Aysha Allard Brown 1) Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, 2) Celebrate your achievements (big or small), and 3) Enjoy the journey! Read More Rane Simpson A graduate degree, at least in science as I am familiar, is not the easiest path to pursue. Not everyone that I know in this program is as certain about their future as others. Sometimes you don't know which side of the fence you lie on until you... Read More Xiaocong Guo My advice to new graduate students is to not work in a silo. There is a wealth of knowledge in research experts, your peers, and those who started a similar journey before you. Collaborate and learn from them whenever you can, and you will... Read More Bonnie Leung Something I am still learning to do is how and when to say "no". As a graduate student, there are many learning and experiential opportunities. While the training program is finite, learning does not stop when you graduate and opportunities you... Read More Fang Fang Li Like any journey, there will be both good days and bad days. Within the good days, there will be days where you will feel invincible — as if you’re standing on top of the world. On the flip side, you may find that the worst of the bad days are... Read More Bronwen Grocott Don't let anyone else tell you what your experience in grad school will be! So much of this program is what you make of it and the work can really take over most of your life if you allow it to. Work-life balance isn't always easy to maintain but... Read More Hacina Gill My greatest advice for new grad students is to advocate for yourself and know that you are valuable. Entering grad school can be hard - it's overwhelming and can shake one's self-confidence - but know that you deserve to be treated with respect... Read More Monir Shahzeidi I want to tell them to be focused on their dream and never give up. Being persistent, positive, and resilient is crucial to success. I also advise them to find a balance between work and life and enjoy their student life. Read More Rubaiya Rumman The journey through graduate studies can be demanding and filled with challenges, but it is also a time of immense growth and discovery. Please try to enjoy every situation life has in store for you. If you enjoy your work, you cannot even... Read More Lulu Pei Put yourself out there and make connections, both within your area of research and outside – you never know where inspiration and new ideas may come from. Reserve time to explore hobbies and interests beyond the academic world. These activities... Read More Ian Hill Don't forget to care for yourself. Sleep, time off, and realistic work hours make a world of difference. Personally, I can sometimes get more done in two exceptionally focused and motivated hours of work when I'm well rested and calm than in two... Read More Aaron Klymasz-Swartz Find a project that works with your career aspirations and interests. Not all paths will lead to academia and it is perfectly okay to change course. Read More Ian Alexander I took extra courses beyond the minimum requirement. This is helped me learn about new scholars and methods that I would not have discovered on my own. I took courses in four departments in the Faculty of Education and I made friends in each of... Read More Becca Beutel My advice for new graduate students is to take control of your time by setting your own deadlines early on. While grad school might lack structured deadlines, creating your own and sharing them with your supervisor adds a sense of accountability... Read More Michael Yin Please do stuff outside of research, don't spend 60 hours a week in the lab. It's probably not good for your mental wellbeing. Read More Jordan Bird I think there are five main themes that have really helped me: embrace failure, find a mentor(s) (and in turn, be a mentor), don't be busy, be productive, consistently showing up, and celebrate the... Read More Rocio Hollman To make sure you find a community. Graduate life can get hard. Experiments don't always work and it can be easy to feel like you don't know anything. Having a good group of people to support you and help find other aspects in your life that also... Read More Katrin Steinthorsdottir Enjoy the weekends as much as possible - it goes by so quickly! And say yes to all the opportunities you want, but still manage to learn to say no when needed! Read More Melanie Mackay Get to know your professors and fellow graduate students. My research group talks constantly on a group chat and we brain storm all of the time. Someone is sharing papers or internet links or planning something almost daily in our chat. We take... Read More Haopu (Lily) Ren Always be open-minded, and do not miss any opportunity to learn. Read More Yas Oloumi Yazdi It’s very overwhelming when you first start. There are so many things to try and do. It may seem like a lot is being thrown at you but after the first couple months you start to feel a bit more comfortable and settled in. Communicating with your... Read More V. Pauahi Souza Never let life hold you victim from becoming victorious! Set a goal and when you achieve that goal, set another one. Challenge yourself to make interpersonal relationships with people you may have never thought you would sit with at a table. As... Read More Madison Chapel One of the first pieces of advice I received was "If you're going to fail, fail early". You shouldn't let concerns about an experiment or project potentially failing delay you from starting it. It's better to have a project crash and burn in the... Read More Alana Cook Balance! I look to traditional medicine wheel teachings, and recognize that when I start to feel unwell, it is usually because I am not nourishing myself as a whole: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually/culturally. A wheel that's... Read More Grady Thompson Consistent steady effort towards research is the most effective way I have found for working through