OT: Getting into UBC

[Barney Gumble]

I wish I had a 92% average...

Writing program at UVic is 89% (highest in the school) and I didn't make the cut, but I'm going to work super hard this year to get into it for next year.

No kidding. I didn't have a problem getting that kind of mark in one course (or in very rare cases, two); problem was the *OTHER* courses that semester.

 

[Love]

You really think theater is a useless degree? That's silly.

Money isn't everything. I want to go to a good school like this one for more reasons than just making money as an adult.

Thats cool man.


What made you think about going to Canada and UBC specifically?

 

[Howard Beale]

Thanks for all the responses guys. There's a reason I voted the Canucks last on my list of least hated pacific division teams

What are the dorms like there? Are there nice gyms on campus? Thanks in advance for answers once again, wish this forum had reps so I could rep.

I lived in the dorms and really liked it there, although everyone has a different experience of course. There's two different dorms for 1st years: Totem Park and Place Vanier

http://www.housing.ubc.ca/totem-park/totem-overview
http://www.housing.ubc.ca/place-vanier/overview

Totem has 8 different houses (6 old ones and 2 new ones) that are 6-7 floors each, and Vanier has 12 houses (10 old and 2 new) that are generally 4 floors plus a basement.

The most likely set-up for your first year would be that you'd live on a floor with 20-30 other guys (assuming you're male), and there would be a few other floors in the house, typically alternating between guy and girl floors. About 50% of the rooms are doubles where you share a bedroom with a roommate (200 sq. feet), and 50% are singles where you have a bedroom to yourself (100 sq. feet). And then on your floor you guys would have a shared bathroom (approximately 4 showers, 4 toilets, 3 sinks), a lounge with a TV and couches, and a shared basic kitchen with a fridge, microwave and a sink. Some of these things will vary a little depending on which house you're in, but that's the gist of it. Like in the new houses in Totem, you share a bathroom with your neighbour, between your rooms, instead of sharing one with the entire floor. But some would say that the communal bathrooms are part of the social experience, so it's a trade-off. There's also lots of social activities to participate in, so the dorms are generally a fairly easy place to meet lots of new people, from my experience.

As for food, the kitchen in your dorm is mostly just for snacks, since it's shared between so many people and doesn't have a stove/oven, so you'll mainly eat at a cafeteria in the residence that's open from about 7am until 8:30pm, plus there's a little convenience store in the residence open until 11pm, in case you need to snack later on (and you can get a mini-fridge in your room). The cafeteria has numerous different stations, so in my opinion there's pretty good selection. Like there's a grill for buying things like burgers, quesadillas or chicken strips, a home-style station, an asian-food station, a salad bar, and a sandwich/wrap bar, off the top of my head. All first years in residence are required to buy a meal plan in advance which you use to get food there.

BTW, although most of the houses have single gender floors within a co-ed house (eg. guys on the 1st floor, girls on the 2nd floor, guys on the 3rd floor...), you could also request to have co-ed floors (guys and girls living on the same floor) or a single gender house (guys on every floor) if you prefer one of those options.

Just let me know if you have any further questions about it.

 

[Viktri]

This thread makes me feel old. I didn't realize things became so American since the provincials were abolished.

I got into UBC, with scholarships that covered ~50% tuition (almost 2 years), @ 82-85% average (where an A = 86%). I did a bachelors of commerce (accounting option).

edit:
Here are some of my class averages of my first winter semester:
Math 184, class average 50%, class size 86 students
Micro (Econ 101), class average 67%, class size 253 students
Macro (Econ 102), class average 67%, class size 258 students
Math 105, class average 61%, class size 62

Are the averages still similar?

I do remember my cousin, who studied sciences (same year as me, albeit a different degree), having classes that averaged around the 60% mark.

 

[carolinacanuck]

Thanks for all the responses guys. There's a reason I voted the Canucks last on my list of least hated pacific division teams

What are the dorms like there? Are there nice gyms on campus? Thanks in advance for answers once again, wish this forum had reps so I could rep.

