Katherine MacDonald Make sure to have work-life balance. There are always more experiments to do or papers to read, but you need to make some time for yourself as well. Read More Daniel He Remember to prioritize your mental health, and don't compare yourself to others - we are all on our own journey. Think big with your research, but plan for the future while you're in graduate school! Read More Pranav Shrestha Do not take graduate life too seriously - learn to enjoy the process because research is usually filled with unforeseen obstacles and failures. Try to follow a healthy daily routine, where you stop work after a certain time. Rest is as important... Read More Sophie Smit Balance. Your own mental health is so important, taking care to look after yourself, spend time with friends, and let go of the imperfections amid the demands of graduate school is key to making it through. Read More Alaa Eldin Abdelaal I advise them to have a clear goal of why they want to pursue a graduate degree, especially a PhD. Another piece of advice is to learn about all the available resources they have during their studies and make use of them to achieve their goal.... Read More Jigyasa Verma Take graduate school as a training ground for achieving your goals in life and do not miss out on the fun and inquisitiveness in the process. Make sure to pursue your hobbies (and develop new ones). Read More Maggie Woo Kinshella Be passionate. Read More Daniel Kwon The most capable person who can ensure your success in graduate school is you. Be your own best advocate and always reflect on how to optimize your success in research from the big picture, such as selecting a research discipline or advisor, even... Read More Khaled Ahmed Be sure that you are passionate about your field of studies/research before pursuing it. Work hard, but don't forget to have fun. Read More Henry Lu Make sure you have a good work-life balance, have a clear plan for your degree (as the independence can be daunting for many), and read read read! Read More Natalya Lebedeva Learn about life in Vancouver and on campus before you come. There are many perks that you can enjoy if you apply for them in advance. Waitlists are long here :) Read More Jonathan Eaton Schedule down time and recreation time. Everything in your life will be making demands on your time, and as a graduate student, it’s often difficult to make time for the people and activities that are important to you. For graduate students, work... Read More Travis Fuchs Talk to as many people as possible, take at least one course that just interests you, and remember that without your research and story we would all be worse off. Read More Samantha Schaffner Graduate school on the surface might seem easier than undergrad - there are far less exams, classes, and materials to memorize. The real challenge comes outside of the classroom when you are learning to manage your research projects, your time,... Read More Seyed Amirhossein Nasseri It seems to me that as a graduate student, the questions you are trying to answer through your research will inevitably become a big part of your life. I think it is really important for prospective graduate students to try to know about their... Read More Wajiha Mehdi When I came here, the very first memory is that of being extremely overwhelmed. As an international student, this meant a major shift in culture, weather and everyday life in general. So, to new students I would say, take your time to settle down... Read More Laina Southgate I learned that graduate school is difficult and the expectations of your work are significantly higher than undergrad. That being said, however, don't be afraid to push yourself. Take an extra class, do a directed reading, explore a thesis option... Read More Sakshi Jain It is very easy to drown yourself into work as a graduate student, however, Vancouver has a lot to offer and you shouldn't miss out on that (because there ALWAYS will be work to do). So relax and don't stress out too much. Read More Karama Asleh Do not allow obstacles to dampen your motivation and be the one leading your actions. Create healthy and realistic strategies and revisit them to increase your chances of reaching your goals. Do what you can do to impress yourself and learn to... Read More Marjan Ebneshahidi In our schools, we have to answer so many difficult research questions, but the first challenging question we should attempt to answer is "what is the real meaning of life?" UBC and some non-profit organizations in Vancouver have a wide range of... Read More Shubham Arora Come. Explore. Rejuvenate. Make serious efforts. Expand yourself. Live a life. Read More Ryan Dwyer People have different working styles. Find the style that works best for you and avoid the temptation to compare yourself to others. Read More Julia Huggins Graduate school is a lot of work, but it's more rewarding when you embrace that and fully immerse yourself in your research. It's really a privilege to have a time in your life where you get to focus entirely on creating new knowledge while... Read More Ehsanur Rahman My only suggestion for the new graduate students is to enjoy the graduate life in UBC to the fullest. Your stay in this beautiful campus is going to be one of the best parts of your life and a stepping stone on the way to your future career... Read More Hong Lu Focus on an important problem and remain determined to solving it. Only you are your greatest enemy. Believe in yourself and go for it. Read More Sara Khoddami I would advise new graduate students to give themselves some time when making the transition. Graduate school is very different from undergraduate studies and the first few months might go by a little slow, but it's the best time to build a... Read More Huanwen Wang Be prepared for the surprise at UBC！ Read More Mollie Holmberg Take time to find and build quality relationships. Having strong support networks is crucial for getting through grad school, and it can take lots of different forms - residential communities, families, academic cohorts, mentors/mentees,... Read More Rose Zhang Be prepared for your program and new studies, which is going to pretty heavy. The first term is always the hardest. For international students, take part in info sessions and online webinars organized by UBC's Graduate Pathways to Success program... Read More Pramod Sah The time is very limited during our graduate studies, but UBC has unlimited offers and it entirely depends on the student how they want to make use of such offers. What I also like to advise is not to compromise your life at present just for your... Read More Hossam Shoman Try to always explore new things, and chose a destination based on 1) the topic that you'd like to work on, 2) the advisor that you'd like to work with, and also 3) the place that you'd like to spend the next few years at. All these factors, if... Read More Anoosha Pai S Take your time to figure out what you really like. Once you know, race against the time to pursue it! Read More Kate Wahl Bring a growth mindset to your graduate experience! Now is a great time to explore challenges, take intellectual risks, and learn to capitalize on setbacks. Knowing that not everything will go according to plan, remember that your colleagues will... Read More Cassandra Elphinstone Get involved in activities you enjoy outside your research. They will introduce you to a like-minded community of people and provide you with a way to relax when you need a break from your project. Read More Adam Ramzy Grad school will present unique challenges unlike those faced in undergrad. Your success will require intrinsic motivation to want to contribute to science. Don't doubt yourself and be willing to take risks and work hard for an essential cause.... Read More Karl Zimmermann You learn more outside of your office than in front of your computer. Talk to someone new every day. Read More Juma Orach Be kind to yourself and take your new journey one step at a time. Focus on being better than you were the previous day. More importantly, recognize that graduate school is enriched with unique perspectives and experiences–there is always going to... Read More Diana Canals Hernaez Don’t isolate yourself in your research. It is very easy to get absorbed by your research and put everything aside for “just a few years”, but grad school is tough enough and you’ll need a network of people to support you so that you can excel.... Read More Lucas Zhang Graduate school is quite different from undergraduate life. You have experienced and learned a lot up to this point in your life. Hence, having a positive outlook, strong mental capacity, resilience, and accountability are the necessities in... Read More Tarique Benbow Try to have a holistic experience during your graduate studies. Become involved in outreach programs, graduated student societies, and clubs to enrich your graduate school experience. UBC has many student organizations to help you get involved... Read More Philipp Kreyenmeier Find something relaxing to do for times when grad school becomes stressful and frustrating. Read More Jialin (Lydia) Chen To open yourself and welcome the new environment. Be positive, and talk with your friends, things will be better! Read More Joseph Ogbede Prepare your mind, set a target, get ready for rewarding opportunities, and network with people you meet. Importantly, be inspired by a purpose. Read More Matthew Hickey Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. You’ll be surprised what you can learn about yourself if given the chance. Read More Karen Rose Thomas Find a supervisor that you connect with. Be honest with them about your needs, and never tell the determined voice in your mind to be quiet. Read More Cheryl Inkster Take it one day at a time and take advantage of the services offered at UBC to support you. Go walk down to the beach before or after class and take time to rest. Balance is important, and seek help if you are not sure how or where to start. Read More Kelsey Yamasaki One piece of advice that I have for new graduate students is to establish a healthy work-life balance. Graduate studies may be very intensive and you may find yourself devoting most of your time to research and coursework - which is a part of... Read More Robbie Knott Take time for self-care. Graduate school can be overwhelming at times and it's important to listen to your body and find a healthy work-life balance. I find that habitual exercise and healthy eating allow me to stay energized and also bolster the... Read More Yeeun Lee My best advice, for now, is to be proactive and persistent! Graduate student life is pretty much independent. If I don't push myself to be active and keep myself engaged, it is easy to be lost and lazy. At the same time, facing multiple failures... Read More Jessica Schaub Take time for things that you enjoy doing to avoid burning out. Read More Pages1 2 3 4 5 next › last »
