As a parent, helping your child decide on the right distance learning course in the Western Cape (or anywhere else) can be challenging. While you may be tempted to guide your child in the direction that you yourself took, decisions that are made now, after leaving school, can greatly affect the rest of your child’s future.
One of the most damaging things for any child is pressure to pursue a career path that has been pre-determined by adults. While you want the best for your child, it is therefore important to empower your child to make a smart decision based on their own personal dreams, skills and interests.
With that said, the guidance and support that is offered by parents during the decision-making process can greatly help school-leavers determine which distance education course to take.
Helping Your Child Choose a Distance Learning Course
There are a few things that need to be taken into consideration when deciding what to study (and ultimately, what career path to follow). These include the following:
Versatility. Will the course focus on one single aspect, or will it cover a broader range of subjects within a field? While it can make sense to specialise if your child knows what they want, a broader study area may offer more versatility and room to grow. A qualification such as finance or marketing for example will have a number of potential specialisation opportunities, while a course in real estate management may be more specialised.
Interests. What sort of interests does your child have? How can these be addressed during studies? If your child has always found maths easy, financial courses are a logical choice. Likewise, if your child enjoys dealing with people, then courses such as Human Resources and marketing could both be considered.
Current Skills. Certain courses have a stricter admission process than others. For some courses, certain subjects are required in Matric, while for others; students need to be proficient in various areas. Assessing current skills and determining what entry requirements can be met is therefore always a good idea.
Career Prospects. What sort of career path would each course offer? What kind of jobs can be realistically expected, and what sort of pay grade is normal for course graduates? Will further study be required in order to progress in this field, or will a Higher Certificate, diploma or degree be enough to grow?
By taking the time to discuss these points with your child, you will be able to provide support and guidance. Whatever your child decides to study, finding the right business school is vital to ensure that they get the best possible start in their chosen careers.
What makes distance education in Cape Town an excellent choice for prospective undergraduates is that it provides a flexible solution that allows students to study at their own pace, in their own time. If your child already has a part-time job or has begun working in his or her chosen field, this means having the ability to work and study.
Contact REGENT Cape Town today to learn more about our distance learning courses for undergraduates.