I never thought about going to York University in the first place, but I guess you can’t control where life takes you, things happened and here I am as an International student with a post-graduate certificate in Digital and content marketing. In this blog post, I will talk about the journey for me and what you can expect from York University.
My Experience at York School of Continuing Studies
York School of Continuing Studies is FUN! Trust me on this, it’s actually fun. York is a lot focused on the assignments and they do expect you to get it on time, but which college isn’t? I guess getting your assignments on time is a struggle for every international student also when you have a part-time job, it gets hard to manage both, but deadlines are your biggest motivation. The reason that I say it’s fun is because the faculty is supportive, they are always high on adrenaline even at 8 am, I don’t know how. I can barely keep myself awake even with Tim Hortons, I guess they know their order better than I know my order. In the end, they are always there to listen to you. I think that made me happy and made me love the York School of Continuing Studies.
Diversity at its best
The country is a top choice for most international students, especially those from different parts of Asia. Toronto is their top choice when it comes to choosing the best city to live in, though it’s hard to ignore how expensive this city is. Hence, York University has become their favorite choice because of its welcoming environment and also because the fees are lower compared to other top universities and colleges in this country.
I have always loved the idea of studying in a diverse environment, and York surely does a great job of providing you with that. I have friends from Iran, Vietnam & Korea now and now all we do is share food from our culture with each other, so I guess it’s been a great cultural exchange for me after coming here.
Learning is surely fun at York
I get it, you attend a class at 8 in the morning, there is a slide going on and it’s so hard to focus when you had a crazy night before, but I’ve had some crazy professors in my course who actually helped me to enjoy my morning classes. Be it a friendly conversation, or playing games in the middle, it was all fun. They were open and easy to talk to. What even made it better were the guest lectures, who were really like the big players in their industry, so it made it easier for me to connect with leaders of the industry and build contacts for the future.
Supporting you throughout your student journey
What makes any university or college a great one is when it supports you throughout your student journey and York surely does an outstanding job in this area of your career growth. The school ensures that every student gets access to the right tools for success, whether it is extracurricular programs, career services, student therapy programs, or even academic advisors. I have benefited a lot from all of these and I am confident enough now to push start my professional adventure after graduation.
How can we not talk about the city?
Toronto! The city of diversity, opportunities & the best food. Another great aspect of my academic journey has been living in Toronto. This city is lively, something is always going around. Summers are fun and the beaches around the city are where you’ll find me on the weekends. This city provides so many opportunities outside the classroom for self-improvement and exploration, be it through different festivals from different cultures all around the world, or choosing what to get for dinner, should I go for Thai, Korean, or Indian food tonight? I am big on food and having so many options to try around keeps me excited. The part-time opportunities around the city are also great. It’s not that hard to land a part-time job that offers you a wage above the minimum in this city. So living in this city along with a great part-time job has surely been a great relief in my student journey.
My favorite Professors and the learning
Business in the digital age was covered in this course. Her expertise and pedagogical practicality were so great that I was able to learn how to use various digital technologies to improve user experiences with efficiency. The practical implications of the knowledge acquired from Professor Mitchell's lessons on digital strategies and business models were apparent.
This course, taught by none other than Professor Heath Applebaum, set the foundation for my understanding of the core principles of marketing. His lectures covered everything from consumer behavior to market segmentation, and they were quite informative.
I'm now enrolled in Professor Tim Campbell-Smith's material Promotion and Amplification course, and so far, I've learned a ton of different levers that may be pulled to increase the reach and engagement of digital material. His knowledge of digital marketing techniques has already shown to be quite helpful and he so much fun, always joking around and always there to help you out.
Advice for Future Students
For the future international student who wants to study at York School of Continuing Studies, based on my experience, here is what I can say:
York University is rich in cultural diversity. Interact with students from different backgrounds to enrich your college learning experience.
Starting from career counseling to library facilities, a number of workshops, and much more, YSCS has a lot to offer. Make use of these resources for an enriching academic journey.
Network and build relations with your classmates, professors, and people from the industry. Networking could open doors for internships and job opportunities.
While academics are a must, do not forget to take time to get a feel of the city. Get a feel of the local culture, and the attractions, and make good use of your time abroad. Enjoy the journey.
My experience at the York School of Continuing Studies has been really rewarding in terms of knowledge, getting to meet new people from around the world, and preparation for a successful career in the global digital market. I want to encourage all students who are about to take this journey with a promising wide mind, ready to seize each opportunity that comes your way.