The Transition from High School to University: An Interview with Sara Mah
Change can be scary, especially when going from a small high school to a university with thousands of people. We wanted to offer some tips and tricks to shed light on what the transition from high school to university is like, and felt that there was no better way than to interview a Women In Business member who has recently made this change herself, Sara Mah!
Sara is now in her second year of university, and while she initially pursued a degree in science, has since transitioned to a Bachelor of Commerce degree. She is involved in multiple clubs, and is the VP Outreach at SpeechDojo, a local non profit organization that builds programs to teach public speaking! The business faculty appealed to Sara because the opportunities the degree provides align with her skillset, and the faculty itself offers a broad degree.
If you are someone who is contemplating if business is right for you, Sara shared some advice! “Look at what classes you did best in high school. The faculty is diverse, with something for everyone, while still offering room to create your own opportunities. I really enjoy competition and wanted to be in a field where that was incorporated, but at the School of Business I also feel very supported.”
Something that makes Sara’s experience unique is that she transitioned from high school into university while classes were delivered remotely, and later transitioned to in-person learning in Fall 2021. Sara mentioned that due to the actual transition from high school to university being online, her physical environment remained the same and so did her friends. However, she had to adjust to the pace of the classes, as a lot of content was being covered in just 13 weeks! When Sara was finally able to attend university in person, she was talking to way more people and getting more involved, which ultimately took up more time from her day, adding to the time management challenge.
Since the first semester can be difficult, Sara identified some main struggle points. She found that the first semester can be chaotic as each class generally has different professors who all teach differently. Additionally, class sizes can be challenging when it comes to grading since many classes are graded on a curve, and it can be tougher to build relationships with professors. This is especially prominent for individuals like Sara who felt very supported in high school by teachers, and the transition can be a shock! As a result, Sara compiled a list of tips that are super helpful for anyone fresh into university.
Use what-if reports! These reports help determine which classes to take for your degree, and help you see what your degree would look like if you switched your major or minor. It can also help identify where you have room to take easier classes. For Sara, she even used a spreadsheet for different degree options, which helped her feel calm and focused throughout her degree, as she always knew what was possible for her future years.
Look at ratemyprof! This website is super helpful for finding reviews on professors. This will help you gain some insight on what to expect in your upcoming classes from things like grading difficulty to assessment approaches.
Use google calendar! It is important to have good time management skills, so “be adaptable, try different systems, and be gentle with yourself” if certain things don’t work for you.
Find mentors! Talk to people who have gone to university, or are a few years above you. There is so much knowledge and insight out there from older students who are more than happy to help. Sara found that there is more potential for mentorship if you get involved early on, and everyone is always so willing to offer their advice and experiences. Mentors can share mistakes they’ve made, and help you be successful in classes.
Speaking of connecting with others, when I asked Sara what the best part of university was for her, she said it was the people! This stems from Sara joining clubs to get involved, where she says that “through getting involved and joining things, I’ve found a place where I am meeting a lot of people from different backgrounds and getting a lot of perspectives.”
A large part of the university experience is creating your community while you’re there. Sara says “Don’t be afraid to go up and start talking to people. There is so much benefit in going up to other first year students and saying ‘I’m studying for this class too, can you help?’ Also, find common ground, using simple questions like ‘what's your degree? what are you majoring in?’” Additionally, Sara elaborated on the idea that business students love networking, but it comes from a very genuine place that can’t be found everywhere.
Specifically for Sara, she has built her community by getting involved in multiple different ways. When Sara was in the faculty of science, she still went to business networking nights, where she first met older students from the business community. Since then, Sara has gotten involved in JDC West, NXT-GEN, and Women in Business. “All the opportunities are open for first years, you just have to be willing to try out and interview. It doesn’t matter how young you are or how much you know. There are initiatives being started by younger students which is adding a lot to the faculty.”
Reflecting on how Women in Business has helped Sara transition into business, Sara says “I’ve met so many people who have gone through similar things, and it has been super valuable because it makes communicating about what's going on in your life a lot easier.” Sara also mentioned that it has been valuable to learn about the experiences of WIB members in different years of their degrees. Additionally, having a tight knit community of corporates has helped her feel supported in a safe, low stake environment in which she can sharpen her skills throughout her degree.
For Sara, her biggest takeaway from a club like Women in Business is the inspiration and aspiration she has gained. “With more exposure to women in the business world I have a much better idea of what people can actually do. Being exposed to a bunch of different roles through WIB, I have a more well rounded understanding of business, the opportunities within business, and the different pathways to get to those opportunities.”
Ultimately, Sara says “The people are always the answer. This is the most supportive club I’ve ever been a part of and one where I’ve seen so much diversity. Women in Business and the Faculty itself offer a mix of students from all years and faculties who all have underlying values and want to develop personally and professionally”
With that being said, we hope that Sara’s advice will help break down mental barriers that scare people about the transition from high school to university, and provide encouragement to those who are starting their university journey soon.