difficult problems. Setting small manageable goals for each day and week helped me work towards the result for research problems. The problem can... Read More Kaitlin Gairdner My advice for new graduate students would be to go for it. Take the leap and trust in yourself. Read More Brent Peekeekoot Don't be afraid of failure. Once you're here in Vancouver studying at UBC, relax and know you've already made it. Work toward slowly finding the pieces of the harmony complex puzzle of mediating life. Read More W. Austin Guild One thing I would say to incoming graduate students would be to take your time in your program. It is very easy to rush the process and miss out on important opportunities, as well as overwhelm yourself. Graduate school is a marathon, not a... Read More Olivia Maracle Talk to people within and outside of your circles. Think about what is missing in your workplaces, your studies - the gaps. Connect with your muses. Don't be afraid to reach out, raise your hand, or stand tall. Think about your advantages and... Read More Jade LaFontaine Find a community, create networks and share ideas with others in your field so that you can gain better sense of understanding as well as building meaningful relationships with those around you who will surely make your time at UBC more... Read More Holly Reid I would say spend time reflecting on your needs and boundaries before starting your program, or even at any point along the way. The more in touch you are with your interests, ways of learning, communication style, intellectual needs, work style... Read More Gracie Crafts My advice for new graduate students is to ask lots of questions and set up check ins with your supervisors or other faculty members that may be able to offer guidance. Read More Rachel Dickens Surround yourself with like-minded people, and do research that is close to your heart. Read More Brandi Bird I’m a new graduate student but I think I would tell my peers to make sure they talk to graduates of their program or people further along in their degree than themselves. I had spoken with graduates of the MFA before choosing to apply and that... Read More Vriti Bhagat Choose a supervisor whose mentorship style matches your learning style. This will be critical to ensuring you receive the type of support that you need to flourish as an early career researcher. Also, have a support system in place both within... Read More Meghna Mohandas The PhD program can be a very isolating space. Make sure that you have a good social network and support group as it can be difficult to navigate this long process on your own. Read More Cara James Throw yourself into every social, academic, and professional opportunity that comes your way. Especially when you first arrive, as this is the best way to build a strong community around you. As a PhD student you will be at UBC for 3-5 years so... Read More Jonathan Beutler Choosing the right graduate program is a very important decision. Ask a lot of questions before committing to any one program. Ask to meet with current students in the program as well as interviewing with the lead professor. Learn as much as you... Read More Abisola Kehinde When starting your graduate studies, it's crucial to ensure that your living situation is conducive to your mental health. Don't hesitate to spend a little extra to get a comfortable apartment that promotes your overall well-being, including... Read More Emma Stirling-Cameron Say yes to new opportunities, even if they're outside your comfort zone! And your cohort and lab members are your biggest supporters. Take the time to get to know them and don't be afraid to ask them for advice or guidance. Read More Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, KC Depending on where your career will take you, you may not have the same opportunity of concentrated learning that graduate studies provide. I found that fostering a mindset of gratitude and treating graduate studies as a luxury, meant to be... Read More Ahmed Kabil One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to new graduate students is to find a mentor who can guide you through your studies and career. This mentor should be someone who is not only knowledgeable and experienced in your field but also... Read More Nicole Bison Try to attend seminars often, even if they aren’t directly related to your dissertation. You might end up seeing your own work from a different perspective which I think leads to the most interesting and important science! Read More Musanna Galib Take your time. No need to rush and try to enjoy the journey of graduate studies. Read More Oludolapo Makinde Graduate study at Allard Law is an exciting experience but getting into the program is quite competitive. So, it’s important that you do not leave your application till the last minute. Once you start your program, set your goals, establish... Read More Alexis Bahl Meet with prospective advisors at least 6 months ahead of applying to the program. This will give you time to get to know the person and learn about the benefits/challenges of the program from the person and their students. While an aligned... Read More Kiarah O'Kane Follow the path that you are passionate about! Believing in your research and being curious about the topics you are studying is so important for figuring out what you want from your graduate experience. Read More Aria Malhotra Enjoy all the beautiful things Vancouver has to offer! Read More Jerry Achar All graduate students seem to be in the same boat. Academic activities, including research, can really make you enjoy your time at the University when you progress well with every effort you make. But this is not always the case; sometimes, you... Read More Shiva Zargar My first piece of advice is to take care of your mental and physical health. Gaining the highest achievements without being healthy is not worth a penny. My second piece of advice is to look at graduate programs as a journey in which you will... Read More Pages« first ‹ previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 next › last »
