Advice from UBC Students

Charlotte Milne

Don't be afraid to reach out to professors and other academics. While everyone is busy, amazing relationships and research opportunities can emerge when you ask.

Parker Muzzerall

My advice for new graduate students is quite simple, really - learn to relax and build a life outside of grad school. In other words, don't work on weekends, and don't be afraid to put the books down and go for a hike or a bike ride on a Tuesday…

Andrea Kampen

I would encourage new graduate students to embrace their own non-linear narratives. There’s such beauty in not smoothing out the rough edges and corners of your inquiry. Some people may have a burning question they’ve wanted to explore and engage…

Leah Alfred-Olmedo

Be kind to yourself and keep an eye on your mental health; graduate work can be a slog and it's important to remember that there is life outside of your studies. Sometimes it can be really hard to speak up in the small intense discussion groups…

Talia Morstead

My primary advice for new graduate students is to approach all areas of inquiry with an open mind, and prioritize engaging with an array of diverse ideas and perspectives. Graduate school is an amazing opportunity to obtain valuable training,…

Belinda Chi

My advice is to be open to conversation, listen, and be willing to expand your thoughts. While we are here to learn, we are also here to unlearn and relearn.

Lorna Tu

My advice would be to keep going forward but don’t forget to occasionally pause and look back at how much you’ve learned and how far you’ve come. The journey is just as important as the destination.

Felix Giroux

Identify and voice your needs to find your path. And try something beyond intellectual and academic work!

Aysha Allard Brown

1) Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone, 2) Celebrate your achievements (big or small), and 3) Enjoy the journey!

Rane Simpson

A graduate degree, at least in science as I am familiar, is not the easiest path to pursue. Not everyone that I know in this program is as certain about their future as others. Sometimes you don't know which side of the fence you lie on until you…

Xiaocong Guo

My advice to new graduate students is to not work in a silo. There is a wealth of knowledge in research experts, your peers, and those who started a similar journey before you. Collaborate and learn from them whenever you can, and you will…

Bonnie Leung

Something I am still learning to do is how and when to say "no". As a graduate student, there are many learning and experiential opportunities. While the training program is finite, learning does not stop when you graduate and opportunities you…

Fang Fang Li

Like any journey, there will be both good days and bad days. Within the good days, there will be days where you will feel invincible — as if you’re standing on top of the world. On the flip side, you may find that the worst of the bad days are…

Geoffrey Woollard

The best advice I can give is going to be for people with a similar biography and goals. So my advice is for ambitious domain experts who want to tool up in computer science and solve challenging scientific problems. I would advise them to take…

Sharada Balaji

Take the time to make friends! The graduate degree experience can occasionally feel overwhelming, and it’s helpful to feel like you’re going through it all with friends and commiserate together, even if you don’t work with them on the same types…

John Harvey O'Hara

My best advice is to access all the resources you think you might need, whether it's accommodations from the Center for Accessibility or assistance from your supervisor. Graduate school is an incredibly busy time, and it's important to ask for…

Shelby Marozoff

Finding the right supervisor is important as this is one of the most important relationships you’ll have for the duration of your degree and even afterwards while setting up your career. Also, aiming for balance during a graduate degree will make…

Shalini Iyer

The most crucial advice I can offer would be to choose an institution and/or lab with a supportive supervisor and community. Research is one of those fields where you will often face more failures (or as I like to call them “learning experiences…

Brook Hadwen

My advice would be to seek out as many opportunities to learn as possible. Don't wait for learning opportunities to fall in your lap. If you see a project you'd like to help with, reach out and ask! If you have the opportunity to be a part of…

Narsis Daftarian

Since experimental medicine is a research-based program, the piece of advice I think might be helpful is to choose a field of research during your graduate study, that will help you build your future area of research and carrier.

Katelynn Kowalchuk

Being a first-generation student can be challenging in ways that are difficult to articulate. Surround yourself with people who support you, remember why you started graduate school in the first place, and make sure to take time to do the things…

Ash Larnder

Just take it one step at a time.

Loulou Cai

UBC has a lot to offer, from various clubs, inter-mural sport teams, and activities. I would suggest to find your niche and build a community there, whether it's in your program or outside of it.

Harris Wong

My biggest piece of advice for new graduate students make sure to prioritize things like hobbies, physical activities, and relaxation. It is a bit cliche, however, there is an ever-growing pile of work that you need to complete in graduate school…

Ashley Gilliland

I would advise new graduate students to ask for help, spend meaningful time planning their next steps, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Research is often met with unforeseen challenges therefore perseverance and grit are necessary to be…

Carly Hamdon

Be kind to yourself. Graduate school can be overwhelming and relentless. Give yourself time and space to adjust to the new level of expectations you will face and remember that mistakes are inevitable.

