THUNDER BAY – Potential college students got a better look inside Confederation College, explored numerous programs, participated in demonstrations, and spoke with faculty and current students.
The college opened its doors on Saturday for the annual open house, which gave prospective students an idea of the college lifestyle.
Derek Lawrence, manager of enrolment services, said faculty was excited to bring out community members to the Thunder Bay campus.
“(It gave potential students) the opportunity to have a conversation with program coordinators, see what programs we offer, get to walk through and have tours of our campus.
“They can see all the labs, all the available resources that they have here in order to succeed at their education,” he said.
Applications are now open to all Ontario Colleges through OCAS, Lawrence said.
“It's just the very beginning stages of applying and considering what options are for next year.
"High school students that are currently attending school, looking at what they want to study will get an idea of what they want to apply to, to start in fall 2025.
“As well as mature students and other people from the community that are interested in starting school soon. That process for application has started now,” he said.
Lawrence hopes to have a couple of hundred people come onto campus to visit during the open house.
“It's a good time to talk to people to get an idea of what your local college has to offer and to decide what they want to do with their future,” he said.
Olivia Strey is a Grade 12 student at St. Ignatius High School, who attended the open house at Confederation College.
“I wanted to see the type of programs that they offer, more so like the trades. To see which one I am more interested in.
“(The open house) gave me a better idea of the workspace at the school that I'd be working, the environment. It also gave me a better idea of the options that it has,” she said.
Strey said she has not made a final decision, but is more interested in welding after seeing and hearing about the program on Saturday.
The open house was not only a tool for students, but gave parents more information as well.
Paul Tsekouras’ son will be graduating high school, and is looking at options at the college.
“I think any time we can get young students into the college just to see what programs and opportunities are there, it really gets them to sort of test drive being a post secondary student.
“I have three boys at home. My oldest is very much interested in skilled trades, so this was a wonderful opportunity on the weekend to come in and just see all the programs and tour the college," Tsekouras said.
It is amazing to see what's available at the college for students, he added.
“We call these reach ahead experiences. And they're just amazing for kids, even for his younger brothers to see what they may potentially want to do.
“I'm really excited about that. Certainly, he's learning a lot about different programs and that's going to help refine his decision,” Tsekouras said.
If people were unable to make it to the open house on Saturday, Confederation College’s website has a virtual tour that students can take a look at.
There is also a recruitment team that does one on one personal appointments to help any students decide what they want to study, what the college offers and how to gain admission to those programs.
On Nov. 12 from 4 to 7 p.m., there will be an application drop-in session on campus where prospective students can meet with a recruitment advisor and do an application for school.
For more information visit Confederation College’s website.
