Advice from UBC Students

Razieh Sadat Banijamali

Graduate school can be challenging, and research can sometimes be difficult, but staying motivated and disciplined is key to pushing through. It is important to seek support, stay open to learning, and avoid comparing your progress to others....

Magnus Chan

Ah, the classic interview question for all grad students! While I’ve heard the whole gamut of advice for incoming trainees when I started years ago, now that I’m on the tail end of completing my PhD, I think one piece of advice reigns true above...

Brittany Pousett

You cannot do it alone! It is critical to build a community that can support you throughout your journey. Also, one of the best things I have done (since my undergraduate studies) is to take one day off every week where I do not do any work. It...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Andrea Kellaway

G+PS put on some excellent workshops for grad students throughout the year, so make sure you’re on their mailing list and check them out! In particular, I’ve really appreciated the workshops on impostor syndrome and procrastination, as well as...

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...

Jonas Olsen

My advice to new grad students would be to get involved and talk to people! It is very easy to get completely engrossed in your work and exist in a bubble, but it is well worth it to make friends with the people you will be studying with for...

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...

Michelle Lu

Don't get too caught up on making mistakes. It is always better to find ways to move past them than to dwell on them. You are still learning!

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...

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...

Meera Sharma

I am new myself, but endeavoring to keep my own mental and physical health as a priority feels very important to me. For me that looks like partaking in activities that bring me a sense of joy, relaxation and connection.

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...

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...

Antonia Soldovieri

Don't forget to take breaks. There will always be more you could be doing, but taking care of yourself, building in rest and finding time away from your work will allow you to do better work in the end.

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...

Chloe Grant

Don't put too much pressure on yourself.

Christina Whang

While it is natural for new students to feel pressured to make quick progress in the program, I believe that taking time to network with surrounding researchers and professionals in your field is essential. Keep an open mind and you may fall in...

Louise Ramos

My advice would be to try and find balance between your academic life and personal life. I am definitely still guilty of letting my research take over my life, but it makes a difference to take the time to spend time with friends or do something...

Olivier Hinse

Do not be afraid to try stuff; errors are essential to learning. Some experiments will fail.

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-...

Oliver Tong

Allow yourself to spend time on your hobbies and interests outside of just research or classes. Research does not always go the way you want it to go, and having something else you like doing makes it a lot easier to stay positive even when that...

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...

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.

Caroline Stampliaka

New graduate students should embrace the adjustment period and enjoy the process. Although the transition to graduate school may initially feel overwhelming, immersing yourself in research or studies you are passionate about and developing...

Sabrina Cao

Starting grad school can feel pretty daunting, especially because it tends to feel more isolating than undergraduate programs. I would advise new graduate students to look for opportunities to get involved. There are lots of student groups that...

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...

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...

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...

Kayla McIntyre

Breathe. Know your limits and advocate for yourself; you know yourself better than anyone else so remember to recharge and relax. It can often seem fast-paced, so take this opportunity to engage with your community and build meaningful...