Advice from UBC Students

Sarah Ferencz

There’s no single “right” path in graduate school. Everyone’s trajectory is different. Talk to lots of people, stay open and curious, and don’t be afraid to change your mind. But also learn to trust your internal voice—the one that pulls you…

Yue Guo

Enjoy meaningful conversations with your academic community; they’re often an inspiring part of the journey. Building connections with your peers can be encouraging, so don’t hesitate to ask for help and support others, too.

Sean O'Rourke

Get to know the broader area beyond campus. I particularly recommend exploring Stanley Park. You can learn about its interesting history while checking out a handful of the city’s remaining giant trees.

Jenna Yuzwa

Make the most of your time here not only by working hard but also by taking advantage of all the other learning opportunities that grad school affords you both within academia and beyond.

Jiin Yoo

When I first started graduate studies at UBC as an international student, I was nervous about my English and unfamiliarity with the Canadian academic system. Although eager to participate, I often doubted whether I had anything meaningful to…

Jenna Chisholm

Remember that not everyone’s path through graduate school is the same and try not to let the imposter syndrome get to you (admittedly, the imposter syndrome can be persistent – I experienced it while writing some of these answers!). We all come…

Anjana Rajendran

Try to make time to get involved in graduate life at UBC. Whether that means joining your program based associations or the graduate student society, meeting new people will help make more meaningful connections.

Regan Thompson

You will find yourself along the way, and that you do not need to have a clear end goal when you are first starting your graduate degree. My career aspirations, skills, and research interests have continued to shift and grow alongside me since I…

Nisha Johal

Seeking out a research opportunity during your undergrad studies is a great way to see if working in a lab is a right fit for you. Be sure to take your time finding the best training environment. My advice would be to meet with many supervisors…

Katherine Herperger

I would offer two pieces of advice. First, find an activity that helps you relax. For me, that’s going to the gym or taking walks along the beach. It’s time I set aside to disconnect and recharge. Second, remember that your degree is yours to…

Behnam Maneshgar

One piece of advice I’d give to new graduate students is to remember that learning and coursework are just one part of the journey. Equally important are communication, networking, and building meaningful connections, both within academia and…

Tiffany Price

My biggest piece of advice for new graduate students is to find a friend or peer you can truly connect with, someone you can lean on when the program gets intense, whether you need to brainstorm ideas, talk through challenges, or just vent and…

Astou Thiam

• Establish effective communication with your supervisor.
• Reach out for support as needed.
• Numerous resources are available both within and beyond your department.
• Embrace the process and be mindful of balancing…
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Lucas Kuhn

Try to learn early on how to get the most out of the relationship with your supervisor. Every supervisor will have different practices when advising a student, so it is always a good practice to ask how you, as a student, can best work with them…

Daniel Barker-Rothschild

Get started and then let curiosity drive your research! Be open to collaborate - you can't do everything yourself and time goes by quicker than you think. Grad school may be one of the few periods of your life that you have the time and…

Asad Hasan

My advice would be to try not to compare yourself to others. You will often find exceptional people in academia, particularly here at UBC, and impostor syndrome runs rampant among graduate students. Instead, focus on carving out your own path and…

Marie Johns

Say yes to opportunities and put yourself out there. You never know what one experience might lead to. My journey began with a faculty member taking a chance on me for a directed studies course, which led to a summer research job, an industry…

Gillian Savage

It is easy to get sucked in completely to your research but make sure to make time to do fun things too! Having a good work life balance is important to avoid burnout.

Yuveshen Mooroogen

Get enough sleep! Chronic sleep deprivation is the devil: it tempts you with power, but it will steal your soul.

Adam Sunavsky

My biggest piece of advice is to focus on balance and take things one step at a time. Grad school is a marathon, not a sprint, and the demands can quickly become overwhelming. For me, maintaining that balance means hitting the gym or the soccer…

Graeme Francolini

Make sure to explore campus a bit and take some breaks while working on your studies. Everyone needs to get their work done but keeping yourself sane and healthy is important.

Maria Elishaev

My advice for new graduate students is to embrace the unpredictability of research and life without trying to control everything. Instead of trying to do everything perfectly, prioritize what truly matters at the moment. Do not be afraid to ask…

Jordan Seider

Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself - you deserve to be here! Imposter syndrome affects us all, so spend some time early on talking with your peers to develop some tools to help when you are feeling most overwhelmed.

Kay Anderson

Finding your community is key to a fulfilling graduate school experience. It is tempting in graduate school to let our work consume our life, but I encourage new graduate students to challenge yourself and attend events that foster networking and…

Maude Larivière

Attend departmental events, either those specifically for graduate students, but also the more general ones, like colloquiums or talks. If I had not done that, I would not have heard about my now supervisor’s research and things could have been…

Kevin Tyson

Congrats on starting this next big step in your journey! Grad school can feel like a lot at times, but staying engaged in class, asking questions when you're unsure, and taking the time to really understand concepts outside of lectures will go a…

Billy Guo

My advice to new grad students is to find a research area that truly interests you and makes you curious. Enjoy the process of discovery, don’t think of it as just work, but as an exciting journey where you get to explore big questions and learn…

Aleria McKay

For distance students, I would recommend taking the time to develop and get in the habit of following a schedule for yourself. Online courses take a different type of motivation and self discipline, and creating a schedule for myself that…

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.…

Kimberly Tsz Ching Wong

Follow what excites you. Research can be tough, but if you genuinely love what you're studying, it makes the challenges way more rewarding. Also, consistency is key—building good work habits early on makes a huge difference. And don’t be afraid…

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…

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…

Ayodele Oloko

Foster self-appreciation and enthusiasm for your academic pursuits. Seek opportunities to engage with scholars from diverse disciplines worldwide. This cross-field exchange will enrich your research, expand your perspectives and potentially…

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.

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…

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…