Kennedy Borle Remember to make time for the things in your life that you enjoy doing, like hobbies and downtime. You are more than just your academic pursuits! Read More Chantelle Cocquyt My biggest piece of advice would be to prioritize work-life balance. Set a work schedule and do your best to stick to it! It's so easy to catch yourself working into the night, especially when you love what you do, but it's important to take time... Read More Tonje Molyneux I think a key to surviving and thriving in a graduate program is forming strong bonds with peers. When you're connected with others, you can share the experience and be a support to each other. There's no reason to be alone or feel alone in this... Read More Abhinav Kumar Checkervarty 1) Setbacks are a part of life, but for hard times, I have a guiding quote which I would like to share “The obstacles in life are not some walls that you can’t penetrate, but just some extra distance that you have to cover.” So just keep on... Read More Virginia (Ginny) Pichler All new graduate students should know that the experience is not always linear, not always optimal, and not always illustrious. There may be longer-than-desirable stretches of hurdles and pitfalls, but that is something we all face. It's the... Read More Trevor Goodyear Make sure to find supportive supervisors and a research topic you are passionate about. Try new things, make friends, and take the time to care for yourself and to have fun alongside your studies. And learn how to say no to things and to... Read More Sydney Moore Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life! Follow your passions and stay true to yourself. Avoid taking a certain path just because it seems more convenient, do what’s best for you and what will benefit you the most in the... Read More Mauricio Carvallo Aceves Dream big. Don’t be afraid to pitch ideas you might feel are too ambitious. Chances are that you will find much more support to achieve them than you originally thought possible. Read More Ashley Battaglini My advice would be to try and incorporate balance in your life, including your work schedule, as much as you can. Once creating that balance it's important to maintain it. I think that increases how much you enjoy your work and your life! Read More Caitlyn Yates My first piece of advice is to not be afraid to ask. Throughout my policy career and now, and particularly as I started to study and learn about potential PhD programs, I emailed everyone. Students, potential advisors, folks who had decided not... Read More Jem Arnold Take your time to find a topic of study that you love. Motivating yourself to do the hard work won’t be as difficult when you are genuinely curious about and invested in the topic. Reach out to colleagues, peers, and mentors. Take advantage of... Read More Pierre Rogy Some city activities are a bit harder to access in Vancouver than in other large cities. You may have to spend more time to look for your favourite city hobby, but it's there somewhere! Read More Callista Ottoni You are never too old or too young to start graduate studies. As a parent of a young child, I also want to share that you can pursue an advanced degree while raising a family. It is challenging, and I would recommend establishing your support... Read More Nikola Surjanovic Join a club (or start a new one) and meet new people. Every new connection is valuable. Also, with respect to research, try to expose yourself to as many research areas as possible to get a better feeling of what it is that really interests you.... Read More Reid Warsaba It’s very important to separate yourself from work because graduate school is a job. You get paid for it and it should be treated as such. Don’t let yourself stress out about work outside of working hours. Take evenings and weekends off to avoid... Read More Elyn Rowe Choose a research project that you're interested in, and a mentor that can support you both intellectually, and through the bumpy transition from a very defined undergraduate degree into graduate school. Grad school is tough, and imposter... Read More Thomas Brenner With regards to your studies: plan ahead and keep a schedule, work hard, be open and honest with your supervisor, listen to criticism, ask questions, and try things outside of your comfort zone. Outside of your studies: be social, stay active,... Read More Kohle Merry Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Whether referencing new experiences, new people, or new ideas, graduate school necessitates being uncomfortable so that you can grow. Learn to embrace this. Also, if you haven’t already, find your own way... Read More Cissy Suen Take breaks! Don’t be afraid to take risks in your Masters or your Ph.D. This is the time to try things out and see what aspects of the research you like and are most interested in. I also highly encourage getting involved in at least one... Read More Matthew Billet Graduate school is odd because it seems that everyone (even your lab mates) are on their own path. Besides the courses you take, it's likely that no