One of the things that I have really grown to appreciate about the Queen’s School of Business is the incredible attention to detail.  This is not something that is easily conveyed through a viewbook or simply by browsing a website, but it can mean a lot for a student making the leap from high school to university.  For example, when I applied to Queen’s Commerce 2 years ago, I remember receiving a personally addressed, handwritten Christmas card in the mail.  Sending out a card may not seem like a big deal, but if you imagine a card being sent out to every person who has applied to the program, you can see how that can quickly add up to a lot of work.  Have you ever lost your cell phone?  If so, then you understand the hassle and expense of having to replace it.  I was once emailed by a staff member at QSB who recognized my name in a lost cell phone.  Someone had found it on campus and returned it to the front desk of Goodes, and they had managed to track down my email address.  Because of that email, I was able to reunite my friend with her lost cell phone.  From decorating Goodes Hall with fake snow, lights, and reindeer for the holiday season, to being able to borrow an umbrella from the Commerce Office when the weather isn’t cooperating, it’s the little details that really help the Queen’s School of Business stand out from other institutions.

Through my work at QSB, and leading tours around campus, I get a lot of questions from prospective students.  I’d like to address some of the most common questions based on my experience of applying to Commerce:

When do acceptance offers go out?  What does a conditional offer mean?
If you applied for the Chancellor’s scholarship, the committee reviews your application first.  I was accepted in early to mid-February, which (I believe) was when the first round of offers went out.  After that, offers kept going out in small batches throughout March to mid-May.  A conditional offer means that you need to maintain the minimum academic requirements listed in your acceptance package, otherwise Queen’s can revoke the offer.

I didn’t take Accounting/Economics/Introduction to Business in high school, how hard will it be for me to keep up?
All first year Commerce courses start right from the beginning.  The professors will assume you haven’t had any exposure to these business concepts, and they will work to make sure you have a solid foundation.  With that being said, if you have taken those courses before, the first few lectures may be a bit of a review, which is always a nice way to ease into the school year!

How hard is it to get involved?
Let me put it this way, I don’t know a single Commerce student who isn’t involved in at least one extracurricular activity.  You’ll learn about the tons of internal/external committees and organizations during Frosh Week.  In the meantime, browse http://comsoc.queensu.ca for a full list of student-run initiatives.  From being a Frosh Rep on one of the many executives, to getting retail experience at Oil Thigh Designs, or to volunteering in the Kingston community through Commerce Kids, there is something for everyone with a wide range of interests and commitment-levels.

What’s the hardest course in first year?
This is purely subjective, but COMM 161 (Calculus) seems to get most of the votes.  You’ll get to experience the wonderful world of Calculus in the first semester of your first year at Queen’s.  Keep up with the readings, and you’ll be laughing during finals.  (Also, pay attention in Grade 12 Calculus!)

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me at 8tykw@queensu.ca or you can also find me on LinkedIn by searching Katherine Wong Too Yen.

I picked up the latest copy of the Queen’s Annual Report yesterday afternoon while in Goodes Hall.  For all the potential Queen’s Commerce students and parents out there, here are some interesting facts and statistics from the publication:

- The Commerce program received 4 000 applications for September 2009 entrance
- 320 students are admitted per year, with a total of 1 247 Commerce students across all four years of the program
- There are 15 student-run conferences and competitions hosted by Queen’s (visit comsoc.queensu.ca for more info)
- 50:50 male to female ratio
- In 2008, 253 students graduated from the Commerce program.  Of these, 20% have decided to continue their education or postpone their job search to travel.
- Of those who elected to seek employment at graduation, 93% found career-quality jobs within five months of graduation
- The average starting salary of a BCom’08 was $52 668
- Of those placed, 26% were in accounting, 20% in finance, and 19% in marketing, sales and advertising.
- 253 QSB undergraduate and graduate students studied abroad on exchange
- 71 top-tier universities around the world partner with QSB to offer student exchanges (for the most current list, visit business.queensu.ca/international_opportunities)
- In 2008-2009, 75% of third year Commerce students elected to participate in the QSB international exchange—the highest participation rate in Canada in an optional international exchange program
- Scholarships are available to assist students who might otherwise be unable to study abroad
- Students who don’t go on exchange still benefit from exposure to the international students who come to study at QSB on exchange—258 did so last year.
- 91% of BCom’08 respondents in the Queen’s Exit Poll strongly agreed or agreed that “Overall, my experience as a student at Queen’s was excellent.”  This is the highest level of satisfaction than any other faculty at Queen’s.

2 exams down, 4 more to go.  Home in 10 days!  But before that, I need to slog through COMM121, COMM163, COMM132, and COMM190.

Winter has definitely come to Kingston now; it’s not so much the cold weather that gets you, but the wind.  I thought the sidewalks would be hard to walk on because of the ice, but luckily people seem to be pretty good about clearing that up, or putting sand down so it’s not as slippery.  If you don’t own a pair already though, invest in some winter boots with good traction when you come to Kingston!

The new Queen’s Athletic and Recreation Centre finally opened on Dec. 1st!  The place looks amazing: great lighting, spacious, top quality equipment (TV’s are mounted on the workout machines!), and of course, the food court with Tim Horton’s, Teriyaki Experience, Booster Juice, and a new venue for the Common Ground on the upper level.  If you’re coming to Queen’s for a tour, make sure to drop by the ARC to see all the building has to offer.  It’s a huge improvement over the old PEC (Queen’s Physical Education Centre).

Since exam time started, I’ve been hibernating in my room with stacks of paper, textbooks, my laptop, and sets of earplugs.  Yesterday, as a quick study break, I went downtown for work, and got to see the Olympic Torch up close, which was exciting.  Apparently the torch will be downtown again on Monday; I’m debating if I can spare another study break to go and check it out, this time with the public.  In between work, studying for exams, and doing prep work for the upcoming Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition final gala weekend in late January, I have my hands full.

If anyone asks, I’ll be burrowed in my cave until December 21st at 5:00 PM, which is when I’ll be finished writing all of my exams.  Can’t wait!

Happy December!

Kat