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SAF Crews: A bond that motivates and pushes us to do better

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Serena, Sukhbirl, Amy, Jake, Jeyanth and Haneen, AFM
Serena, Sukhbirl, Amy, Jake, Jeyanth and Haneen, AFM

The bond we built allowed us to motivate and push each other to be better. We want you guys to know that even the smallest get togethers or moments with your Crew can make a big difference when it matters.

SAF 2YEx

What I wish I knew in high school about first year and SAF Crews

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Tyler, Shyam, Davin, Thomas, Suki and Cassandra, SAF
Tyler Street, Shyam Bhatt, Davin Ching, Thomas Kraemer, Suki Su, Cassandra Wan

Dear high school students, you might be scared of the prospect of university, so here are five lessons we learned that we wish we knew back when we were in your shoes.

SAF 2YEx

Learning how to cohesively work together in our SAF Crew

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Jane, Srija, Jia, Ayden, Harry and Danial, SAF
Jane L., Srija M., Jia., Ayden S., Harry S. and Danial Z.

Working in Crews has taught us so much, ranging from learning how to cohesively work together as one, to finding all the best places for Shawarma in town. On a more serious note, teamwork is one of the best attributes of the Crew system in the School of Accounting and Finance.

SAF 2YEx

SAF students invest in their teamwork skills

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Umair, Livia, Jason, Harrison and Jialu, AFM
Umair, Livia, Jason, Harrison and Jialu, AFM

We know that a lot of people might think, ‘it’s easier to work on my own’ or ‘other people are unreliable.’ Contrary to those beliefs, the people in your team are your greatest assets. When we were accepted into the Accounting and Financial Management program at the University of Waterloo, to be honest, we were afraid of not knowing anyone in our classes—but then we were introduced to our SAF Crew.

SAF 2YEx

During your first year in SAF, teamwork is everything

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Isha, Rissalie, Karanbir and Nicole, AFM
Isha, Rissalie, Karanbir and Nicole, AFM

Your Crew is essentially your team for first-year. There’s four to six of you, and you get to share plenty of classes and other team-building experiences with one another. Working in Crews has made us comfortable sharing our ideas and opinions more openly, and it has made us more responsible. When you know someone is counting on you, you’re much more likely to put your best foot forward. Our Crew also keep us accountable.

SAF 2YEx

A built-in support system from the start

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Sabrina, Jerry, Mohamed, Yammunna, Rajvi and Adam, AFM
Sabrina, Jerry, Mohamed, Yammunna, Rajvi and Adam, AFM

Making the transition from high school to university can be daunting. All six of us had common fears like ‘am I going to be able to find friends?’, ‘will I be able to succeed in a new setting’?

SAF 2YEx

Why SAF Crews are important for intrapersonal and interpersonal growth

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Nirthika, Claire, Dimple, Jay, Erielle and Edwin, SAF
Nirthika, Claire, Dimple, Jay, Erielle and Edwin, SAF

In our first year, SAF placed us into small groups (four to six students) referred to as Crews which acts as a support system, providing each other with support regarding academics and personal growth. What are the dynamics of our Crew you ask?

SAF 2YEx

A letter to our past selves in high school

Thursday, April 23, 2020 by Richard, Johnson, Khanh, Fangyu, Ryan and Lynn, AFM
Richard, Johnson, Khanh, Fangyu, Ryan and Lynn, AFM

We know you must be very nervous coming into university. It’s a challenging transition — but don’t worry, because you’ll meet awesome classmates and friends from your Crew.

SAF 2YEx

The Most Important Lessons I Learned in My First Year of University

Monday, April 20, 2020 by Ryan, AFM
UW entrance sign picture with Ryan's photo beside

During my COVID-19 home quarantine I have had some time to reflect on my first year of university. Below are the three most important things that I learned:

Student Experience

Being the Best I Can Be

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Daniel Mahne, MTax ’18
Daniel Mahne School of Accounting and Finance

My aspiration in life is, and always has been, to be the best practitioner I can. With the experiences I’ve gained from the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) and making the Honour Roll for the Common Final Examination (CFE), I feel like I’m well on my way.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

Thinking of taking the CFE in the future? Become a SAF graduate!

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Nishi Shah, MAcc ’19
Nishi Shah School of Accounting and Finance

I always try to give 110% in everything I do and push myself to complete the best work I am capable of. This approach was no different when preparing for the Common Final Examination (CFE). While I gave 110% when studying for the CFE, I never thought I would make the honour roll. Much to my surprise though, I actually did! Though I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it without the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF).

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

Sitting down with Andrew Giles

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Andrew Giles, MAcc ’19
Andrew Giles School of Accounting and Finance

In September 2019, over 6,000 candidates passed the Common Final Examination (CFE), moving them towards their profession as a chartered professional accountant.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

One Night with CFE’s One Percent

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Kiera C., SAF
CFE Honour Roll recipients

On February 20th 2020, the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) faculty, staff, alumni, and members of CPA Ontario gathered in downtown Toronto to celebrate the successes of SAF graduates in their Common Final Examinations (CFE) to become a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA). The National Cub on Bay Street graciously held the event for us in their front room, which immediately made me forget that we were in the middle of Toronto and not a century old English manor house.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

The Big Beautiful World of Tax

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Fei Teng, MAcc ’19
Fei Teng School of Accounting and Finance

To put it simply, I love tax.

