Advice from UBC Students

Adeerya Johnson

Grad school is not a race. Take your time and be kind to yourself as you matriculate through your program.

Roshni Mangar

Graduate school is an amalgamate of emotions, knowledge, self-growth, and challenges. It has pushed me to learn in different ways and to challenge my notions of conservation. UBC also offers a range of resources that I have never had the chance...

Ni Gusti Ayu Nanditha

Get yourself an umbrella and a rain coat... the city is called Raincouver for a reason :) On a more serious note, there are a lot of great advices for new graduate students out there, but my advice would be one word: self-care. Like others have...

Gaylean Davies

I think most people who apply to and end up in graduate school are over-achievers. My advice would be to release the idea of perfection if it is something to which you have traditionally been attached. Everyone sounds like they know exactly what...

Verena Rossa-Roccor

Widen your horizon and do not focus all your time and energy on your studies. Branch out and take/audit courses in other faculties; make use of the ample opportunities to get involved both on campus and beyond; and strive to become a well-rounded...

Bonnie Tulloch

Make time to develop friendships with colleagues in your program. The challenges of graduate life are easier when you have people to navigate them with. Also, it is important to celebrate each other's progress! When we help each other succeed we...

Kate Kysow

You can't do everything at 100%. If you want to still enjoy your life outside of graduate school, it's a better bet to aim at 85% or pretty good. The clinical psychology program at UBC takes 6 years plus an internship to complete--that's a long...

Petar Iliev

My advice would be to find a good support network during your studies. Be proactive and introduce yourself to classmates and peers in your faculty. Join the graduate society and become part of the community. The graduate programme is challenging...

Adelia Jacobs

As a new graduate student, starting in the midst of a pandemic, I've realized how important it is to practice self-appreciation, self-compassion, and gratitude.

Jens Johnson

I think that keeping a planner/agenda (physical or virtual) is a big help, both for remembering the gallery of moving target obligations and for scheduling relaxing or hobby time.

Michael Rowley

Don't forget to take time for yourself. I have seen many people bury themselves in research to the point where they have no time to focus on their mental health. Graduate studies can be stressful when you do this, so make sure you have a way to...

Jasper Heaton

Have a hobby or activity or *something* that you enjoy that is not in any way related to you studies, and make sure you find some space for it every week. Writing a dissertation can be lonely but it doesn't have to be. Find a working group, share...

Danielle Hanke

Don't be afraid to ask questions! Starting grad school, especially if you are starting grad school at a new school or in a new country, can be confusing and a little overwhelming at the start, but asking questions can help alleviate a lot of the...

Kaili Vesik

Expect to get completely overwhelmed at some point in your first year; then at least it won't be a surprise when it inevitably happens! Also, living close to - or on - campus if you can is a wonderful way to improve your mental health by reducing...

Megan Zeni

There is a lot of life to live outside of being a graduate student in Vancouver. Be sure to make time for play and joy. Get up in the mountains, get out on the water, and into a garden! This is just one season of your life, not your whole life....

Athanasios Kritharis

My advice is get involved in 1 or 2 side activities, one for recreation and the other to complement your professional development. Research is not life and coming out of graduate school you will be a much more well rounded person if you DONT...

Melody Salehzadeh

I would advise new graduate students to find a hobby that helps them take their mind off of work for a few hours a week. As graduate degrees are very demanding, there is always more work to be done. Therefore, it is important to actively take...

Steve Commichau

Visit the events hosted by the SASC. They are important, interesting, and usually there is free pizza. Also, don’t forget to rest and hydrate.

Matt Naylor

Take advantage of the opportunities provided by the university and your department. Go to extra seminars. Enjoy your teaching opportunities. Remember that you're in a graduate program because you enjoy the subject matter and you're good at it,...

Hiroshan Gunawardane

Find what you truly love and do it, it doesn’t have to be what someone else expects you to do.

Kate Minniti

Do not over-commit and, if possible, find time to relax! Join a club, work out, nap, play videogames with friends...whatever helps you unwind.

Mikayla Pachkowski

Figure out what is important to you, in terms of your work and career goals, but also your personal life. Then, put your time and energy there. In graduate school it's possible to get pulled in a hundred different directions, and there are...

Christine Yu

While extremely rewarding, graduate school undoubtedly brings with it stresses and, at times, a sense of immense pressure. My advice for new graduate students is to foster relationships with their cohort. Take opportunities to bond with each...

Helena Koniar

Everyone's path in graduate school is their own, and no two students will have the same experiences. So my advice to new graduate students would be to try new things that make you step out of your comfort zone, learn by making mistakes, and ask...

Deanna Pepin

Take advantage of all of the networking opportunities that the department creates, and make sure to take all opportunities to present your research in front of your peers and faculty. The practice will be critical for your future success, and...