Pretty sure Totem Park was listed as one of the top 10 places to get laid on David Letterman's Top 10 list.

That's pretty cool, if you're into that kinda thing.

 

[JoeThorntonsRooster]

Thats cool man.


What made you think about going to Canada and UBC specifically?

Reading the news that some random guy jogging around was shot by 3 kids because they were bored. I know that's silly to make a huge life decision based on small news, but it just kinda shows America is going down the drain. I want to move away from the USA, and I like Canada a lot. Vancouver is my favorite Canadian city, I have family in Seattle that would be nice to live near, and I just like Canada. UBC is one of the best (ranked 2nd) schools in Canada.

I think that's a solid resume. If you want to be extra safe, join a well-known club like key club or MUN. If you've had any jobs, that's a plus too.

I've worked one year and will work next year as an intern for a state government official. So I think that counts as a decent job.

I might also want to major in creative writing or English, I'm not sure yet. I just know I like UBC, I want to live in Vancouver, and I can get into UBC. I think most schools would reject me because of my bad grades in grade 9 and 10. I know UBC wouldn't.

Also, on Naviance, it says that UBC mainly looks at the top 8 grades in 11th and 12th grade when looking for admissions for out of country students.

 

[tc 23]

I've worked one year and will work next year as an intern for a state government official. So I think that counts as a decent job.

I might also want to major in creative writing or English, I'm not sure yet. I just know I like UBC, I want to live in Vancouver, and I can get into UBC. I think most schools would reject me because of my bad grades in grade 9 and 10. I know UBC wouldn't.

Also, on Naviance, it says that UBC mainly looks at the top 8 grades in 11th and 12th grade when looking for admissions for out of country students.

That should be a very competitive resume of extra curricular activities. In recent years, UBC has really placed a lot of emphasis on people who are engaged in the community so I'm sure your resume alone will make you competitive for admission. Goodluck with your application. Maybe you'll come around to the dark side and cheer for the Canucks in the near future when you're here.

 

[Bure All Day]

You really think theater is a useless degree? That's silly.

Money isn't everything. I want to go to a good school like this one for more reasons than just making money as an adult.

You should care about money when you're going to be 100 grand in debt

 

[Tanevian*]

You should care about money when you're going to be 100 grand in debt

I guess it depends who your parents are. If you break it down to $2000 a month AND a tax write off then it becomes far more manageable.

Undergrad sounds so brutally unfun these days. I can't even imagine worrying about a career when I was doing mine. It was about drinking and girls and possibly the future. Sorry kids for screwing things up for you. Enjoy the stress!

 

[Bure All Day]

I guess it depends who your parents are. If you break it down to $2000 a month AND a tax write off then it becomes far more manageable.

Undergrad sounds so brutally unfun these days. I can't even imagine worrying about a career when I was doing mine. It was about drinking and girls and possibly the future. Sorry kids for screwing things up for you. Enjoy the stress!

That was my mindset first year, but I got a reality check after a few dumb moves in my life and now am completely focused on having a successful future.

Any first-year should just go crazy and enjoy every minute, you'll have some great stories and memories worst comes to worst

 

[Jyrki]

This thread makes me feel old. I didn't realize things became so American since the provincials were abolished.

I got into UBC, with scholarships that covered ~50% tuition (almost 2 years), @ 82-85% average (where an A = 86%). I did a bachelors of commerce (accounting option).

edit:
Here are some of my class averages of my first winter semester:
Math 184, class average 50%, class size 86 students
Micro (Econ 101), class average 67%, class size 253 students
Macro (Econ 102), class average 67%, class size 258 students
Math 105, class average 61%, class size 62

Are the averages still similar?

I do remember my cousin, who studied sciences (same year as me, albeit a different degree), having classes that averaged around the 60% mark.

Averages are a bit higher, but not by much. First year classes are still weeders.

