In the Faculty of Arts, you can take your degree anywhere you want to go. It may seem like a long journey ahead, but you will be joining one of the university’s largest communities and we are here to support you and your success at UBC.
From exploring your interests to building connections and taking care of your well-being, your Arts Peer Advisors share their best tips for new Arts students.
Explore your interests and try new things
The transition from high school to university can be overwhelming for so many reasons. First-year means going from a small class size with peers you’ve known for years to a huge lecture hall with new people, being presented with a vast number of courses and programs to choose from, and for many, it means moving to a new province or country for the first time. It might feel like you have all these important decisions to make and that you need to know exactly what you want to do in life.
It’s important to remember that your Bachelor of Arts degree is designed to allow you to explore topics and apply an interdisciplinary lens to your studies. You have the time to take electives and change your major if you want to. The Faculty of Arts offers over 90 program options, so it is normal to be unsure about which major or minor would best suit your goals and interests. It can be helpful to browse through the Faculty of Arts Program Options tool to learn which options are offered.
“First year is a great opportunity to explore any course if it interests you because it'll count towards your degree one way or another. You might as well try new things and maybe you find a hidden passion that might give insight into a new life trajectory!”
In her first year, Peer Advisor Alana Shaw thought she knew want she wanted to study but after taking a variety of electives she realized she felt more comfortable in a completely different subject. “I didn’t really know much about anthropology coming out of high school, so I took Anthropology 100 just for fun because I needed to take another class. I ended up falling in love with the subject and realized a lot of my interests were related to anthropology. I’m so glad I decided to take classes outside of my comfort zone because it helped me realize how many options are out there and led me to find an academic community I felt connected to.”
Take care of your health and wellbeing
Academics are important but you will learn better and succeed when you feel good and healthy. “I wish I could tell my first-year self that there is no need to rush and take five classes each term in the beginning, says Peer Advisor Trinity Stephens. Instead, I should have spaced out my classes and allowed myself to balance my mental health with good grades instead of being overwhelmed.”
Peer Advisor Rachel Chen knew that she would do better with breaks in her day. “I prefer to have breaks in-between to eat, see friends, and study. However, I have friends that compress all their courses on certain days of the week, so they don’t have to commute every day.
“Don't feel pressured to do what others are doing. Do what works best for you and helps you feel good!”
Remember that everyone is different and will thrive in different ways. Your mental health and grades will thank you if you remember to sleep, eat, spend time with your friends and community, and find what helps you destress and centre yourself throughout the day.
Explore the world of electives
Selecting courses can be difficult with the sheer number of options to pick from and not knowing what you’re interested in yet.
Peer Advisor Farzeen Ather knew as soon as she got to UBC that she wanted to study English Literature. Though she found her niche early on, she still took many Arts electives.
“Even if you think you know what you like, you'd be surprised at how much you might like things outside of your comfort zone. Additionally, it always feels great to have an elective here and there that gives you a break from your specialization.”
Peer Advisor Odin Schubert-Rasmussen agrees. “Political Science 101 and Atmospheric Science 113 were both awesome courses for my first year, he says. POLI 101 is about the government of Canada and as someone living and working in Canada, it was important for me to know how our government works and it also ended up being helpful for all my other Political Science courses.”
Plan ahead and manage your time well
There are inevitably times during the academic year when many midterm exams and assignment deadlines coincide. It can feel especially daunting in your first year since it is likely your first time juggling courses at a university level alongside other responsibilities. You will develop your own set of tools that help to prepare and get you through these times; in the meantime, here are some tips that the peer advisors found helpful!
Plan ahead at the start of the term when the pace of courses is slower as it will better prepare you for when things get busier. “Mark all your quizzes, papers, assignments, and exams on a calendar so you can visualize the deadlines and plan accordingly,” suggests Odin.
“Take an hour or two at the start of the term with the syllabi from all your courses to jot down important dates and deadlines in a planner you frequently use. If you want to go the extra mile, try colour coding by course or by assignment type.”
Peer Advisor Trinity discovered that she studies best away from her room and bed and suggests that students get themselves organized, grab their favourite snacks, and study in intervals with breaks.
There are various study strategies that students can try out, and Peer Advisor Rachel found it most helpful to study actively by testing herself. Rachel recommends students put their notes away and try to summarize or explain what they just studied. It is much better to find out that you did not attain much of the study material while you are studying, rather than when you open the first page of the midterm!
Discover all that UBC has to offer and reach out for support
As a UBC student, there are countless resources and opportunities readily available to help you succeed.
Imagine Day is a good place to begin. Rachel remembers her Imagine Day as a helpful first step to getting involved. “Imagine Day and Club’s Week were a great opportunity to discover the wide variety of clubs on campus and to learn about them by chatting with current club members,” shares Rachel.
Peer Advisor Muthaira Abid would not hesitate to recommend being involved in Residence Life to first-year students. Living in residence can provide a sense of community with peers on the same floor or building, and there are events that are organized regularly by Residence Advisors. Muthaira lived in residence in her first year and later became a Residence Advisor herself. “Becoming a Residence Advisor in a first-year residence at Totem Park after being a resident was a full-circle moment and a fulfilling experience. I made valuable connections, learned about working in a team, and grew as a leader. If you are a commuting student, the Collegia is also a wonderful community to attain a similar sense of community!”
Find your go-to spot on campus
Did you know that the UBC Point Grey campus covers more than 400 hectares? Because the campus is so vast, students often find themselves discovering new spots and hidden gems even after having studied at UBC for more than a year. Between the lecture halls, libraries, outdoor spaces, and cafes and restaurants, there is no shortage of spots for students to explore.
If you are someone who needs silence to study and focus, you may find the Anthropology and Sociology Building (ANSO) or the Irving K. Barber (IKB) library a productive place to get work done. Odin lists the IKB Learning Commons as his favourite library to study in since there are both silent rooms and common areas where you can collaborate with other peers or study with other friends. Alana loves the ANSO building as “it’s always quiet, has interesting books to flip through and it’s a pleasant walk to the building as you can pass through the Rose Garden to reach the building.”
For students who prefer ambient background noises and more liveliness in their study environment, the different cafes around campus might quickly become your go-to study place. Bean Around the World seems to be the most popular coffee shop among the Peer Advisors, recommended by Farzeen, Rachel, and Muthaira.
Nitobe Memorial Garden is tucked away near the west end of campus and it is often described as a peaceful sanctuary where one can visit to get away from the hustle and bustle of the main campus. Surrounded by greenery and calming water, it’s a great place to connect with nature. “I always find myself going there throughout the year when I need to just get away from things or need space to think,” notes Gabi, who says the garden is her most beloved spot on campus. Plus, UBC students get free entry so take advantage while you are a student!
Make your academic transition to UBC the best it can be. Learn more about the Arts Academic Advising and peer academic support within the Faculty of Arts.
