by Natasha Kanji, First Year Advisor

Welcome to Schulich, Class of 2020!

It was a pleasure meeting all of you at your enrolment tours and appointments over the summer. Through my role as First Year Advisor, I had the wonderful opportunity to share my Schulich experience and knowledge with all of you. Being the First Year Advisor and having the opportunity to mentor so many students has been such a rewarding experience for me. Before the fall semester starts in a few weeks, I wanted to share some tips and important information that will aim to address some of your questions.

LOCKERS – If you have visited the basement of the Schulich building, you may have noticed hundreds of lockers. These lockers are very useful for storing your textbooks, extra clothing for networking events, etc. These lockers are available on a first come first serve basis and you can sign-up for them starting on September 8th. Keep checking your inboxes and the Undergrad Blog for more details of how to apply!

CLUBS – I would encourage all of you to get involved in the Schulich student community. I can tell you from my personal experience that joining clubs will give you a great opportunity to meet new friends, develop mentor relationships with upper year students, and further develop your soft skills. These clubs offer access to networking opportunities, career panels, mentorship programs, workshops, etc. If you are still deciding which career path you want to pursue, I would suggest joining a couple of career-focused clubs to gauge your interests. This will give you the opportunity to speak to individuals who work in various industries through networking events and career panels, and who can share their knowledge and experience with you. I would also suggest looking into the hundreds of clubs that are offered by York University. If you would like more info of clubs offered at YorkU, please look at YU Connect on the York U Current Students web page.

TEXTBOOKS – I would suggest purchasing your textbooks the first week of school. You can buy your textbooks new or used. It’s really your preference! Books are sold at the York Lanes Bookstore we visited during the tour. Used textbooks sales are facilitated through online Facebook groups. The only concern with used textbooks that you should consider is that you may need to purchase the online software separately if it is required for your course. Even though your textbooks may seem expensive now, you can sell them to incoming students the following year.

NETWORKING – I can say from my personal experience that networking is the most important skill that you will develop in university. Networking may seem a little overwhelming when you attend your first event but you will become an expert with practice. My suggestion is to observe how upper year students network and listen to the type of questions that they ask. In order to be good at “networking,” it is important to be yourself and showcase your personality – this is what will separate you from other candidates. Networking will be a useful tool to connect with Schulich alumni and future employers as you embark on your journey for future employment after your post-secondary education.

All Schulich students have access to the Career Development Center (CDC). This department is basically your gateway to getting an internship or job opportunity. In the CDC, there are various industry advisors who are available to mentor and guide you on the career path you choose. I can personally attest to how helpful the advisors are, and the support they have given me with my career choices. Schulich students also have access to an online tool called CareerQuest, which provides students with online resources, invites to networking events, and job postings. I would encourage you to attend networking events and take advantage of all the resources provided by the CDC in your first year. This will give you the opportunity to learn about the various career options that are available to you.

Finally, I want to wish you all the best in the upcoming academic year. Be open new experiences and career opportunities! Good Luck!