Advice from UBC Students | Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Atul Aravindakshan

Make the best use of the education your program at UBC has to offer. At the same time have personal hobbies and interests outside of academia, which is necessary to keep a work-life balance. It is very easy to feel overwhelmed while enrolled in a…

Cassandra Hesse

Come to school with an open mind and open heart. UBC has a wonderful way of creating experiences that will help inspire you to become the person you have always wanted to but never knew possible. Also, don't forget to have fun!

Annie Borch

I made the decision to go into academia almost three years before I was accepted into a graduate program. I'm glad that I took the time to discover what I wanted from grad school before applying. I narrowed down my field of interest from my broad…

Kaitlin Sullivan

Ensure that the environment and the people you work with fit with you and your interests just as much as the science does. Science is inherently collaborative and graduate school is long, so having people around you that you enjoy will be just as…

Katherine Baillie

Take time to explore! The start of a project is a great time to try new ideas; be curious and don’t be afraid of ideas that are a little out-of-the-box. It is also a good time to get to know your lab mates, the research facility, and the…

Faeze Keshavarz

I would like to tell new graduate students to try and have a work-life balance to increase their efficiency and avoid burnout. I also think it is important to know that not all endeavours will yield success, but they should never give up. It is…

Isra Ibrahim

Balance your life and do not stress out. Accept that difficulties are part of graduate school and life. To mums who are thinking of returning to school its never too late to start graduate studies at the time that works best for you and family.…

Joshua MacEachern

1. It may be kind of a cliche piece of advice, but definitely don’t be afraid to ask questions. There’s no such thing as a stupid question and you will learn so much from asking questions. It also shows your supervisor that you’re engaged and…

Ina Na

Each graduate experience is unique and usually depends significantly on your supervisor, your lab mates, your project, and your style of approaching things so be sure to choose carefully and gain insight by talking to current and past lab members…

Kaitlyn Zinn

Pick a research area you are passionate about. Grad school can be tough, and I have found it quite important to be working on something that is important to you.

Holly Bergeron-Dumaine

I'm currently entering my second year as a PhD student - after a tumultuous first year getting used to an entirely new city, trying many reading/listening/annotating/conference-note-taking strategies with varying results, and experiencing a ton…

Ace Chan

The advice that I have for new graduate students is something that I still do to this day: find people whose career you admire and ask them how they got where they are now. I have been very fortunate with the amount of people who have been…

Emma Betz

Take a deep breath! It can be very overwhelming starting a degree but if you break things down into more manageable steps, it makes it easier to continually work towards the end goal.

Laura Brass

Make the most of this academic endeavour and personal experience—own it—whether that means growing your network of mindlike peers, immersing yourself in the culture and social activities, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone (for me, one…

Naomi Potter

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Speak up and ask your questions. You will be surrounded by people - peers, lab members, supervisors, collaborators - so build your community and lean on them for support when you need it.

Nancy Lin

Maintain an open mind, be curious about everything, and dare to challenge established ways of knowing. Building a collaborative and communicative relationship with one’s graduate supervisor is also one of the most enriching parts of being a…

Rabia Mir

Your relationship with your supervisor significantly impacts your learning process. If it's not an equitable or pleasant one, then seek alternative supervision.

Ariene Cabantog

Make sure you are happy with your team and are excited to come to work every day. Working in a supportive environment with supervisors and peers you can lean on plays a huge role in achieving success. Put in the effort to foster the type of…

Aisha Ghani

Take advantage of the opportunity to continually challenge your thinking, learn from diverse perspectives and world views, and to engage with communities. Try to understand yourself and what you need to stay accountable and on time with your…

Kate Huang

Your supervisors and peers are there to help you! Don’t be afraid to reach out for help and support. Dedicate time to connect with people and pursue your passions outside of your studies. Revisiting a problem with a fresh perspective can often…

Luke Polson

Probably the most jarring thing you'll experience coming out of a course-based undergraduate degree and moving into a research-based graduate degree is when you initially start research. Unlike with most assignments/projects due for courses,…

Isaiah Betinol

Take a step back - graduate school is tough and it's easy to lose the forest for the trees. Make sure you take the time to do things you enjoy!

Jen Baron

Graduate school can be overwhelming, and a major component of the experience is trying different approaches and learning from your mistakes. Building a strong community of peers, setting achievable and realistic goals, and structuring your…

Martina Zago

Work hard because inevitably there are going to be challenges along the way. But above all: do not forget your ideals and be persistent.

