School: York University – Keele Campus
Program, Year: International Business, 3rd Year
What was the deciding factor that made you choose this school? I wanted to stay close to home and I wanted to stay in Toronto. I’m in love with this city! Out of the Toronto-based universities, York has the biggest and most comprehensive campus. It’s a large campus with lots of amenities, and you really feel like part of a big community. Additionally, I was interested in pursuing International Business, and York’s Schulich School of Business has one of the country’s most reputable programs.
What do you love most about your school? I love that there are so many things to do on campus, and so many places to explore! I’ve been here for two years and I’m still finding new places to study, eat and hang out!
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities? I’m co-chairing the GLOBE International Management Conference this year. In its third year of operation, we are looking to expand the conference to reach more students from more disciplines both in York University and across Canada! I also play a lot of intramural sports, and find it’s a great way to stay active and meet new people.
What’s your best advice on how to meet new friends? I definitely suggest going out to school events like pub nights and joining clubs and intramural teams! Be sure to attend the Clubs’ Fair in the beginning of the year to see what sorts of organizations suit your fancy… And don’t be afraid to talk to people next to you in classes! Not only will you make some friends, but you’ll have a buddy who can send you notes when you miss class.
Where’s your favourite place for:
A cheap dinner: Definitely Falafel Hut in York Lanes! They have amazing inexpensive chicken and pork dinners… And I can never finish everything. They load up the food the way my mother would at home! They also have great daily specials, so be sure to check those out. And they’re open until 2 am on some days, so it’s a great place for a post-party dinner.
Brunch: I’m a big fan of breakfast foods, and Blueberry Hill has the best eggs and bacon on campus! Their pancakes are really good too for those of you with a sweet tooth… And if you’re looking for an all-day breakfast place, just hit up one of the many York Cafeterias and ask for the “Big Breakfast”. Trust me, it’s the best.
Lunch: If you drive to school, Aji Sai (8206 Bayview Avenue) in Thornhill is a great place for all you can eat sushi! Lunches are cheap, and the menu is vast. But if you’re stuck on campus, I suggest visiting Orange Snail. They have great homemade food and a wide variety of options including everything from pasta to jerk chicken!
Coffee: The Second Cup at York Lanes! It’s a great place to grab a cup of coffee and sit back and relax. It’s oftentimes packed, so you’re lucky if you can find a seat. And if you’re a fan of Tim Horton’s (which I think all students are) you can visit one of the few on campus – at the TEL building, William Small Centre (PS2) or Central Square.
What bars do you frequent the most? I absolutely love going to the Brunny (Brunswick House, 481 Bloor Street West)! The crowd is typically all students, the drinks are cheap, and if you feel like dancing, you can make your way over to the small dance floor. I’m also a big fan of the Maddy (Madison House, 14 Madison Ave). There’s no dancing here, but it’s a great place to go if you want to chat and meet new people. Everyone’s really friendly, and the pub food is pretty great.
Where do you go if you wanna dance? Usually I just go to the Brunny since it’s a great bar with a decent dancefloor. Other than that, I frequent Embassy (117 Peter St.) and Wetbar (106 Peter St.). The crowd is young, the music’s amazing and the dancefloor is always packed!
Any party nights we should know about? Although I’ve never attended, Sakura at York Lanes hosts a karaoke night! And if you want drinks and half price wings, you can visit Hoops Bar & Grill (right across from York on Keele St.) on Thursdays. The Underground and Tuchner’s have half-price wing days too! The Underground has awesome events year round – from Thursday Pub Nights, to X-rated Hypnotist Shows, to Battle of the Bands and Free Indie Music Shows! I definitely suggest checking out some of those! Also, be sure to check out The Ab – it’s the student-run pub in Winters and it’s always packed. In the summer, they have an awesome patio open too!
Do you have a favourite clothing store? I love shopping at Urban Outfitters – I can always find something that sticks out and speaks to my personality. When I’m on a budget, I visit Kensington Market for awesome one-of-a-kind finds! Last time I was there, I got sweet glasses for $5, a satchel for $20 and a bright t-shirt for $10. It takes some time to sort through everything, but believe me, you’ll almost always find something worthwhile!
Where’s your favourite place to study? It depends on what sort of mood I’m in… But I either study in the Schulich library – they have comfy sofas by huge windows! Or I go to the second floor of the Student Centre, where you can usually find empty seats and tables. It’s fairly busy around lunch, but almost always empty in the evenings. While it’s still warm out, I definitely suggest doing your readings outside. There are so many wonderful grassy spots where you can sit and relax, like the field in the middle of the bus loop, out by the pond or even in front of Calumet Residence.
What has been your favourite class thus far? Oh, this is a tough one… I would probably have to say Contemporary Black Urban Music. I took it as my elective last year, and it’s a lot different from the business courses I’m required to take. Ron Westray was an amazing professor, and he exposed us to a lot of really great music. We explored music from a wide variety of angles, and discussed hip hop as a social phenomenon. It was a great course.
What class are you looking forward to most this year?This year, I’m looking forward to the courses I’m taking on exchange! I’m going to Vienna on exchange second semester and I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am… If you’re at all interested in exchange, go to the Study Abroad and Exchange Fair to learn more about the available opportunities!
What’s your best piece of first-year advice?My best piece of first-year advice is don’t be afraid to be yourself. This is a chance to find yourself, set new goals, be loud and spontaneous. And take every opportunity to explore the campus and explore the city! You’ll regret the days you stayed in to watch TV or creep Facebook.
What did you learn the hard way? I learned the hard way that procrastination is my worst enemy. Like a lot of incoming students, I was a horrible procrastinator. After a few all-nighters and a lot of stress, I realized how much easier school would be if I just kept up with readings when they were assigned.
Any misconceptions you want to clear up about your school? If you can eat with a fork, you can go to York? Not true. I’ve heard this rhyme repeated time and time again… Don’t believe it. I meet so many extraordinary, intelligent people here all the time.
Before you graduate, you are going to make sure you: Visit the York Observatory! Free viewing on Wednesday nights, I just haven’t had the chance to go yet!
What do you love most about your university town/city? What do I love most about Toronto? The fact that there is always, always so much to do. Sometimes it just takes some Googling to find out about the best events. That’s how I found out about a Masquerade Fundraiser for UrbanEx, a great Toronto-based non-profit organization, and also the way I found out about Movie Night at the Drake Hotel! Great movies, delicious sloppy joes, beer, and a great crowd.
Best memory so far? I’ve had so much fun since starting university that I can’t pinpoint a particular best memory. The pub nights, the random events, meeting new people… It’s all been amazing.
Got any weird /specific tip that would only apply to your school? Definitely take the time to explore the campus and find your classes before the first day of school. The campus is huge and it might be difficult to find everything on the first day.
Anything else you want to share with first year students? As stressful as school gets, don’t forget, it’s only first year. It may take a while to adjust, but once you’re adjusted, you’ll be on top of the world. The freedom that comes with university life is amazing, enjoy it… Also, the fellow who works at Taco Villa is the nicest man on earth, and I doubt I’ve ever seen him without a smile. Eat at Taco Villa at least once so you can meet the legend (he even has Facebook groups dedicated to him).