September Momentum: Owning Your Year at Schulich
There’s a particular buzz that comes with the first days of a new academic year at the Schulich School of Business. The campus feels fresh again, like it’s shaking off the quiet lull of summer. Posters for clubs and events fill the hallways. Professors are welcoming new faces and reuniting with familiar ones. And in the marketplace, groups of students are already forming, some huddled over laptops, some catching up on summer stories, and others planning how they’re going to tackle the year ahead.
Whether you’re stepping into Schulich for the very first time or returning as a seasoned fourth-year who’s seen it all, September is a reset button. It’s an opportunity to start fresh, set your rhythm, and get on top of the year before it runs away from you. And if there’s one thing that experience at Schulich teaches you, it’s this: the students who make early moves, on networking, on internships, on studying, on clubs, and even on exchange applications, tend to find the year unfolding much more smoothly.
This isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things, and doing them early.
The September Reset
September in Toronto is a gift. The days are warm but not scorching, the evenings cool enough for a hoodie, and the city is alive with patios, festivals, and golden light. It’s the last breath of summer before the rush of midterms, recruiting deadlines, and inevitable winter snowbanks.
There’s a temptation to coast at first, after all, classes are just starting and major assignments feel far away. But this period, the first two or three weeks, sets the rhythm of your entire year. It’s like the opening minutes of a marathon: run too slow and you’ll spend the rest of the race chasing; run too fast and you risk burning out. The key is to find a steady, intentional pace.
First-years are often told “don’t stress, you’ve got time.” And sure, there’s truth to that. But it’s also a perfect chance to explore, to ask questions, and to try things with zero pressure. Fourth-years, on the other hand, know the game. They’ve sat through info sessions, joined clubs, written countless cover letters, and maybe even done a co-op or exchange. For them, September is less about exploration and more about leverage: taking all that experience and turning it into something that pays off, internships, full-time offers, leadership roles, or graduate opportunities.
Regardless of what year you’re in, the mindset that wins is simple: let’s get on it early.
Networking: More Than Just Handshakes
If you’ve spent any time at business school, you’ve heard the word “networking” tossed around like confetti. And yes, sometimes it comes with cringey images of stiff handshakes and awkward small talk. But at Schulich, networking doesn’t have to feel transactional. At its best, it’s about community, about finding people who inspire you, who challenge you, and who will open doors for you because you’ve shown you’re worth knowing.
The first two months are packed with opportunities. Consulting firms host panels, banks send recruiters to info sessions, tech companies set up booths, and Schulich’s own Centre for Career Design fills up the calendar with workshops and fairs. It’s tempting to attend everything. But the real trick isn’t to collect events, it’s to go with curiosity. Ask thoughtful questions, chat with alumni about their own journeys, and follow up afterwards with a short thank-you message.
Upper-years will tell you: those coffee chats you squeeze in between classes, the LinkedIn message you send right after a panel, the genuine conversations you have at case competitions, those are the things that build a network that lasts.
And here’s the beauty of starting early: by the time midterms hit and the calendar gets chaotic, you’ll already have people in your corner. You’ll have recruiters who remember your name, upper-years who send you internship postings, and peers who want to study with you because you’ve shown up consistently.
The Internship Chase
Let’s not sugarcoat it: internships can dominate the year. For many students, especially in second and third year, the search for summer internships is top of mind.
Big firms,consultancies, banks, and Big Tech, tend to recruit early. Applications open in September and October, with interviews following quickly. Waiting until midterm season to polish your résumé or practice interview questions can put you at a disadvantage. That’s why September is so crucial: it gives you the breathing room to prepare without the weight of exams on your shoulders.
But not every path runs on the same timeline. Smaller firms, startups, and marketing agencies often hire closer to need, sometimes as late as spring. This creates a two-track system: structured recruiting (early and competitive) and agile recruiting (rolling and flexible). The students who manage both are never left waiting in limbo.
One overlooked opportunity? Showcasing skills outside of class. Recruiters love to hear stories that begin with: “I took on this project, here was the problem, and here’s how I made an impact.” It doesn’t have to be a formal internship. It could be running social media for a club, organizing logistics for a case comp, or analyzing data for a research project. What matters is the initiative, the problem-solving, and the results.
Start early, and you won’t just be applying, you’ll be applying with confidence, because you know you’ve already put in the work.
Exchange: Thinking Bigger
One of Schulich’s gems is its exchange program. Imagine spending a semester in Barcelona, Singapore, Copenhagen, or São Paulo. Beyond the travel and adventure, exchange changes how you see business. You learn how other cultures approach leadership, strategy, and even classroom dynamics.
