Be MUCH faster when writing the exam and don’t waste time writing elaborate answers for the first few questions and be forced to rush through the last 6 questions. I’m living and learning everything the hard way. Don’t follow my mistakes!!!
Repeat: rushing is bad. Rushing is very very bad
in summary, I need to work on my test taking time management
Good this time
was very prepared knowledge wise
had an awesome study buddy (Erica Ma if you’re reading this, thanks girl!) who motivated me to study all throughout reading break
high yield learning = active learning. Teach and explain to your study buddy
Do ALL the practice questions. ALL of them, even if there are 92 question in one of the problem sets alone
Update Monday March 17: The huge amount of effort Erica and I put into studying for this exam paid off!
Everyday of March, dress presentably unless I’m going to workout before I get home, in which case I can wear gym clothes that day. I don’t care about being a fashionista but I think that putting in the effort to look to put together can help me feel like I’m ready to take on any challenges that the day might throw at me.
Sleep before midnight 5 days a week. I’ve set an alarm on my phone to remind me to get ready for bed.
Work out at least twice a week for at least 20 minutes while other workouts can be under 20 minutes. I’m eyeing Wednesday and Saturday as good days. My old buddies reminded me how I used to be adamant about exercising almost everyday. I prioritized fitness because I wanted to perform my role in my ice hockey team as best I could. I now have new priorities and have to put time in towards those but as I study for my physiology exam, I’m reminded that even if you’re genetically predisposed to type 2 diabetes for example, exercising now just a little and often can delay or prevent diabetes. Prevention is better than cure, especially if there isn’t a cure.
Academic goals
Review what I learned for every class. Best if done the day of but if not (say if I have two midterms the next day and need to sleep early), review the next day. The purpose of this goal is keep me on track with all my classes because it’s so easy to fall behind!
Up the intensity of my studying so that I can end my student “workday” at approximately 5 pm every weekday. That means no studying after 5 pm. This is something that I’m going to have to ease myself into. The purpose of this is cut out “pseudo-work” where I’m supposed to study but don’t get much done.
Study more efficiently during the weekend. This week, I reflected on when I waste the most time and realized that I’m SO awful at being efficient on the weekends.
Extracurricular goals
Blindness and Vision Philanthropy got approved and there’s a LOT to do as President but I’m so excited to work with my fellow leaders to share a meaningful mission. Goals: host a informative first general meeting and (SO excited for this) our first philanthropy event. 🙂
Produce 3rd draft of my play. After hours and editing and some drastic edits, my second draft was finished this Wednesday and this coming week, my mentors and my peer playwrights will be giving me feedback. Armed with this feedback, I’ll be right back to writing. My play is on how two siblings cope with the loss of their mother. I cried in public while I worked on this, which shows how much I have to engage emotionally when I work on this piece.
Prepare research conference poster with my team. This research is SO cool because I can see the real life benefits of knowing the results of our research questions. I don’t think I can say more but it’s awesome.
Music Outreach Society is getting a website revamp by the talented Michelle Lam. This philanthropy project has been my ongoing passion for five years now (wow time flies!!) and since the summer, I’m so thankful to have Michelle and Alyssa to carry on hosting the concerts. The two are so passionate about this and really pour effort into coordinating other volunteers, arranging with the music therapists, and facilitating interaction with the seniors because an important aspect of MOS’s mission is to build connections between community members via music! I just set up an outreach concert in March at Southview Terrace and I’m a little disappointed that I can’t be there myself. The seniors at Southview were so nice the last time we had an outreach event there, plus I’d like to meet the coordinator I’ve been working with who seems very sweet. (I worked with someone else last time). We might also have some new faces volunteering that I would love to meet. Alas I have to be in class. 🙁
Valentine’s Day special. If you’re single, you can reflect about the important people already in your life instead of moping about being single. If you’re in a relationship, this applies to appreciating your significant other.
If you have these people in your life, thank them for being there for you. Thank them for being your friends, family, significant other, your dog, whatever. Repay them by doing the same for them: appreciating them for who they are, supporting them through thick and thin, calling them out on their negative behaviour and push them to better. these people have made you as successful as you are today. Love these people with all your heart.
FIRST : Those people you let into your life appreciate you exactly as you are.
