Advice from UBC Students

Thusitha Wijewardhana Rathnayake

Whatever you do, do it consistently and with a purpose. Grad school will test your patience, adaptability and passion, especially when your experiments fail or your ideas take a new direction. So learn to enjoy the uncertainty. Create little…

Aidan Comeau

Like any academic pursuit, graduate studies can be challenging. Finding a research area that I was truly passionate about has been a key reason why I still enjoy arriving at the lab every day. I also believe it’s worth considering not only a…

Samadhee Kaluarachchi

One key piece of advice I have is to ensure you build a sustainable and balanced routine: take breaks, make time for your hobbies, eat nourishing food and get plenty of sleep. Engaging in conversations and attending research talks both within and…

Marina Mehling

Stay curious and ask questions. You never know when a hallway conversation becomes that "aha" moment you needed for your own work.

Daniel Stewart

Spend some time looking at what UBC has to offer you. There are so many free or cheap programs available to students! These can be great places to meet people. The quantity of options can be overwhelming at times, so my suggestion would be to…

Firth MacKenzie McEachern

Don't jump immediately into a long research project without giving yourself time to think, learn and iterate. Don't be afraid to explore. Take some classes, teach, join smaller collaborative research projects or discussion groups as testing…

Samuel Brown

It’s important to maintain a sense of curiosity; it’s the driving force that keeps research exciting and prevents it from feeling like a chore.

Yue Guo

Enjoy meaningful conversations with your academic community; they’re often an inspiring part of the journey. Building connections with your peers can be encouraging, so don’t hesitate to ask for help and support others, too.

Dane Sands

Don’t do it alone. Reach out to other students, especially early on. Most people have been through the same challenges and can help you figure things out. Sharing ideas, troubleshooting experiments or just talking things through can really help.…

Taylor Swift-LaPointe

Get involved in your department — attend social events to meet other graduate students outside of your lab. Your experience in grad school can be greatly enriched by having other students to talk to who are on a similar journey to yourself. Also…

Yu-Chi (Serena) Chuang

Choose a program/lab that you think will be a good fit! Grad school throws a lot at you, and it's a much better experience when you're in a supportive environment. Also, balance is key! Looking after your own wellbeing is important, and giving…

Ilena Yim

I guess all of us who pursue graduate studies are enthusiastic and determined about our topic of research. However, sometimes this enthusiasm and determination might turn into trying to achieve “perfectionism.” It’s important to remember that any…

Maria Stephenson

Remember to have fun! Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint, and it's important to maintain a work-life balance. While UBC and Vancouver have a lot of academic opportunities to offer, they have a lot of social opportunities too! Attend graduate…

Margarita Kapustina

As a researcher, pursue the questions that genuinely stand out to you and try to think of creative approaches to solve complex problems. Identify gaps in existing work and consider how you can leverage the tools and techniques already available…

Annika Szarka

Grad school presents many new challenges, and you will likely run into failure more than once. Remember that this is part of the research process. Trust yourself throughout the journey and learn as much as you can along the way.

Erica McAdam

Given the flexibility and self-direction required in doctoral studies, my advice to new graduate students is to actively create a timeline of key milestones and target dates to help keep yourself on track. It’s easy to lose momentum without a…

Sunu (Isabel) Kim

The best advice I could give is not to be afraid of meeting new people in your program or other academic disciplines, as we never know who will inspire us one day. New graduate students should immerse themselves in events/organizations with other…

Sarah Ferencz

There’s no single “right” path in graduate school. Everyone’s trajectory is different. Talk to lots of people, stay open and curious, and don’t be afraid to change your mind. But also learn to trust your internal voice—the one that pulls you…

Phillip Kirwin

My advice is to be patient and flexible at the beginning of your graduate studies. I recently attended a panel featuring UBC graduate school alumni, and one speaker pointed out that success is rarely linear — it's more often exponential. It may…

Molly Zhang

Apply for funding early and don’t be discouraged by rejection. Keep trying, because you never know what opportunities you might receive if you just put yourself out there. When choosing a supervisor or committee members, try to speak with their…

Harjeev Sudan

Talk to people! Building relationships of mutual trust, empathy and support with those around you can make graduate school feel far less overwhelming and isolating. Find mentors and don’t be afraid to seek support. Be a mentor when the…

Georgia Landgraf

I think my advice is mostly something non-academic: grad school flies by so quickly; take time to build a supportive community within your department and enjoy your time with them. It’s incredibly easy to get bogged down with deadlines and really…

Jenna Yuzwa

Make the most of your time here not only by working hard but also by taking advantage of all the other learning opportunities that grad school affords you both within academia and beyond.

Sean O'Rourke

Get to know the broader area beyond campus. I particularly recommend exploring Stanley Park. You can learn about its interesting history while checking out a handful of the city’s remaining giant trees.

