Getting the most out of your international school experience

By Emily Hill

Going to another country to study can be exciting and a little daunting. You may not know anyone or know how to navigate the system in Canada, but there are many ways to make connections and get support from your college.

Getting involved with school activities is a great way to meet people, learn transferable skills and enhance your resume. As you get settled into a routine, take time to learn about the student clubs and associations that are running at your college. You might be surprised at how participating in these groups can provide experiences and opportunities that will be beneficial to your future career.

Find a club that reflects your interests and ask about any necessary qualifications and the time commitments required, so you can balance social activities and academics. You could get involved with the school newspaper, campus radio station or specific clubs related to your program, cultural or ethnic group. These activities provide opportunities to meet people with similar interests, along with the chance to network, build relationships, and develop your leadership skills.

If you are looking for something a little more active to do, at Seneca there are 13 varsity teams, including badminton, cross-country running, curling, women’s fastball, men’s rugby, men’s and women’s basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer and volleyball.

However, if you are just looking for to have fun with your fitness, there is also climbing, dragonboat racing, ice skating, golf, hockey, kickboxing and yoga.

If you want to take advantage of some of the less traditional ways to network and stay in the know about what is going on around campus, there are a number of resources that can help.

At Seneca, there is the web portal My.Seneca. It contains information and college and student news. Students can find out about contests, special offers, success stories etc.

Campus specific blogs also give students the opportunity to comment on and interact with others about what is going on at their campus. A number of Seneca specific Facebook groups also exist, connecting students from particular programs, campuses or groups.

For more information about the programs and services that Seneca offers, visit www.senecac.on.ca. With eight campuses across the GTA, Seneca provides internationally and nationally recognized career education and training key to graduate success in the global economy. Seneca changes you.