When Soumil embarked on his journey to UBC Okanagan, he left behind his familiar life in India. Despite his apprehension, he was determined to pursue higher education to achieve his career goals. He spent hours researching the university and its surroundings, seeking insights into his new life. As he boarded the plane, Soumil felt a mix of excitement and nervousness, eagerly anticipating the challenges and opportunities that awaited him at UBC Okanagan and determined to learn and grow as much as possible.
Jump Start – UBC Okanagan’s multi-day on-campus orientation – helped Soumil build a strong sense of community and support network on campus, even before his classes had started. Jump Start also gave him a better understanding of what was expected of him as a student, what the academic requirements and expectations were, and how his academic interests fit into the larger context of the university.
In addition to Jump Start, Soumil also took part in UBC 101, which taught him about the various resources and support services available on campus and gave him the chance to meet some of the staff and faculty.
Orientations helped Soumil feel more prepared for university life.
1. Why did you choose to accept your offer to UBC?
As a first-year student majoring in Computer Science at UBC, I chose to accept my offer to UBC for several reasons. Firstly, UBC’s Department of Computer Science is highly ranked both nationally and internationally, which indicates the quality of education and research opportunities available. Additionally, the department offers a diverse range of courses that allow me to pursue my interests in various fields such as genomics, medicine, robotics, finance, gaming, e-commerce, advertising, management, web technologies, or environmental technology.
Furthermore, UBC offers a flexible curriculum that accommodates my interests and allows me to take courses from other departments. The innovative student enrichment programs, such as the co-op and tri-mentoring programs, provide me with valuable industry experience and prepare me for my future career. Lastly, receiving the Outstanding International Student Award worth $20,000 dollars was a great honor and it made my decision to attend UBC an easy one.
2. Why did you choose the Bachelor of Science program? What attracted you to the program and what has been your experience so far?
I chose the Bachelor of Science program in Computer Science because of my passion for coding and design. My interest in creating beautiful web pages with HTML code began in eighth grade, and I have since designed a company’s website, created numerous projects, and competed in various coding competitions. These experiences opened up a new world of possibilities for me and fueled my desire to pursue a degree in Computer Science.
My experience so far has been excellent. I am currently in my first term and have done well in the CS courses I have taken. Additionally, I participated in BC Hacks and my team won the second prize, which was a great opportunity to apply my skills in a competitive environment and learn from other talented individuals. I am excited to continue learning and growing in the program and to see where my education takes me in the future.
3. You took part in Jump Start. How did you find your experience?
As a participant in Jump Start, I found the experience to be extremely positive and enriching. The program helped me to build a strong sense of community and support network on campus, even before my classes had started. Through the various activities and events that were offered, I was able to meet a lot of new people and make some close friends, which made the transition to university life much easier for me.
4.How did Jump Start help you make friends before school began?
Jump Start was incredibly helpful in helping me to make friends before school began. Through the program, I was able to meet a lot of new people who were also incoming first-year students. We participated in a variety of activities and events together, which helped us to bond and get to know each other better. By the time classes started, I already had a solid group of friends who I could turn to for support and advice.
5. Can you talk a bit about what you liked about your Jump Start learning community?
What I liked most about my Jump Start learning community was the sense of camaraderie and support that we all shared. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and we all had a shared sense of excitement and anticipation about starting university. The group was also very diverse, with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, which made for some interesting discussions and perspectives.
6.What was your favourite event or session?
My favourite event during Jump Start was definitely the hiking trip we took to Big White Mountain. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and it was a great opportunity to get some exercise and fresh air while bonding with my new friends. It was also a nice break from all the other activities we were doing, which were mostly centred around campus.
7. What was most useful to you about meeting your professors and learning more about your faculty during Jump Start?
Meeting my professors and learning more about my faculty during Jump Start was incredibly useful in helping me to prepare for my classes. It gave me a better understanding of what to expect from my courses and what was expected of me as a student. It also helped me to feel more connected to my faculty and to see how my academic interests fit into the larger context of the university.
8. How did Jump Start help you transition into university life?
Jump Start was instrumental in helping me to transition into university life. By providing a supportive community of peers and offering a wide range of activities and events, the program helped me to feel more comfortable and confident on campus. It also helped me to navigate some of the more practical aspects of university life, such as finding my way around campus and understanding the academic requirements and expectations.
9. How did your UBC 101 orientation help you prepare for UBCO?
My UBC 101 orientation was incredibly helpful in preparing me for life at UBCO. It provided me with a lot of useful information about the various resources and support services available on campus, as well as the academic and social expectations of the university. It also gave me a chance to meet some of the staff and faculty, which helped me to feel more connected to the community.
10. What was the most useful part of the UBC 101 orientation?
The most useful part of the UBC 101 orientation was definitely the information sessions about the various resources and support services available on campus. It gave me a better understanding of what was available to me as a student, and how I could access these resources if I needed them. It also helped me to feel more prepared and confident about my ability to navigate university life.
