Tips for Prospective First Year Science Students

So, there are many things I wish I knew before registering for Courses and planning my schedule. Since I do not know much about the Arts Faculty, these tips will be aimed towards First Year Science Students. After almost a complete full year, I feel as though it is my duty to share my knowledge with all the prospective science *cough* Med *cough* students.

Tip #1: Know what courses you need!
Website Link for First Year Courses

Note: The above link is just RECOMMENDED Courses. Specialization requires courses other than these (Although most of the popular specializations require ALL of these courses) Google your prospective Specialization for more details.

This year, I found out that BIO 140 is required for Med School (Hopefully where I will end up). Problem is, that EVERYONE else knew this was required. So I was stuck with signing up for the Waiting List. This meant that I had to wait for people to drop the course for various reasons before I could get in. I did eventually get in, but this meant I had a HUGE course load for my 2nd term (Thus, me not blogging as much) Just realize that 2nd year students register LAST, so if you miss out on any first year courses that popular amongst the 1st year students, you are going to have a hard time getting in. BUT do take into account your ability to handle a course load, and don’t overload yourself. Just remember that there are summer school courses that last from a month to only two weeks depending on the course. You can always take 4 courses a semester in 1st year then in the summer take 2 more courses. Which brings me to my next tip:

Tip #2: The key to good grades, is a very small course load.

Think about it… if you only take English, Math, Physics, and Chem, then plan to take Bio in the summer or something like that. You have so much more time to work on the four courses you have. (Bio is a time-consumer… trust me) I know the thought of summer school isn’t very attractive, but in all honesty, it’s the best thing for you. I haven’t had a chance to take summer school yet, but I plan to this summer, and I will post more about how summer school was like then, but theoretically, it should work out. I didn’t know these tips before, and I had 5 courses in term one, and 5 courses with an extra BIO 140 Lab in Term 2, and I feel VERY overloaded. (But I seem to handle all the work very well) But this summer, I am signed up for CHEM 233, CHEM 235, and MICB 202, which in turn means that… if I want, I could only take 3 courses a semester in 2nd year. Which will make up for my massive course load in 1st year and balance out my grades.

Tip #3: This one… is the hardest of them all… During Exam Season (that includes Midterms)…. DEACTIVATE FACEBOOK!

“Oh my god! He did not just say that! He didn’t… NO WAY!” Is what you are all thinking right now, and I thought the same way too. But it wasn’t until my friend MADE me deactivate it that I finally realized how well it works! Before, I found myself studying for half an hour, then going on Facebook for an hour… it wasn’t very productive. Then I finally deactivated it and I get more work done! You can always reactivate your Facebook once all the exams are over! It’s almost like Facebook is a Blackhole of time wasting. I’d be willing to put money down that if Facebook did not exist, everyone would get 4.0 GPA.  For all my High School readers, do this for Provincials! Cause it’s only going to get worse once you get to UBC.

Tip #4: Find some sort of Motivation.

If you are motivated, everything just works out… it’s scientifically proven. “Good Grades” is not a good source of Motivation, believe me. My source of Motivation… is actually the lamest kind of Motivation ever. I find my Motivation from watching House. Everytime I watch an episode, I think to myself “I WANT TO BE HOUSE” and then I go upstairs and study right away. It’s what works for me, find what works for you! It can be a TV Show, it can be someone you look up to, it could be a Poem, it could be… really anything!… except Grades. Grades as a source of motivation, isn’t very smart. Sure, it feels awesome when you get an A+ on a Chemistry Midterm on the Atomic Orbitals of an Atom, but what happens when you get a C- on a Physics Midterm on Atomic Nuclei. Your motivation will be SHOT. You could say “That bad grade will make me work harder to get a better grade!” But that isn’t a good way to look at it! If you find a source of motivation that never lets you down, and will always be there (Like House). You’ll never feel down, and you’ll ALWAYS get good grades.

and Finally… the best tip of all.

Tip #5: PARTY!

School is SOO stressful. You gotta have some time to party. I remember thinking to myself before I entered UBC, “I am never going to party, I am just going to study everyday, 24/7, and never do anything else!” Well, obviously I broke that rule, but it was the best thing for me! Just know your limits… play within it. (Lame… I know) It makes a big difference if you let off some steam every once and awhile. There isn’t much to say about this one, just have some fun every once awhile, loosen up! Don’t let school take over your life!

So those are my tips, expect more information about summer school once I finish it! Hope you guys found this useful!