a fair bit of continuing education though - it is a requirement as part of my professional association membership (MTAA requires you do 30 hours every year). In May I am going to Edmonton for the weekend to train in lymphatic drainage techniques for example.... and the best bit is that all these workshops and training add extra modalities to my practice that I can then charge my clients for.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

We make our final move over next month and I really want to go back to college/uni and have a career change. I am 43 this year and my career ladder goes like this - left school in 85, year of college, joined Navy in 86, left the Navy and have been an office manager up until now. I really want to do a veterinary assistants course but it is soooooooo expensive that I don't know if we'll be able to afford for me to do it.

I may just end up trying to find some work in a veterinary practice and hope something leads on from there.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I am so sick of exams that it is my intention to never take another one. Not even a 5 metre swimming badge.

I have also found the pace if the courses I have had to take in Canada way too slow for my liking. I cannot imagine sitting in any form of classroom ever again.

Unless something unforeseen impacts my life, I will continue plodding along until I retire.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I'm in the "back to school" group too!

I really don't want to work as a town planner any more, which is what I trained as in the UK and then worked as for about 14 years. So, I went into temping to try and get an idea of what else was out there and I'm still really none the wiser, but I have a nice little admin job, not too easy, not too hard, great colleagues, and good salary and benefits given that I'm dealing with so much less cr@p than I used to have to.

I have quite fancied venturing into HR for a while now, and I get a little bit of training budget from work, so I've been doing some courses on the U of C's continuing education Business Management Certificate Course (because I can't get work to pay for the HR certificate because its not strictly related to my job). Although, once I get through the certificate, it will count towards half of an HR certificate so I'll only have to pay for half a certificate myself!

I've done about four modules so far, mostly online although I got a week off work to do a one week intensive classroom module and I must say I preferred that! Intensity of the courses and work has varied greatly depending on the instructor. What did surprise me was the number of people I have come across in all the modules who want to get into HR - am I onto a good thing or am I flogging a dead horse? I was also surprised at the cross-section of people taking the courses - we had a nightclub hostess in her early 20's, a few immigrants brushing up their skills, a copper who was still working his nightshifts while taking the course, and loads of people from oil and gas companies looking at a change.

Anyway, apart from having to take some compulsory units which have been a little bit dry, I've quite enjoyed the optional units and there are loads to choose from. I figured I might as well get a piece of paper from a Canadian educational institution while I can get the funds to do so as its not cheap - around $550 per module - although I get 5 years to finish it.

I did read somewhere recently that after about 15 years we tend to re-evaluate our career paths and perhaps that's why there are so many of use entering the "glorious 40's" who are going for a change. I also feel that it is more "acceptable" (not sure that's quite the right word) for people to change careers over here whereas none of my similar-aged buddies back in the UK are contemplating such a move, despite some of their tenuous job situations.

Good luck with your studies!

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Raises hand!

I went back to "school" this fall just to have something to do. Within what I have been doing just a slight career change.

The result of it is that I decided to do this for real and have applied to college in Canada. I am going for an assessment test at the college next month. Fingers crossed I am accepted and start studying september this year.

I've passed the "mid 40's" marker. I did enquire how that would be looked at by faculty and other students and they had this "you'e worried about your age because..??" look on their faces. Asked a friend in US who teaches at a university and he laughed and said "I'm not going to talk you out of it". While teaching there he also studied for a bachelors and is now thinking of going for a masters. He graduated his bachelors when he passed 60.

Good luck to all of us.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Used to quite regularly. My whole career was checks and studying, keeps the mind active. Now I do school stuff for fun and teach flying as well (Scares the hell out of me sometimes!) as run a couple of businesses.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I want to go back to school, to learn something OR I want to set up my own business - for which I will want to do a small business course and maybe book keeping too, can't remember much of that from college. I'm 40.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Someone I know got into PM work in her 50s and has done well. Ultimately it's the work you do that counts and once you start gigging word of mouth helps a lot too.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Hi Flossie - I'm doing much the same as you then.

With regards to HR, I've already got the admin job in that department, but I cannot really go any further. Or should I say, I can't progress any further with regards to a recruitment or an advisor role because this employer is insisting upon the CHRP certification. Last year, CHRP changed their own requirements, and you must have a degree now to be eligible to take their exams. (FFS!). And this is where I get cross, 'cos it could be a degree in anything - so Music would work OK. (FFS!).

I could train to do payroll or benefits or stay in admin, but I'm just not ready or willing to put the time in for a degree - I'd be in my early 50's and looking to retire shortly thereafter!

So do I just take any experience I can get, take the employer paying for my courses and then move to another not so fussy employer in a few years time?

