Hi! I’m Ramona P. Woodmansee. I help people stay safe online and learn about school. I study how places like UBC help students. This guide tells you about UBC Student Services, Social Sciences, and Summer Session. It’s easy to read and full of helpful stuff. Let’s go!
What Is UBC Student Services?
UBC Student Services helps you do well in school and feel good. It’s like a friend who gives you tools for classes, health, and jobs. I’ve looked at how these services make school easier. Here’s what they do.
Student Services has many parts. They help you pick classes, find jobs, stay healthy, and get money for school. They also help new students, international students, and people looking for a place to live. You can find these services at UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan.
For example, if you don’t know which class to take, an advisor can help. If you feel sad or stressed, you can talk to a counselor for free. You can find all this on the UBC Student Services website. It shows you how to meet advisors or pay school fees.
Why is this important? UBC is a big school, and it’s easy to feel lost. Student Services is like a map. It helps you stay on track. I’ve seen how it saves students time and worry. Let’s look at some services.
Help with Classes
Advisors help you pick the right classes. They make sure you take what you need to finish your degree. For example, a science degree needs 120 credits. Advisors tell you how many credits your classes give you.
They also help if you can’t sign up for a class. UBC uses a website called Workday to pick classes and check grades. If Workday doesn’t work, an advisor can fix it. You can meet them in person or online.
I’ve learned that advisors stop students from making mistakes. Some students pick wrong classes and take longer to finish school. Advisors help you plan so you finish on time.
Jobs and Future Plans
UBC helps you find jobs. The Work Learn program gives you part-time jobs at school, like helping in the library. These jobs give you money and look good on your resume. Jobs are posted in March or April on a site called CareersOnline.
International students can work too if they have a study permit. I’ve seen how these jobs teach skills. For example, working with a professor can help you get a science job later. UBC also has job fairs where you meet companies.
Career advisors help you write a resume or practice for job talks. This is great for Social Sciences students who want jobs in fields like teaching or helping people.
Staying Healthy
UBC cares about your health. You can see doctors or counselors on campus. If you feel worried about tests, counselors talk to you for free. UBC’s health plan, run by the Alma Mater Society (AMS), pays for things like medicine.
I’ve studied how health help keeps students strong. School can be hard, especially during tests. UBC has wellness centers in Vancouver and Okanagan. They offer talks or classes on feeling calm. You can also join sports or clubs to have fun and meet people.
What Are UBC Social Sciences?
Social Sciences is about learning how people live and work together. It includes classes like psychology, sociology, and economics. These classes teach you why people act the way they do. I’ve looked at how Social Sciences helps students get good jobs.
At UBC, Social Sciences is in the Faculty of Arts. You can study at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan. Each place has different classes. For example, Vancouver has a big psychology program. Okanagan has classes about helping local people.
Why study Social Sciences? It helps you understand the world. Psychology teaches you about people’s thoughts. Economics shows how money works. These skills help with jobs like teaching or working for the government.
Picking a Social Sciences Major
Choosing a major can be tricky. By your second year at UBC, you pick a major, like psychology or sociology. You need to take certain classes first. For example, psychology needs a class called PSYC 100.
I’ve seen students pick majors they love. If you like helping people, try psychology. If you like learning about cultures, try anthropology. The UBC Academic Calendar tells you what classes you need for each major.
Some majors, like economics, are hard to get into. You need good grades, like 70% or higher. I tell students to apply to three majors in case one is full. Advisors can help you pick on Workday.
Social Sciences Classes
Social Sciences classes let you try different things. You can take classes outside your major, like a science class. But be careful with Credit/D/Fail classes. These don’t count for your major.
I’ve learned that planning classes early helps. Some classes are only in Term 1, from September to December. Check Workday to see when classes happen. If a class is full, join the waitlist or email the department.
UBC Summer Session
UBC’s Summer Session is from May to August. It has two parts: Term 1 (May to June) and Term 2 (July to August). Summer classes are fast. You might have class four days a week. I’ve studied how summer classes help students.
Summer Session is your choice. You can take up to 12 credits, like two classes per term. It’s good for catching up or finishing school faster. But summer classes are quick, so they’re hard. I suggest one class per term if it’s your first time.
Why Take Summer Classes?
Summer classes help you plan your year. If you take a class in summer, you can take fewer in winter. This is good if you work or have a busy life. Summer classes also help you finish school sooner.
But there are hard parts. Some classes, like BIOL 300, are at night, like 7 to 10 PM. This is tough if you live far away. Also, summer classes don’t count for picking your major. For example, a summer psychology class won’t help you apply for a psychology major. Take those classes in winter.
How to Sign Up for Summer Classes
You can sign up for summer classes in late February. UBC emails you when it’s your turn. Use Workday to pick classes. Check the UBC Course Schedule to see what’s available. For example, SOCI 100 might be in Term 1 but not Term 2.
I’ve seen students have trouble signing up. Classes fill up fast, so have other choices ready. If a class is full, join the waitlist or email the department. You need to be in good standing, with no unpaid fees, to sign up.
If you’re at UBC Okanagan, you can take Vancouver classes with approval. Check the UBC Equivalency site to see if classes count for your degree. Talk to an advisor to be sure.
Tips for Summer Classes
Here are tips to do well in Summer Session:
- Plan early. Look at class times on Workday.
- Ask an advisor for help picking classes.
- Stay on top of work. Summer classes go fast.
- Find a place to live. UBC has summer housing at both campuses. Apply early.
I’ve seen students do better when they plan. Summer classes are small, so you learn a lot and focus.
What’s New at UBC
UBC is making things better for students. Since 2020, you can meet advisors online. This helps students who aren’t on campus. UBC also added more health help, like free counseling, because students asked for it.
In Social Sciences, UBC is doing more community work. At UBC Okanagan, some classes help local people, like studying how to help homeless people. This teaches you real skills. I’ve seen students love these classes.
Summer Session is getting bigger. More students take summer classes to finish school fast. Since 2023, UBC offers online summer classes. These are good if you can’t come to campus. But you need to manage your time well.
How Services Help Social Sciences Students
Social Sciences students get a lot from Student Services. Advisors help you pick classes for your major, like sociology. Career services find you jobs, like working for a community group. Health services help you stay calm during school.
For example, a psychology student can talk to a counselor about stress. An economics student can find a research job through Work Learn. Summer classes let you take courses like SOCI 100 to make winter easier. I’ve seen how these services help students do better.
Why Trust Me?
I’m Ramona P. Woodmansee. I study how schools and online tools work. I write easy, honest guides to help students. My work is on many trusted websites about school and safety. I’ve looked at UBC’s websites and talked to students to make this guide the best.
Wrapping Up
UBC Student Services, Social Sciences, and Summer Session help you succeed. Services give you advisors, job help, and health care. Social Sciences teaches you about people, with majors like psychology. Summer Session lets you study fast and finish school sooner.
Use this guide to plan your UBC path. Check Workday for classes, talk to advisors, and explore Social Sciences. Need help? Visit the UBC Student Services website or email an advisor. Have a question? Comment below, and I’ll help!