They’ve seen different sides of you and accept you for you are. By different sides, I mean they’ve seen you be stressed and ripping paper to shreds in your nervousness, know that sometimes you’d rather be a hermit reading a book at home in fuzzy pyjamas than at that exclusive party, seen you be genuinely ugly (personality-wise) and genuinely excited about something random like how to save printer ink. They’ve saw past the facade of flawless beauty and brains and social butterfly that you put up to show the outside world and instead see exactly who you are without pretending to be someone that you’re not and they still think you’re a decent human being worth spending time with. Hold on to these precious people who appreciate you for exactly who are and appreciate them for who they are too!
SECOND: They support you.
The second round is that these people are positively supporting you whether passively or actively. They’re there when you cry and double check that no one would be able to notice that you cried before after you both go back out to face whatever or whoever made you feel that way. They’re ones who come up with a solution and go with you to seek help. They’re the ones who are sometimes more concerned about you than you are about yourself. They come attend your concert even though they’re not really into jazz music. Sometimes they’re not patting you on the back but they’re there for you, waiting, watching, being by your side.They And that means a lot.
THIRD: They tell you’re an awful person when you are.
Third round is that those who really care about you tell you what you’re awful at and what you need to change. Maybe you’re always late or rude to someone else. If you’re genuinely not aware, you need someone to point out these problems to you. If you’re been brushing off dealing with your own flaws, your people tell you to shake you into start changing your unacceptable behaviour.
FOUR: They push you to be better.
They go with you to the gym and push you to try heavier weights. They push you to run faster, take less breaks, eat healthier, sleep more. They push you to go apply for that job, scholarship or program. They push you to face your fears whether you’re afraid of public speaking, or finally sending in that short story you’ve been working on for ages. They push you to become more forgiving or more assertive. They push you to try harder or push you to learn to stress less. Whatever they’re doing, they’re making you a better person.
FIVE: Their friendship/love is unconditional
They’re not only flocking to you when they need help themselves. They’re not only in this to take. They’re also in this friendship/relationship to give. They give even when you can’t give back. They’re not just there to look at your notes, or they thought you were popular, – basically they’re not your friend just to get something from you. So even if you change from that girl who buys lavish birthday and christmas gifts for all her friends and takes them to vacations in her family’s vacation home, they’ll still be your friend. If you shed your old image and become popular with the boys/ladies, your friend isn’t going to be overcome with jealousy and refuse to hang around you anymore. In fact, he/she will probably be very happy for you and try to help you find your other half if you’re looking for one or warn of heartbreak. Through all the changes, they’re your constants.
Should someone in your life do all these for you, be grateful that you have him or her in your life. And be that friend /lover for him or her too!
Life can throw you awful things. Some are awful just in that moment but some are really awful.
Sometimes you’ll be fine in just another hour. Maybe after you eat lunch or when you finally get home after a day that felt like it would never end. Everyone has those days where it seems that everything that could possibly go wrong goes crazy. But after you sleep, you wake up to a fresh day.
Sometimes, you wake up and the next day is even worse. You’ve put up with that group of people’s disrespectful behaviour for a long time but you’ve been tipped over the end. You feel awful but hey, think about how long you’re been tolerant because you remembered the big picture. Be proud of yourself. While you’ve always believed in standing up for the people you care about, and the values and causes that you believe in, you knew that this was just others taking uncalled for shots on you and this was not a situation that is worthy of your fighting spirit. You’ve always had the choice to rashly blow up and spit back fire but you remembered the big picture. You’re not going to act that way.
You’re stronger than you think you are. You’ve already been doing so well but even the strong want time to take off their armour. Do what you need to do to feel better whether you need to complain in a long rambling story to someone, go for a swim, or go on a cleaning spree. Maybe you need to cry. Maybe you don’t. You know yourself best.
Then put back on your armour. Go back to keep this journey, sometimes battle, of life. Tomorrow could be nice or tomorrow could have all sorts of nasty surprises. Whichever, you’ll can tackle whatever challenges arise.
You can’t control the strength or frequency of the waves that comes at you but you can become a stronger swimmer. And you remember, you don’t know how strong you are until you try. You’re probably stronger than you think.
Wishing you the best,
Shanna
Here’s a song to energize you back up so you can keep going! My favourite remix of Tritional’s Anchor (Official )
Lessons learned:
– Don’t nap right before a math exam. You need to be quick and alert. I should have warmed up my responses instead. Seriously, don’t nap.