Shirley Anne Swelchalot Shxwha:yathel Hardman

I have parking advice...buy on-line the day before. But the graduate school advice I would give is to 1. Believe in yourself; UBC picked you because you are awesome. 2. Attend Grad school functions, no one is an island; get involved in campus...

Kiran Parmar

To reach out and connect with multiple professionals in the field of your research interest! It might take some time to determine what you specifically want to study and it is important during that time to network to learn about the work that is...

Sandeep Gill

Getting involved is key. I found that attending workshops, seminars, talks etc really helped me gain additional support and allowed me to explore other possiblities with my research. Forming study/support groups with my cohort was helpful in us...

Reid Merrill

Immerse yourself in your program, and get acquainted with the supports that are available to you.

Bita Zareian

Try to balance your studies with self-care and fun activities! Graduate school provides you with great training in your respective fields of research but can take up a lot of time, and at times, can be stressful! It's important that you allow...

Evan Warner

Stress, academic guilt, impostor syndrome... everyone experiences these at some point. Recognize that you aren't alone in those feelings, and find people you can talk with about them.

Jonathan Doucette

Read papers from other fields, and try to connect them to your own research. If you are struggling with figuring out how to solve something, there is a good chance somebody else has struggled with the same problem! Similarly, dedicate lots of...

Tessa Blanchard

It’s a marathon, not a sprint! A graduate degree takes time to accomplish and most of us have the wrong mindset where we tend to overwork ourselves until we burn out. However, we sometimes forget to enjoy life outside the lab and maintain a...

Debra Wertman

Take time to work in different environments before commencing a graduate program – discover what you love to do! Choose your program and research area carefully, graduate degrees are a large investment of time and you should feel supported and...

Ariel Ko

Take advantage of the travel grants to fund your research conferences and choose destinations you haven’t been to before! One thing I didn’t expect going into graduate studies is the opportunities and support to travel to different countries. Not...

Cassandra Miller

Trust the process and go easy on yourself! In the first year of my graduate studies, it felt like my field was so extensive and intimidating and everyone knew what was going on except me. But everyone feels that way starting out – one day it just...

Sophie Ma Zhu

Compared to undergraduate students, graduate students are more likely to live off-campus or have other commitments in their lives, at least based on my own experience and my observation in the Faculty of Education. But I strongly recommend...

Brett Hathaway

Don't feel that you have to do and be everything right off the bat. There will be time to find your path, learn what you need to learn, and reach your goals. Stressing too much about it at the beginning will only hold you back in the long-run....

Haiming Luo

My advice for graduate students is to not rush into a project or a lab. Take some time to think about what you want out of this chapter of your life. Strike a balance between your professional development needs and your personal growth goals. You...

Zhaohua Cheng

Follow your heart - focus on what you are passionate about. Plan ahead - pace out your work, plan some breaks in between. Work hard - no matter what program you are in, it is not easy. Hard work is the key to success (graduation). Enjoy life -...

Katie McCloskey

Avail yourself of opportunities to meet other researchers and faculty and let them know you're keen. You never know what opportunities might open up to you.

Gordon Tao

There is plenty of excellent advice to receive on being a graduate student, from your supervisor to your peers to UBC resources. As you consider this advice, keep in mind your strengths and limitations, and be aware of what aligns with your...

Eric Lees

Invest time in learning new skills while remaining focused on the big picture. It is often the case that graduate students rush the progress of a research project and end up down a different path, which may or may not be fruitful. The key is to...

Jerry Leung

Keep an open mind, be willing to explore different avenues, don’t be afraid of reaching out to other peers or professors for advice or collaborations, and most importantly engage in the activities that you are passionate about! Graduate studies...

Ben Nadeau

Take care of yourself first and foremost, and celebrate your achievements. Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint and some parts will be harder than others. Work hard and make the most of your free time.

Samantha Dziurdzik

Graduate school is a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure you have a good work-life balance where you set time aside for yourself so you don’t burn out. It’s also important to have a good support system so remember to make time for friends and...

Valentina Rutigliano

Writing a dissertation is a daunting task. The process is not only intellectually challenging but also very unstructured. So we sometimes feel guilty about taking well-deserved breaks, or to the contrary we give in to nasty procrastination...

Iris Lin

You are not alone! I learned that being connected and engaged was hugely important to my academic and professional success, as well as for my mental health and overall well-being.

Adam Dvorak

I would advise new graduate students to reach out to their peers as early as possible. A good support network is essential for getting through coursework, comprehensive exams, and everything else that a PhD entails.

Shoshana Schwebel

Keep in mind that Vancouver is an outrageously expensive city (UBC’s fee calculator as of 2019 listed $29,000 as the minimum annual amount needed to live in Vancouver and attend UBC), and ask to be funded accordingly.