Professional Development

Yas Oloumi Yazdi

It’s very overwhelming when you first start. There are so many things to try and do. It may seem like a lot is being thrown at you but after the first couple months you start to feel a bit more comfortable and settled in. Communicating with your...

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...

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).

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...

Lindsey Paskulin

My advice is to follow your interests. Graduate programs are neither short nor easy. But if you truly enjoy what you are doing, if you have passion for your subject, then it won’t be half as bad. If you don’t know what you’re interested in right...

Raha AtashPa

For new graduate students embarking on this transformative journey, my advice is threefold:

1. Embrace Interdisciplinarity: Open yourself to the wealth of knowledge that exists beyond the boundaries of your chosen...

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...

Megan Zeni

There is a lot of life to live outside of being a graduate student in Vancouver. Be sure to make time for play and joy. Get up in the mountains, get out on the water, and into a garden! This is just one season of your life, not your whole life....

Stephen Johnston

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

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...

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...

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.