I've no idea what else I would like to (practically, that pays the bills) do with my time.

Edit: My manager recently told me that I was more than capable of doing the recruiting role, but that she couldn't put me forward for it due to the certification issues. She then proceeded to tell me she would be happy to train me to do all the jobs relating to that role - bascially train me up for another employer. I couldn't decide whether that was completely barmy, completely kind - and I haven't decided if I'm insulted yet!! Just feeling flat I guess.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

This sounds such a happy tale! Chookie - how did you decide to take that leap? And decide you could pay for/afford not to work during a 2-year full time course, and did you supplement you income while studying?

That's the rub - for us anyway - kids are expensive. ;) We could downsize and release some funds to pay for school - but not sufficient to actually eat aswell. :p

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Speaking of which. I was out flying with a buddy who is a pilot at a major airline and who also teaches pilots for the airline. Small 2-seater cessna. Had a blast.

On our way back, enjoying the views, over the intercom I hear "you want to fly?" I look over at him and he's sat there looking at me and pointing at the controls in front of me. I got to fly the plane for a few minutes and if there was ever a time I was afraid of flying it was then. But what a thrill.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

That's reassuring. I'd graduate when I'm 50.
That is so true! Especially in that line of business. I still want the education. :-)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I've done it here, although already had a degree and masters from UK. I wanted to transition careers a bit, and additional qualifications seemed liked they'd help with that.

Canada seems somewhat more hung-up on having exactly the 'right' qualifications for my career, although this is just an employer preference and not regulated like it is for health professionals/engineers etc.

Anyway, long story short, I went back in my early thirties to University of Ottawa and did a graduate certificate part-time over 2.5 years which I've just finished. Wrote the last paper as while our daughter was a newborn, which was challenging!

I'm now applying for a masters in public health, which happily can be completed mostly online and part-time which saves time going to class. Partly for interest, and partly because I want to do a PhD one day and this should help.

I was pretty intimidated on day one in the classroom after a 10 year absence, but soon got into the swing of things.

Go for it and good luck!
LF

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

It's a bit interesting that almost if not all the respondents on here are females. I don't think that's a coincidence.

Personally I did the route one thing. Undergrad, PhD etc straight off the top.

But my elder sister is another member of your group. She did a BSc, got a job, got married, followed her husband to where he was transferred, had three kids, got divorced. Went back to school and did a PhD which she achieved when she was 50. Then got a job lecturing in the Uni she did her PhD in until she met her second husband. Soon after that she retired at IIRC 60. She's now 65. If it matters, this latter part was all in Scotland.

Strength and good luck to the bunch of you.

Novo.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

That's a good story to hear!

I have regrets about not doing the route one approach after my undergrad, especially as I'd like to get into academia professionally at some point. I was offered PhD funding in the UK when I'd finished my undergrad when but turned it down to take a job.

I had been thinking that early forties (likely point by which I might actually have a PhD) would be too late to launch an academic career? Maybe not though, albeit I'm unlikely to become an uber-professor at that age I'd assume?

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Ah, who knows? Go for it. It wouldn't work in hard science but it did for Big Sis in Speech Therapy. Public Health is likely somewhere in between.

Best of luck.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I think you mean physical science? ;)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I am, I came over and decided to retrain as a plumber, so currently at school doing that and enjoy it... looking forward to getting work down shipyard! :)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I went back to school in 2007 and did a part-time MBA. Why? Because, in a smallish business community like St John's, degrees from the local Uni are valued, it was a networking opportunity and my employer(s) paid for it. It was an interesting experience in many ways. It proved that although 17 years had passed since I'd completed a B.Sc at a Poly in the UK, I still leave any coursework to absolutely the last possible moment to do. I was also considerably older than most of my classmates and had way more real world experience than them and many of the lecturers.

Did it change my life? No, not really, or not yet. I didn't get any pay rise out of it, but it's a useful thing to have for the future. I became a father half way through and now, looking back, cannot imagine how I ever found time to study! Any kind of night school when you are already working and have a family requires a huge commitment & kudos to anyone that does it, irrespective of what they are studying for.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I agree - a guy at my work completes his M.Ed this term - doing the final two courses on three nights of the week. Plus all the reading and homework. And his wife works shifts. :ohmy: Maybe that's why it works for him. ;)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

If he works as a teacher then likely completion of a Masters bumps him up the payscale - irrespective of whether he is using it or not. That's the reason why most teachers here do their Masters & why I'll eventually be pushing the Mrs to do hers. ;)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Actually - that's a whole other story - he was previously the equivalent of one of our Deans in a UK Poly I think - but his 3-year degree was not recognised here ( :blink: ) - but he was qualified to do the Masters - so it was easier to just crack on and do the Masters, rather than "go backwards" and get his poor-relation 3-year degree upgraded to the Canadian equivalency. :sneaky:

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

The reason I decided to do it was because I didn't want to end up stuck in a lab for 8-12 hours a day, never speaking to anyone. And I did Reiki 1 and a (non-professional) reflexology course and loved it, along with an interest in aromatherapy. Massage therapy seemed to fit in with this. Plus I like "helping" people... it is the best feeling in the world when you have someone who comes to see you with a musculoskeletal issue and a few weeks later, it is vastly improved!

