Advice from UBC Students

Johanna Bock

Oh, where to start! Probably the most important one: ask for support. Be considerate of others’ time but also don’t waste your entire week on a problem that someone else in your lab solved already. Also, get into strategic planning. Even though...

AnnaMaria Zubieta

I believe balance is key to being successful during graduate studies. While you should be prepared to put in a lot of hard work, it is also important to find time for rest and relaxation. I would highly encourage new graduate students to explore...

Stephen Johnston

Work hard in school and also in life — get outside and enjoy it!

Milos Simovic

Buy a bicycle as soon as possible, assuming you don’t move here with one. Check out Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace to find a bicycle that you like and buy it. Vancouver has some of the best bicycle infrastructure in all of North America, and...

Valerie Zimmermann

My advice for new graduate students is to develop confidence in themselves to share their ideas, opinions and goals throughout their graduate studies journey.

Jay Hilsden

Get involved in your department and make sure your professors know who you are, ideally for good reasons.

Sadie Lye

There are many opportunities to hear talks from and engage with people in and outside of your discipline; make use of these opportunities because you do not know what will come out of it. Also, do not be afraid to reach out to experts, other...

Grace Melchers

For myself and many others I've talked to, grad school seems like a bit of a mystery a lot of the time, especially when you are starting out. There is no complete handbook to graduate school, and everyone experiences it differently. Make sure to...

Stephanie Xie

Finding balance! Make time for self-care and relaxation, and surround yourself with a support group of peers, friends and mentors who can provide encouragement and guidance.

Ana Mucalica

Evaluate your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree. If you believe you’re doing it for the right reasons, stay persistent — it will definitely be worth it in the end.

Ryan Yeung

While it can be easy to be sucked into your own research, try to take the time to meet others in and outside of your graduate program. UBC brings together brilliant individuals from diverse backgrounds, so there is a lot to learn from talking...

Christina Kouvousis

Take the time to check in with yourself and reflect on how you are feeling throughout your program, especially to remind yourself of why you pursued graduate studies in the first place. It helps quiet the self-doubt and provides motivation when...

Emily Yeh

A quote that is resonating through my grad journey so far is “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” I find planning is super important! Whether you are planning the day, an experiment, a meeting, a presentation, future plans/goals, etc., it's...

Connor Durfy

Follow your passions and interests through your research! While the path through graduate school may seem long, if you continue to fuel your curiosity along the way, you'll remain driven and excited along your journey.

Mitchell Demchuk

You will likely fail many times before achieving success. It is important to realize research can be extremely difficult and to stay motivated/disciplined when things are looking rough. Also, don't forget to have fun while you are here and make...

Cassi Sauer

Graduate studies can sometimes feel all consuming. When your studies become overwhelming and exhaustion sets in, take a moment to take a step back and reflect on your broader life goals. It is easy to get lost in day-day tasks, but focusing on...

Cariad Knight

I have a lot of advice, but I know it might not resonate with everyone, so my too long didn't read advice: get involved and find your community, whether it's within your program, at UBC or in Vancouver. Take advantage of UBC's many resources —...

Stef Atkinson

Create a realistic schedule for yourself. Grad school is unique in that you have so much more control over your time than you do as an undergraduate student. For some people, that can be difficult, though. Be honest about the hours of the day you...

Zelyn Lee

My advice for new graduate students is to take time at the start of your program to explore all the opportunities and resources the university offers. Once your workload picks up, it’s easy to miss out! Be sure to check out health and wellness...

Jacquelina DaSilva

My advice to new graduate students is that it's important to balance academics and personal well-being. Graduate school can be intense, so setting clear boundaries is essential for long-term productivity. With less structure and more self-...

Michelle Chang

For incoming students, I think the most important thing to do for yourself is to stay present and to submerge yourself in your research and studies. Graduate school is an endeavour of passion and love for your chosen subject, and you should revel...

Connor Thompson

You need to learn to tolerate uncertainty and the open-ended nature of scientific research. Focus on small tasks and do something every day that moves you closer to your goals.

Sangeetha Kasturi

Getting started in your program can be incredibly overwhelming at first; there are so many things you must do to get started with your project. Take some time to really go through your program’s resources (likely found on their website). For...

Andrew David Gunter

Research is very demanding, and it can be easy to focus on that entirely without enjoying the rest of what UBC and Vancouver have to offer. Make an effort to carve out some time for enjoying something completely unrelated to your studies; exploit...

Katherine Marchant

Make time for yourself and for friends. Graduate school can sometimes feel quite isolating, especially during thesis writing. It can feel unproductive, but spending some time relaxing and or socializing might be just what you need in order to...

