By Andy Chen and Humaira Hamid, UBC students
Most students at UBC have similar goals: to succeed in their chosen fields of study. But fear of failure is also very common. Many new students struggle with questions like, “How tough are my courses going to be? Will I be able to keep up? What if I need extra help?”
Here’s the good news. UBC is in the business of teaching and providing resources for students to build exceptional study and learning skills that will lead to academic success.
1. Use available resources
- Professors and teaching assistants (TAs) are available after class or during office hours to help with assignments and difficult material. Don’t be afraid to ask.
- Attend a free Student Services workshop to develop new skills in studying, writing, presenting, and reading.
- UBC Learning Commons has additional resources and tools to help you learn more effectively.
2. Rethink lectures
Professors have a limited amount of time to cover course material, so they tend to focus on what’s most important during lectures. Stay on top of your reading and assignments, and consider lectures as an opportunity to review material you’ve already covered on your own. Most professors recommend studying 2-3 hours outside class for every hour you’re in class.
3. Make peace with exams
It’s unavoidable. Exams are part of university life. Prepare the best you can but don’t get discouraged by lower-than-expected grades at first. Many students need time to adjust to university life.
4. Connect and engage
Try connecting with people in your classes. Making friends or forming study groups with like-minded students is a great way to stay motivated.
5. Manage your time
When scheduling classes, consider this:
- Is your course load manageable? Many courses include labs, discussions or tutorials on top of lecture hours.
- Have you left time for breaks between classes? It can be tempting to schedule courses back-to-back to get them over with. But you’ll need time to eat, socialize, and simply chill out. Breaks are also a great time to catch up on studying.
- Â Try using an online scheduling tool.
6. Understand plagiarism
Plagiarism means using the thoughts or words of another author and passing them off as your own. Plagiarism is not tolerated at UBC and can quickly end your university career.
7. Get to know iStudy
By registering with iStudy, you can search online for other students who live in the same residence or building as you, and who are in your classes. You’ll be able to connect by email to discuss lectures, assignments and more.