one else will be doing exactly what you're doing. It's probably helpful to accept this early on... Read More Sarah Panofsky Having a supportive, communicative, and engaged supervisor has allowed me to excel in my graduate studies. If possible, choose a mentor who you are aligned with. Read More Daljeet Chahal My advice probably applies more to those in medical school, but I think it is very important to find an area or topic that drives you, something you cannot help but think about. Keep an open mind – you do not necessarily need to do what everyone... Read More Lindsey Paskulin My advice is to follow your interests. Graduate programs are neither short nor easy. But if you truly enjoy what you are doing, if you have passion for your subject, then it won’t be half as bad. If you don’t know what you’re interested in right... Read More Daniel Korchinski Take time to read literature in your field and outside your field. Make sure to regularly lift your eyes up from the work in front of you to take in the broader context. You’ll be happier if you keep fixed in your mind WHY you are doing the hard... Read More Manpreet Thandi Some advice I would give to new graduate students is: Take advantage of the numerous opportunities at UBC to collaborate and engage with faculty in their research and scholarship Stay connected with your graduate cohort;... Read More Raelyn Sullivan I would recommend new students talk to as many students and professors as possible before settling on a supervisor. The research topic is important but the style that you do research has to work well with the style of your supervisor. I work well... Read More Shawn Shortill Stay creative and curious. It's what first prompted you to pursue higher education, don't lose sight of those feelings in the maelstrom of deadlines, expectations, publications, conferences and courses. There will always be hurdles and... Read More Pablo Gonzalez Moctezuma Connect as soon as possible with senior students that might want to orient you and mentor you through your degree. If you want to do something, ask the community, you will always find someone who's thinking the same and UBC is full of very cool... Read More Gunwant Matharu Talk, ask too many questions, connect with graduate students in the groups you are interested in, and be wary. If you're not sure what to look out for, ask anyone that is a graduate student currently. We are happy to help you find what's right... Read More Alexa Norton Ask meaningful research questions that are set in partnership with affected communities; be connected to and accountable to the communities you conduct research in; be a humble learner. Read More Titilope Salami Be open-minded to embrace the new academic culture regardless of your background. Read More Justin Turner Graduate school is a long process that can feel arduous at times. Don’t neglect the non-academic parts of your life; make sure you build activities and social connections into your schedule outside school that tend to your mental and physical... Read More Lisa Trainor Relax, take a breath, and enjoy the journey. It's all about the experience. Read More Shayda Swann Take all the time you have to find a great supervisor. I spoke to several potential supervisors before choosing to work with Dr. Murray and Dr. Cote, and I couldn't be more grateful for my pickiness. Taking the time to find a supervisor who not... Read More Halina Deptuck First, prioritize your mental health. Things can get busy and stressful as a graduate student but making time to take care of yourself can go a long way in helping you succeed in grad school. Also, make an effort to create a community for... Read More Tanya Bennet I would tell new graduate students to enjoy the learning experience and take the time during their degree to expand their network. There are so many amazing opportunities to meet people in and out of your field (i.e. seminars, conferences,... Read More Durjoy Baidya Undoubtedly, graduate study is a very challenging path. But, you don't need to walk alone. Feel free to talk to your supervisors and peers when necessary. Take full advantage of U-Pass and enjoy the natural beauty of BC. Read More Negar Khodarahmi It's easier said than done, but I would say trying to find a balance where you can. Meet new people and get out of your comfort zone to see both the communities within and outside UBC that you can be a part of. Try and step out of the academic... Read More Mirta Roncagalli Grad school can be challenging and, from time to time, overwhelming. Try to make time for your own way to decompress and talk to your peers! You will realize you are not alone and that all grad students are in the same boat! Read More Sasha McDowell I would say be patient when learning new skills and to remember that there’s always an adjustment period when starting a new program. When I first arrived at UBC, I was very excited to meet people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, learn... Read More Oguzhan Can Take the time to play, and do other things than research. Try to work on ideas that