I got in with a 95%, and entrance scholarships weren't enough to cover the first semester. :/

 

[Tleve]

As far as residence goes, it is fairly easy to get into residence the first year but after that it becomes more difficult. It works on a lottery system and you might not get a place after first year. My son lived in residence the first three years but getting a place was never a given. It is a beautiful beautiful campus and great city. Good luck.

 

[Aphid Attraction]

You really think theater is a useless degree? That's silly.

Money isn't everything. I want to go to a good school like this one for more reasons than just making money as an adult.

Reading the news that some random guy jogging around was shot by 3 kids because they were bored. I know that's silly to make a huge life decision based on small news, but it just kinda shows America is going down the drain. I want to move away from the USA, and I like Canada a lot. Vancouver is my favorite Canadian city, I have family in Seattle that would be nice to live near, and I just like Canada. UBC is one of the best (ranked 2nd) schools in Canada.

Have a look into what transfer/exchange options schools have with other overseas schools, if you are in it for more then money/ to use schooling as a way to move away from the US. Just an idea that could help you get what you are looking for...

 

[RTN]

More like the marking system has changed. Now that provincial exams in Grade 12 don't exist, it's much easier to get a 90+ mark than in the "mandatory exam" days.

Yeah, young guns don't realise how much easier it is now without gov't exams. Though a few will get a bit of a wake-up call in university, depending on how easy their hs teachers were.

 

[buddahsmoka1]

But what else can that lead to? What is the max potential for an Arts Degree? or Even Psychology/Sociology etc.. maybe like 100 grand/year if you're lucky..

More and more university/college grads are unable to find jobs because they don't have a plan and take a useless degree

These two things are not the same.

 

[Bure All Day]

These two things are not the same.

yes they are... people take a crap degree because their parents want them to go to school, but in reality they are wasting time and money because they have no idea what they will do with the degree they are going for

 

[shortshorts]

yes they are... people take a crap degree because their parents want them to go to school, but in reality they are wasting time and money because they have no idea what they will do with the degree they are going for

What a stupid simplistic argument against Arts degrees.

Of course there are many that fall in the category of "no idea, i'll just get a degree to please my parents". Funny enough, many in the faculty of Science fall in that category.

What do you say to them?

University needs to be re-established as a place of learning, rather than a place of job finding.

Art's degrees can be extremely useful if taken seriously.

So instead of generalizing an entire faculty, call out specific people.

 

[buddahsmoka1]

Not to mention the simple fact that one can 'have a plan' that involves an arts degree. I myself, am one of those people.

 

[Bure All Day]

What a stupid simplistic argument against Arts degrees.

Of course there are many that fall in the category of "no idea, i'll just get a degree to please my parents". Funny enough, many in the faculty of Science fall in that category.

What do you say to them?

University needs to be re-established as a place of learning, rather than a place of job finding.

Art's degrees can be extremely useful if taken seriously.

So instead of generalizing an entire faculty, call out specific people.

I agree, plenty of people in the science department don't know what they're gunna do, but at least if they get good grades they'll be able to find a decent paying job to have a family and live a decent life.

Unfortunately, we don't live in the year 1200 anymore, so University can't just be a 'place of learning'. Steve Jobs did it but there are very few other examples.

Not to mention the simple fact that one can 'have a plan' that involves an arts degree. I myself, am one of those people.

If you have a plan that's great, I'm just saying many other people don't and that's who I'm referring to

 

[buddahsmoka1]

If you have a plan that's great, I'm just saying many other people don't and that's who I'm referring to

No you didn't. You conflated taking arts degrees and having no direction.

And btw, many BSc degree don't amount to much either, such as a Biology BSc.

 

[shortshorts]

I agree, plenty of people in the science department don't know what they're gunna do, but at least if they get good grades they'll be able to find a decent paying job to have a family and live a decent life.

Unfortunately, we don't live in the year 1200 anymore, so University can't just be a 'place of learning'. Steve Jobs did it but there are very few other examples.