Amin Sadeghpour

For those applying to a research-based program at UBC: Take the time to thoroughly research potential supervisors. Go through their website and publications carefully so you really understand what they are working on. Every prospective student…

Jiin Yoo

When I first started graduate studies at UBC as an international student, I was nervous about my English and unfamiliarity with the Canadian academic system. Although eager to participate, I often doubted whether I had anything meaningful to…

Jenna Chisholm

Remember that not everyone’s path through graduate school is the same and try not to let the imposter syndrome get to you (admittedly, the imposter syndrome can be persistent – I experienced it while writing some of these answers!). We all come…

Anjana Rajendran

Try to make time to get involved in graduate life at UBC. Whether that means joining your program based associations or the graduate student society, meeting new people will help make more meaningful connections.

Emily Booker

Being a graduate student and getting to dedicate your time to learning can be such a privilege; make sure you are taking the time to enjoy this experience.

Gurcharan Uppal

Take breaks and enjoy the experience. Graduate school isn’t just about classes or research. It’s also about exploring your interests, learning new things and building meaningful connections. Give yourself space to grow both academically and…

Makayla Freeman

You are more than your program. As much as school will pull for all your time and mental energy, remember what brought you here and who you want to be on the other side. Building relationships, staying connected to your local community, having…

Regan Thompson

You will find yourself along the way, and that you do not need to have a clear end goal when you are first starting your graduate degree. My career aspirations, skills, and research interests have continued to shift and grow alongside me since I…

Nisha Johal

Seeking out a research opportunity during your undergrad studies is a great way to see if working in a lab is a right fit for you. Be sure to take your time finding the best training environment. My advice would be to meet with many supervisors…

Katherine Herperger

I would offer two pieces of advice. First, find an activity that helps you relax. For me, that’s going to the gym or taking walks along the beach. It’s time I set aside to disconnect and recharge. Second, remember that your degree is yours to…

Behnam Maneshgar

One piece of advice I’d give to new graduate students is to remember that learning and coursework are just one part of the journey. Equally important are communication, networking, and building meaningful connections, both within academia and…

Tiffany Price

My biggest piece of advice for new graduate students is to find a friend or peer you can truly connect with, someone you can lean on when the program gets intense, whether you need to brainstorm ideas, talk through challenges, or just vent and…

Omran Safi

Often, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and shy away from discussing your ideas and asking questions. You will have lots of ideas and lots of them will be bad... and that's okay. Keep asking questions and keep learning! Use your graduate studies to…

Astou Thiam

• Establish effective communication with your supervisor.
• Reach out for support as needed.
• Numerous resources are available both within and beyond your department.
• Embrace the process and be mindful of balancing work…
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Lucas Kuhn

Try to learn early on how to get the most out of the relationship with your supervisor. Every supervisor will have different practices when advising a student, so it is always a good practice to ask how you, as a student, can best work with them…

Graeme Francolini

Make sure to explore campus a bit and take some breaks while working on your studies. Everyone needs to get their work done but keeping yourself sane and healthy is important.

Maria Elishaev

My advice for new graduate students is to embrace the unpredictability of research and life without trying to control everything. Instead of trying to do everything perfectly, prioritize what truly matters at the moment. Do not be afraid to ask…

Jordan Seider

Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself - you deserve to be here! Imposter syndrome affects us all, so spend some time early on talking with your peers to develop some tools to help when you are feeling most overwhelmed.

Kay Anderson

Finding your community is key to a fulfilling graduate school experience. It is tempting in graduate school to let our work consume our life, but I encourage new graduate students to challenge yourself and attend events that foster networking and…

Vanessa Chan

Make a lot of friends! Graduate studies is hard, so having a good support system is really important. Whether it be in friends you meet in your faculty, in clubs, in a lab or other places. Be open to meeting people! I find it'll make or break…

Maude Larivière

Attend departmental events, either those specifically for graduate students, but also the more general ones, like colloquiums or talks. If I had not done that, I would not have heard about my now supervisor’s research and things could have been…

Sheri Jahan Chowdhury

"Motivation is a guest; discipline pays the rent." This is something I still struggle to master, but it holds true for real, lasting success. If you are returning to studies after a break — like I did — it can feel overwhelming at first. But hang…

Daniel Barker-Rothschild

Get started and then let curiosity drive your research! Be open to collaborate - you can't do everything yourself and time goes by quicker than you think. Grad school may be one of the few periods of your life that you have the time and…

Asad Hasan

My advice would be to try not to compare yourself to others. You will often find exceptional people in academia, particularly here at UBC, and impostor syndrome runs rampant among graduate students. Instead, focus on carving out your own path and…

Marie Johns

Say yes to opportunities and put yourself out there. You never know what one experience might lead to. My journey began with a faculty member taking a chance on me for a directed studies course, which led to a summer research job, an industry…

Gillian Savage

It is easy to get sucked in completely to your research but make sure to make time to do fun things too! Having a good work life balance is important to avoid burnout.