Academic/Intellectual
Why is your intellectual health important?
Academics are vital for any university student, so improving your intellectual health will offer you many benefits. Having a healthy mind is crucial for academic success, and this includes challenging yourself to learn new things and develop the skills you need to succeed. Keeping your mind sharp will help you at UBC, and for the rest of your life.
Some things to consider for your intellectual health
If you are having difficulty deciding what courses to take or which program to choose, Academic Advising is here to help. Disability Services and Language Support also ensure that everyone at UBC has the resources to excel.
Take time to challenge your mind
- Taking a challenging course? AMS Tutoring can help you succeed.
- One of the best ways to learn is through travel.
- Learning outside of a university setting is also very valuable, so look into doing a Learning Exchange.
- Get to know the UBC Library website. Not only can you find books and journals, it also offers resources like AskAway, a live chat service to help you with academic projects.
Set goals and prioritize
- SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. Check out this article in The Point by UBC REC to learn more.
- “Choose well, not all” is a great mantra for all UBC students. There are so many options for your academics and involvement outside the classroom that it can be hard to choose and there is a temptation of trying everything. This can lead to burnout and have consequences for your academics. Talk to a student staff at the Centre for Student Involvement to help you decide what the best fit is for your involvement at UBC.
Develop effective time-management and study skills
- Studies have shown that time management is significantly correlated with academic success.[1] The Assignment Calculator is a great way to keep on top of your papers and projects.
- The Chapman Learning Commons is the place to go for academic support and to develop writing, research, multimedia, and study skills.
- Writing skills are important for students in all faculties, so check out the Writing Centre.
For some great student-to-student strategies for maintaining your intellectual health, check out the Healthy Minds Blog.
For an article about a UBC class that teaches students how to excel at university and as lifelong learners, see Train your brain: Teaching the fundamentals of academic success.
[1] Trueman, M., & Hartley, J. (1996). A comparison between the time-management skills and academic performance of mature and traditional-entry university students. Higher Education, 32, 199-215.
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- Switching off: Rebooting away from the computer
- Healthy mind and body, healthy GPA
- Physical activity: Exercising your academic muscles
- Can getting more ZZZs help you get As?
