Wonder what its like to go to school in BC?

High School

There are various types of high schools in BC. Some are public and some are private, some schools you have to wear a uniform and some are only for boys or only for girls, but all of them offer a first class education.

Typically high school students are in school from 9am until 3:30pm but often students will stay later if they are on a sports team or if they are in a school play, a part of the school band or orchestra. Classes may last from 50 minutes to an hour and half and the subjects include math, science, history, english, french or other languages, arts, physical education and other subjects. As you progress through high school you will have some choice in the classes you take so you can learn more about the subjects that really interest you. At the end of high school there are province-wide tests that you have to take. This is to make sure that no matter which school you go to, all students in the province are learning the same information.

High school can be lots of fun in BC. There are many classes to choose from and there are lots of different sports, arts programs, theatre programs and other activities that you can do during and after class time. A lot of your class work may be done in groups and in some of your classes you will be asked to give presentations as part of the course requirements. High school is a combination of taking classes, writing exams, writing papers and giving presentations. When you graduate you will have developed different skills and learned more than what you were asked to read in a text book. While high school is lots of fun, you will still be expected to do homework and study at night.

Post Secondary School (College, University College, Universities and Institutes)

Choosing from so many different options is all a part of the post secondary experience. While attending these schools you will have a lot of choice between programs and often you can choose the time of day you want to be in school. College life is filled with classes and studying but there is also a fun and social side as well. Depending on which program you choose your time spent on campus may vary. Many colleges also offer distance courses which are conducted online using a computer so you can do your studying from anywhere you want.

The exciting part about post secondary education is that you will be in school with people from different backgrounds, from all parts of BC, Canada and the rest of the world. You can choose how much time you spend at school and still explore the city or region where you live. You have a lot of choice and can design a schedule that meets your needs. Some courses are lecture based, some have labs or additional tutorials and some are small seminars.

At the post secondary level you will be expected to work on your own to study, write papers and complete projects. There is also group work where you will complete projects and assignments with other students and will be graded as a team. A big part of college is learning how to balance school work, a fun and active social life and the other priorities that you have. You will be busy but there are always people at school to help you out. Whether you study at a college, university college, institute or university you will be academically challenged while also having the time to develop other skills.

See what students have to say about studying in British Columbia