Aysha Allard Brown 1) Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, 2) Celebrate your achievements (big or small), and 3) Enjoy the journey! Read More
Rane Simpson A graduate degree, at least in science as I am familiar, is not the easiest path to pursue. Not everyone that I know in this program is as certain about their future as others. Sometimes you don't know which side of the fence you lie on until you... Read More
Xiaocong Guo My advice to new graduate students is to not work in a silo. There is a wealth of knowledge in research experts, your peers, and those who started a similar journey before you. Collaborate and learn from them whenever you can, and you will... Read More
Bonnie Leung Something I am still learning to do is how and when to say "no". As a graduate student, there are many learning and experiential opportunities. While the training program is finite, learning does not stop when you graduate and opportunities you... Read More
Fang Fang Li Like any journey, there will be both good days and bad days. Within the good days, there will be days where you will feel invincible — as if you’re standing on top of the world. On the flip side, you may find that the worst of the bad days are... Read More
Bronwen Grocott Don't let anyone else tell you what your experience in grad school will be! So much of this program is what you make of it and the work can really take over most of your life if you allow it to. Work-life balance isn't always easy to maintain but... Read More
Hacina Gill My greatest advice for new grad students is to advocate for yourself and know that you are valuable. Entering grad school can be hard - it's overwhelming and can shake one's self-confidence - but know that you deserve to be treated with respect... Read More
Monir Shahzeidi I want to tell them to be focused on their dream and never give up. Being persistent, positive, and resilient is crucial to success. I also advise them to find a balance between work and life and enjoy their student life. Read More
Rubaiya Rumman The journey through graduate studies can be demanding and filled with challenges, but it is also a time of immense growth and discovery. Please try to enjoy every situation life has in store for you. If you enjoy your work, you cannot even... Read More
Lulu Pei Put yourself out there and make connections, both within your area of research and outside – you never know where inspiration and new ideas may come from. Reserve time to explore hobbies and interests beyond the academic world. These activities... Read More
Ian Hill Don't forget to care for yourself. Sleep, time off, and realistic work hours make a world of difference. Personally, I can sometimes get more done in two exceptionally focused and motivated hours of work when I'm well rested and calm than in two... Read More
Aaron Klymasz-Swartz Find a project that works with your career aspirations and interests. Not all paths will lead to academia and it is perfectly okay to change course. Read More
Ian Alexander I took extra courses beyond the minimum requirement. This is helped me learn about new scholars and methods that I would not have discovered on my own. I took courses in four departments in the Faculty of Education and I made friends in each of... Read More
Becca Beutel My advice for new graduate students is to take control of your time by setting your own deadlines early on. While grad school might lack structured deadlines, creating your own and sharing them with your supervisor adds a sense of accountability... Read More
Michael Yin Please do stuff outside of research, don't spend 60 hours a week in the lab. It's probably not good for your mental wellbeing. Read More
Jordan Bird I think there are five main themes that have really helped me: embrace failure, find a mentor(s) (and in turn, be a mentor), don't be busy, be productive, consistently showing up, and celebrate the... Read More
Rocio Hollman To make sure you find a community. Graduate life can get hard. Experiments don't always work and it can be easy to feel like you don't know anything. Having a good group of people to support you and help find other aspects in your life that also... Read More
Katrin Steinthorsdottir Enjoy the weekends as much as possible - it goes by so quickly! And say yes to all the opportunities you want, but still manage to learn to say no when needed! Read More
Melanie Mackay Get to know your professors and fellow graduate students. My research group talks constantly on a group chat and we brain storm all of the time. Someone is sharing papers or internet links or planning something almost daily in our chat. We take... Read More
Yas Oloumi Yazdi It’s very overwhelming when you first start. There are so many things to try and do. It may seem like a lot is being thrown at you but after the first couple months you start to feel a bit more comfortable and settled in. Communicating with your... Read More
V. Pauahi Souza Never let life hold you victim from becoming victorious! Set a goal and when you achieve that goal, set another one. Challenge yourself to make interpersonal relationships with people you may have never thought you would sit with at a table. As... Read More
Madison Chapel One of the first pieces of advice I received was "If you're going to fail, fail early". You shouldn't let concerns about an experiment or project potentially failing delay you from starting it. It's better to have a project crash and burn in the... Read More
Alana Cook Balance! I look to traditional medicine wheel teachings, and recognize that when I start to feel unwell, it is usually because I am not nourishing myself as a whole: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually/culturally. A wheel that's... Read More
