Saying yes to college and CCPR

For those of you who are wondering – yes, the corporate communications and public relations program at Centennial College is nothing like what you experienced at university. If your years of academia were anything like mine, this is music to your ears.

I graduated from Wilfrid Laurier with an HBA in communication studies last year, and while I was proud of my accomplishment, I felt like I had very few of the work-ready skills necessary for the professional world. I began researching postgraduate options, much like you may be doing now, and chose Centennial College.

Having just finished the first half of an action-packed eight-month program, I’d like to impart my wisdom in the hopes of making your decision a little bit easier. Here are a few things you should know about Centennial’s CCPR program:

1. There’s never a dull moment

The CCPR program aims to equip you with all of the skills you’ll need in the world of public relations in just eight months. The program is divided into two terms, with seven courses in each – yes, seven. This means you’re almost always working on something, but it trains you to perform under pressure and to manage your time. Embrace your calendar and enjoy the ride.

2. The instructors are supportive, experienced professionals

Your instructors truly on your side and willing to help you in any way that they can. Gone are the days of student ID numbers, scary exam halls and oversized classes. Here, the classroom environment is close-knit and the instructors get to know each and every student. They also come with years of real world experience, which means their advice isn’t based on theory alone.

3. There’s an event-planning course

This is unique to Centennial’s CCPR program and a very worthwhile experience. In groups, you’ll plan unique, creative events on a $0-budget in support of a local charity of your choosing. I’ll admit, when the term began this task was nothing shy of daunting. But every group performed and together we raised over $11,000.

4. There are plenty of opportunities to meet industry professionals

Guest speakers, networking events and trips to agencies are commonplace in this program. Bob Richardson (head of John Tory’s communications campaign) and Brad Ross (head of communications for the TTC) are just two of the industry professionals we’ve had the opportunity to meet this term.

5. You’ll learn to love group work…I think

Is group work a challenge at times? Absolutely – but learning to excel in a collaborative environment is key. You aren’t always going to love the people you work with, but finding a way to leverage individual talents for overall success is a valuable skill that you’ll develop at Centennial.

Making the decision to come back to school isn’t an easy one, but hopefully this has helped you get a better understanding of Centennial’s CCPR program and the applied style of learning it offers.

By Mike Hajmasy, student, class of Spring 2015