I initially got into tax because of my courses at the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF). I found that the professors that taught had an immense amount of experience and credibility straight from the industry.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

Having a chat with Ram Subbiah

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Ram Subbiah, MAcc ’19
Ram Subbiah School of Accounting and Finance

In September 2019, over 6,000 candidates passed the Common Final Examination (CFE), moving them towards their profession as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

Passion, Professions and the CFE

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Bill Lin, MAcc ’19
Bill Lin School of Accounting and Finance

I have always had a creative streak in my life. I love sewing, music, the arts— and I even used to be a piano teacher. However, I also love accounting and finance.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

The Importance of Experiential Learning

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Hanning Cai, MAcc ’19
Hanning Cai School of Accounting and Finance

It’s no secret that the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) is one of the best of its kind in the country. The Accounting and Financial Management program (AFM) and the Master’s of Accounting programs offer so many courses in accounting, tax, financial management, and more.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

Samantha Kan on the CFE and SAF

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Samantha Kan, MAcc ’19
Samantha Kan School of Accounting and Finance

In September 2019, over 6,000 candidates passed the Common Final Examination (CFE), moving them towards their profession as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA).

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

Christopher Houng’s SAF Experience

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Christopher Houng, MAcc ’19
Christopher Houng School of Accounting and Finance

In September 2019, over 6,000 candidates passed the Common Final Examination (CFE), moving them towards their profession as a chartered professional accountant (CPA).

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

The Endless Possibilities

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Aiwei (Ivy) Sun, MAcc ’19
Aiwei (Ivy) Sun

Every university student’s most dreaded question is probably: What do you plan to do after you get your degree? Some of you may already know, which is great! But if you’re like me and still have no idea, that’s fine too! Even after being named to the Common Final Examination (CFE) Honour Roll, I am still not 100% sure what my professional career is going to look like.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

From SAF to the CFE, Helpful Tips by Tina Jin

Thursday, April 9, 2020 by Tina Jin, MAcc ’19
Tina Jin

Ever since being named to the Common Final Examination (CFE) Honour Roll, I have this new-found confidence in my career path. Although I still have a long process of figuring out exactly what my long-term career goals are, this reassured me that I can succeed in whichever path I choose to pursue, as long as I put in the effort.

CPA Common Final Exam 2019

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: Competing at the IBM Technology Consulting Competition

Thursday, April 2, 2020 by William, CFM

The IBM Technology Consulting Competition was a perfect example of how being in SAF allowed me to explore an exciting and unique experience. The competition is the largest tech-focused and student-run case competition in Canada, and in the past, over 400 participants from schools across North America competed.

IBM Technology Consulting Competition 2020

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: Differentiating ourselves at the IBM Technology Consulting Competition

Thursday, April 2, 2020 by Sabrina, AFM

Back in my first-year, I shied away from case competitions because I wasn’t confident thinking on my feet—but as one of my mentors advised me, competitions are a great way to learn about a new business field and get out of my comfort zone. As you gain more experience from your co-op terms and courses, you are already prepped with all the technical knowledge you need to succeed.

IBM Technology Consulting Competition 2020

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: Combining two of my passions at the IBM Technology Consulting Competition

Thursday, April 2, 2020 by Noah S., SAF

For those who are interested in business strategy and technology, the IBM Technology Consulting Competition is second to none. I had the opportunity to combine two of my passions and develop a creative solution all while meeting industry leaders and like-minded individuals.

IBM Technology Consulting Competition 2020

From challenge to championship—what a wild ride!

Thursday, April 2, 2020 by Effy G., SAF

I strongly suggest you take part in any competition like the CFA Ethics Competition. I feel I was able to learn more about CFA Ethics in this competitive environment, than I would have through a course or project. I learned how ethics can be implemented in all types of situations—even in my daily life.

CFA Ethics Competition

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM: Applying knowledge to real-life scenarios at the IBM Tech Consulting Competition

Thursday, April 2, 2020 by Anna S., SAF

Centered around IBM’s technology, our task was to determine the best course of action for a medium-sized bank looking to expand its operations nationally. With four hours to pull the deliverables together, we as a team were able to identify and play to the strengths of each individual. Our team was able to leverage a diverse set of backgrounds, as we’ve all completed a variety of co-op placements including private equity, accounting, management consulting and tech.

IBM Technology Consulting Competition 2020

My advice on networking and standing out to co-op employers

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 by Jathushan Vasanthakumar

It can be a daunting task to go up and talk to strangers. In the field of Accounting and Finance we are put in situations where we are constantly talking to employers and building our network. In my opinion I enjoy networking because I see it as an opportunity to meet friends and create relationships. My advice for networking is be to try and be unique and have a normal conversation.

Student Experience

Stepping out of my comfort zone

Wednesday, April 1, 2020 by Sophie F., SAF

In order to be ready to take on new challenges and opportunities I must develop myself as a professional. This means stepping out of my comfort zone, building and maintaining a strong support system and sharpening my technical and durable skills. Stepping out of my comfort zone began when I was deciding which university to attend.

Student Experience

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