As far as affording it - I got a bank loan (student line of credit really) to pay the tuition fees. And because the kids were at school there was no childcare to really take into acount (unless you count the cash I give eldest daughter for babysitting her younger siblings while I am out of the house.)

During the first year I was not working, but once I was into the second year, I had to do my practicum (200 hours working in a "real" setting), and I got a part-time job as a massage therapist... that helped a lot.

There was a lot of scrimping and saving though as well

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ? NCA
 

[QUOTE=Almost Canadian;9828477]I am so sick of exams that it is my intention to never take another one. Not even a 5 metre swimming badge.

I have also found the pace if the courses I have had to take in Canada way too slow for my liking. I cannot imagine sitting in any form of classroom ever again.

Well...you, as I suspected, were quite right in your analysis.
Absolutley no systematic approach. The NCA machine chugged, *coughed*, and spluttered producing (7) required exams for me to 'challenge'. Total crap shoot.

Fair enough on "The Law of Evidence" but as a working solicitor already, "Professional Responsibility"??!...that is difficult to swallow :blink:

FROTSUK

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I’ve been taking courses almost non-stop since I returned from the UK back in 1994. I just turned 41 a couple of weeks ago.

My commitment to “lifelong learning” is probably the result of having somewhat less than stellar academic results as an undergraduate (even though I was born in the UK, I was considered a foreign student over there and had to support myself after my parents’ financial situation took a turn for the worse; I was also probably having a bit too much of a good time as a student). I believe having less than a “good honours degree” gave me drive and ambition to do better, because I knew I was capable of more.

I also found that employers didn’t quite know what to make of me when I arrived back in Canada with a Scottish LLB. That’s because, as most people know, law is an undergraduate course in the UK, and Scotland has a hybrid legal system, with mixed common and civil law elements (although Scots law is really not as different from English law as many Scots lawyers would like to have you believe – often the difference is basically down to simple differences in terminology).

Anyway, after returning to Canada my experiences spurred me on to complete two university certificates in business management, a certificate in Canadian law and a postgraduate program in HR (I went into HR at least partially because of my legal background). I found work in HR and eventually got my CHRP (Certified Human Resources Professional) designation.

Yet, somehow I never lost my desire to become a lawyer. Therefore, I decided to do an LLM in employment law (which was a good fit for working in HR too). With Canadian education being so expensive, I did my master’s by distance learning through the University of London.

After finishing my LLM, I applied to the National Committee on Accreditation, which is the Canadian body that accredits people’s legal qualifications from abroad. They granted me absolutely zero advanced standing. If I wanted to be a lawyer, I would have to complete an entire three year Canadian law school curriculum. Having a mortgage, loans, credit card debts, a child and a spouse who is far from wealthy, that just wasn’t a possibility.

I was pretty devastated, and I still can’t get being a lawyer out of my system no matter how hard I try. Yet, I realize it’s probably best to continue pursuing a career in HR, and perhaps I’ll be better off in the long-run.

Strangely enough, I now have two Canadian lawyers reporting to me (as well as an HR professional). My boss is also a lawyer. My job combines HR and employment law in running an online service for Canadian HR professionals, working at Canada’s largest legal publisher.

I love my job, but it’s time to start thinking about what I want to do next. Therefore, I just signed up for another university certificate in organizational leadership (which basically combines courses in leadership, organizational behaviour/development/design and other areas of HR).

I’m also thinking of doing my MBA in the future (possibly online through Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, again because Canadian MBAs are so shockingly expensive and not very accessible for working people with families). If anyone has completed the Heriot-Watt MBA through distance learning (or another MBA from the UK) I would be interested in hearing about your experiences.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

After reading all the posts in this thread, I have decided to register on an online psychology course. I have started to think about a career change, especially after the last teachers strike and the poor showing on the part of the BCTF executive. As much as I love teaching it is time to consider another path that can be equally rewarding.

