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"Mapping the Future: Navigating the Course to Dream University"

Hello there! I am Vyomkesh Ajay Walanju, an undergraduate student studying Recreation and Sports Business at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Hope you are well and find this blog useful if you're planning your education overseas for the first time in your life. Getting to study abroad is an outstanding achievement for anyone and the excitement and joy you're filled with when you get the offer letter in your hand or by email cannot be explained, I can understand the joy you are feeling right now, and I am proud of you for making it this far. I still remember the day I got my offer letter from the University of Waterloo. I was screaming in my house that I got accepted into one of the best universities but for this to happen, I worked hard and prepared myself for a few things academically and mentally. The reason why I am writing these blogs is because I didn't have much guidance on how to prepare for my IELTS nor did I know how to do things properly in University as it was my first time trying to manage things on my own. It was a rollercoaster ride for me, especially during my first term. As an international student, I want to share some experiences I had and hopefully help you guys when you will be commencing your first year of University. Now you must be wondering, why I chose the University of Waterloo? So it began with a passion for basketball that I wanted to pursue and was interested in understanding how sports events get marketed and what happens behind the scenes, etc. I was more inclined toward Sports Management but in India, basketball isn't very popular neither is the awareness about sports management. When someone here's the word sports management in India, "You just have to play all day, right?". That was my realization that I am not studying sports management here. While I was applying for universities in Canada, most of my friends from Discord recommended that I should keep the University of Waterloo as an option. When I looked up Recreation and Sports Business they had so many options on which classes I could take which is a plus point. I could learn marketing, leisure, health classes, and so much more! They also had a co-op where you can apply for jobs and have work terms. Co-op is basically where you have study terms and work terms, it allows you to work while studying. My counsellor told me that the University of Waterloo where I wanted to get into was tough and my chances to get in were low. I had the grades and a good score in my IELTS  but in the end, it all came down to luck. During my application process for this University, I had to fill out parts A and B which described my personality and showed that the major focus is on human aspects rather than just marks. To be very realistic, my expectations were low and I applied to a few more universities like the University of Brock and the University of Guelph. Then one day, just a week before my birthday, my mom came into my room and asked me to check my OUAC account where you send applications and also receive offer letters from Universities, I told my mom that I don't think I'll get an offer letter from the University of Waterloo, my mom insisted and was like 'might as well check'. I logged in and then scrolled down to the offer letter section and when I saw that I had an offer letter from the University of Waterloo, then I said, 'Oh snap' and  I screamed and I realized that I got a birthday present before my birthday.

Well, here we are and that is it for my opening blog! As this is my first blog, bear with me a little as I am still learning how to write and hopefully, my blogs may help you a little to get through your University. Hope you enjoy reading this one! Please stay tuned for the next one!