Vancouver has one of the highest immigrant populations in the world so I felt comfortable knowing I'd be in a very diverse environment. There's a lot of violence and racism in many US colleges and even big colleges in Canada and UBC seemed quite committed to anti-racism and diversity. UBC also has the highest ranked psychology department in Canada. I always wanted to get into research so this was a big factor in my decision. Vancouver also has the best weather in Canada as it doesn't get very cold in the winter. It has a beautiful natural environment with beaches and mountains, and I was excited to live in a city surrounded by nature.
Course Curriculum :
All UBC courses are very research-oriented. They focus more on ways of answering questions in the field rather than theories that already exist. Some of the content can feel too Western oriented, especially in subjects like psychology and sociology, and could be updated to include more non-western perspectives. But courses generally give you a really good base for research. The assignments are challenging and you need to work really hard to do well. But the content is stimulating and rewarding.
Exams :
My university required a minimum 6.5 IELTS score and a recommended 85% overall score in grade 12. My scores: IELTS 8; CBSE grade 12 score: 96.25%
Placement :
I don't have a clear plan for my post study career. For now I want to get into research. It's recommended to work as a research assistant in your undergrad and build connections with professors who can supervise you in grad school. You can also contact professors to work on an undergraduate thesis that will help you get into grad school.
Events :
UBC has an extremely diverse clubs base. There's a club for everything, including bhangra and cricket. Clubs are like tight knit communities and you will feel at home if you choose to get involved. However, a few clubs are frequently involved in controversy and can create power divisions and negative politics. The research facilities are great and there's a lot of opportunity to get involved. You can basically find any amenities you want, and the choices can get overwhelming. But if you know what you're interested in, you will find an opportunity to do that.
Scholarship :
I got the Trek Excellence Scholarship for Continuing Students which is a $4,000 award for students who are in the top 5% of their year and programme (for example Arts or Science). Your overall percentage in your last 27 credits (or 9 courses) needs to be in the top 5% of that year. You are automatically considered for this scholarship each year after completing first year.
Faculty :
UBC has a very diverse and experienced faculty. Most professors conduct research alongside teaching so they're very engaged with the field. Most professors will help you navigate the field if you seek their help. A majority are also very socially aware and encourage equity in classrooms. They will almost never force you to do something you don't want to and they tend to respect diverse opinions.
Hostel :
I lived on campus in my first year. I lived in a shared room so my rent was $400/month and a meal plan that was $400/month. It was a dorm so there was no kitchen and it had shared bathrooms. The cafeteria food was not bad compared to other colleges in Canada. There are a lot of options if you're vegetarian. However, the food is not always very healthy. You're randomly assigned to rooms so you might get a shared or individual room (this is only for first years, upper years can choose room types). I did not have a good experience with my roommate as we had difficulty communicating, but the roommate situation is completely up to chance. I would recommend living in a dorm in first year as it's the best place to make friends. All of my closest friends lived in my building and living so close helped build those friendships. But on campus housing is pretty expensive so you should take that into consideration.
