A bit of a back story about me:
I’m an international student studying at York University’s School of Continuing Studies pursuing my Post-Graduate in Digital & Content Marketing, I hail from Mumbai India, where I was working as a content moderator for Meta and decided that I want to pursue a career in digital marketing so applied for a course at York and got an offer letter so I packed my life in 3 suitcases and came to Canada with big dreams and high hopes
Orientation Day
The start (transitioning to York) :
My journey at York started with the In-Person General Orientation Session which was conducted at Second student center where we were welcomed to the York by Michelle Aarons, Director, Continuing Professional Education.
There we got to meet all the students studying at School of Continuing Studies, we learned about various support services available to us at York (York International, Campus Security, Student Success, IT, etc.).
They also informed us about the current IRCC rules related to study permit, How to activate your Insurance and cleared basic doubts to make our transition smoother
Along with all this there was a buffet for us and after this they took us for a detailed campus tour which was cut short because of the snow but helped a lot in the future to navigate through York’s huge campus.
The campus is really huge and consist of Lecture halls, York lane where there are a lot of big franchise which provide different cousins and shops for student there is also a Gaming room and Restaurant where you can get booze on campus which sounds crazy but is true, obviously they do require a valid id before they provide you with alcohol but makes York more cooler.
York University Virtual Tour
York University School Of Continuing Studies Building
Study Culture at York:
Our classes were timed 4 days a week, classes run three hours each. Lectures started by a class introduction where our professor asked us to all to get up and bond with all the class members to see what they find in common so we can make new friends as we will be working in group helped us to bond and made a lot of new friends some from same country and some from other countries as York has a diverse culture and welcomes races from various professional and cultural backgrounds come together.
York University School Of Continuing Studies Classroom Layout
The classes include a 4-projector layout, so everyone has a access to what professor is presenting at all times and we also get a 20 to 30 min break depending on the professor.
The professors teaching us made classes really interesting by presenting relevant slide and gave examples of current marketing campaigns and events happening around us to help us understand making us understand effortless, conducting in class activities some times in group and sometimes individually, the in class activities were related to the course curriculum, this taught us how industry worked and working in group made comfortable so when in future we work for an agency and in a team so we will have a good experience working with diverse people.
The professors also conducted session where they brought in industry professionals as guest speakers from Amazon Prime, Spotify, Google who are currently working in the field who bring real-world experience into the classroom, making each lesson insightful and applicable.
We got insights of how the industry works along with that they told us how they got the job they are doing and motivated us that doesn’t matter where you are from. one common thing mentioned by all of them was that we should do more networking in person and through LinkedIn. At the end of every session there are Q/A where we will get to ask them questions about industry, and they gave us better clarity and making us believe our goals were achievable.
Overview:
The York University’s School of Continuing Studies is a good and diverse place where you will feel like home as people are welcoming and accept you for who you and it fosters a supportive community from academic advisors to career services, there are numerous resources available to help students succeed. The friendly and inclusive atmosphere makes it easy to seek help and guidance whenever needed.
The school offers various networking opportunities through events, workshops, and meetups. These events are crucial for building professional connections and gaining insights. Engaging with peers, instructors, and industry professionals has been instrumental in my growth.
York even helps its students to maintain Life and Studies by providing them with flexible learning options, including changing class timing once a year (Depends if a slot is available or must have a valid reason) as there are 3 different timings available morning, afternoon, evening , make it more manageable for students to keep a balanced life.
For overseas students looking for top-notch education elsewhere, I truly suggest the York University School of Continuing Studies.