Ruby

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Hmm was a Town Planner in Uk and did Fitness on the side . . . .found it hard to get into Planing in VAN as we came over when they shut down all new hiring and so have morphed into the fitness side - have done 2 courses since being here and another next month . . . . actually I prefer the fitness - much less hassle - yes crappy pay , , but no mind games :)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I'm sorry to hear this Ruby, but good luck with your new path.

I've been studying part time (IT) for a few years now @ BCIT on top of working full time etc. I have a job I like, but I can see the way things are going with technology and want to be prepared. I pay as a I go as I don't want any debt. I like the intellectual challenge of the courses I'm doing but I'm taking a wee break cos I was starting to feel burnt out. I have a lot of respect for anyone doing night school while working.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

[QUOTE=RubyRose;10007385]After reading all the posts in this thread, I have decided to register on an online psychology course. I have started to think about a career change, especially after the last teachers strike and the poor showing on the part of the BCTF executive. As much as I love teaching it is time to consider another path that can be equally rewarding.

Hi RubyRose,

Do you mind me asking who you are doing the online course with?

Good luck with it.

I am hoping to come to Canada next year and want to get out of teaching and this is an area I am interested in, but I'm not sure where to start. I will be in Nova Scotia, but I'm sure that won't affect an online course:D

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

There seems to be this anal obsession with qualifications over here..they will take qualifications over experience all day here which i find bizarre.

You have to have certain qualifications to get to the next level, again i find this bizarre?...having qualifications shows no proof that you can actually do the job you are "qualified" to do or that you will be any good at it.

What ever happen to the school of life and the university of hard knocks?

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

maybe...the only problem i have with experience over quals is that it's a barrier to entry for people who don't have that in into an industry or job...at least having to get a qualification is an even playing field

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Can't measure their output.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

But I think what cheeky moneky is getting at is that having the qualification on paper is not a barrier to getting the jobs.

If you have the piece of paper but no experience, you'll still likely get the job.

If you have the experience but not the piece of paper, probably not.

And if you have both experience and the qualification, then yes, you're good to go.

I'm fairly philosophical about it now - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. It is what it is - just get the bloody piece of paper, pick up some new nuggets of information along the way and then compete with the young and newly qualified. :sneaky:

I have a friend who has been here 4 1/2 years - she is still chuntering on that her UK quals are not recognized here. She could have upgraded three times over by now.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

I get what kiwilass is saying. If you only employ on the basis of experience then how does a young person ever get that experience? A qualification attests to a basic level of knowledge/competence that at least gives the young person a starting point.

I have one acquaintance in California, an aerospace technician, who cannot get a promotion because he does not have a degree. Only a city and Guilds and 30 years of experience. The people who are promoted over him have to come and ask him how to build an aeroplane. It is not just Canada. However, you can imagine the public reaction if one of their planes fell out of the sky and the press reported that the guy in charge of building the plane was not qualified.

For me it was six years at night school (BCIT) doing foundation courses and a year and a bit doing the the CGA professional/capstone courses on line (though the exams were real). Night school was fairly easy as it was mostly just learning the Canadian way to do stuff I already knew. I made some good friends as well. The CGA courses were quite demanding; a twelve week semester, requiring about 20 hours a week, then three hour exam. A week off then another twelve week semester and so on.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

Thank you. That's what I was getting at, sort of.

NZ is and was big on kiwi experience and 'who you know'. What this meant in reality was that kids of the right background (i.e. parent is already working in the industry they're interested in, or they have contacts) could get the experience the employers demanded without needing quals/or having the same quals as others. It was unfair and you knew the odds were stacked against you if you didn't have that 'in'. That's what I meant.

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

How many degrees, for example, teach you how to do the job, rather than demonstrating intellect/higher ability?

What relevance has a first degree to an LL.B.? What relevance, let's say, does a degree in economics have to the practice of medicine?

I accept the "relevance of the piece of paper" arguments when the piece of paper demonstrates an ability linked to the profession but how does a masters degree, for example, make one a better engineer? If my understanding of such things is correct, at such a level it is more about demonstrating the ability to turn lots of other people's work into a theory or thinking about something in a deep way than it is about honing skills that will be useful when, for example, designing a bridge that will beat a certain Spanish architect's design (Calgarians will, likely, be the only ones to get this)

Re: Who has "gone back to school" ?
 

i was getting at the fact yes quals are great for the young who have no experience as a a way of getting your foot in the door..then the rest should be up to the individuals attitude and aptitude for their chosen career path..you shouldn't be fast tracked up the ladder by getting more and more qualifications because they actually prove nothing at all..unless it is a vocational qualification where you have to demonstrate and ability to do the work electricians or mechanics for example.

How many qualifications do Alan Sugar and Richard Branson have?..and would they have been as successful in Canada?