Ryerson Business Management (BM): Not What I Expected

By Ayman Haque

Why Choose Ryerson for Business Management:

When applying to Ryerson in high school, it was not my first choice. Compared to the other business schools I received acceptances from, Ryerson was not as widely known for their program. However, I chose to go to Ryerson since I assumed it would be easier at Ryerson to maintain a higher GPA for law school. Considering my outlook on Ryerson coming in, I was very surprised at the reality of what Ryerson Business Management offers.

Campus Experience:

Ryerson is largely a commuter school so in terms of parties and campus-based activities, it is rather limited. But this is not where Ryerson’s campus shines. The best part of the Ryerson campus is that it is at the heart of downtown Toronto. There is always something to do, you see something new every day, and you are immersed in one of the most diverse places in all of North America. You are near every club, surrounded by a diverse selection of food, and have a shopping mall right by campus. Most importantly as a business student, you are right by the financial district. The biggest disadvantage I found is that it is very easy to get distracted because there is always something happening. It took me a solid semester to stop hunting down new places to eat every day.

Classes and Academic Experience:

As most university students realize in first year, no matter how good your high school grades are, your grade will likely drop once coming to university. Although you pick your major after your first year at Ryerson, the first two years of the business management program are fairly general, meaning you will have to do all types of classes. This means you will have to do math-heavy classes and reading-heavy classes. Although this may be difficult at first, this allows you to realize what major you would be good at and what you want to do. The diversity in options for your major is a unique trait of Ryerson’s Business Management program, it is also very easy to do a minor alongside your major. I am currently an HR major and law minor. In terms of the academic environment, it is what you make of it. There are many opportunities to make great friends and connections as well as lots of free study help resources if you seek them out. Compared to York and UofT business programs, the environment is a lot less exclusive and more friendly. In my experience, business students at those two schools are more reluctant to collaborate or share notes with one another. If you are one to like intense competition, then Ryerson may not be as good of a fit for you, but there is nevertheless competition everywhere you go. If you can be self-motivated and go into class wanting to learn, then Ryerson BM is a great option academically speaking.

Clubs and Extracurriculars:

On the subject of self-motivation, it is a must as a business student. Before I delve into the importance of this subject in relation to clubs and extracurriculars, I want to preface with a list of clubs I have been involved in so far: Debate, DECA, Model UN and Ryerson Law Network. Other than these clubs I have attended events hosted by a variety of organizations at Ryerson. Communication and networking skills are just as important to business students as the classes they take. Just doing well academically is not enough in the business world. Ryerson Business Management emphasizes this through their courses, events and workshops. Until you start co-op (if you chose to) you will likely have no major work experience, so if you want to set yourself apart, clubs are perfect. There are clubs related to interests, competitions, and specific to subjects you may be studying. Joining these clubs are a great opportunity to get great experience for a resume and make the most out of your time at Ryerson university. Similarly, Ryerson always has business networking events, where you can not only network with amazing students but have the opportunity to interact directly with business professionals. The best part is that there is a networking event for every business industry you can think of. Making these connections with professionals coming directly from the financial district is what will open opportunities for you even before you graduate. Beyond networking events, Ted Rogers provides workshops to teach valuable industry skills ex. Linkedin, resume building, Excel, Python, etc. Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and taking advantage of these opportunities is crucial to succeeding at Ryerson.

Conclusion:

Ryerson is not perfect - the commute is annoying, rent is expensive, and you will have to endure 8 am classes. If you ask business graduates from other universities, many will say business school was not worth it because just the degree wasn’t enough to get a good job or any job at all. However, I feel like Ryerson Business Management shines where most other programs don’t. With a co-op program anyone can apply to and a plethora of resources to teach you the practical skills of the business world that will set you apart from the thousands of business graduates across Canada, Ryerson Business Management is definitely worth a look for anyone that wants to attend a forward-looking business school experience.

Although I am unable to cover everything in a short article, I am always willing to help new Ryerson students and anyone that may have a question about Ryerson. Feel free to contact me through Instagram (@ayman.ondat) or by email (mdayman.haque@ryerson.ca).

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