I have had an interest in business administration and marketing since I was in high school. However, at that time, I was confused and indecisive as to what program to pursue and at what college until the day I attended an open house at Seneca. I was able to connect with faculty, advisors and current students in the program and learned how the program curriculum and student resources/services at Seneca could help with my career goals. In addition, the location of campus was convenient for me and I was able to take the Seneca shuttle buses to travel from one campus to another.

My experience as a student at Seneca was amazing! I was honoured to have instructors that were extremely knowledgeable in sharing their experience working in the field of marketing. They helped me gain insight into business operations and learn how to build and sustain a target audience through unique marketing initiatives. The instructors ensured students developed practical skills and qualifications to prepare us for graduation.

Each of my classmates were in pursuit of their own individual goals. They brought unique perspectives to every class and I’m glad to say we supported each other throughout our studies and after.

The most memorable experience at Seneca was the campus experience. I never got tired of going to campus to see my friends and professors. In addition, I particularly enjoyed the Seneca Student Federation (SSF) events held at Newnham Campus. They hosted a variety of events. Whether it was a movie night or a cultural event, students were able to sit back, relax and have fun interacting with each other in between classes.

I always had an interest in broadening my knowledge in the business sector and continuing to improve my skills and qualifications in the field of marketing. Having a diploma and a degree can open more doors for job opportunities as it will help enhance my eligibility as a candidate, thus helping me to further build on my professional development.

I was satisfied to further advance my studies at Seneca because of the great academic and college experience I had during my time in the diploma program. In addition, most of my peers decided to continue their degree at Seneca as well and this allowed us to keep going and continuing to support one another. Also, I felt comfortable knowing that I was in good hands with my studies as some of my professors in my diploma program would continue to teach in the bachelor’s degree program.

The Business Administration – Marketing diploma program prepared me for the Honours Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing degree program by teaching the essential information and skills necessary for any industry or business, with emphasis on fundamental marketing procedures and practices.

I would describe the transition going from a diploma to a degree as a stepping-stone – you are progressing in your education. You can use your diploma credits to quickly complete a bachelor’s degree within a few semesters.

One of the differences between the two credentials is that the degree program has a mandatory work term, whereas in the diploma program work placement is optional.

Having both a diploma and degree gives you an added advantage of candidacy for a job as it looks great on your resumé and indicates to employers the various skills and qualifications you have developed in both areas of study.

Seize every learning opportunity! Trust me, time flies and in a blink of an eye, you will be surprised how quickly you finished your degree. The more you gain from your studies, the more you can improve in your professional development.

In addition, be aware and take advantage of the resources and services available to you. For instance, at Seneca, the Learning Centre can provide tutoring to help you learn so you can succeed in your courses. Should you require academic accommodation, contact Counselling & Accessible Learning Services for support in your academic journey. Lastly, never hesitate to reach out to your academic advisors or faculty for help when it comes to getting academic or career advice.

Managing and fulfilling expectations of being a student or a working professional can be challenging, but a tip that I would suggest for one to be successful is to plan accordingly. Having a structured approach to managing your time and your day-to-day activities is an essential key to helping you concentrate your efforts and needs on what is important.

I am a proud employee of Seneca’s Marketing Technology department, where I work as a Marketing Technology Project Co-ordinator. In this role, I am responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining the planning, scheduling and client coordination functions to support Seneca’s communications and outreach campaigns.

This job allows me to incorporate the business administration and marketing knowledge that I learned as a student, into my everyday tasks and duties.

I started my position as Marketing Technology Project Co-ordinator a few months ago, so my short-term plan is to focus on my career. I ensure to take professional development courses/workshops to enhance my knowledge and skills while working so that I can continue to be a valuable employee at Seneca.

With regards to my long-term plan, I hope to achieve a master’s in business administration.