University of British Columbia

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i go to the ubc campus in kelowna, its really dope, you still get the same degree as ubcv in the end but the programs are less competitive, and i get to go to big white every weekend

Jan 2 2013 7:53PM

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I'm in my last semester at UBC right now, studying mechanical engineering.

Campus does suck somewhat-- very spread out, has been constantly under construction during my 5-year degree, faculties are quite segregated (which sucks if you're in engineering because you will have very little female contact during the day). It rains a lot. The bars on campus are OK at best. If they stopped tearing down and rebuilding shit every year it could actually be quite nice.

That being said Vancouver is an AWESOME city and a fantastic place to live. There plenty of night life all over Vancouver, accessible very easily by bus, every night of the week. The climate is mild. Academically, UBC is top-tier University. There are many beautiful women here-- the trick is finding them (go into Arts).

Season passes at Whistler are dirt cheap for students. You will make friends who will be driving up to ski every weekend, and on huge powder days during the week. If making friends isn't your strong suit, you will most likely be able to find rides using HitchWhistler.com

The local mountains (open until 10pm nightly) are ~45 minutes from campus by public transit. Seymour is the cheapest and has the best vibes. Grouse Mountain is run by tyrants but has some mindblowingly sick terrain, provided you can dodge the heat. This was last week, at dusk:

There's probably more to add but I'm going to dig that deep for now. Feel free to ask anything else about this place...

Jan 2 2013 8:05PM

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sounds tight, ive only been to vancouver once and it was sick. im checking it out in january

Jan 2 2013 8:05PM

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...and I would firmly disagree with those who claim that a degree from UBCO is equivalent in prestige to one from UBC.

Jan 2 2013 8:07PM

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woah thanks a lot

one question- is there really that many asains?

oh and what were ur grades like

Jan 2 2013 8:08PM

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There are really that many Asians. Off hand, I would estimate that 40% of the ~40,000 student population is Asian.

My grades out of high school were quite high-- 94% average if I remember correctly-- but only about 80% was needed to get into engineering. There is a high drop-out rate due to this, however.

I can't really speak factually about other faculties, but I know Science is by far the most difficult to get into due to the Med-School keeners. You'll need above 90% for sure.

Arts, I would say a safe estimate is above %75 average, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was as low as 70%. Pure guesses though.

Jan 2 2013 8:13PM

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its the exact same degree, how could it not be equivalent?

Jan 2 2013 8:14PM

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do you know anything about business school?

Jan 2 2013 8:17PM

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prestige, not qualification.

they aren't the same university, they don't have the same entrance requirements, difficulty standards, or calibre of students. sorry if this offends you but that's how I see it!

source: my roommate transferred from UBCO to UBC after 1st year.

Jan 2 2013 8:19PM

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hue.

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hey any clue how hard it was for him to transfer?I'm at ubco and I've applied and have a decent average (~75%) and i want to get into ubc, think it'll make the cut for either sciences or arts?

Jan 2 2013 8:22PM

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Ah yes, I forgot about that. The Sauder School of Business is also quite reputable. Entrance requirements are also high-- upper 80s to 90s would be my guess. Probably the next most competitive after Science. The Sauder profs are the highest paid at the university (some make a disgusting 400k/yr!).

Once you're in though, I don't think it's too difficult provided you can pass Calculus. Haven't met too many stressed-out business students here. These are more guesses though.

Jan 2 2013 8:23PM

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wrong, the entrance requirements are only higher at ubcv cause youre competing with dickloads of asians with 99% averages. the difficulty standards are the same in some programs like engineering cause its the exact same program at both schools, so maybe in arts or something its not the same prestige.

Jan 2 2013 8:23PM

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well I really don't think I'm wrong, here's why:

the engineering programs are not exactly the same at both schools. first year definitely isn't the same and 2nd year sure as hell isn't the same (my mech program doesn't exist at UBCO, for example). [similar != same]

further, difficulty standards are NOT as high, here's why:
- lower entrance average means weaker students
- weaker students means lower average test scores
- lower average test scores result in either
A) more scaling
B) easier exams
- either A or B means it is less difficult to do well

Jan 2 2013 8:30PM

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false, lower entrance average means that the school is not well known enough to have a higher acceptance average. if the school had a higher average the program would end up being really small, and theyre trying to expand it. that being said, many people do drop out first year. everyone in my mech program had at least an 85 average in high school btw.

also OP, another reason why you dont want to go to van is that its full of pretentious dickheads that think theyre better than everyone else cause they go a good school even tho theres tons of schools just as good all over canada

Jan 2 2013 8:37PM

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you win, the UBCO mech.eng program is just as reputable UBC's-- it's produced alumni who are highly valued in industry for just as many years now and i'm a pretentious dickhead for thinking otherwise

Jan 2 2013 8:47PM

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will_powder

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UBC rules. The campus is awesome, people need to simmer down over the construction. It's top 25 unis in the world.

Jan 2 2013 9:06PM

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erikK

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i was going to go to ubc for science, decided i can't stand rain almost every day, heavy snow, and the feeling of being a minority so i'm at uofc now. ubc is definitely a good school and i would still consider transferring there, but it really came down to me wanting to get out of vancouver.

and a ubco degree is absolutely not the same as ubc, that place is like uvic

Jan 2 2013 10:12PM

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ironic

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There are what you would expect and ten times more.

