It feels like summer went by all too quickly, doesn’t it? Suddenly it’s September and campus is once again full of students. For some of you it’s your first time in university and you’re probably feeling a tad nervous, maybe a bit overwhelmed. Maybe you feel like you need some advice, something better than the crap they tell you on Imagine Day. Returning students might also be looking for some ways to do a bit better than last year; after all, there’s always room for improvement. Well look no further; here are my Pro Tips for Succeeding at UBC.
Go to class. So you breezed through high school or first year without studying and ended up with straight A’s. Well so did almost every other kid around you. I admit that going to some classes may seem unnecessary at times, especially those with bad professors or 8am lectures, but it’s important to start building good habits early. Eventually you’ll come across a class you can’t miss or a job and you’ll be glad you made a habit of being present and punctual.
Do your homework. Similar to the last one. Doing your homework, especially if it’s not mandatory, may seem unnecessary. But again, it’s important to set up good habits early, and believe me, there will come a time when doing your homework will be necessary. Also, applying what you learn will help you better understand the material so you won’t forget it all after the final and waste what you paid to take the damn course.
Jogging is one of the easiest, and most affordable, ways to stay in shape.Maintain your health. Join a rec team. Work out at the Aquatic Centre (the use of which is included in your AMS fees). Go jogging through Pacific Spirit Park. Get enough sleep. Staying in shape is very simple, but many people seem to neglect it. It’s important to keep in shape to succeed, academically or otherwise. Studies have shown regular exercise promotes the ability to retain information, increases the ability to focus, and generally improves cognitive function.
Participate in extra–curricular activities. Join a club or a team. Check out the Greek system. Don’t see anything that suits you? Start your own club. School is so much more about just getting good grades, and you learn as much out of the classroom as you do in it. Don’t spend the next few years just sitting in the damn library; participating in extra-curricular activities will help you meet new people, expose you to new things, push you out of your comfort zone, and basically enrich your experience here.
Have fun. Go to parties. Play some Halo. Have a beer with your friends. Ask out that cute girl at your lab bench. It’s important to balance all that hard work with some time to relax. Working hard is important, but working all the time will do you no good and will leave you exhausted. Taking breaks to have fun will keep you more productive and happy.
Manage your time. Now that you’re going to all your classes, doing all your homework, going to the gym, joining Dance Club, and partying a few nights here and there, how do you manage your time? Well there are a number of different strategies for this. Personally, I keep an agenda for all my assignments, midterms, and exams while I keep my appointments and miscellaneous to-do’s on my phone. This works for me but may not for you. Try out a few things and find what you like. There is one time management tip, however, that does work for everyone: Don’t procrastinate. One more time: Don’t procrastinate. You may think you don’t need to finish that lab report until Sunday but then you’ll go out on Saturday, get hammered, and end up incapable of keeping your breakfast down let alone writing about your titration the next day.
Take risks. These next few years are essential in determining who you will be for the rest of your life. Personal growth and learning about yourself go hand in hand with taking risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone. So try a new sport, join a new club, or say yes to that date. After all, they say you regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did.
So there you have it, my easy-to-follow tips for succeeding at UBC. I know some of these may seem very obvious, but I find that it’s the obvious things that many students seem to neglect. Also, I’m not trying to imply that I’ve been more successful than the average student during my time here at UBC, I’m just sharing a few things that have worked for me along the way. But what do I know? Maybe you won’t do anything on my list and graduate summa cum laude. But why take that risk? Follow these and I guarantee you’ll do well, or at the very least you won’t mess things up too much.
Andrew Lee
– Bookings Representative