– I really need to work on my response speed when doing math questions. When preparing for the next midterm, I should do practice tests under timed conditions.
– I should also do any practice questions in general under 8 minutes.
– Learn shortcuts to do math with.
– Save time to check my work during math exam!!
-DOUBLE CHECK IN STEP 2!
– Specifically I had trouble identifying the pattern when given a series of numbers. I only found the pattern when I wrote out the series in full.
– On my next bacteria and virology, details details details. What if ___ or if this disease___ were common questions.
-If I ever take a class with Dr. Kion, I’ll fine comb through slides. Her slides contained all the minutiae details that were tested. I don’t know if this will apply to bac/vir because we have different professors for bac and vir
– Next time I only have 3 and half hours, I should just stay on campus instead leaving. I did a 45 min light run at home but if I wore runners and non-jeans, I could work out at school instead before my exam. In addition, I would have enjoyed reading a book for my English class before my exam
when in doubt, there is probably a pressure gradient
KEY CONCEPTS
Animals require oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion to sustain cell respiration.
Gas exchange organs maximize the rate of O2 and CO2 diffusion by
large thin surface area
steep partial-pressure gradient favouring O2 in and Co2 out.
Blood is specialized tissues that transport gases, nutrients, wastes
Hemoglobin = protein that carries oxygen
Very good at take up oxygen at lungs and other gas exchange organs
release oxygen at tissue
Circulatory systems use positive pressure generated by one or more hearts to transport stuff throughout body.
Major questions:
How are oxygen and Co2 exchanged with the environment? (Oxygen and Carbon dioxide important bc associ with cell resp
How are these gases along with nutrients, waste, etc transported throughout body?
8.1 Why is respiration and circulation necessary for animals?
8.2 Air and water as respiratory media
What is the differences between total pressure and partial pressures of a gas mixture?
Why are the partial pressures of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide important?
8.3 O
rgans of gas exchange
What is the importance of the various parts of Fick’s equation
Describe how fish gills generally work.
Describe with detail how the fish gill is a countercurrent exchange mechanism. What is countercurrent exchanges?
How do vertebrate lungs work?
Must name the main structures of mammalian lung
What are the mechanisms of ventilation of the mammalian lung?
How do changes in pressure result in lung ventilation?
Explain the concept of “dead space”
How do bird lungs work?
ANSWERS
How do animals exchanges gases with the environment and transport substances within their bodies?
8.1 Brief overview of respiratory and circulatory systems.
Important bc need to O2 to produce ATP. Making ATP makes Co2. You need to get rid of Co2 because it can become acid in your blood. Not good.
What are the four steps of gas exchange between environment and mitochondria?
Ventilation = air or water moves through specialized gas exchange organ (lungs, gills)
Diffusion at respiratory surface
Circulation = transported in circ system
Into tissues where O2 low due to cell respiration
Which system helps with ventilation and gas exchange with the environment?
resp system
which system help with transport in body and exchange into tissues
circ sys
8.2 Air and water as respiratory media
DIFFUSION!!!
How much oxygen in environ vs tissue?
oxy high in enivorn and low in tissue so oxygen wants to go from environ to tissue
carbon dioxide in environment vs tissue
carb dix lower in envir than in tissue cuz in tissue there is lots cuz produced from cell resp. so co 2 tend to go from tissue out to environment
What is the differences between total pressure and partial pressures of a gas mixture?
partial pressure = pressure of a particular gas in a mixture of gases
partial pressure is like percentage of that gas in a mixture but gas style
Partial pressure = (fraction) of ( total pressure of mixture).
fraction = what fraction that gas is of the total air
atmospheric pressure = 760 mmHg
note: our atmosphere is mostly N2 and oxygen with a little co2 and argon. we ignore nitrogen and argon bc not useful to us
Why are the partial pressures of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide important?
oxygen and carbon dioxide diffuse between the environment and cells along their partial-pressure gradients
move from high partial pressure to low partial pressure
Compare water breathers with air breathers
water breathers face more challenge than air breather
the oxygen content of water is less than the oxygen content of air
so water breathers have to take in much more water than air breathers need to take in air
8.3 Organs of gas exchange
How do small animals that lack lungs or gill exchange gas?
diffusion across body surface is rapid enough to fulfill gas exchange needs
e.g. sponges, jellyfish
but must live in wet environment
skin must thin which is no protective, prone to water loss
so animals that are big, live in dry (e.g. land
respiratory organs provide greater surface area for gas exchange, large enough to meet gas demands of body cells
land animals – lungs inside body to minimize water loss
What is the importance of the various parts of Fick’s equation?
