[University of British Columbia]

I'll check out the outdoor activities - and I think you had suggested on the other thread that joining the Outdoor Varsity Club was a good idea for someone interested in the outdoors. I'll be sure to look them up as well when I reach there.

- SUSHI!!!

Sounds mouth-wateringly great to me. I'll stay away from the Pufferfish though!

- Koener's is a library. There is a pub by the same name. This ambiguity can work in your favour.

An absolutely invaluable bit of information . I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

Thanks for all the help!

[University of British Columbia]

Thanks! Will keep that in mind.

I'm really excited about coming to Vancouver - I've heard that it is a really gorgeous city. Any suggestions or gotchas for someone just coming in?

Cheers!

[University of British Columbia]

Pretty much anywhere close to UBC is relatively safe (well, we did have a murder a few weeks back in the running trails, but that was very shocking because stuff like that just doesn't happen here). Campus is fairly accessibly by transit, and you get a pass included with your tuition so it is inexpensive. I would use the ams rentsline website (http://www.amsrentsline.com/) and check out Point Grey, Kitsilano, Dunbar, Kerrisdale, and maybe even Marpole. If you are into a bit less safe and a whole lot more interesting then look in the Main or Commercial Drive areas. More places will probably be available if you wait a little longer though, since people only need to give 1 month notice when they are moving out.

Also, I'm not sure how likely it is that this would be a problem, but some people are saying that it's best to sign a 1 year lease when you find a place so that less-than-scrupulous landlords can't kick people out in order to make a fortune on olympic accommodation. Honestly, I have my doubts that this would happen, but then you never know...

Thanks for the heads up on the ams rent site - it's looking like the swiss army knife of rental searches around UBC.

Also, from what I could make out from the map Point Grey, Dunbar and Kitsilano appear to be the closest with Kerrisdale a bit further out. (I had to magnify quite a bit to see the names, so I'm not sure about the actual difference). I couldn't find the Main and Commercial Drive areas. Are they a little further out? Also, I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a whole lot more interesting - in what way? Closer to downtown, more other activities, better views, better apartments, nicer restaurants? Or just a younger, more happening crowd?

I guess safety really is a factor of where one is originally from. As long as it's not exactly commonplace to have break-ins, gunshots/knives, hold-ups or shootings one should be ok

Thanks a bunch!

[University of British Columbia]

Good luck to both of you!

I'm too late for housing this year - does anybody have any ideas as to what off-campus localities are reasonably safe and not too far from the campus? Or would the thread on Vancouver in the city guide be a better place to ask? Though the discussion seems to be more about SFU at the moment.

[University of British Columbia]

Hi,

I'm heading to UBC this fall as well. Going for an M.Sc. in CS. (@black_wizard - are you definitely in?) And figuring out the housing situation is scary! Any thoughts on the on vs. off campus housing situation? Or is it anyways far too late to apply for on-campus? (@westcoasteducation - any luck up the wait list?)

Cheers!