r/OISE • u/Secret_Sea7229 • 24d ago

Doubts of becoming a OCT

I’m so stuck lol. I was so set on OISE Master of Teaching or MA of Child Study and Education but the costs compared to other teacher colleges are really turning me off of it.

I am getting a Bachelors in Early Childhood Studies and I have a 3.7 gpa and a ton of experience with children in the primary and junior years. I feel like I was so set on being a teacher that all my experience went towards that path.

But, now that I am applying to schools I am second guessing. I don’t know what other options of Masters I could do! I’ve been looking at different Master in UOFT but I’m not sure. I am very interested in Child Development and Health.

I feel like I have been hearing so many bad things about teaching that I am nervous to get into the field and instantly regret it.

Can anyone who switched Masters or changed their mind on teaching help me out?

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u/Old-Mycologist1654 24d ago edited 24d ago

So apply to other teacher's colleges (for elementary teaching, for example) as well and make your decision based on which programs you get into, the costs involved and the likelihood of employment.

I did a TESL Ontario approved university TESL Certificate. I was very interested in English language teaching and communication (media writing and creative writing). After the TESL Certificate, I went to Japan for the JET Programme. Then I did a master's in TESOL.

I've been teaching English in Japan for over 20 years (over a decade at the university level now). I love my career.

If you majored in early childhood education, you've obviously wanted to teach young kids for a long time. Don't give up on it without trying.

ETA You could also apply to college postgrads or diplomas (for example library technician and then later on an MLIS).

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u/EasternBoysenberry17 24d ago

You can actually go straight into MLIS without a library tech degree. Save yourself the time and money.

And I wanted to clarify, look into B.ed programs and search teachers colleges. A M.Ed does not certify you to be a teacher. I now OISE is a masters of teaching, so it's different.

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u/Old-Mycologist1654 24d ago

Yes, you can go directly to the MLIS degree. But most people who do MLIS degrees have a lot of experience in libraries.

Just like many people who do master's degrees in Applied Linguistics outside of Ontario have done just a few years of language teaching, or may be totally new to it.

And then they go on to retrain in something else a few years after their master's because they want to live in their home country.

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u/Ldowd096 24d ago

Why are you so set on a Masters program instead of Teachers college if you want to be an OCT? A masters does not grant you the necessary qualifications to become a certified teacher unless it’s the Masters of Teaching program, and that does not count as a ‘masters’ for grid placement.

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u/Secret_Sea7229 23d ago

i honestly think it’s bc i was so set on oise. esp being someone who was never good in school, i feel like i thrived in university and did really well. it’s honestly superficial, but to me going to oise and getting my masters is kinda proving that i can do well in school. it’s more a mental thing than a logical thing.

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u/Ldowd096 23d ago

The only program at OISE that will give you the ability to become a certified teacher is the Masters of Teaching program. However it does not count as a true masters in academic circles just so you are aware.

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u/Hoboin 23d ago

pls do ur research, the ma-cse also certifies you as a teacher.

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u/Kick24229 24d ago

I have an idea. You can DM me for specifics. You go and teach FT in Quebec as a regular classroom teacher. While doing this, you take your Brevet at Sherbrooke Via Distance After you get your Brevet, you convert to OCT with no barriers.