BCIT Aviation Education Info Day

For students who are considering a career in the aviation industry, this may be an information session that is of interest to you:

BCIT’s Aviation Education Information Day

On April 10 (Saturday) between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., BCIT’s Aerospace Technology campus will be open to you (Address: 3800 Cessna Drive, Richmond – you can click here for a map).

This information session would allow you to:

• Meet with BCIT instructors and industry reps
• Speak with current students and check out their projects
• Visit BCIT’s 300,000 sq. ft. campus housing over 35 aircrafts and training aids

For more information, you can go to the aerospace/aviation department’s website (click here). To register for the event, click here.

Two Information Sessions

As we move closer and closer to graduation time, more information sessions are put together by various post-secondary institutions to advertise to you their programs and what they have to offer. Specifically:

The Big Info Session and Program Expo for BCIT will take place Wednesday, March 31, 2010, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the BCIT Burnaby Campus (3700 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby). You can talk to students, graduates, and instructors about BCIT's full-time and part-time programs. Learn also about BCIT's unique program where you can obtain a professional certificate in 1 year, a professional diploma in 2 years, or a degree in 4 years.

You can register by calling 604-451-6735 or visit BCIT's Big Info Session's website: click here

Vancouver Community College (VCC) is hosting a big info night on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at their Broadway campus (1155 East Broadway, Vancouver). You can learn about any of the 140 full-time and part-time programs VCC has to offer, meet the faculty, and enter for a draw to win $500 towards your tuition.

To find out more, and the check out VCC's programs, go to VCC's website: click here

Posters and pamphlets of these two info sessions can be viewed and obtained from my office.

BCIT Engineering Technology Programs

I have just received a few brochures from BCIT advertising its Mechatronics and Robotics program.

The Mechatronics and Robotics program at BCIT is a two-year engineering technology program that combines aspects of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, micro-controllers, and computers. The program offers a mixture of theory and practical training with a lot of hands-on lab opportunities.

The program leads to an accredited diploma, or you can bridge that diploma into an engineering degree (both at BCIT, or at a university that has transfer agreements with BCIT).
Job prospects for graduates of this program are excellent according to BCIT because the students obtain a very unique skills set that may not be obtained through the traditional university programs.

For more information, come to see me, Mr. Hengeveld, or Mr. Scoten for a brochure. I also have contact information if you wish to speak to the program director at BCIT.

Update from BCIT Information Day

The BCIT Counsellor's Day proved to be a very fruitful experience for me, and I hope it will be for you as well, especially if you don't know too much about BCIT to begin with.

First off, some pieces of information about BCIT that you may not know:

• Trades programs at BCIT have a non-competitive admission process. What that means as: as long as you meet the application requirements, you will be admitted into the program or into the program's waitlist.
  
• Some trades programs have a pre-entry test that you need to write. Sample tests can be found by clicking here.
• The technology programs at BCIT offer certificate, diploma, and degree options. Certificate programs usually last a year, diploma programs take two years to complete, and degree programs take 3/4 years to complete.
  
• Many technology programs allow you to enroll first into the "lower" option to start. Following its completion, you can choose to leave the program (but receive the certificate/diploma based on what course work you have completed) or to proceed to finish the "higher" option(s). For example, after a year in the certificate program, you can choose to stay one more year to finish your diploma, or you can graduate with your certificate - no time would be wasted!
• The successful employment rate for BCIT graduates is well renowned. For its degree programs, 98% of its students are successful in finding a job in the related field. Diploma graduates have a 82% successful employment rate in their area of study.
• Salaries for BCIT graduates are very competitive.
  

A lot of people have this notion that BCIT is not a post-secondary institution for high school graduates. While BCIT has a large proportion of students who did not enter straight out of high school, mature high school students who are willing to work hard can be very successful at BCIT as well. The recruiting officers describe a successful BCIT applicant (from high school) as one who is:

• a hard worker
• involved in campus communities
• willing to interact with staff/students
• willing to collaborate in learning
• knows how to use library and student resources
• has good supporting network
• has good mental activities (exercises, sports, hobbies)

I have a bunch of resources from the various BCIT programs for you to look through. Please pop by my office if you are interested.

BCIT Updates

For those of you who were not able to talk to/listen to the BCIT representatives on post-secondary day, here are some important updated information that may be of interests to you:

• BCIT is hosting ongoing campus tours for you to "get a feel" of campus life. Registration for groups (18 people or more) and individuals can be processed through BCIT's online tour registration system. You can either register on line (click here) or call 604-432-8583.
• BCIT also hosts an event called "Spend-A-Day" where you can actually spend a day to test out a program that interests you to see if BCIT is really a good fit for your educational aspirations. To find out more, go to the "Spend-A-Day" website (click here).
• Provincial Exams Requirements: For programs that require either English or Communications 12, provincial exams must be written. For programs that require grade 12 math and science courses, provincial exams are optional.
  
• Application for all of BCIT's trades program: applications are accepted and processed on an ongoing basis.
  
• Application for the technology programs: most programs began accepting applications on October 1. BCIT will continue to accept applications until the program is full. (Implication: apply ASAP)

There are a number of ways that students can learn more information about BCIT and its programs:

• Leave your name and number with student information and enrollment services at 604-434-1610. Someone will return your call.
• View the information yourself at the program advising website (click here)
• Submit an e-mail to an enrollment officer at the "Ask an Advisor" website (click here)
• For financial aid and awards information, go to the financial aid's website (click here)
  

BCIT Info Session

BCIT (British Columbia Institute of Technology) will be having its big info session this Wednesday (Oct 28) from 5 to 8 p.m. at their Burnaby Campus. Even though BCIT will be coming to Templeton on post-secondary afternoon, this is an opportunity for you to explore BCIT's campus, and to talk to staff and student of a specific faculty or program, who probably can answer your program-specific questions.

For more information, go to BCIT's info session website by clicking here

Also, from now until Wednesday, Oct 28 at 8 p.m., BCIT will be hosting an event called 3 Blog nights. In the event, there will be texts, videos, and tweets to help you know more about BCIT.

To participate, click the following site: Click Here