Fick’s law of diffusion = rate of diffusion depends on 5 things
solubility of gas in the aqueous film lining gas-exchange surface
temperature
surface area available for diffusion
difference in partial pressures of gas across gas exchange surface
thickness of the gas exchange surface
So gas will diffuse quickly if very soluble, high temperature, lots of sruface area, big diff in partial pressures, thin surface
Fick’s law states that all gases, including O2 and Co2, diffuse in the largest amounts when three conditions are met:
A is large. – lots of surface area for exchange
D is small – thin surface
P2 – P1 is large. large partial pressure gradient -> maintained by efficient circ sys in contact with resp surface.
Figure 8.3 in page 169 of “Fundamentals of Physiology”
Describe how fish gills generally work. (not very important)
gills = body surface or throat used for gas exchange
large surface area for oxygen to diffuse across a thin surface
Some gills contact water directly
internal gills: water must be pushed over gills by cilia, limbs or other
fish gills located on both sides of head,
operculum = tissue cover gills
pumping action of mouth and operculum creates pressure gradient -> cause water to move over gills (Obs: all of this plant/animal class is All about the gradient: pressure, solute, concentration etc. Always from high to low)
ram ventilation = fast swimming with open mouth
water flows in one direction over gills
water passes through gill filaments -> gill lamellae -> capillaries – > gas exchange
Describe with detail how the fish gill is a countercurrent exchange mechanism. What is countercurrent exchanges?
one way flow of water through gill lamellae
flow of blood through capillaries in lamellae is OPPOSITE to flow of water
counter current exchange = two fluids flowing in opposite direction
lamellae always have oxy press gradient
So water is always adjacent to capillary blood with LOWER oxygen content so large partial pressure gradient
most of oxygen in water diffuses into blood
If concurrent flow, then oxygen transfer stops where partial pressure gradient stop bc same partial pressure.
counter current flow makes gills effcient at extract oxygenfrom water
because difference in partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in water vs blod maintained over entire gas-exchange surface (lamellae)
effect of counter current change = maximum P2 – p1 difference over entire gill surface
What are the mechanisms of ventilation of the mammalian lung? How do changes in pressure result in lung ventilation?
actively contract muscles to pump air
negative pressure ventilation – pressure gradient
changes pressure in chest cavity
inhalation = increase cavity volume by contract diaphragm, which decreases lung pressure
diaphragm downward, ribs outward
active
exhalation = passive except exercise
lung is elastic = return to original shape (normally collapsed shape)
chest cavity volume decrease
Explain the concept of “dead space”
dead space = portions of air passage that do not have respiratory surface e.g. trachea, bronchi
= why only 2/3 of 450 ml in per breath partakes in gas exchange
breathing = more efficient during exercise cuz chest cavity greater changes in volume
How do bird lungs work?
one way airflow through avian lung
posterior air sacs fill with outside air – inhalation
lungs fill with air from posterior sacs – exhalation
anterior air sacs fill with air from lungs – inhalation
anterior air sacs empty – exhalation
inhalation, air flows through trachea and enter two posterior sacs
exhalation, air leaves posterior sacs, enters parabronchi
inhalation 2 air into parabronchi in anterior lung, then to anterior air sacs
exhalation 2 air out of anterior, thru trachea, out to atmosphere
less dead space = dead space is restricted to short stretch of trachea between mouth and opening of anterior air sacs.