you find exciting and curious about. Graduate school is a great time to explore new topics. Don't lose your focus but keep an eye out for interesting problems and... Read More Bev Larssen Don’t forget to take time for yourself to re-energize and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Whether that is playing outside or getting involved in an extra-curricular activity that you enjoy, Vancouver has a lot to offer. Read More Xing Zhang There are ups and downs during grad school. Never lose confidence in yourself and try to keep motivated by your enthusiasm for your research. Also, it’s always beneficial to talk with people from different areas. Read More Robin Newhouse Remember to live life while you’re going through this challenging degree. Graduate school is not without its serious difficulties and it’s easy to let the complex work, deadlines, and setbacks get to you throughout your time as a graduate student... Read More Pan Deng Being confident and seize any opportunity to stretch yourself. If you are afraid of failure and let opportunities slide through your fingers, you might lose the chance of developing valuable skills and experiences by staying in your comfort zone... Read More Wenlin Chen Stay open-minded and read extensively, science is a process of trial and error, you can start by doing several projects in parallel and carry the most promising one forward. Make friends with people around you including your classmates, program... Read More Bingxin Zhou It is important to sharpen your skills in college, but we should keep in mind that study is only a part of life. Enjoy yourself beyond your research projects and courses, do not put too much pressure on yourself and develop your own hobbies.... Read More Mariam El-Temtamy Always remember to put your physical and mental health first! Starting your graduate studies can already bring on some stress, especially during a pandemic, so it’s very important to make sure that all aspects of your health is in check - whether... Read More Elisabeth Gross I would tell new graduate students to enjoy what you are learning and who you are becoming. You've worked your heart out to get into the program you are in today, so soak it in. You're learning to become a competent clinician or researcher,... Read More Ana Pozas Whether you feel it or not, 'the world is your oyster'. Making an impact, overcoming new challenges, getting where you want to be, are all part of the learning process of completing a graduate degree and in my opinion, knowing what your... Read More Pages« first ‹ previous … 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 next › last »
Kennedy Borle Remember to make time for the things in your life that you enjoy doing, like hobbies and downtime. You are more than just your academic pursuits! Read More
Chantelle Cocquyt My biggest piece of advice would be to prioritize work-life balance. Set a work schedule and do your best to stick to it! It's so easy to catch yourself working into the night, especially when you love what you do, but it's important to take time... Read More
Tonje Molyneux I think a key to surviving and thriving in a graduate program is forming strong bonds with peers. When you're connected with others, you can share the experience and be a support to each other. There's no reason to be alone or feel alone in this... Read More
Abhinav Kumar Checkervarty 1) Setbacks are a part of life, but for hard times, I have a guiding quote which I would like to share “The obstacles in life are not some walls that you can’t penetrate, but just some extra distance that you have to cover.” So just keep on... Read More
Virginia (Ginny) Pichler All new graduate students should know that the experience is not always linear, not always optimal, and not always illustrious. There may be longer-than-desirable stretches of hurdles and pitfalls, but that is something we all face. It's the... Read More
Trevor Goodyear Make sure to find supportive supervisors and a research topic you are passionate about. Try new things, make friends, and take the time to care for yourself and to have fun alongside your studies. And learn how to say no to things and to... Read More
Sydney Moore Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life! Follow your passions and stay true to yourself. Avoid taking a certain path just because it seems more convenient, do what’s best for you and what will benefit you the most in the... Read More
Mauricio Carvallo Aceves Dream big. Don’t be afraid to pitch ideas you might feel are too ambitious. Chances are that you will find much more support to achieve them than you originally thought possible. Read More
Ashley Battaglini My advice would be to try and incorporate balance in your life, including your work schedule, as much as you can. Once creating that balance it's important to maintain it. I think that increases how much you enjoy your work and your life! Read More
Caitlyn Yates My first piece of advice is to not be afraid to ask. Throughout my policy career and now, and particularly as I started to study and learn about potential PhD programs, I emailed everyone. Students, potential advisors, folks who had decided not... Read More
