I have found success in graduate studies by having a solid group of people supporting me. Academia can be daunting and difficult, but having friends and colleagues who are like-minded, engaged, and generally supportive has made my journey possible. Pick your department and supervisor with care, seize opportunities, explore new and old interests, maintain hobbies outside of research, and most of all: stay curious.
Make sure you need grad school for your future career before you do it. Reach out to other grad students while you're in undergrad; most people will be more than happy to share their experiences.
Professors at the University of Guelph are exemplary in their professional acumen. Over and above this, there are plenty of opportunities, like Teaching Assistantship (GTA) and Research Assistantship (RA), for an international graduate student to help fund their studies.
Grad school is demanding, but it's also an incredible opportunity for intellectual growth and discovery. Be prepared to work hard, face setbacks, and constantly learn. Find your passion. A strong foundation in your area of interest will fuel your motivation throughout the programme. Seek guidance, embrace the journey, and remember that your path is unique.
Get involved in the community. Grad school is more than your research project; expand your contributions beyond your field of research and into the community where you are working.
The Biodiversity Institute/Centre for Biodiversity Genomics is the IB departments best-kept secret, in my opinion! There are endless opportunities available if you take initiative.
In addition to providing a stable funding guarantee, the department and college offered a number of additional travel and research funding opportunities that contributed substantially to the quality of my work.
My student philosophy is that anyone can learn anything. However, to succeed and enjoy your graduate school education you need to create good relationships with your mentors and those you look up to and get involved in student life by joining things that resonate with you whether that be student councils, clubs, intramural teams, etc!
Remember that research never goes as planned and to not let failed experiments or unwanted results keep you from working hard on your degree. No one gets through graduate school without failed experiments and huge changes in their project plans.
Sometimes as an undergrad it's easy to stay 'behind the scenes' and just go to classes and complete what's required of you. But grad school has SO much to offer, and there are opportunities to gain new experiences around every corner that contribute to both personal growth and look great on a CV. I think getting involved is so important, and creating new relationships with faculty/other students is key.