gas exchange during both inhale and exhale
blood circulate through bird lung in capillies that cross parabronchi perpendicularly. cross current is less efficeint than countercurrent (fish) but better than weblike capillaries in mammals
CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
carries blood or hemolymph into close contact with every cell in body
close enough that diffusion is efficient
(open and closed circ systems not discussed in class but expected to know the generally open and closed. details not needed)
open circ systems
hemolymph direct contact tissue
do not need to diffuse across wall fo blodo vessel
heart and body movement
hemolymph low pressure, low flow rate. ok for sedentary not needing much oxygen
insects
closed circulatory systems
blood flows in continuous circuit through body under pressure generated by heart
blood confined in vessels
high pressure -> high flow rate
blood flow can be directed to specific areas when needed
IMPORTANT to know types of blood vessels, general characteristics. won’t be discussed in class but will tested on exams
arteries = thick wall, take blood away from heart at high pressure
all have both muscle fibres and elastic fibres in walls
elastic fibres dominate aorta all so can expand in response to high pressure
when contraction of heart ends, diameter of aorta return to resting state. elastic response propels blood away from heart “secondary pumping
maintains forward blood flow between contractions
arterioles
sphincters = muscle fibres around circumference of vessels
control resistance to flow
Constriction relaxation controlled by nervous system
allows for nervous system to be able to control blood flow
When sphincters relaxed, arteriole diameter increases, resistance to flow decreases
when sphincters contracted, arteriole diameter decreases, resistance to flow increases, slow blood flow, can divert this blood floow to other tissues
capillaries = one cell thick, low pressure
one red blood cell at a time
dense network throughout body
exchange
in some organs e.g. liver, capillaries have multiple openings so less barrier to diffusion
veins
all veins have some muscle fibres that contract in response to signals from nervous system, decreasing diameter and overall volume of vessels. Blood pressure in closed system is partially regulated by actively adjusting volume of blood within veins.
low pressure, thinner walls
larger interior diameter
flow speeded by moving limbs
one way valves – prev backflow
muscle fibres contract when signals from nervous system say decreasing the diameter and volume of vessels
blood pressure is regulated by actively adjusting the volume of blood within veins
venules
Interstitial fluid. Focus on physiology of how lymph is formed.
interstitial fluid = fliud that fills area between cells
high pressure of closed circ systems + thin walsl of cappiles means that small but steady leake of plasma fliud from blood vessel
why does interstitial fluid build up?
there is outward-directed hydrostatic force in capillaries, created by the pressure on blood generated by heart
inward directed osmotic force in capillaries, created by higher concentration of solute in blood plasma than in interstitial space
at the end of capillary nearest to arteriole, hydrostatic force exceeds osmotic force so fluid moves out of capillary into interstitial space
venuous end, osmotic force exceeds hydrostatic so fluid lost on the arteriole end gets reclaimed at venuous end of cpillary.
but not all interstitial fliud reabsorbed by capillaries
What is the role of the lymphatic system?
lymphatic system = branching tubules called lymphatic ducts or vessels
lymphatic ducts
permeate all tissues
eventually join with one another
largest lymphatic vessels return excess fliud to major veins entering the heart
assuming that total solute concentration in plasma and interstitial fliud must be different enoguh to bring fliud into capillaries via osmosis
fliud that leaks out of capillaries must have low OSMOLARITY
capiliess must act as filters that retain large prrotines
albumin = large and net negative prtoeins that can’t exit capillary
keep solute concentration in blood high
maintains strong osmotic gradient that brings fluid back to capillaries
How does the heart work?
Carefully read “The human heart” and “the cardiac cycle”
pulmonary circulation = lower pressure, to and from lung
systemic circulation = to and from body
What are the parts of the human heart?
thin walled atrium receives blood
thick walled ventricle pumps blood out
artioventricular valves seperate atria from ventricles
venae cavae (inferior, superior)
pulmonary artery
blood flows form artium to ventricle to arterty only one way
one way valves seperate heart chembers and ffrom blood vessel
heart murmur = back flow
pulmonary veins
Trace the flow of blood through the chambers
right atrium
right ventricle
lungs
left atrium
left ventricle
body
What are the steps of the cardiac cycle – how do changes in pressure inside heart result in blood flow?
systole = contraction phase of atria and ventricles
diastole = relaxation
cardiac cycle = sequence of contraction, relaxation , one diastole, one systole
ventricular systole -> increases pressure in both ventricles, blood to pumonary artery and aorta,
systolic blood pressure = measure at peak of ventricular ejection
disatolic = low bp
electrical acitation of heart
pacemaker cells initiate contractions of cardiac muscle cells
pacemaker cells located in sinoatrial (SA) node
SA node and muslce cells receive inputs from nervous systesm and chemcial messengers
to regulate heart rate
stregnth of ventricular contraction
amoutn fo blood mvoing through cri c varies in repsones to electrical signa dn and hormoones
an electrical impulse that stimulates contraction is genereated in SA nodea nd rapidly conducted through right and left atria
signal spreads quickly from cell to cell because cardiac muscle form physical and electrical connections to each other (this is special and unique to cardiac muscle cells)
all cardiac muscle cells branch to ocntact other cells
intercalated cells =
elf
sa node initates signal
sa node signa spread ove ratria. atria contract simulatnaeously and fill ventricles
signal from atria conducted to AV node. AV nod delays and then pas to centricles. delay allow ventricles ot fill
electrical impulse form va transmit through fibres in muscular wall seperated ventricles. both ventricles contract as atria relax.