Grady Thompson Consistent steady effort towards research is the most effective way I have found for working through difficult problems. Setting small manageable goals for each day and week helped me work towards the result for research problems. The problem can... Read More
Kaitlin Gairdner My advice for new graduate students would be to go for it. Take the leap and trust in yourself. Read More
Brent Peekeekoot Don't be afraid of failure. Once you're here in Vancouver studying at UBC, relax and know you've already made it. Work toward slowly finding the pieces of the harmony complex puzzle of mediating life. Read More
W. Austin Guild One thing I would say to incoming graduate students would be to take your time in your program. It is very easy to rush the process and miss out on important opportunities, as well as overwhelm yourself. Graduate school is a marathon, not a... Read More
Olivia Maracle Talk to people within and outside of your circles. Think about what is missing in your workplaces, your studies - the gaps. Connect with your muses. Don't be afraid to reach out, raise your hand, or stand tall. Think about your advantages and... Read More
Jade LaFontaine Find a community, create networks and share ideas with others in your field so that you can gain better sense of understanding as well as building meaningful relationships with those around you who will surely make your time at UBC more... Read More
Holly Reid I would say spend time reflecting on your needs and boundaries before starting your program, or even at any point along the way. The more in touch you are with your interests, ways of learning, communication style, intellectual needs, work style... Read More
Gracie Crafts My advice for new graduate students is to ask lots of questions and set up check ins with your supervisors or other faculty members that may be able to offer guidance. Read More
Rachel Dickens Surround yourself with like-minded people, and do research that is close to your heart. Read More
Brandi Bird I’m a new graduate student but I think I would tell my peers to make sure they talk to graduates of their program or people further along in their degree than themselves. I had spoken with graduates of the MFA before choosing to apply and that... Read More
Vriti Bhagat Choose a supervisor whose mentorship style matches your learning style. This will be critical to ensuring you receive the type of support that you need to flourish as an early career researcher. Also, have a support system in place both within... Read More
Meghna Mohandas The PhD program can be a very isolating space. Make sure that you have a good social network and support group as it can be difficult to navigate this long process on your own. Read More
Cara James Throw yourself into every social, academic, and professional opportunity that comes your way. Especially when you first arrive, as this is the best way to build a strong community around you. As a PhD student you will be at UBC for 3-5 years so... Read More
Jonathan Beutler Choosing the right graduate program is a very important decision. Ask a lot of questions before committing to any one program. Ask to meet with current students in the program as well as interviewing with the lead professor. Learn as much as you... Read More
Abisola Kehinde When starting your graduate studies, it's crucial to ensure that your living situation is conducive to your mental health. Don't hesitate to spend a little extra to get a comfortable apartment that promotes your overall well-being, including... Read More
Emma Stirling-Cameron Say yes to new opportunities, even if they're outside your comfort zone! And your cohort and lab members are your biggest supporters. Take the time to get to know them and don't be afraid to ask them for advice or guidance. Read More
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, KC Depending on where your career will take you, you may not have the same opportunity of concentrated learning that graduate studies provide. I found that fostering a mindset of gratitude and treating graduate studies as a luxury, meant to be... Read More
Ahmed Kabil One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to new graduate students is to find a mentor who can guide you through your studies and career. This mentor should be someone who is not only knowledgeable and experienced in your field but also... Read More
Nicole Bison Try to attend seminars often, even if they aren’t directly related to your dissertation. You might end up seeing your own work from a different perspective which I think leads to the most interesting and important science! Read More
Musanna Galib Take your time. No need to rush and try to enjoy the journey of graduate studies. Read More
Oludolapo Makinde Graduate study at Allard Law is an exciting experience but getting into the program is quite competitive. So, it’s important that you do not leave your application till the last minute. Once you start your program, set your goals, establish... Read More
Alexis Bahl Meet with prospective advisors at least 6 months ahead of applying to the program. This will give you time to get to know the person and learn about the benefits/challenges of the program from the person and their students. While an aligned... Read More
Kiarah O'Kane Follow the path that you are passionate about! Believing in your research and being curious about the topics you are studying is so important for figuring out what you want from your graduate experience. Read More
Jerry Achar All graduate students seem to be in the same boat. Academic activities, including research, can really make you enjoy your time at the University when you progress well with every effort you make. But this is not always the case; sometimes, you... Read More
Shiva Zargar My first piece of advice is to take care of your mental and physical health. Gaining the highest achievements without being healthy is not worth a penny. My second piece of advice is to look at graduate programs as a journey in which you will... Read More