Here’s the catch: exchange applications often open earlier than students expect. If you think you might want to go abroad in third or fourth year, September is the time to start asking questions. Talk to the exchange office, connect with students who’ve gone before, sign up to be an exchange buddy (extra points on your application), and explore the partner schools that spark your interest.
It’s one of those opportunities that students sometimes overlook until it’s too late. Don’t let that be you. Even if you don’t commit right away, just knowing the timelines and requirements will save you scrambling later. And who knows? That one semester abroad might end up being the highlight of your entire degree.
Studying Without Burning Out
Let’s be honest: business school isn’t exactly light reading. One week you’re knee-deep in accounting equations, the next you’re dissecting a marketing case, and by Friday you’re solving operations problems in Excel.
The students who thrive aren’t necessarily the ones who spend the most hours studying. They’re the ones who learn how to switch gears effectively and who build routines that actually stick. For quant-heavy courses like finance or stats, practice problems are everything. For strategy or OB, discussion prep and case summaries are key.
Study groups are also underrated. Meeting once a week with classmates can save you hours of solo frustration. Plus, they double as a support system. Sometimes the best motivation isn’t the grade, it’s knowing you’re all grinding together.
Clubs: Finding Your People
If you ask alumni what made their time at Schulich memorable, clubs come up again and again. They’re where friendships form, where leadership skills grow, and where résumés get that extra shine.
From the Finance Association to the Marketing Club, from entrepreneurship groups to consulting competitions, there’s something for everyone. The mistake most students make? Joining too many. The first weeks are a frenzy of sign-ups, but by midterm season, half of those memberships gather dust.
Pick a few that genuinely excite you. Then show up. Volunteer for an event, take part in a competition, or put your name down for a small responsibility. That’s how you go from “member” to “someone people count on.” And that’s how opportunities for leadership open up, because the execs notice who’s reliable.
And let’s not forget: case competitions might feel intimidating, but they’re worth it. They push you to apply everything you’ve learned under pressure, and they look incredible when you’re sitting across from a recruiter.
Cafés That Save Your Sanity
Sometimes, the best way to survive business school is to change your scenery. Toronto is packed with cafés that double as study havens.
Downtown:
Dineen Coffee Co. is a classic: high ceilings, gorgeous tiles, and coffee that actually keeps you awake.
Boxcar Social has a calmer vibe, great for long reading sessions.
Balzac’s in the Distillery District feels like studying inside a European train station, with light streaming through massive windows.
Quantum Coffee at The Well is sleek and modern, with reliable Wi-Fi.
North York:
Coffee Lunar is a bright, minimalist spot near Finch.
Another Land Coffee on Yonge is cozy and packed with students.
Cocoon Coffee near Yorkdale is quieter, perfect when you need focus.
Vaughan:
Balzac’s at Vaughan Metropolitan Centre is basically Schulich’s off-campus living room.
Balzac’s in Kleinburg offers small-town charm that feels like a reset button.
Aroma Espresso Bar near Promenade is a reliable study-fuel combo.
Rotating between spots can make assignments feel less like a grind and more like an excuse to explore the city.
Enjoy the Weather While It Lasts
It’s easy to get tunnel vision in September, résumés, readings, case preps, events. But don’t forget that this is also one of the best times to actually enjoy Toronto.
Take your laptop outside and work on the patio of a café. Wander Kensington Market on a Sunday. Catch a sunset at Harbourfront. Go for a walk in High Park with a friend after class. The fall colours hit hard in October, and the crisp air makes everything feel cinematic.
By November, the temperatures drop and the daylight shrinks. By January, you’ll be trudging to class in boots, coffee freezing in your hands. That’s why it’s worth soaking up September and October. The balance between hustle and joy isn’t just nice, it’s necessary.
Owning the Year
At the end of the day, the new academic year at Schulich isn’t about checking off a list of to-dos. It’s about showing up early, leaning into opportunities, and making space for both growth and joy.
Join clubs that matter to you. Go to events with curiosity, not just for the swag. Apply for internships before you feel “ready.” Ask about exchange programs before the deadlines sneak up. Find cafés that make studying feel less like a chore. And enjoy Toronto while the sun’s still out.
Whether you’re a first-year trying to find your lecture hall or a fourth-year lining up job offers, the principle is the same: the earlier you move, the more open the year becomes.
So here’s the challenge: don’t wait until “after midterms.” Don’t tell yourself you’ll figure it out “next semester.” Schulich is buzzing, Toronto is glowing, and opportunities are everywhere.
Let’s get on it, early.