ventricles realax and cells recoves, restore electrical state prior to contraction
(see fig 8.29)
patterns in blood pressure and blood flow
blood p in capillaries drops bc resistance increases. lots of fricton loss. seen in graph as lots of squiggles
velocity of blood flow decreases in capillary
How bp and blood flow regulated?
arteriole sphincter
homeostatic control of bp
sensors e.g. baroreceptors – dec in bp
cardiac output increases
artioles constrict to divert blood
veins constrict
integrator process info about change
effects diminish impactof chage
Stuff to remember:
if atmos is 45, predicted partial pressure in water surface is 45 mmHg.
oxygen concentration is water is lower than concentration in air
cross sectional area of vessels increase, velocity of flow also increases. FALSE
Tuesday night 6: 15 PM Did you notice happiness? Did you notice the janitor playing basketball by himself? Did you notice one or both or neither? He was a wiry man whose head of hair was almost completely silver gray. His bucket of cleaning supplies just off to the side of the basketball hoop in front of Ladha. Aquamarine tight-fitting gloves on both hands, he was shooting a basketball into the hoop repeatedly, tirelessly, and gracefully. Yes, gracefully. Like just any other student in a rush to get to the bus to a meeting, I was speed-walking with my hands stuffed into my jacket pockets. I had a sheet of notes to scrutinize but I had fortunately kept that stuffed into my pockets until the bus. So, when I rushed out from Ladha, I witnessed the elegance of the man playing basketball. I’d seen him before. He normally had a stern expression but as he put the ball hoop after hoop, he had a light smile brightening his face. He looked so happy.
Happy, that doesn’t seem as showy a word as ecstatic or thrilled. Happy, a calm, satisfied happy that was beautiful to witness. A happy that induced a calm happy in me.
So, did you notice neither, one or both?
If neither, you probably were on your phone, maybe studying, maybe texting, or very focused on getting the next destination, or thinking deeply about things. I don’t blame you. I do all of these all the time. You were probably doing something good. But for fun, the next time you walk out and about, stuff your phone into your pocket and take in the evening view.
Maybe you just noticed the man playing basketball but missed the details. Once you choose to be aware, you’ll start noticing everything.
We’re not the only ones observing. The man also paused, scored another basket, and made a brief moment of eye contact. Then, he smiled with just a tiny extra burst of energy and tipped his head as if to say, “This is great.” I nodded back. And then he returned to his basketball. Who knows what else there is this story? What else do basketball mean to him? I didn’t know. I’ll probably never know because I was only meant to witness that beauty of that moment before picking my pace back up and continuing on my way, on my own journey of life.
I’m no tech expert but here’s how you can save money.
Smartphone
Why do I own one? I took a physics course (PHYS 117 if you’re interested) that absolutely required each student to bring a smartphone, tablet or laptop to class. A smartphone was the most affordable and portable option.
Look for used smartphones on Craigslist.
Buy an older edition of whatever smartphone you want. Some smartphone enthusiasts like to rush out and buy the newest phone available, and sell off their older edition cellphones for cheap.
Awesome perks of owning a smartphone: I also have a lot of online assignments for classes so I use my phone to do math homework, etc. I also realized how awesome smartphones are for taking pictures of that occasional slide you know that you won’t be able to copy down fast enough.
Cell phone plans
Don’t pay for data! UBC has free wifi all over campus.
You can also get away with minimal minutes and texts.
That said, I was annoyed by pay per minute/text because when you run out of cents, you can’t receive calls or texts! So, I spent money on a basic plan since I like to call. I like to think of spending money on a cellphone plan as a good investment because being able to call and text allows me to save time and allows my employers/coworkers/friends/family to contact me. I have a cheap plan with Fido but my friends have affordable plans with Koodoo, Virgin, Wind, Rogers, Telus and other companies.
