So according to my sources, and my really freaking amazing memory (hah.) it’s the time of year when acceptance letters start coming in. And that made me think about getting my letter from UBC and ultimately saying no to three other universities in order to make the trek to Vancouver to study. There’s a ton of stuff that I wish I had known about universities in general and about UBC specifically that I thought I’d share to maybe help others who are struggling to make a decision like I was. I’m not saying that I regret my choice to come to UBC. I’m having the time of my life. But there are definitely things that I didn’t know about that I really wish that I did.

Commence the list.

Universities in General:

1. Distance Matters.

If you’re moving away for university, chances are you are going to feel homesick. Prepare yourself: give your mailing address to your family and close friends so they can send you real letters throughout the year. It’s a nice surprise to have and is often more personal than an email. Plus, they can draw you little pictures!

2. Money Matters Too.

But making a budget (or keeping track of your spending, even on an excel spreadsheet) can help you avoid overspending. Alternatively, have no social life and never go out ever and the money will stay put. (But you won’t have much fun.) I ended up getting a part-time job at my residence’s cafeteria to help out, and it’s made a world of difference. I work eight hours a week which doesn’t interfere with studying time or even social time. I highly recommend a flexible part-time job if you can manage it.

3. Rankings Don’t Matter

(If you can make a gif for this one, please share it. I’ve got nothing)

Your choice of a university shouldn’t depend on its numerical position on what is a frankly arbitrary list published by people who are experts on stuff. Pick the university that you feel most matches your personality, is in a town you like, offers courses and programs that are interesting, and that makes you feel most excited for your next year. And remember that transferring is always an option if you really really hate it.

UBC:

1. Standard Timetables for First Years

(ditto. no gif. sorry)

Coming into first year Arts or Sciences in Vancouver? Check out Arts One and CAP for Arts and Sciences One and CSP for Sciences. I’m in CAP Global Citizens (one of the “themes” of the CAP program) and really enjoyed having major assignments coordinated (no overlapping deadlines between courses) and that my courses were related thematically. It’s a big help for first year and I definitely recommend checking out the links above for more info. I wasn’t told about these programs until two days before course registration (which is when you sign up for them!) so this is definitely something I would have loved to know earlier.

2. Living in Res

Is loud. And sometimes a little squishy. But definitely worth it for first year if only because it forces you to meet people. And that’s very, very important. For UBC first-years, your choices are Totem Park and Place Vanier. PV is closer to where most of your classes will be, on the North End of campus, and has a beautiful cafeteria/commonsblock setup. It’s also right beside one of the trails to Wreck Beach, which is a blessing (so close!) and a curse (so loud on weekends) according to residents. Totem Park is a bit further away,  but offers two newer buildings and is closer to the grocery store and to some really awesome running trails.

A meal plan is mandatory for all first-years living in res. They offer three sizes: small, regular, and Varsity. (Small, Medium, Large.) I had the regular and it looks like I will have money left over. BUT I never eat breakfast in the cafeteria (I buy my own yogurt etc) and am often off-campus for weekends. It’s your call. Remember you can always add funds if you run out. So basically I wish I’d known not to stress over this.

3. (Campus) Size Matters

It’s a huge campus with a lot of people studying, working, playing, and commuting on/through it. It’s like a city. I have a bike and it has made a world of difference in getting around the campus. Definitely bring or buy one and invest in a secure way to store it. (The newer rooms in Totem have bike hooks in them). Bicycle = my best friend ever, and I almost didn’t even bring it.

Also, in regards to size, I wish I’d understood more about how the campus is laid out. I’ll try to describe it, but it’s really helpful to look up a map. Main Mall is a huge walking path that runs from North to South. Basically, everything stems off of that in some way. If you can find Main Mall, you’re golden. (Yes, you can cycle on it; no, you cannot run down slow pedestrians.) The fountain in the middle of Main Mall is basically the center point. From here you can get to the buses and bookstore quite easily. My point (what I wish I’d known) is that walking from one end of Main Mall to another (or from Totem to, say, Buchanan or the Anthropology building) can take up to 25 minutes, more if you are lost! (Another argument for the bike). Plan accordingly.

Finally, the most important thing:

Be excited! This is going to be different and scary and new and a lot of fun. Don’t get bogged down in the details. Enjoy the experience!

There you have it. Good luck making your decision and I hope this helped in some small way.