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CS2AC Session 2: From the Shores of Trinidad to a degree in Finance, an MBA, and a Soccer Scholarship at University of New Brunswick

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CS2AC Session 2 : From the Shores of Trinidad to a degree in Finance, an MBA and a Soccer Scholarship at University of New Brunswick

On this session of the Caribbean Students to Atlantic Canada Podcast we talk with Keagan Marcus, a Trinidadian making strides as a businessman and entrepreneur in New Brunswick. Keagan obtained both his Bachelors in Finance and Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of New Brunswick .  Listen as he walks us through his time as a student athlete (on a soccer scholarship), how he earned spending money as a student and how he went about finding pre-owned appliances for his dorm room.

In this session you will learn: 

  • The existing partnership between University of New Brunswick and UWI- Roytec 
  • What was needed to set up Keagan’s first dorm room at Aitken House
  • How he utilized the classifieds website Kijiji to purchase appliances
  • How Keagan balanced being a finance student and a soccer athlete
  • What he did to earn spending money during his undergad
  • Why he chose the path of entrepreneurship and what its like being an entrepreneur in Atlantic Canada
  • What advice he has for caribbean students combating the snow for the first time

We have a great article on what Kijiji is and how students can use the platform to navigate the various stages of university.

ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP

What is entrepreneurship ?

Entrepreneurship is more than just starting a business.

 “Entrepreneurship is much broader than the creation of a new business venture…At its core, it is a mindset – a way of thinking and acting. It is about imagining new ways to solve problems and create value.”~ Bruce Bachenheimer

UNB & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

How UNB supports entrepreneurship

For Entrepreneurs and Innovators

  On its campus, UNB has the Pond-Deshpande Center . Founded by two  tech entrepreneurs that are also graduates of the school ,  this center’s main goal is to facilitate innovation/ entrepreneurship in New Brunswick.

 If you see yourself as someone with great ideas, you have this great resource right on campus !

About the City

About Fredericton:  As a Caribbean student in Fredericton, you will not be disappointed while taking a break from the books!  Located along the Saint John river, there are lots of walking/ bike trails and museums. The small town atmosphere makes all feel welcomed. It is not uncommon for students to switch up the scene and hold meetings or study sessions in one of the many coffee shops around town. 

Resources

UNB Fredericton Campus Business Administration Program

UNB  Saint John Campus Business Administration Program 

UNB MBA Program 

UNB Fredericton Varsity Reds Men’s Soccer Team 

Aitken House

Student Employment Programs  

 

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ALSO FOR YOU

See Scholarships Offered By These Schools

Cape Breton Univserity

Dalhousie University

Mount Saint Vincent University

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All Bahamas Merit Scholarship

April 9, 2018

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Print Email Amount: Up To $35,000 / Annum Awarded by Bahamian Ministry of Education- Scholarship & Educational Loan Division Deadline: APRIL 30 (11:59

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College in Atlantic Canada: 10 Helpful Links for International Students Before and After the Acceptance Letter

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Deciding to leave your country and pursue higher education is a big step!

Whether you are applying to Cape Breton University (4 year programs) or Holland College (2 year programs),there are so many new avenues to navigate as an international student from the Caribbean. 

The question is where to start?! Here are a few links to get you started. 

Before the Acceptance Letter

Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork! Language tests, visas and essays are all apart of the college application process for an international student. We’ve listed some basic resources below for you. 

1. Official Business– The Government of Canada’s Immigration and Citizenship Canada (CIC)Website – As an international student, no matter the country, you will spend a lot of time here.  This site is where you will apply for a study permit , a work permit (when necessary) and a travel visa or eTA for accompanying family members. 

2. Transcript Assessment Websites– World Education Services (WES). Depending on your program, your future college or university may need to assess how the credentials you obtained outside of Canada compare  to theirs. Your school will tell you if this this is necessary. 

3. English Proficiency – International English Language Testing System (IELTS)– When applying to a program taught in English and English is not your first language, proof of English proficiency is necessary. For example, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, requires an IELTS overall score of no less than 6.5 if english is not your mother tongue. 

Your institution will inform you of the score they  require. Other proficiency exams include TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). 

4.  Learning About Canada–Educanada, well, educates you about life in Canada. The site features a student life section, an international scholarship section and a work after graduation section.  

