Why I chose Thompson Rivers University

Hello and welcome back to my blog! Picking a university can be difficult, because you may be asking yourself questions like "Did I make the wrong decision?" or "Will I like studying here?". In this post, I will be explaining what made me decide to pick Thompson Rivers University, while helping you decide what university could be the best fit for you. I hope you enjoy reading this week's post and thanks for visiting my blog!

In grade 12, I applied to Simon Fraser University (SFU), Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), Capilano University, Thompson Rivers University (TRU), Langara College, and Wilfrid Laurier University. I finished my applications for SFU, KPU, Capilano, and TRU, however I stopped the application process for Langara College and Wilfrid Laurier University. I decided that going to a small college like Langara was not the university environment I wanted and Wilfrid Laurier University was too far for me as it is in Ontario.

From the schools that I finished applying to, I got into each one. In November 2015 I received an acceptance email from TRU and felt a type of happiness that I've never experienced before. I was so happy to tell my family and friends and after reading the email, I already made my decision. I toured the campus during the summer before grade 12 and I loved the atmosphere of the campus... the look of it, the potential residence I would be living in, and the program I would enrol in.

I didn't have anything bad to say about the campus when I visited, and my parents didn't have anything bad to say as well. One of the reasons as to why I chose TRU is because of the Bachelor of Journalism program they have. Since grade 7 I was interested in journalism and thought that career would be perfect for me, as I enjoy writing and creating. No post secondary schools near where I lived offered this degree, so TRU looked very appealing to me. Another reason I chose TRU is because of the experience I would have. I wanted to get out of my hometown and not have to commute far because I didn't have a license or a car. I wanted to have the experience of living away from home, meeting new people, and being in a new city.

I thought that my university career was set for me. I thought that I'd start the Bachelor of Journalism degree in the fall of 2016 and graduate with it in the winter of 2020. However that could not be more wrong, because I went from the Journalism program to the Arts program, the Arts program to the Business program, and back to where I am now which is the Arts program. You never really know where an interest will spark. I took an Introduction to Marketing class in the winter of 2017 and absolutely loved it. I loved it enough to completely change my career path. As a result, I would suggest enrolling in a university that offers a diversity of programs, as you never know if you'll want to change career paths.

Picking a university that is away from home is a decision that I don't regret, mainly because it has forced me to live independently and open my eyes to living as an adult. I had to prepare grocery lists and make the time to go to Walmart or Superstore to buy food. The biggest part of grocery shopping was to keep track day by day of what I have in my fridge and what foods I'm running low on. I had to get myself to do tasks in my everyday life... from going to academic classes to appointments for physiotherapy.

If you are in grade 12 thinking of what university you should attend or in university and wanting to transfer, I'd recommend that you ask yourself these questions:

1) What program would I be taking if I enrol at this school?

- What other programs at the school seem interesting?

2) What did I notice when I toured the campus?

- Likes? Dislikes?

3) Would going to this school require me to commute far?

- If so, do I have a car and would I be willing to commute?

4) How small or big do I want the school to be?

-Does a school of 2,000 students sound more appealing than 40,000 students?

5) Can I see myself going to this school and enjoying it?

6) If the school is outside your town.. am I ready to move away from home?

If you are graduating grade 12 or undecided in university, hope this post helped you better understand what school would be best for you. If you aren't in these situations and read just for fun, thanks for keeping up with my content! As I mentioned in my last Marketing Mondays video, the first video for the Day In My Life series will be on May 7th so stay tuned!

#university #college #TRU