The advantages of starting school later than usual
The world of work is still largely organized along the lines of the world of universities and schools. This means simultaneous vacations for many students and employees. It’s not unusual to see a large number of companies and businesses close their doors to the public during the festive season or at the height of summer, with the words « closed for annual leave » emblazoned on their shop windows. Nevertheless, the student world is turning a corner on this point, now offering a staggered start to the academic year in higher education. Here are a few explanations.
What’s involved in a delayed start to the school year?
This process began a few years ago and is becoming more widespread. It involves allowing students to start their course later in the school year. So, instead of returning to school in September, students will go back to higher education between January and March, depending on the school and training center. This type of operation is most common in service sector studies. While some will see this time as an opportunity to adjust their project, others will take advantage of this period to gain professional experience, a real asset when it comes to entering the world of work.
Are there any differences in training content?
The content of the course remains unchanged; it’s simply a matter of acquiring the same theoretical content in a shorter space of time. Students wishing to take advantage of the » rentrée décalée » option will therefore need to work at a more intensive pace in order to integrate a condensed amount of information in a short space of time. It’s a matter of integrating an entire school year’s work in just a few months.
Who can benefit from a staggered start?
Anyone with a baccalaureate who wants to train for a career in the tertiary sector can apply for a deferred start date. This system can be a precious time-saver for students in many cases, either because of a wrong orientation, or because of a lack of space or access to their wishes.
It’s not uncommon to find that at the start of a training program, you’re not in a position to plan for the long term. The wrong post-baccalaureate orientation, or a different reality from the ideal we were aiming for, it doesn’t matter. Many students reorient themselves and choose a new path during their first year of higher education. A staggered start to the school year means you don’t lose a school year for nothing, offering the possibility of reorienting and integrating a new course of study in the same year.
It’s also not uncommon for a student to want to enroll in the heart of a course, but to be denied access for lack of space. These same students find themselves without an assignment at the start of the new school year in September. With no plan B, their year will nevertheless not be a waste of time. The staggered start to the school year will enable them to return to their first choices during the school year, in the event of withdrawals. This will enable them to refine their project and give them time to register for a second choice close to their aspirations.
As you can see, there are many reasons why a staggered start to the academic year is a real advantage, and will help students optimize their chances of gaining access to the training they want.