After the Acceptance Letter

Once you’ve been accepted and all immigration paperwork is squared away , you may start thinking about  travel and what life in your future home will be like. The links below are a great start.

5. Booking your tickets – Sites like kayak.com are really helpful platforms for price comparisons.

6. International Foods at the Canadian Border – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency – If your mom is like ours, she may try and send you with the entire contents of the kitchen cupboard. But, it would be wise to check and see if the sweet bread, frozen conch and beef patties  she is sending are border friendly. If they are not, border patrol will dispose of the goods and may even enforce a fine. See the list of things you can bring into Canada. 

7. Keeping Up with the Weather –Environment Canada– Maritime weather is like no other and when winter rolls around, you will want to know what outside feels like before stepping out . Environment Canada provides official weather forecasts, warnings and storm tracking for all of Canada.  You can type your east coast city or town in the ‘Access City‘ box (found at the top right of the website).  

8. Local News– CBC News – This is one of the best ways to stay in tune with what is going on in your town, city or province. Each city has their own dedicated page, so specify your location from the dropdown list under the ‘Local’ tab.  Also, this is another great way to keep up with the local weather!

9. Groceries – Atlantic Superstore– If you don’t have a meal plan or you are opting for an apartment, chances are you will be needing groceries. Check Atlantic Superstore’s website for weekly discount flyers.  

10. Previously Used Appliances & Furniture– Kijiji is a great place for a used microwave or mini fridge. Check out this article on how international students can use it for other things like hair and tutoring services . 

Stay Connected !

Keep up to date with school and scholarship information 

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We’d love to hear from you so feel free to leave a review  too 

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Bahamian Students: PUBLIC SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

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Name of Scholarship: Public School Scholarship Programme

Range: From $7,500 US to $15,000 US/ academic year

Deadline : Last Friday in March in the Year Student is Applying

  THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS NOW OPEN!

UPDATED FOR 2018

Please note that scholarship requirements may have changed. The information presented below represents criteria at the time of writing. We encourage you to confirm that requirements have not changed.

SEND ME MORE !

EMAIL ME MORE INFO LIKE THIS

Overview

  • Scholarship is renewable
  • Students are able to apply for separate awards 
  • Bahamas Ministry of Education, Science & Technology partners with local and international universities and colleges 
  • Atlantic Canada Partnerships include: Saint Mary’s University, University of Prince Edward Island, Holland College

The Schools Below Have A Partnership With This Scholarship

See what other opportunities they have to offer

Saint Mary's University

University of Prince Edward Island

Eligibility/Criteria

  • Must be a Bahamian Citizen
  • Must be enrolled in a public senior school
  • First preference given to students who will be first in their family to receive a college education
  • A GPA of 3.00 or greater for academic students
  • A GPA os 2.75 or greater for technical and vocational  students
  • Must pursue one of the outlined careers of national need
    • Have at least five (5) BGCSE (Bahamas General Certificate of Secondary Education) Examinations with grade of a “C” or above inclusive of Mathematics and English Language (Academic Student Requirements)
    • Must be eligible for a Student Visa/Study Permit, complete all Visa requirements and pay all associated fees

Student Interview

Listen to what it was like for this Bahamian Student to live and study in Canada.

Andy, who is from Nassau, studied at the University of New Brunswick, received a scholarship and got work experience as he studied. Find out more about how he did it.

Documents Needed

*You will need to have scanned and saved the required documents in PDF format.

    • Copies of relevant examination certificates and test scores (AP, BGCSE, ACT, SAT, etc.)

      • Three(3) letters of recommendation:Two (2) from teachers at your school AND One (1) from a guidance counselor at your school

        • A copy of the college/ university acceptance letter

          • An up-to-date official school transcript

            • A copy of the first four (4) pages of your passport or certificate of citizenship

              • A copy of your valid National Insurance Card

              • A valid Police Character Certificate

                  • A medical certificate (Required before the issuance of the award)

Essay Requirement:

Applicants are required to submit an original essay on the following topic:

What does a College Education mean to me? (If you are the first in your family please indicate the value this opportunity will bring to you and your family.)