Katherine MacDonald Make sure to have work-life balance. There are always more experiments to do or papers to read, but you need to make some time for yourself as well. Read More
Daniel He Remember to prioritize your mental health, and don't compare yourself to others - we are all on our own journey. Think big with your research, but plan for the future while you're in graduate school! Read More
Pranav Shrestha Do not take graduate life too seriously - learn to enjoy the process because research is usually filled with unforeseen obstacles and failures. Try to follow a healthy daily routine, where you stop work after a certain time. Rest is as important... Read More
Sophie Smit Balance. Your own mental health is so important, taking care to look after yourself, spend time with friends, and let go of the imperfections amid the demands of graduate school is key to making it through. Read More
Alaa Eldin Abdelaal I advise them to have a clear goal of why they want to pursue a graduate degree, especially a PhD. Another piece of advice is to learn about all the available resources they have during their studies and make use of them to achieve their goal.... Read More
Jigyasa Verma Take graduate school as a training ground for achieving your goals in life and do not miss out on the fun and inquisitiveness in the process. Make sure to pursue your hobbies (and develop new ones). Read More
Daniel Kwon The most capable person who can ensure your success in graduate school is you. Be your own best advocate and always reflect on how to optimize your success in research from the big picture, such as selecting a research discipline or advisor, even... Read More
Khaled Ahmed Be sure that you are passionate about your field of studies/research before pursuing it. Work hard, but don't forget to have fun. Read More
Henry Lu Make sure you have a good work-life balance, have a clear plan for your degree (as the independence can be daunting for many), and read read read! Read More
Natalya Lebedeva Learn about life in Vancouver and on campus before you come. There are many perks that you can enjoy if you apply for them in advance. Waitlists are long here :) Read More
Jonathan Eaton Schedule down time and recreation time. Everything in your life will be making demands on your time, and as a graduate student, it’s often difficult to make time for the people and activities that are important to you. For graduate students, work... Read More
Travis Fuchs Talk to as many people as possible, take at least one course that just interests you, and remember that without your research and story we would all be worse off. Read More
Samantha Schaffner Graduate school on the surface might seem easier than undergrad - there are far less exams, classes, and materials to memorize. The real challenge comes outside of the classroom when you are learning to manage your research projects, your time,... Read More
Seyed Amirhossein Nasseri It seems to me that as a graduate student, the questions you are trying to answer through your research will inevitably become a big part of your life. I think it is really important for prospective graduate students to try to know about their... Read More
Wajiha Mehdi When I came here, the very first memory is that of being extremely overwhelmed. As an international student, this meant a major shift in culture, weather and everyday life in general. So, to new students I would say, take your time to settle down... Read More
Laina Southgate I learned that graduate school is difficult and the expectations of your work are significantly higher than undergrad. That being said, however, don't be afraid to push yourself. Take an extra class, do a directed reading, explore a thesis option... Read More
Sakshi Jain It is very easy to drown yourself into work as a graduate student, however, Vancouver has a lot to offer and you shouldn't miss out on that (because there ALWAYS will be work to do). So relax and don't stress out too much. Read More
Karama Asleh Do not allow obstacles to dampen your motivation and be the one leading your actions. Create healthy and realistic strategies and revisit them to increase your chances of reaching your goals. Do what you can do to impress yourself and learn to... Read More
Marjan Ebneshahidi In our schools, we have to answer so many difficult research questions, but the first challenging question we should attempt to answer is "what is the real meaning of life?" UBC and some non-profit organizations in Vancouver have a wide range of... Read More
Shubham Arora Come. Explore. Rejuvenate. Make serious efforts. Expand yourself. Live a life. Read More
Ryan Dwyer People have different working styles. Find the style that works best for you and avoid the temptation to compare yourself to others. Read More
Julia Huggins Graduate school is a lot of work, but it's more rewarding when you embrace that and fully immerse yourself in your research. It's really a privilege to have a time in your life where you get to focus entirely on creating new knowledge while... Read More
Ehsanur Rahman My only suggestion for the new graduate students is to enjoy the graduate life in UBC to the fullest. Your stay in this beautiful campus is going to be one of the best parts of your life and a stepping stone on the way to your future career... Read More
