YouAlberta
By Sandy
Among some of the most challenging questions university students must ask themselves at some point in their degree is, “where will I go next?” Each student’s journey is unique and there is no right answer. How do some university students come to make that decision? We asked two former undergrads students from across campus and summarized some of the key reasons for choosing to continue their education journey or move into the workforce.
Since graduating from the University of Alberta, School of Business in 2015, Mark Wang has worked in the banking industry.
What do you miss most about going to school?
I miss the schedule flexibility and seeing a wide variety of people every day. Being part of multiple clubs and organizations on campus also made my day-to-day interesting.
What do you love about the workforce?
You work with some very talented people and deal with unique challenges real-life every day. Also no longer having to pay for coffee is great.
What do you wish you knew about before entering the workforce?
I wish I knew not to be afraid to approach people in roles I was interested in. Most people are friendlier than I expected and opened up with good advice for my career path.
If you could go back and redo your undergrad, what would you do differently?
I would travel more in the summer and do more exchange programs. One of the best experiences I had was going on an exchange to Hong Kong during the final year of my degree. It was a valuable experience that I didn’t fully appreciate until I started working.
Since starting his University Journey in 2007, Sean’s academic career has taken him through his Advanced Biology and Chemistry degree to a Master of Science in Chemistry. His curiosity for Science and love for working with people eventually led him to pursue a professional degree in Pharmacy at the University of Alberta.
What do you love about grad school?
I’m a very curious person and love to learn about anything. While in school studying and learning is your job.
Why did you choose to go to grad school?
My career path changed. I knew that I didn’t want to continue with the trajectory I was going in, and had a good idea of what I wanted to go back to school for.
What piece of advice would you have offered yourself before starting school?
I would have benefited from was having a more focused idea of what I wanted to do with my career before entering university.
Would you do anything differently?
I wouldn’t change anything different about my university experience. I made mistakes, I learned from them.
These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.