Passport of Possibilities: New Lifers Recruited to Soar with UBC Thunderbirds

Excitement filled the Lecture Hall last March 13 as University of British Columbia (UBC) Admissions Officer Gabriella Sunario gave Grade 10 Patmos and Grade 11 Olive students a glimpse into UBC’s vibrant academic landscape, igniting a renewed sense of ambition for the future. 

The UBC Vancouver alumna turned admissions officer discussed various aspects of attending the university, from the application process to postgraduate opportunities and accessing a global network of over 400,000 alumni. 

“We believe that learning is beyond what your professors tell you in class, but how you apply it,” Sunario stated, stressing the university’s world-class education and internationally recognized curricula. 

In addition to acquainting students with the learning environment in UBC campuses, the information session centered on strategies for international applicants to distinguish themselves among the thousands of applications the university receives yearly. 

“She [Sunario] was very detailed and nuanced towards students applying internationally without [an] IB [Diploma]. The talk made me realize how accessible UBC is to MGCNL students and that the school has given us such great opportunities,” an Olive ABM student expressed their appreciation. 

A Patmos student further elaborated, “There are so many possibilities abroad, and the information session has shown me that UBC is one of the many keys to this. I hope that the school continues to invite admissions officers like Sunario to help our college application process.”

Sunario highlighted the importance of maintaining a well-rounded profile, placing a strong emphasis on students’ academic and extracurricular activity in their 11th and 12th grades. 

Furthermore, along with over 200 undergraduate majors and over 40 bachelor’s degrees, UBC prides itself in a diverse social scene, with “a little bit of everything for everyone,” according to Sunario.

Guidance and Counseling Center Head Daphne Trina Uang revealed, “In the past, even prior to the pandemic, we had college advisers come in [to] share means for students to take in case they desire to study abroad. Though for UBC, [they visit] frequently, since we have had a number of students go to Canada [who] vouch for the university’s academic rigor.” 

The University of British Columbia was established in 1908 and houses over 400 academic, social, and professional clubs, 240 exchange research programs, and 67 Olympic medals garnered by the UBC Thunderbirds. UBC remains globally revered for its programs in Computer Sciences, Economics, and Medicine, among others.