Summer Survival Guide (#1-5) for Incoming UBC Students ~ Micro Inquiry

DO NOT buy your textbooks until the first day of class, and definitely not from UBC Bookstore

Even if you are extremely eager, ask a friend who has previously taken the course if it is worth buying the textbook. Often on the first day of class the professor will emphasis whether or not the textbook will be essential for the course. Be sure to ask if previous textbook editions will be compatible with the course.
For cheap places to buy textbooks, Discount Textbooks is on campus and has good selection or there are multiple Facebook groups where students buy/sell their textbooks.

I want to live in residence, but should I choose Place Vanier, Totem Park or Walter Gage?

Vanier and Totem are traditionally for first years. There are residence advisors (RA) on each floor and they work hard to create a great community within the residence. Since Vanier and Totem are typically full of first years, it may be difficult to study in your dorm sometimes despite quiet hours especially if you are in the upper years. However, if you want to meet new people your own age, these are definitely residence to choose. It can a bit noisy especially if you live on the first floor of the residence, but typically during finals it is pretty quiet.
Walter Gage is typically for second years and up since it requires students to cook their own meals (or eat out a lot). Students have their own room, but share a bathroom & kitchen with 5 other roommates. The noise level depends on your roommates, but most people are quite understanding. It is harder to meet people outside your "quad".
Proximity to Classes:
Unless you are in Sauder (light blue) or Pharmacy (fuschia), be prepared for some walking around
First year chemistry, biology, physics are typically in the blue rectangle area (regardless of faculty, so yes including APSC); however, math and English are often in MATH or BUCH
A lot of arts courses are taught at BUCH (purple rectangle), but there are other arts buildings including geography, asian studies, and psychology.

The main bus loop (yellow star) is quite far away from Totem or Vanier; however, there are community shuttles that go to the other UBC residences.
If you are coming home late or have a lot of things to carry (ie. groceries), make sure you bring a friend if you live at Totem or Vanier!

If you do not feel safe on campus, call AMS Safewalk (free walking or shuttle around campus until 2am daily).

For Sciences, the official registration information is here (please always refer to this since rules are constantly changing)
First Year Sciences have 3 options:

Both CSP and Science One have Standard Timetable (STT) where you do not need to choose individual courses

An excellent post about registration by fellow UBC MICB alumni: https://idm04.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/transition-high-school-to-first-year/#Registration
Make sure you take the prerequisites required for second-year specialization, Law, Med, Dentistry etc...

I don't recommend reading ahead or any "academic" work because university is quite different than high school in terms of what exams are like and what professors expect. It is hard to prepare for something you don't understand.
Be prepared to get out of your comfort zone! Meet new people! Enjoy your last free summer because chances are you will be working full-time for the rest of your summers until you graduate.

Micro Inquiry