I think Fido was the cheapest option at the time but I don’t know if that’s still the case. Compare plans at difference companies.
I think 99 cents to be able to call ambulance/police/fire is worth it but I know people who don’t pay for that to save money. It’s up to you.
Laptops
NOTE: This was written solely based on my experience WITHOUT a laptop. This term, I’m testing out what’s like to use a laptop in class. (If you don’t have a laptop and want to try, see bold text below). I’ll probably update/make new post after an experience
Before school starts, sales people at Best Buy and other stores will try to convince you that you absolutely need to purchase the fastest lightest laptop that exists that comes with $1500 price tag. You don’t absolutely need it. I went through first term without taking a laptop to class.
However, life can be easier with nice technology. E.g. submitting math assignments using my smartphone means staring at “Loading” for minutes every question.
So if you really want to save money, don’t buy a laptop UNLESS you need one for classes e.g. if you’re a computer science major.
How to get by:
Use the public computers at the library. Beware: sometimes you have to wait a long time for a computer to be available.
Something that everyone know about: besides the desktops, you can also borrow an UBC-owned laptop for 4 hours. This is great when you’re working on an essay or presentation that you want to ask your friends for feedback on. The laptop that I’ve borrowed (I always get the same one) has word processing software and internet access, which is all I’ve ever needed. Warning: if you don’t return the laptop before the deadline, you have pay an huge fine.
If you need specialized software, there are iMacs loaded with SPSS, Photoshop, video editing software and more.
If using public computers, go earlier in the day or on weekend.
During the end of the semester, you may not get a computer at all. Such is a life.
Have very very nice friends who will let you use their computer when you really need to use a computer.
Do not use your friend’s computer too often though because he/she also needs to use it. Try to use the public computers more often or your smartphone if you own one instead.
Write everything by hand. Investment: a package of 150 lined papers during back to school sales is 25 cents.
Pens: I ran a lot of pens dry so keep an eye out for free pens! Pens are often handed out during club promotion events, awareness initiatives, the discount bookstore and other places. If you’re really desperate, there are abandoned pens on the floors of lecture halls. I personally don’t pick up pens from lecture halls because I don’t know if its owner is sad and is trying to hunt it down. But if you’re really desperate, there is a lot of stationary on the floor.
Don’t waste money buying a scientific calculator that is not the calculator allowed on exams.
Don’t waste money buying expensive graphing calculators. You won’t be allowed to bring it to your math exam. In fact, if you take Math 102, 103, you can’t bring a calculator at all.
Printer
I personally highly recommend investing in a printer. It doesn’t have to fancy e.g. colour printing or a fax/scan/print combo. It just needs to print things. A printer is just so convenient for printing notes, papers, hand-in assignments, etc.
Buying a printer together with your roommate or a group of friends could work.. but it’s a little messy to deal with who gets the printer once you’re no longer living together.
If you do that and are the one who uses more ink, you should be the one buying the ink cartridges more often. In fact, go buy the ink cartridges most of the time.
That said, the libraries have massive printers that lots of students print with. If you don’t plan to print much, then you can pick this option to save yourself the price of a printer and those pesky printer cartridges.
Despite my cheapo nature, I don’t rely on the library printer because I had the library printer fail me once when I had to print an assignment that was due that afternoon. Yikes! But that might not be a common experience so don’t let that scare you from using the library printer.
Another option to save money by both avoiding buying a printer and paying for print is to print from a printer that is free to print from. This option is not available to all students. Check if you’re part of an association that grants you free printing. Obviously, don’t overkill with your printing but printing the occasional document should be harmless
e.g. My friend who is part of Collegia (a commuter student association) prints and scans at Collegia. Technically that’s not completely free because he had to pay to be a member of Collegia. But hey, it’s not bad.
If you can find a good deal, double-sided printing is worth paying a little more so you can save paper, save the mishaps and time wasted manually double siding. You don’t always waste a huge amount of paper printing single-sided but it’s not great for the environment and a stack of single-sided pages can also weigh down your binder substantially.
PRINTING:
As often as you can, print 6 or 8 or 9 or max pages that fit and are still readable so you save ink and paper
If you change the text colour to a light gray before you print, you save ink
The font Garamond allegedly uses less ink than Arial and some other fonts. (I forgot where I read this.)
Hope this post saves you money so you graduate with a little less debt! 🙂
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. You can’t forgo buying this.