Document Images

Apply Online here  . (See Public School)

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How UNB Is Helping International Students Cope With Winter

The one consistent thing that Caribbean newbies want to know  is…”How do I deal with winter!?”.

Well, the University of New Brunswick’s International Students Advisor’s Office (ISAO) is providing a great resource for winter items that international students may have missed while shopping.

This is really helpful and very encouraging to any one facing an east coast winter for the very first time.

Their video shows how they are helping to keep fingers and toes warm 🙂

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4 Engineering Programs That You May Want to Consider

If you are considering engineering as a profession you may already be familiar with civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering. However, as we dived into this field of study, we came across some pretty interesting engineering disciplines that we wanted to bring to your attention. 

1. Ocean & Naval Architectural Engineering

Offered by Memorial University of Newfoundland this program involves some of the world’s biggest structures that just so happen to be off shore!

2. Geodesy & Geomatics Engineering

The University of New Brunswick’s GGE program uses your aptitude  for math and science in order to analyze data about the Earth’s surface. 

3. Mineral Resource Engineering

Managing available resources and figuring out how to extract them in a sustainable manner are all part of mineral resource engineering. Offered by Dalhousie University, the  details can be found here.   

4. Sustainable Design Engineering

At the University of Prince Edward Island, sustainable design engineers design solutions and/ or products that utilize resources in a way that does not compromise the environment or deplete materials. Find out more here. 

Universities in Atlantic Canada that provide engineering programs include:  University of New Brunswick, Dalhousie University,  Memorial University of Newfoundland , St. Francis Xavier University, and Acadia University . 

We want to hear from you.

Let us know what type of programs you would like us to talk about.

Last week on the Caribbean Students to Atlantic Canada Podcast (CS2AC), we spoke to Andy. Andy, who is from the Bahamas, is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s computer engineering program.

Listen to what Andy has to say about his experience as a UNB Engineering student.

Stay Connected !

Keep up to date with school and scholarship information 

Suscribe to our podcast on iTunes

We’d love to hear from you so feel free to leave a review  too 

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CS2AC Session 1: Bahamian Student’s Journey Through Computer Engineering at University of New Brunswick

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CS2AC Session 1: Bahamian Student's Journey Through Computer Engineering at University of New Brunswick

On this session of  the Caribbean Students to Atlantic Canada Podcast we talk with Andy, a past Computer Engineering student at the University of New Brunswick. Andy takes us through his process of dorm set-up, cell phone acquisition and opening a Canadian bank account. He also dives into the details of his scholarship and  paid work co-op.

In this session you will learn:

  • Why Andy chose the University of New Brunswick
  • How he and his father navigated Fredericton upon landing
  • About what was needed to set up his first dorm room 
  • What steps he took in order to secure a scholarship
  • About  his paid UNB Co-operative work experience and how he used it to help pay school fees after completion (A co-op work experience combines what was learned in the classroom with job experience prior to completing one’s degree. )
  • His suggestions for students wanting to study computers and enter the technology industry
  • His advice for Caribbean students combating the snow

JUMPSTART !

Things you can do now for classroom and career

Learn coding with Codeacademy

Store your projects on  Github

About the City

About Fredericton:  As a Caribbean student in Fredericton, you will not be disappointed while taking a break from the books!  Located along the Saint John river, there are lots of walking/ bike trails and museums. The small town atmosphere makes all feel welcomed. It is not uncommon for students to switch up the scene and hold meetings or study sessions in one of the many coffee shops around town. 

Resources

UNB Computer Engineering Program

UNB Engineering Co-op Education Program

 See Winter Gear here and here

Stores around Fredericton that may be useful: Walmart, Best Buy, Sobeys, Superstore

LISTEN TO THE NEXT EPISODE

Thanks for Checking Us Out!

To keep up with schools in Atlantic Canada and other student experiences:

Let us know what kind of student experiences you’d like to hear next!

To Help Us Out:

Help us reach more Caribbean students.

  • Like our Facebook Page
  • Leave a review on iTunes
  • Share this episode with  someone that may find it helpful 🙂

 

Let us know what kind of student experiences you’d like to hear next!

ALSO FOR YOU

See Scholarships Offered By These Schools

Cape Breton Univserity

University of Prince Edward Island

Mount Saint Vincent University