Jem Arnold Take your time to find a topic of study that you love. Motivating yourself to do the hard work won’t be as difficult when you are genuinely curious about and invested in the topic. Reach out to colleagues, peers, and mentors. Take advantage of... Read More
Pierre Rogy Some city activities are a bit harder to access in Vancouver than in other large cities. You may have to spend more time to look for your favourite city hobby, but it's there somewhere! Read More
Callista Ottoni You are never too old or too young to start graduate studies. As a parent of a young child, I also want to share that you can pursue an advanced degree while raising a family. It is challenging, and I would recommend establishing your support... Read More
Nikola Surjanovic Join a club (or start a new one) and meet new people. Every new connection is valuable. Also, with respect to research, try to expose yourself to as many research areas as possible to get a better feeling of what it is that really interests you.... Read More
Reid Warsaba It’s very important to separate yourself from work because graduate school is a job. You get paid for it and it should be treated as such. Don’t let yourself stress out about work outside of working hours. Take evenings and weekends off to avoid... Read More
Elyn Rowe Choose a research project that you're interested in, and a mentor that can support you both intellectually, and through the bumpy transition from a very defined undergraduate degree into graduate school. Grad school is tough, and imposter... Read More
Thomas Brenner With regards to your studies: plan ahead and keep a schedule, work hard, be open and honest with your supervisor, listen to criticism, ask questions, and try things outside of your comfort zone. Outside of your studies: be social, stay active,... Read More
Kohle Merry Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Whether referencing new experiences, new people, or new ideas, graduate school necessitates being uncomfortable so that you can grow. Learn to embrace this. Also, if you haven’t already, find your own way... Read More
Cissy Suen Take breaks! Don’t be afraid to take risks in your Masters or your Ph.D. This is the time to try things out and see what aspects of the research you like and are most interested in. I also highly encourage getting involved in at least one... Read More
Matthew Billet Graduate school is odd because it seems that everyone (even your lab mates) are on their own path. Besides the courses you take, it's likely that no one else will be doing exactly what you're doing. It's probably helpful to accept this early on... Read More
Sarah Panofsky Having a supportive, communicative, and engaged supervisor has allowed me to excel in my graduate studies. If possible, choose a mentor who you are aligned with. Read More
Daljeet Chahal My advice probably applies more to those in medical school, but I think it is very important to find an area or topic that drives you, something you cannot help but think about. Keep an open mind – you do not necessarily need to do what everyone... Read More
Lindsey Paskulin My advice is to follow your interests. Graduate programs are neither short nor easy. But if you truly enjoy what you are doing, if you have passion for your subject, then it won’t be half as bad. If you don’t know what you’re interested in right... Read More
Daniel Korchinski Take time to read literature in your field and outside your field. Make sure to regularly lift your eyes up from the work in front of you to take in the broader context. You’ll be happier if you keep fixed in your mind WHY you are doing the hard... Read More
Manpreet Thandi Some advice I would give to new graduate students is: Take advantage of the numerous opportunities at UBC to collaborate and engage with faculty in their research and scholarship Stay connected with your graduate cohort;... Read More
Raelyn Sullivan I would recommend new students talk to as many students and professors as possible before settling on a supervisor. The research topic is important but the style that you do research has to work well with the style of your supervisor. I work well... Read More
Shawn Shortill Stay creative and curious. It's what first prompted you to pursue higher education, don't lose sight of those feelings in the maelstrom of deadlines, expectations, publications, conferences and courses. There will always be hurdles and... Read More
Pablo Gonzalez Moctezuma Connect as soon as possible with senior students that might want to orient you and mentor you through your degree. If you want to do something, ask the community, you will always find someone who's thinking the same and UBC is full of very cool... Read More
Gunwant Matharu Talk, ask too many questions, connect with graduate students in the groups you are interested in, and be wary. If you're not sure what to look out for, ask anyone that is a graduate student currently. We are happy to help you find what's right... Read More
