Section A. Doing Your Research
The questions under the next two headings are good questions to ask of each school you approach. No school deserving of your investment will have any difficulty providing you with answers to these questions. Sometimes it is hard to know what to ask, since you may not have a high level of familiarity with massage therapy education. Click on each question to read Sutherland-Chan's responses.
Section B. Your Personal Preferences and Preparedness
The questions which follow in the next two sections are intended to be answered by you. You are making an important decision for your future, and reflecting carefully on your choice of school, as well as on whether you have all your 'ducks in a row,' will help ensure that you will be successful in your new career direction.
 | Were you provided with documentation that clearly outlines the school's requirements, fees, and admissions policies? |
| Did you have the option of attending an orientation session at the school? |
| Have all your questions been answered? |
| Are you satisfied that the school sets a good standard for acceptance? |
| How does the atmosphere of the school feel to you? Have the staff been friendly and helpful? |
| Have you been able to arrange to speak with current students and/or graduates of the school? Did you like what they had to say? |
| What have you heard about the reputations of the schools you are considering? Have you asked R.M.T.s in your community to give you comparison ratings? |
| Have you taken any pre-admission courses with the school? Was your impression favourable? |
| Have you sat in on one or two classes? |
| Have you had a massage in the Student Clinic? |
| Does the school's size and location meet your needs? |
| If you have a learning disability or some type of physical or health challenge, is the school open to accommodating your needs? |
| Do you have a stable living arrangement planned where you will be able to study effectively, get along with your roommates, and live affordably? (As much as possible, try to avoid moving while in school.) |
| Have you taken a look at the total cost of being in school? Do you have a financial plan? Given a guideline of 15-25 hours of after-hours study per week, can you afford to attend school without having to work too many hours? Are you relying too heavily on OSAP to cover all your costs? Does your financial plan include any contingency for the unexpected? |
| If you are planning to commute, is your transit situation flexible to accommodate varied hours? (From time to time you will have evening classes and clinics, and some options are scheduled on Saturdays.) If you are planning to drive, is your car up to the task? |
| If you have children, do you have a good childcare plan, including provision for study time? If your arrangement falls through, do you have a viable back-up plan? |
| Do you have a solid support system (family and friends) to help you out in times of extra need? |