David Black

I believe there are three primary aspects to having a successful and enjoyable experience in grad school. First, though it is a lot of effort and is sometimes stressful or frustrating, if you have a topic you’re motivated and excited about, it…

Alex Lukey

Take every opportunity you can. Grad school is a great time of exploration, and it's also this unique time when you have the "student hat" on, so people will sometimes give you more leeway than work environments. All that to say, don't be afraid…

Melanie McPhail

Take advantage of the supports and opportunities offered at UBC, even those that have nothing to do with studying.I spent my first year trying to find the best croissant on campus (the answer is Loafe).

Kevin Jeffers

My first recommendation for anyone considering grad school is advice I was given soon after I started. Decide on a project before deciding on a program. Picking a topic you are truly passionate about is worth more than the title on your degree.…

Ryoga Hojo

Working hard and being self-motivated to pursue what interests you is critical. 4 to 5 years may seem like a long time, but it flies by fast when you have fun and keep yourself busy.

Elise Legarth

For all the international students, as challenging as it is at times to leave your home country and family and move to a place where they drive on the opposite side of the road, the food tastes different, and no one can understand your accent or…

Kerry Marshall

As a new graduate student, I was told to expect to have at least one existential crisis in your program. To tackle some of the big questions and feelings that you will (likely) experience, finding a supportive community is invaluable to helping…

Megan Thomas

Get involved! It can be easy to isolate ourselves when we start research, but being involved in different clubs and groups has allowed me to meet some amazing people and learn new skills.

Zhen Lin

Please stick to your goals: Enjoy the process of fulfilling the goals and believe in your possibility of accomplishing them! Also, always take good care of yourself—physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Christopher Lee

My advice to new graduate students would be to make sure you maintain a good work-life balance and don't be afraid to take a break from your work when you get stuck. Recognize when burnout is setting in and use the proximity of the mountains and…

Alan Knee

Keep an open mind about what research you want to get involved with! Don't hyper-focus on one particular topic that you did research on during your undergrad, and consider all the options available to you.

Mia Frier

Make time for fresh air, sleep, exercise, and eating healthy. Also, make sure your workspace is ergonomic.

Amy Forsythe

Take advantage of on campus work space that UBC provides (like an office if you have one)! You'll meet lots of cool new people. Also try to keep a consistent schedule (at least in terms of weekly hours) - it's easy to spend far too much (and…

Li Qing Wang

Advice I would give to new graduate students is to follow your own passions and intuitions and to not compare yourselves to others.

Julia Nakamura

I would advise establishing routines as early as possible (ideally at the start of grad school) to maintain a good balance of productivity and self-care! It is easy to get caught up in work and deadlines, but keeping an emphasis on physical/…

Davi de Ferreyro Monticelli

Graduate life is like the tide, and you have to recognize and accept the lows as well as nurture and prosper during the highs. Seek support from your supervisor and colleagues, you may be surprised at how much they are willing to help you. On the…

Christina Howard

Take advantage of the amazing community that you are a part of, both professionally and personally. Network with the students around you to develop your research, but also sign yourself up for sports teams or classes. Prioritize your wellbeing,…

Elise Ng-Cordell

It is good to develop an idea of your graduate school and longer-term career goals so that you can choose among, and make the most of, the many opportunities that come your way. I also think it is important not to put life on hold, and to make…

Katrina Bergmann

Take care of your mental (and physical) health! The pressures and expectations of graduate studies as well as the constant barriers in your research can definitely take a toll on your mental state. Although it can feel like taking a step back is…

Omar Bashth

My everyday advice to graduate students is to activate their curiosity and have no limit to their imagination. Have fun, enjoy science, be rationale with your assessment and be aware of your biases. We, as graduate students, should be humble and…

Debbie Pierce

Don't be too wary of uncertainty, and try to enjoy the process!

Jessica Koski

Follow your passion & chart your own path with each step you take.

Darryl Gray

Attending a graduate program at UBC was the best choice I ever made in life. I look back at the challenges and learning experiences through my years in graduate programs at UBC. These learning experiences help to motivate my present and future…

Leah Rettenbacher

I would tell new students to learn how to manage your own time and make your own deadlines.

Gabriel Currier

Don't take it all too seriously and remember to take care of yourself. Also, hobbies are a good thing - if your academic career doesn't work out maybe you can make a living off of them!

Bri Watson

Try to find the things that make you angry, sad, happy, or amused. That is, try to find the things you care about emotionally, whether or not that necessarily aligns with the goals of your program or what you said in your statement of purpose.…