Juri Kim

Unexpected situations can occur during the graduate program that may cause disruptions and stress. I hope you won't be overly burdened by circumstances that are often beyond our control. During the early stages of my doctoral program, I, like…

Kabir Bhalla

My advice for new graduate students is to embrace boldness and fearlessly explore new paths and opportunities. UBC offers a wealth of experiences, and there's always something exciting happening. Make the most out of your degree – after all, it…

Quanhan Xi

Find a school-life balance that works for you. Graduate school has significantly less mandatory contact time than undergraduate studies, which means that you have much more flexibility to work (or not work). It's a valuable skill to learn and be…

Darren Blackburn

When you first start your graduate program, you may have experiences that shake your self-confidence. Your instructors may introduce new language and concepts you’ve never heard of and don’t understand. Your supervisors may be critical of your…

Mohit Pandey

(i) Explore the great outdoors of BC - BC is one of the most scenic places on our planet. Take full advantage of exploring it while you are here. (ii) Vancouver can be expensive - This follows from (i). Everyone wants to call this place their…

Xuyan Tang

Embrace setbacks as stepping stones. View failures as opportunities to learn, grow, and uncover your true potential on your path to success. Let each challenge propel you forward, empowering you to achieve greatness in both academics and life.

Veronika Larsen

Join student groups, get to know your peers and faculty members, and enjoy your time at UBC!

Rama El-khawaldeh

My advice to new grad students is to build strong relationships with mentors for guidance and networking and seize collaboration chances for real-world exposure. Every expert was once a beginner, and starting somewhere is essential. For me,…

Raymond Wu

One of the things that I was a bit reluctant to do when I first started was to share research ideas. I was initially worried that they would not be very good. Soon, I realized that most of them were for a fact, not very good. Through the process…

Arash Mousemi

Define your academic and career goals early on. Having a clear vision will guide your choices and research direction throughout your graduate program. Also, take care of your well-being.

Nicholas Richardson

One of the main reasons you are here is to learn so take advantage of the opportunities you have to develop your knowledge, but also learn a new skill, learn a new perspective, or learn more about your peers.

Betty Shea

My advice is to spend time on your relationships with classmates, labmates and supervisor(s). When research gets challenging (as it often does), these are the people who will help you stay focused and motivated.

Jennifer Cooper

Grad school is a roller coaster with some really intense highs and lows. I think one of the most important things you should do in grad school is to build up a network of people who can support you through the lows and celebrate the highs with…

Heather Baker

My first piece of advice would be to find a good work-life balance. While it can be easy to get caught up in the research (and sometimes the moment demands it), establishing hobbies and routines outside of school can help you feel grounded (and…

Jordan Bird

I think there are five main themes that have really helped me:

1. embrace failure,
2. find a mentor(s) (and in turn, be a mentor),
3. don't be busy, be productive,
4. consistently showing up, and
5. …
   Read More

Rocio Hollman

To make sure you find a community. Graduate life can get hard. Experiments don't always work and it can be easy to feel like you don't know anything. Having a good group of people to support you and help find other aspects in your life that also…

Katrin Steinthorsdottir

Enjoy the weekends as much as possible - it goes by so quickly! And say yes to all the opportunities you want, but still manage to learn to say no when needed!

Melanie Mackay

Get to know your professors and fellow graduate students. My research group talks constantly on a group chat and we brain storm all of the time. Someone is sharing papers or internet links or planning something almost daily in our chat. We take…

Bronwen Grocott

Don't let anyone else tell you what your experience in grad school will be! So much of this program is what you make of it and the work can really take over most of your life if you allow it to. Work-life balance isn't always easy to maintain but…

Hacina Gill

My greatest advice for new grad students is to advocate for yourself and know that you are valuable. Entering grad school can be hard - it's overwhelming and can shake one's self-confidence - but know that you deserve to be treated with respect…

Monir Shahzeidi

I want to tell them to be focused on their dream and never give up. Being persistent, positive, and resilient is crucial to success. I also advise them to find a balance between work and life and enjoy their student life.

Rubaiya Rumman

The journey through graduate studies can be demanding and filled with challenges, but it is also a time of immense growth and discovery. Please try to enjoy every situation life has in store for you. If you enjoy your work, you cannot even…

Lulu Pei

Put yourself out there and make connections, both within your area of research and outside – you never know where inspiration and new ideas may come from. Reserve time to explore hobbies and interests beyond the academic world. These activities…

Ian Hill

Don't forget to care for yourself. Sleep, time off, and realistic work hours make a world of difference. Personally, I can sometimes get more done in two exceptionally focused and motivated hours of work when I'm well rested and calm than in two…