1. You can study part-time. Practically every university has a part-time option available and this may be a perfect fit for some. Not all programs are available part-time, but you can certainly enrol in the more popular arts, science and business programs part-time and it actually may be a great way to study and ease into university. Many students are doing their degrees in 5 rather than 4 years. But, you don’t necessarily have to take a longer time to graduate; you can choose to study in all 3 semesters (fall, winter and summer) and therefore graduate in the same year as your peers. The high school grades needed to be admitted to study part-time are sometimes lower so if grades are a concern for you, take advantage of a part-time application to be admitted to the program/university of your choice. Taking a lower course load may also help you in achieving or maintaining better university grades. Also, if and when you’re comfortable you may be able to transfer to full-time study (but check the policy, procedures and requirements). The lower tuition and other costs associated with studying part-time make this option attractive for those with financing issues. Note that the funding levels for part-time students will be lower than for a full-time student. Finally, assuming you can afford it, you don’t have to go to a local university if you’re a part-time student, but you may not be able to live in residence (check with the university’s housing/residence office).
2. You can start in January instead of the more typical September/fall term. Again, another good option if you feel you’re not quite ready for university. If you’re admitted to the fall term, you can request to have your admission deferred to January (or the following September, if necessary). If you don’t have the grades you need, you can use the summer and possibly the fall semesters to improve your grades and gain entry in January. Residence may be an issue so do check with the housing/residence office.
3. Consider an online degree or other non-traditional delivery methods. If you’re disciplined and feel confident that you can study independently, an online degree or courses may be a viable option for you. But note, there may be some reputational issues with doing some courses or a full degree online or non-traditionally so research very carefully. You can also use online courses as a stepping stone to a more traditional degree.
In all 3 options, your university experience will be different from the norm but hopefully you will be on a university path that is the best fit for you.
