Last Day of School and What’s Next

School terms differ around the world and the last day of school means something different for everyone. Here are tips for applying for college or entering the workforce upon graduation.

Whether you’re approaching your last day of high school and thinking about continuing on to pursue a higher education degree, considering taking a gap year, or going straight to enter the workforce, the last day of school can signal a lot of opportunity for your future.

Around the world, the last day of school differs as school terms vary. Before jumping into the best steps to take to continue your education or to land your dream job, we’ll take a look at the typical school terms around the world.

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Around the World – Typical School Terms

School years vary around the world as do class sizes. Typical number of school days and average class sizes are as follows:

1. US

• Academic Year: 180 days
• Term: September – June
• Hours per Day: 6.5
• Average Class Size: 23

2. Japan

• Academic Year: 210-250 days
• Term: April – March
• Hours per Day: 6.5
• Average Class Size: 29

3. China

• Academic Year: 221 days
• Term: September – mid July
• Hours per Day: 9.5
• Average Class Size: 21

4. Russia

• Academic Year: 211 days
• Term: September – late May
• Hours per Day: 6.5
• Average Class Size: 16

5. Australia

• Academic Year: 200 days
• Term: late January- mid December
• Hours per Day: 6.5
• Average Class Size: 18

6. Brazil

• Academic Year: 200 days
• Term: February – June, August – September
• Hours per Day: 5
• Average Class Size: 30+

7. UK

• Academic Year: 200 days
• Term: early September – mid July
• Hours per Day: 6.5
• Average Class Size: up to 30

8. Kenya

• Academic Year: 190 days
• Term: 3 terms throughout the whole year with 3 breaks
• Hours per Day: 8
• Average Class Size: 30

9. France

• Academic Year: 162 days
• Term: August – June
• Hours per Day: 8
• Average Class Size: 23

Preparing for University

If you’re finishing your high school academic career and want to continue pursuing a degree in higher education, whether it is an Associate or Bachelor’s degree, you have many options of where to do so.

A Look at Online Versus Traditional Colleges

There are both traditional on-campus and online university programs. Traditional universities offer an on-campus environment, whereas online universities are exactly that — digitally connected and online. Each has its fair share of pros and cons, but there are some great benefits to choosing to attend an online university like University of the People.

Flexibility:

Online universities allow you to study on your own schedule from anywhere and at any time. This makes it easier to continue working while studying, raising a family, starting a business, traveling, or whatever else you may have in mind.

Affordability:

Education is expensive, but online universities typically cost a fraction of the cost that a traditional school does. For example, at University of the People, the model is tuition-free, so the only costs associated with school is an application fee and low cost course assessment fees.

Low Barriers to Entry:

UoPeople only requires proof of a high school diploma and English proficiency to enter the undergraduate programs in Health Science, Computer Science, Business Administration or Education.

Location:

Along with affordability, a school’s location plays a large role in whether or not it will work for a prospective student. But, with online universities, no matter one’s situation, as long as they have internet connection, they can attend school from their preferred location.

Of course, if you seek a classroom experience and in-person learning environment, an online university won’t be the right fit. It also requires that the student be responsible and effective in their time management skills as to not fall behind as it’s up to the student to decide when to learn.

The Application Process

Depending on the type of institution you want to apply to the application process differs. In general, for traditional schools, they often require prospective students to take an SAT or ACT (standardized test) and report scores, report their high school GPA, provide a personal statement and high school transcripts. Some schools may request letters of recommendation and/or an interview. For University of the People in particular, the application is short and concise and requires proof of English proficiency and proof of high school completion.

Popular Majors

According to the National Center for Education and Statistics (NCES), more Americans are going to college than ever before. The 6 most popular majors are as follows:

• Business
• Health Sciences
• Social Science and History
• Psychology
• Biology and Medical Sciences
• Engineering

At University of the People, degree programs were chosen knowing these facts. Designed with employability in mind and to prepare students for four growing fields, the programs offered are: Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science and Education.

Landing an Internship

When you choose to go to school before entering the workforce, you’re making an investment for your future as salary expectations are higher with a degree. Additionally, while in school, it’s a good idea to consider getting an internship to prepare you for the workforce and give your resume a competitive advantage for when you graduate. Depending on your field of study, there are always internships available. For example, here’s more about internships for Computer Science majors, as well as internships for Education majors.

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Preparing for Life After University

Maybe you’re approaching your last day of school in high school or university, and you’re preparing to enter the workforce. This is both an exciting and challenging time. Based on your academic achievements and knowledge gained, you’re likely looking to land a job in your field of study or just in a field you know you want to work in.

You’ll want to have your curriculum vitae (CV) and/or resume up to date. Once you’ve applied for jobs and gotten through to the interview stage, there are ways to prepare in advance to make the best first impression. Here’s a look at a few key tips to best prepare for your interview:

Research:

Use the powers of the internet to research the company through their website, Linkedin profile, employees’ social media and third-party platforms like Glassdoor.

Dress Accordingly:

Since you’re making your first impression, you want to show up looking the part. Depending on the industry, the attire may vary, but always arrive early and be clean-cut and well-dressed.

Have Your Documents:

Review your own resume and portfolio and be ready to highlight any achievements. Make sure that you bring a printed copy even though you’ve already likely submitted a digital copy. Print this copy on thick stock paper, so like your dress, your documents are both presentable and professional.

Be Aware of Your Demeanor:

Non-verbal communication is as important as what you say. Be sure to be confident by sitting up straight, making eye contact, smiling and taking notes.

Ask Questions:

Most interviews end with the interviewer asking if you have any questions for them. Prepare for these in advance and try to make them somewhat personalized to show the interviewer that you’ve performed your research.

Follow Up:

Always thank an interviewer for their time via email or a handwritten note after the interview. If you’ve asked what to expect for next steps, feel free to reach out to follow up with the status of your application about a week after the interview.

Wrapping Up

For every student, the last day of school means something different. Whether you want to go to college, take a break, or enter the workforce, it’s a pivotal time filled with important choices that will have great impact on your future.

Regardless of what you choose to do, it always helps to be proactive and decide what you want in advance of graduation so that you can put your plan in motion and be well-prepared for your last day of school!