Jan 2 2013 10:17PM

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panojibber.

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Funny you say that, I'm in the process of doing almost the exact same thing.

Started out in science, transferred to arts, but Vancouver drove me fucking insane. Not a city I enjoy living in, some people love it but I can't stand it. You'll make some good friends in res, but as a whole the city isn't as friendly as say, Calgary. I know quite a few people that have moved to Calgary from Vancouver and said its a much friendlier place. Completely different atmosphere in the two places.

If you do end up going, have a fucking awesome time, work hard, party when you have the time, and go skiing lots. But if you don't like it there's no harm in transferring out.

Jan 2 2013 11:04PM

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[hamnuts]

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I applied and so far its my #1 for next year

Jan 2 2013 11:11PM

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FilipRules

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UBC Van is pretty sick. Like others have said, local mountains are really fun and whistler is not too far away. UBC Ski and Board has a facebook group for ride shares to whistler which is useful. This is my first year in Arts and its pretty sick. I'm pretty busy because I am on the Varsity Track Team but I can still get out and go skiing on the weekends. Again, Whistler is amazing and the local mountains have sick parks.

Jan 3 2013 1:19AM

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POWDER.RANGER

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there is that many asians, but thats just hongcouver, you get used to it

Jan 3 2013 1:45AM

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Jaimee.

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I like UBC, the campus is nice with a lot of amenities and some freaking awesome views. I've had some really helpful profs and TAs, and it is not terribly far from Whistler.

Vancouver is a really rainy place, which can be quite depressing. It isn't so bad once the mountains open and you can escape up there on weekends/whenever.

Jan 3 2013 2:14AM

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cool_name

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you are wrong, ubco is just as good as ubc and you get the exact same degree the programs will differ but it is the same calibre . Also of course ubc Vancouver have produced more alumni, ubco is still new.

Jan 3 2013 3:55AM

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TaySwift

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also known as the University of a Billion Chinese....

Jan 3 2013 5:55AM

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Orrin

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Love Vancouver, want to go there to do my masters and never return to the UK.

Jan 3 2013 6:21AM

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MNS

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This. I go to UBCO and I'm getting the same exact degree as UBC Van, but UBCv Is more competitive. Although my reasons for going to UBCO are because I don't wanna see A million wackass Asian kids in all my classes. Sorry if that offends anyone, I'm not racist. Also Kelowna is nice and the size of the school is perfect (8,000 students). If you meet someone here, good chance you'll see them around cAmpus. Meet someone at van and you'll be lucky to ever see them again.

Jan 3 2013 1:40PM

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blatt

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A note to all US kids thinking about applying for engineering:

You need to have 2 years of chem + 2 years of physics OR have taken AP Chem and AP Physics to simply apply to the engineering school. I was really keen on going there until I found this out (and I didn't have the grades for the science school). Don't make the same mistake I did haha

Jan 3 2013 2:03PM

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kstanz

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What faculty? The business school is my #1 as well. Although I'm having a lot of trouble finding motivation to get this supplemental done, how do people do it?? Whatever I think in my head isn't getting me going to just sit down and do it

Jan 3 2013 2:52PM

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Bread_Fish

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I am mainly looking at Utah and Seattle right now, because I heard that it costs a shitload to go out of the country for college.

Jan 3 2013 3:16PM

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[hamnuts]

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Arts! If we both went it would be awesome!!! I have heard only amazing things about the business school!

Jan 3 2013 4:09PM

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Williamn

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I go to UBC and it's pretty nice. UBC also has a ski lodge in whistler where you can stay for cheap but Ive heard rumors that they might be selling it. I ski Grouse and it has a really sick park, but the mountain is kind of small. If you're 18, a seasons pass at Grouse is $240, but the adult price is $350 I think. The passes sell out though, so you need to get it the season before.

Jan 3 2013 4:35PM

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B.Fantana

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thinking about transferring to ubc next year this is relevant to my interests

Jan 3 2013 5:30PM

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will_powder

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What's the hate on asians?

There's a huge variety of people from everywhere here at UBC. Maybe that random asian guy/gal could be an awesome person. Skin colour doesn't have to be a barrier to friendship.

That being said, the white chicks here are good looking ;)

Jan 3 2013 5:33PM

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Reister

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I'm applying to College of the Rockies in Cranbrook BC for next year. great alternative to UBC if they have the program and it can be alittle bit cheaper. also great skiing only an hour or so from Red 30 minutes from Kimberley and an hour from Fernie. look into it. hit me up if you end up going.

Jan 3 2013 5:59PM

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MNS

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i dont hate asians. bit all my asian friends are pretty much born and raised in Canada. In other words, our conversations are in english and do not involve any "hing tong ching chong ha hao pee poo" words.

Jan 3 2013 7:07PM

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cool_name

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skin doesn't have to be but not being able to carry out a conversation in English is usually a deal breaker for me

Jan 3 2013 7:42PM

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will_powder

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Haven't run into this problem really...most of the asians are second or third generation Canadians

Jan 3 2013 8:52PM

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