Dorna Rahimi Take this time to challenge your thinking, learn about different perspectives, and always be in touch with the community outside of academia! Read More Sonja Saqui A few key pieces of advice that I have been given along the way that I feel are worthy of passing on are as follows: (1) graduate studies are a marathon not a sprint and as long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other chances are you... Read More Adam Vanzella Yang Do not be afraid to reach out to people and ask for help or advice. Being a graduate student is not an easy thing. Read More Alexandra Ruddy Work-life balance and self-care are important! Graduate school can be stressful and demanding, but it’s really important to find ways to relax and to find time to do things outside of schoolwork. Read More Nazlı Özüm Kafaee There have been times that I worked hard in order to figure things out on my own and try to make everything perfect before asking for guidance. However, most of the time, I learned and accomplished much more when I talked openly and frequently... Read More Madison Bolger-Munro Seek out opportunities to meet and network with other researchers in your field. My thesis work has been greatly enriched by collaborations that I established with scientists that I meet at meetings. There are many funding opportunities available... Read More Leah Baugh I would suggest connecting with your research supervisor and other faculty members to gain experience in different research methodologies and projects through volunteer or paid research assistantships. Read More Colin Wierts Talk to your supervisor as well as other faculty members and students about your research ideas and interests as much as you can. It helps with moving your ideas forward, creates potential opportunities for collaboration, and can be a great way... Read More Joshua Fawcett-Weiner I'd suggest new students think carefully about what they want from their grad school experience and, where possible, try to tailor their plans accordingly. Also, pacing yourself, maintaining a social life and being mindful of your health are all... Read More D. Kyle Sutherland Imposter syndrome is a hurdle that MANY new and current graduate students contend with throughout their degree. It is totally normal to feel this way, so keep your head up. Read More Ben Dantzer I have three pieces of advice for new graduate students. First and foremost, I would encourage all new graduate students to find an off-campus activity that they enjoy to do with others. UBC can be quite academically challenging at times, so... Read More 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 Kyrie Vermette Pursuing a graduate degree is a taxing endeavour. My first advice to new graduate students is to not be afraid to admit when you do not understand something. Not understanding something does not mean that you are unqualified for your program or... Read More Gabrielle Berry Take breaks. Go for walks. Know that everyone has imposter syndrome. 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 Michèle Cheng Keep your goal in mind, work hard, and persevere. 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 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 Raahil Madhok Find a hobby that can take your mind of research or coursework. Graduate school has a tendency to consume an unhealthy amount of time, and it is important to stay grounded and mentally healthy. A hobby where you can be in the moment, have fun,... 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 Rishad Habib A PhD is a marathon (& a very slow, long one), not a 100m race. Keep a steady pace, stay hydrated, enjoy the view, take a break if you need it - finishing well is more important than finishing first. Read More Daniel Ji Trust in the process. 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 Pages1 2 3 4 5 next › last »
Dorna Rahimi Take this time to challenge your thinking, learn about different perspectives, and always be in touch with the community outside of academia! Read More
Sonja Saqui A few key pieces of advice that I have been given along the way that I feel are worthy of passing on are as follows: (1) graduate studies are a marathon not a sprint and as long as you keep putting one foot in front of the other chances are you... Read More
Adam Vanzella Yang Do not be afraid to reach out to people and ask for help or advice. Being a graduate student is not an easy thing. Read More
Alexandra Ruddy Work-life balance and self-care are important! Graduate school can be stressful and demanding, but it’s really important to find ways to relax and to find time to do things outside of schoolwork. Read More
Nazlı Özüm Kafaee There have been times that I worked hard in order to figure things out on my own and try to make everything perfect before asking for guidance. However, most of the time, I learned and accomplished much more when I talked openly and frequently... Read More
Madison Bolger-Munro Seek out opportunities to meet and network with other researchers in your field. My thesis work has been greatly enriched by collaborations that I established with scientists that I meet at meetings. There are many funding opportunities available... Read More
Leah Baugh I would suggest connecting with your research supervisor and other faculty members to gain experience in different research methodologies and projects through volunteer or paid research assistantships. Read More
Colin Wierts Talk to your supervisor as well as other faculty members and students about your research ideas and interests as much as you can. It helps with moving your ideas forward, creates potential opportunities for collaboration, and can be a great way... Read More
Joshua Fawcett-Weiner I'd suggest new students think carefully about what they want from their grad school experience and, where possible, try to tailor their plans accordingly. Also, pacing yourself, maintaining a social life and being mindful of your health are all... Read More
D. Kyle Sutherland Imposter syndrome is a hurdle that MANY new and current graduate students contend with throughout their degree. It is totally normal to feel this way, so keep your head up. Read More
Ben Dantzer I have three pieces of advice for new graduate students. First and foremost, I would encourage all new graduate students to find an off-campus activity that they enjoy to do with others. UBC can be quite academically challenging at times, so... Read More
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
Kyrie Vermette Pursuing a graduate degree is a taxing endeavour. My first advice to new graduate students is to not be afraid to admit when you do not understand something. Not understanding something does not mean that you are unqualified for your program or... 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
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
Raahil Madhok Find a hobby that can take your mind of research or coursework. Graduate school has a tendency to consume an unhealthy amount of time, and it is important to stay grounded and mentally healthy. A hobby where you can be in the moment, have fun,... 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
Rishad Habib A PhD is a marathon (& a very slow, long one), not a 100m race. Keep a steady pace, stay hydrated, enjoy the view, take a break if you need it - finishing well is more important than finishing first. 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
