Navigating The Ups And Downs At York University

Introduction 

As a soon-to-be digital marketing graduate from York University, my journey and experience at York University have been a rollercoaster filled with success and failure. The past year was filled with the excitement of starting a new journey, making new friends, gaining immense knowledge and experience from our professors, and getting prepped to step out into the industry and show how creative and skilled we are as York students. The curriculum equipped me with the skills to anticipate the challenges we will face as recent graduates entering the marketing and advertising industries. It enabled me to develop, learn, and overcome obstacles effectively.

Here is my reflection on the journey, which may help future students determine whether or not York University is a good fit for them. 

Why Did I Decide On York?

Before York, I was studying at Humber College and was pursuing advertising account management. During that course, I learned a lot about advertising, how to maintain client relationships, what an account coordinator’s role is, etc. But I wanted to study more about digital marketing aspects like SEO, keyword planning, content creation, etc. After researching numerous colleges where each had its uniqueness, I decided to choose York as it was among the best colleges in Canada and Toronto. One of the other strong appeals was the relatively flexible fee structure compared to other colleges. Additionally, the course provided extensive experience in the digital marketing field, comprehensively covering all aspects.

Key Learnings And Takeaways

Unlocking Key Skills

The digital and content marketing program has provided me with a detailed and comprehensive overview, covering areas such as: 

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
2. Keyword analysis and planning. 
3. How to Strategize for Content Marketing.
4. Content Creation. 
5. Conduct and present an objective digital competitive analysis for a product or service. 
6. Create amplification strategies that can be used to reach a wider audience. 

With a combination of hands-on projects and expert-led lectures, I gained a deeper understanding of the evolving nature of digital marketing. 

Gaining Knowledge And Real Life Experience From The Professors 

The Digital and content marketing program has a faculty of vast professors who have immense experience and come from a diverse background in marketing and advertising. They brought in real-world case studies, current issues or challenges faced by brands, and some of the best campaigns or strategies that have been most effective. This provided insights beyond textbooks and played a key role in helping us understand the concepts more deeply.

Challenges That I Faced

A journey isn’t complete without obstacles and failure. Similarly, I faced a major setback when I failed to complete the content amplification course for personal reasons. It felt like a major hindrance compared to my peers, when they were moving forward and finding full-time work opportunities, yet I had to complete the program. The whole experience taught me how to be patient, build resilience, and consider every challenge as a learning curve during the journey. 

The Process Of Readmission

The student services department and the program coordinator, Todd, have been a testament to their support during the readmission process. They guided me through:

1. The enrollment process
2. Fee payment procedure
3. Scheduling concerns
4. Study permit considerations

My experience with them was smooth and easy, as they provided me with support and assistance throughout the process.

Highlights Of The York University Experience 

Interactive And Fun Learning Environment

The professors made sure that the learning environment was engaging and interactive. Some exciting and memorable experiences include: 

1. By engaging us in constant case studies and providing live examples, Tim made sure to challenge us to think outside the box.
2. The real-life experiences shared by Roovena and Heath about their industry years, detail the methods they used to handle those challenges and achieve good and calculative results. 
3. Leigh consistently sought innovative ideas to enhance the in-class experience and tried her best to make sure that all students were learning and progressing in every class. 
4. Practical exercises and multiple group projects fostered teamwork and collaboration.  

Skill Development and Specialization

The program allowed me to cover the basics of digital marketing, from how to write an SEO-optimized blog to creating and managing successful campaigns on Google Keywords. Identify and use the appropriate platforms for paid media to optimize the budget and achieve the goals. It involves thorough research to understand the target audience, selecting platforms where they are more active, and crafting tailored ads to maximize engagement, conversions, or some other specific goals set. Monitoring performance metrics regularly and adjusting strategies as needed to ensure optimal results and efficient use of the budget. 

1. Incorporating more real-life examples, projects, and live client interactions would have been beneficial. 
2. Updating the case studies and curriculum with the latest industry trends would bridge the gap between theory and practice. 
3. Updating the teaching methods to provide in-depth knowledge and insights would enhance the whole learning experience. 
    

Advice For Future Students

1. Always view setbacks and failures as opportunities to learn something new. 
2. Take full advantage of the student services, professors, and program coordinators. They are always ready and happy to help when students need support or guidance. 
3. Always engage and build relationships with peers and professors. I have had help from my professors on numerous occasions, and they are always willing to reach out to you whenever you are in need. 
4. Make sure to network with your peers and colleagues as well; it’s a crucial experience and helps in building relationships that last beyond the college doors. 

With this, I feel my year at the York University School of Continuing Studies has been rigorous and transformative. Despite facing some setbacks during the year, the knowledge gained, skills developed, and relationships formed have been invaluable and made the whole experience rewarding.  For those considering digital and content marketing programs, be prepared for an intense rollercoaster journey filled with ups and downs. Ultimately, this program will provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the digital marketing landscape.