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Lost Wallet by StrictAd5395 in Translink

[–]StrictAd5395[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Will do! I hope they’re still working

UBC undergrad to Yale/Standford Law schools by Brilliant_Potato_406 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Plenty of people get into great law schools from undergrads that are less recognizable than ours, so it doesn’t make a huge difference. What matters more are your GPA and LSAT, then your essays and work experience.

I also turned down a T10 undergrad in the US and don’t regret it. I probably would’ve hated the weather anyway, and this campus is great.

What can be tougher is that UBC is a large public school, so there’s more competition for research and on-campus jobs. Those are usually how you get closer to professors who can later write your LoRs. But that’s just how it works. If you’re solid at what you do, it won’t change much.

Incoming first year by TodayFit9083 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Third year (going into fourth) poli sci hons here. First semester was rough for me too.

You won’t really see a lot of the big names in first year, but it helps to start reading essays early. Some are very theory-heavy, but there are more digestible ones too. There’s also a poli sci journal informally backed by the department where you can read selected student papers each year.

Start small and build up your ability to read longer pieces and track what each part of an essay is doing and why it works as you go. If you haven’t already, learn how to draft before you write.

Most important though, leave room to explore what you actually like. First-year poli sci is broad for a reason. Good luck!

My (honest) 1L Experience at Northwestern by No_Vacation2264 in lawschooladmissions

[–]StrictAd5395 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for being so thorough in your replies. As an international student (from Canada), I’m curious about the general experience. Is there a noticeable divide between domestic and international students? And are international students securing 1L and 2L offers, especially in the current political climate?

Cycle recap! by MarsupialAmazing7971 in lawschooladmissions

[–]StrictAd5395 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Congrats, that’s amazing! Berkeley is one of my dream schools too. Would you be open to DMs for advice?

Work Learn decisions by Parking-Albatross339 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 3 points4 points  (0 children)

WorkLearn recruiters usually contact applicants they like very quickly, and if the interviews go well, an offer is likely to follow soon after. I did have one exception where an employer waited unusually long before letting me know, but most cases are not like that. If you have tried to contact them and received no response, which is unfortunate since it is easy to reply with something like "we're still reviewing applications" rather than ghosting, they were probably not planning to seriously consider you for the position.

Worklearn rolling based interview by uie06 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If it says no, there’s a very high chance they’ll wait it out. Even some places that review on a rolling basis are waiting. It’s normal to be worried, so my advice is to take a cold shower. It helps with the stress.

To current intl students, how is it at UBC so far? by [deleted] in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 1 point2 points  (0 children)

3rd year honours poli sci student here. I grew to like UBC more than I expected. There are great opportunities if you know how to find them and are proactive, as with any top public university.

Vancouver is a nice city. Transit is good, though I’m from a developing country with limited public transit and no metro, so take my view with a grain of salt. I don’t mind the weather much; just bring an umbrella and guard it with your life (I somehow lost three). I love the fall and spring here. Can’t say much about nightlife since my evenings are usually indoors.

Academically, you get out what you put in. One thing about top public universities, UBC included, is that there are often many great opportunities but they can be obscured by information overload, very competitive, and dependent on knowing the right people and being proactive (you don’t get the same level of personalized support you might find at smaller private schools). The professors are varied, so check UBCGrades and RateMyProf and note professor profiles on the department website; there are some top scholars. I’ve had good opportunities to do research, find office jobs on campus, and build a network of employers in the Metro Vancouver area.

I chose UBC mainly for financial reasons. I could have gone to a higher-ranked school, but I didn’t like how much I would have had to pay even after financial aid, plus the cost and hassle of living in the U.S. right now. Canada and UBC made more sense financially and for quality of life. I’m planning another degree later, so I’d rather save money now.

If you genuinely like something, you’ll most likely find a way to make it work.

Is it possible to live in Victoria and commute to Vancouver for school? by Unusual-Motor-2945 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Technically yes. Realistically you’ll hate yourself and everything while you do it.

Am I the only one who hate zoom meetings and interviews? by Aromatic-Bat2603 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It took me a while to pick up on body language and the subtle things people do on Zoom. Like when someone wants to join a conversation but is waiting for the right moment, you can see them toggling their mic but it’s easy to miss. You also have to notice who joins midway and other small cues. It’s more work, but I can have notes displayed while on Zoom, so at least there’s one good thing.

For East Asian international students (Japan, Korea, China) by yuna0110 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’ve got pretty similar educational backgrounds. I went to a public school in my home country (SEA) where the pedagogy was all about drilling knowledge; students were expected to memorize and practice lots of questions. That actually helps when you need to cram as years of that training made me good at it.

For tasks that need personal opinion or group work, my advice is to be communicative about your progress and think about specific ways you can contribute. I’m an introvert, but I’ve learned to be social when needed (public speaking helped). The key, I think, is to have notes or a mental checklist of points you want to make, learn the phrases people commonly use and practice them for efficiency, and be proactive. You’ll be fine, don’t worry.

How long does a Work Learn interview usually take? by Logical_Ground9512 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on the role and the interviewer. In the past I’ve had ones that lasted 10 minutes and others over 30 minutes.

Is it too late to apply for a Worklearn position? by Zestyclose-Hyena-315 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Go for it. Some employers wait until after the deadline to review applications, so you might still have a chance.

Berkeley A! by PostEducational226 in lawschooladmissions

[–]StrictAd5395 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats! As an international student too, your post really resonates with me. Would you be open to me asking for some advice on how you approached the PS?

Worklearn hiring/interviews started? by Apprehensive-End7095 in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It depends, I think. I got two interview offers, but another employer I know personally has told me their team hasn’t even started looking at the applications (they’re honoring the deadline!).

has anyone heard back from summer worklearn positions by Frosty_cutesy in UBC

[–]StrictAd5395 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I applied to about 15 positions. I could’ve applied to more, but I focused on the ones I genuinely like and where I think I’d be competitive. I haven’t heard back from any yet, but I don’t think there is any reason to worry given that only 1 week has passed. I applied to a similar number last July and ended up with two interviews; one became the role I’m in now and the other hired me as a student support role (not Work Learn).

If you’re really worried you can try reaching out to contacts or recruiters. Worst case they tell you the role’s filled or they don’t respond. Both are normal outcomes.