This blog was written by Kimberly Nicolasora

August, I swear, is the shortest month of the year. The 1st rolls around, and all of a sudden it hits me that I have a little more than a week to get myself ready for in-person classes. Adding to the mayhem of back to school, we undeniably can’t forget the ongoing pandemic, so here’s my gentle reminder to keep yourself safe and healthy for the school year! 

Asper Co-op Program Applications

In-person learning comes with in-person events! While the vast majority are going back to campus, if you’re a co-op student like me, you won’t be returning until 2023. It saddens me that I will miss a bunch of cool events like Shine Day Internal or The Commerce Week, however, I am very excited to continue my journey with the co-op program!

To the textbook description, “co-op is an experiential learning program that allows you to use your classroom knowledge in the real world, productive work environments; all while you get paid and earn academic credit.” In summary, the co-op program helps students secure a professional job within their chosen major that can total up to 1 full year of work experience by the time you graduate! The co-op program is a prominent part of the Asper School of Business. Whether students have specific professional goals or are exploring different career paths, the Co-op program grants students exclusive access to job opportunities to achieve their goals.

To gain some more valuable insight on Co-op, we asked a 5th-year CPA Co-op Student, Keshav Kaushal, to share his journey through the program. He begins by explaining his desire to join the Asper co-op program to gain professional work experience in the real business world:

         “To take this step, I decided that the co-op program is great for me. I was able to learn about different companies (specifically CPA firms), understand how recruitment/networking events operate and overall put myself in a position where I can work at a great firm. Through the co-op program, I met with various representatives from ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, in which I am happy to continue my third work term with EY.

The application process for the program was reasonable and straightforward. I had to complete a form about myself, followed by a series of questions regarding my career and life goals. I applied for the program in 2020, so there was a recorded interview portion in the application. I prepared for the interview by being well dressed and rehearsing possible topics I may be asked about. It was [easy to follow] and felt very natural for me. I do believe that the Asper Co-op Program is great and I made sure to communicate that eloquently. Through the program, I was able to work at EY for all three of my co-op terms, allowing me greater access to the business world. 

As CPA students, CACEE forms are extremely important, and the coordinators did a fantastic job in helping me learn how to create one. They have been very accommodating and supportive throughout the entire process and were able to answer all my questions. They ensure every student is prepared heading into interviews, which helped me a lot going into the first rounds of recruitment.

The program is a fantastic way to start building your career—for both students, like myself who were decided on their major, and those who are unsure. I strongly advise anyone to join the program as it will help aid decision-making in the future. The co-op program allows students to work in a career they want before graduation and are very flexible in allowing students to try different majors and explore various industries to provide the perfect opportunity to know whether they like the career or not. The opportunities are limitless!”

The Asper Co-op Program is currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 intake. To apply, fill in the co-op application form located on the Career Portal under “Co-op Work Terms” > “Co-op Program Application” > “Add New Application”. The Co-op Selection Committee will review all online applications and will respond by email to each applicant (within 2 weeks of the application deadline) to invite eligible candidates to attend a group interview. 

Application Deadlines:

• Early CPA Intake: August 29, 2022
  • Early CPA Intake is offered to allow accounting students to prepare for and participate in Fall 2022 CPA Recruitment as co-op students.  
• General Intake (all majors): September 27, 2022 

For further questions about co-op or the application process, you can contact the Co-op Office directly at (204) 474-8521 or [email protected].

The Commerce Week

With the upcoming fall classes, to begin on Tuesday, September 6th, the Commerce Student Association (CSA) is excited to bring back The Commerce Week to kick off the new school year! The week-long event is an extensive orientation designed to assist new students in their transition to university by providing opportunities to engage with a diverse group of classmates, faculty, and staff while introducing them to the Asper School of Business culture and customs.

Here is a brief summary at the events and activities during Commerce Week:

For students new to the Asper School of Business, The Commerce Week begins on Tuesday, September 6, and wraps up on Friday, September 9 by inviting ALL University of Manitoba Students to Asper’s legendary socials, ‘Commerce on the Quad’. Bring your friends, drink some beer, and purchase your ticket today at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/commerce-on-the-quad-tickets-400106759087. 

IGNITE Dinner Hosted by The Young Associates

As a welcome to new Asper Students, the Young Associates are inviting students admitted in 2020, 2021, and 2022 to IGNITE 2022 Dinner at the RBC Convention Centre on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 5 PM. IGNITE 2022 is the business community’s official welcome to new Asper students making it a great opportunity to connect in person with Manitoba’s business leaders. The inaugural IGNITE award will also be presented to one of Manitoba’s top business leaders, Ash Modha, President and CEO of Mondetta Clothing. IGNITE is hosted by the Young Associates and presented by the Associates of the Asper School of Business. Registration closes on Monday, August 29, 2022. 

Click here to register now, and claim your free ticket to the event—sponsored by the Associates of the Asper School of Business. 

First Week Essentials 

The first week at university can be exciting, but very chaotic for everyone. The last couple of years brought many challenges for students. From a fire at University Centre to a month-long faculty strike, and two years of zoom lectures and lock-down browsers, you can never truly know what to expect! But, luckily, here are some helpful reminders to start building on healthy habits.   

1. Don’t miss the introductory lectures.

The first few days of classes may be full of administration, but they are very important to keep you well-organized for the semester. Make sure you don’t miss your introductory lectures because professors will probably go through the syllabus for the rest of the semester. Your professors will go through the syllabus and summarize the key points such as exam schedules, grading, course goals and required textbooks. In general, you will get some idea of what is expected from you as a student.

2. Explore the campus.

Even as a student going into their final years, the Fort Garry Campus harbour many hidden gems for students to discover and utilize. Students are not restricted to their home faculty but are encouraged to explore various study spaces, student lounges, and on-campus restaurants! 

3. Develop the habit of studying often.

Rather than cramming a day before your exam, distributed studying is more efficient. It helps you retain more information, and retrieve it more readily. 

4. Get enough sleep.

Who doesn’t like naps? But, instead of heavily relying on an afternoon nap, the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep will not only make you feel energized for the day but also helps you retain information into long-term memory. 

5. Be careful about your diet.

The stress and chaos of university may cause you to eat more than you should. Keep healthful snacks around, watch what you eat at your meals, and try to eat on schedule. Proper eating habits will help you feel better, think clearly, and develop good eating habits that will improve your university experience.

6. Watch over your finances. 

Tying in with your diet, the university campus offers numerous options to grab some food on the way, or sit down and be served. However, while trying out every item on Tim Horton’s menu would be a fun challenge to partake in, I would do the business faculty a disservice by not advising students to be careful with their finances.

7. If in doubt, ask!

University is a challenging time for everyone, but there is an entire community that is willing to help you succeed and optimize your time as an undergrad. If you’re unsure about how to decide your major, planning your classes, the exchange program, or possibly just wanting to know the best study spaces, then head over to the first floor at Drake Centre to say hello at the CSA Office, or reach out to any of our social media pages! 

8. Have fun!

There will be plenty of time for the university to cause you stress, but orientation week should be filled with lots of joy and excitement. So, don’t worry too much about the little things, soon enough you’ll get the hang of it!