Alexa Norton Ask meaningful research questions that are set in partnership with affected communities; be connected to and accountable to the communities you conduct research in; be a humble learner. Read More
Titilope Salami Be open-minded to embrace the new academic culture regardless of your background. Read More
Justin Turner Graduate school is a long process that can feel arduous at times. Don’t neglect the non-academic parts of your life; make sure you build activities and social connections into your schedule outside school that tend to your mental and physical... Read More
Shayda Swann Take all the time you have to find a great supervisor. I spoke to several potential supervisors before choosing to work with Dr. Murray and Dr. Cote, and I couldn't be more grateful for my pickiness. Taking the time to find a supervisor who not... Read More
Halina Deptuck First, prioritize your mental health. Things can get busy and stressful as a graduate student but making time to take care of yourself can go a long way in helping you succeed in grad school. Also, make an effort to create a community for... Read More
Tanya Bennet I would tell new graduate students to enjoy the learning experience and take the time during their degree to expand their network. There are so many amazing opportunities to meet people in and out of your field (i.e. seminars, conferences,... Read More
Durjoy Baidya Undoubtedly, graduate study is a very challenging path. But, you don't need to walk alone. Feel free to talk to your supervisors and peers when necessary. Take full advantage of U-Pass and enjoy the natural beauty of BC. Read More
Negar Khodarahmi It's easier said than done, but I would say trying to find a balance where you can. Meet new people and get out of your comfort zone to see both the communities within and outside UBC that you can be a part of. Try and step out of the academic... Read More
Mirta Roncagalli Grad school can be challenging and, from time to time, overwhelming. Try to make time for your own way to decompress and talk to your peers! You will realize you are not alone and that all grad students are in the same boat! Read More
Sasha McDowell I would say be patient when learning new skills and to remember that there’s always an adjustment period when starting a new program. When I first arrived at UBC, I was very excited to meet people from different backgrounds and ethnicities, learn... Read More
Oguzhan Can Take the time to play, and do other things than research. Try to work on ideas that you find exciting and curious about. Graduate school is a great time to explore new topics. Don't lose your focus but keep an eye out for interesting problems and... Read More
Bev Larssen Don’t forget to take time for yourself to re-energize and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Whether that is playing outside or getting involved in an extra-curricular activity that you enjoy, Vancouver has a lot to offer. Read More
Xing Zhang There are ups and downs during grad school. Never lose confidence in yourself and try to keep motivated by your enthusiasm for your research. Also, it’s always beneficial to talk with people from different areas. Read More
Robin Newhouse Remember to live life while you’re going through this challenging degree. Graduate school is not without its serious difficulties and it’s easy to let the complex work, deadlines, and setbacks get to you throughout your time as a graduate student... Read More
Pan Deng Being confident and seize any opportunity to stretch yourself. If you are afraid of failure and let opportunities slide through your fingers, you might lose the chance of developing valuable skills and experiences by staying in your comfort zone... Read More
Wenlin Chen Stay open-minded and read extensively, science is a process of trial and error, you can start by doing several projects in parallel and carry the most promising one forward. Make friends with people around you including your classmates, program... Read More
Bingxin Zhou It is important to sharpen your skills in college, but we should keep in mind that study is only a part of life. Enjoy yourself beyond your research projects and courses, do not put too much pressure on yourself and develop your own hobbies.... Read More
Mariam El-Temtamy Always remember to put your physical and mental health first! Starting your graduate studies can already bring on some stress, especially during a pandemic, so it’s very important to make sure that all aspects of your health is in check - whether... Read More
Elisabeth Gross I would tell new graduate students to enjoy what you are learning and who you are becoming. You've worked your heart out to get into the program you are in today, so soak it in. You're learning to become a competent clinician or researcher,... Read More
Ana Pozas Whether you feel it or not, 'the world is your oyster'. Making an impact, overcoming new challenges, getting where you want to be, are all part of the learning process of completing a graduate degree and in my opinion, knowing what your... Read More