Hong Lu Focus on an important problem and remain determined to solving it. Only you are your greatest enemy. Believe in yourself and go for it. Read More
Sara Khoddami I would advise new graduate students to give themselves some time when making the transition. Graduate school is very different from undergraduate studies and the first few months might go by a little slow, but it's the best time to build a... Read More
Mollie Holmberg Take time to find and build quality relationships. Having strong support networks is crucial for getting through grad school, and it can take lots of different forms - residential communities, families, academic cohorts, mentors/mentees,... Read More
Rose Zhang Be prepared for your program and new studies, which is going to pretty heavy. The first term is always the hardest. For international students, take part in info sessions and online webinars organized by UBC's Graduate Pathways to Success program... Read More
Pramod Sah The time is very limited during our graduate studies, but UBC has unlimited offers and it entirely depends on the student how they want to make use of such offers. What I also like to advise is not to compromise your life at present just for your... Read More
Hossam Shoman Try to always explore new things, and chose a destination based on 1) the topic that you'd like to work on, 2) the advisor that you'd like to work with, and also 3) the place that you'd like to spend the next few years at. All these factors, if... Read More
Anoosha Pai S Take your time to figure out what you really like. Once you know, race against the time to pursue it! Read More
Kate Wahl Bring a growth mindset to your graduate experience! Now is a great time to explore challenges, take intellectual risks, and learn to capitalize on setbacks. Knowing that not everything will go according to plan, remember that your colleagues will... Read More
Cassandra Elphinstone Get involved in activities you enjoy outside your research. They will introduce you to a like-minded community of people and provide you with a way to relax when you need a break from your project. Read More
Adam Ramzy Grad school will present unique challenges unlike those faced in undergrad. Your success will require intrinsic motivation to want to contribute to science. Don't doubt yourself and be willing to take risks and work hard for an essential cause.... Read More
Karl Zimmermann You learn more outside of your office than in front of your computer. Talk to someone new every day. Read More
Juma Orach Be kind to yourself and take your new journey one step at a time. Focus on being better than you were the previous day. More importantly, recognize that graduate school is enriched with unique perspectives and experiences–there is always going to... Read More
Diana Canals Hernaez Don’t isolate yourself in your research. It is very easy to get absorbed by your research and put everything aside for “just a few years”, but grad school is tough enough and you’ll need a network of people to support you so that you can excel.... Read More
Lucas Zhang Graduate school is quite different from undergraduate life. You have experienced and learned a lot up to this point in your life. Hence, having a positive outlook, strong mental capacity, resilience, and accountability are the necessities in... Read More
Tarique Benbow Try to have a holistic experience during your graduate studies. Become involved in outreach programs, graduated student societies, and clubs to enrich your graduate school experience. UBC has many student organizations to help you get involved... Read More
Philipp Kreyenmeier Find something relaxing to do for times when grad school becomes stressful and frustrating. Read More
Jialin (Lydia) Chen To open yourself and welcome the new environment. Be positive, and talk with your friends, things will be better! Read More
Joseph Ogbede Prepare your mind, set a target, get ready for rewarding opportunities, and network with people you meet. Importantly, be inspired by a purpose. Read More
Matthew Hickey Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. You’ll be surprised what you can learn about yourself if given the chance. Read More
Karen Rose Thomas Find a supervisor that you connect with. Be honest with them about your needs, and never tell the determined voice in your mind to be quiet. Read More
Cheryl Inkster Take it one day at a time and take advantage of the services offered at UBC to support you. Go walk down to the beach before or after class and take time to rest. Balance is important, and seek help if you are not sure how or where to start. Read More
Kelsey Yamasaki One piece of advice that I have for new graduate students is to establish a healthy work-life balance. Graduate studies may be very intensive and you may find yourself devoting most of your time to research and coursework - which is a part of... Read More
Robbie Knott Take time for self-care. Graduate school can be overwhelming at times and it's important to listen to your body and find a healthy work-life balance. I find that habitual exercise and healthy eating allow me to stay energized and also bolster the... Read More
Yeeun Lee My best advice, for now, is to be proactive and persistent! Graduate student life is pretty much independent. If I don't push myself to be active and keep myself engaged, it is easy to be lost and lazy. At the same time, facing multiple failures... Read More