If you have a plan that's great, I'm just saying many other people don't and that's who I'm referring to

Are you joking? A BSc is probably the most useless degree out there without direction. What are you going to do? Work in a research lab for someone with a PHD? That's what a BSc gets you.

 

[Mr. Canucklehead]

You should care about money when you're going to be 100 grand in debt

You can't apply a cookie cutter to how indebted each student is going to be. Some students finance with loans, others have family with deep pockets, others have RESPs, others worked and saved during their formative years to get a head start on tuition.

A little story on "what kind of degrees mean something".

My Dad and his friends all went into various programs at UBC when it was time for them to go to school. My Dad got a Bachelor's in Business; he went on to a very respectable career as a financial executive for several big institutions. Nothing to sneeze at.

Conversely, he had a friend who completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. That "useless" degree parlayed into him being the senior executive of one of Canada's largest insurance corporations.

To get even crazier - another of my Dad's close-knit circles full-on dropped out after his third year of an arts degree program to start up his own company. This university drop-out now owns a yacht, a jet, and a house across a lake from Bill freaking Gates.

Moral of the story is - school is always what you make of it. I don't think there's any such thing as a useless degree or useless experience.

 

[tc 23]

You can't apply a cookie cutter to how indebted each student is going to be. Some students finance with loans, others have family with deep pockets, others have RESPs, others worked and saved during their formative years to get a head start on tuition.

A little story on "what kind of degrees mean something".

My Dad and his friends all went into various programs at UBC when it was time for them to go to school. My Dad got a Bachelor's in Business; he went on to a very respectable career as a financial executive for several big institutions. Nothing to sneeze at.

Conversely, he had a friend who completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. That "useless" degree parlayed into him being the senior executive of one of Canada's largest insurance corporations.

To get even crazier - another of my Dad's close-knit circles full-on dropped out after his third year of an arts degree program to start up his own company. This university drop-out now owns a yacht, a jet, and a house across a lake from Bill freaking Gates.

Moral of the story is - school is always what you make of it. I don't think there's any such thing as a useless degree or useless experience.

Thanks for the story Mr. C! It just goes to show that you never know what life has in store for you.

I've always been told that your degree is simply a tool - how effective and useful it is depends on how you use it. There's going to be people from all faculties, not just arts, who will struggle with finding a use for their degree after graduation.

 

[shortshorts]

Thanks for the story Mr. C! It just goes to show that you never know what life has in store for you.

I've always been told that your degree is simply a tool - how effective and useful it is depends on how you use it. There's going to be people from all faculties, not just arts, who will struggle with finding a use for their degree after graduation.

Unless you're in engineering

 

[Bure All Day]

You can't apply a cookie cutter to how indebted each student is going to be. Some students finance with loans, others have family with deep pockets, others have RESPs, others worked and saved during their formative years to get a head start on tuition.

A little story on "what kind of degrees mean something".

My Dad and his friends all went into various programs at UBC when it was time for them to go to school. My Dad got a Bachelor's in Business; he went on to a very respectable career as a financial executive for several big institutions. Nothing to sneeze at.

Conversely, he had a friend who completed his Bachelor of Arts degree. That "useless" degree parlayed into him being the senior executive of one of Canada's largest insurance corporations.

To get even crazier - another of my Dad's close-knit circles full-on dropped out after his third year of an arts degree program to start up his own company. This university drop-out now owns a yacht, a jet, and a house across a lake from Bill freaking Gates.

Moral of the story is - school is always what you make of it. I don't think there's any such thing as a useless degree or useless experience.

That's a great story, but he had that Arts degree I'm guessing 25+ years ago when a degree was much more significant... Your Dad's friend probably got a job because of someone he knew, gained experience, and worked his way up from there.

I just find it wasteful to spend needless thousands on coming to BC to get a degree when So. Cal. is filled with some of the most prestigious schools in the world