Serena Trang

My advice is to not let yourself be discouraged if things do not go according to plan. Research rarely pans out as you expect it to. Being able to adapt when things veer off path is an important skill to develop during your graduate studies. A...

Max Abercrombie

My advice would be don’t be afraid to ask for help and reach out to those who are more experienced around you. Grad school is filled with people who have already experienced the problems you are facing and are more than happy to help.

Isabella DiBerardino

I would tell new graduate students to never doubt themselves or their abilities. It is really easy to get caught up and tell yourself that everyone you are working with is better than you, smarter than you or more experienced than you, but the...

Cal Rosete

Planning is part of the process! Sitting down to lay out experiments, work out the little details, and understand the protocol is just as productive as doing the experiment. Rushing into experiments can be a recipe for disaster if you don’t take...

Jenevieve (Jen) Hyslop

Some advice I received and found helpful is that your graduate school experience is what you make it. It is up to you to find and pursue opportunities that align with your goals and passions. Not every opportunity will be a good one for you, and...

Yao Zhang

You read Google reviews before going to a restaurant, so the same due diligence should be done before choosing a lab. Make sure to talk to current graduate students in your prospective lab to get a first-hand review of what you might be getting...

Bronte Johnston

Graduate school can be very overwhelming at times due to the large number of things that need to get done. To help keep focused and motivated, I find it helpful to break things down into feasible tasks I can accomplish in one day, and then take...

Amie Orsetti

Even though starting graduate school can be really busy and stressful, setting aside time to do things you love or that help you relax is important. If you can connect with supportive people in your life, like family and friends, it can also help...

Alyssa Izatt

When you’re starting out, do what you can to build connections with other grad students. Friendship and community are essential parts of getting through grad school! Also, getting a grasp on time management and not overcommitting yourself are...

Johnathan Wong

One piece of advice I have for new graduate students is to actively reach out to other lab members, whether you’re seeking advice or looking to get involved in their projects. Engaging in conversations and learning about their work can provide...

Nicolas Viens

Take as many opportunities as you can. Get involved in extracurricular projects (research, policy work, etc.) that will help you find your interests and career preferences. Find a good supervisor who can be your mentor and help you connect with...

Tamara Mihic

Coming back to school after working for a number of years has been amazing. I am so grateful for every learning opportunity and opportunities to make connections with others conducting research within my field. I recommend to new graduate...

Sarah Hanstock

Do not close yourself off to new opportunities, whether that be within or outside of academia. During your degree it might serve you well to move out of your comfort zone by participating in activities beyond your project. If you are offered a...

Viviana Shiffman

Graduate school is a new experience, and you’ll face challenges that are different from what you've encountered before — and that’s completely normal. A key aspect of grad school is learning to tackle new problems and develop solutions. Take it...

Brianna Bristow

I believe there's a common misconception that you need to have your exact career path determined before pursuing graduate studies. In my experience, that's not the case. Grad school opens the doors to many future possibilities and gives you the...

Sahi Hajirawala

Find your people! I can't emphasize enough how important it is to network with peers and make connections throughout your graduate studies. One of my most cherished experiences has been the relationships I’ve built through my program and the...

Jake Felker

For new graduate students, my advice is to embrace learning and don’t be afraid to question everything, no matter how basic or hard it may seem. Grad school can be challenging, but it’s also a time to grow both academically and personally. Also,...

Marsha Masseau

Understand that you are embarking on a sort of metamorphosis. Whatever you believe about yourself, your writing will be challenged. You are likely much more skilled than you give yourself credit for, but you will nonetheless travel metaphysical...

Chloe Grant

Don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Carraugh Brouwer

I’ve found that meeting people in your department outside of your research group is really important. Interacting with other members of the department can be a fruitful source of new ideas for research, and they may even help you out if you run...

Erica Qureshi

My biggest piece of advice for new graduate students is to think about what skills you want to gain in your training. In all graduate programs there is flexibility in what and how you complete your research. Getting clear early on about your...

Alexandria Shaw

When looking for a research supervisor, you want to make sure they're the right fit for you! Also, talk with current lab members and make sure it’s a research environment that is suitable for you! Remember this is a huge commitment (especially if...

Samadhee Kaluarachchi

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

Jess Tran

Starting graduate school is so exciting! I think that amidst the excitement, I took on too many courses and projects early on. As a new grad student, I’m trying to remind myself to slow down and make more time for reflection, care and rest. I was...

Ariana Shivji

Try to get involved in your community! UBC has a lot of great extracurricular options and Vancouver has so many clubs and groups that you can join. Whether you get involved by joining a club on campus, becoming a member of your graduate student...