If you’ve heard anything about BCIT, then I’m sure you’ve heard the rumours. The insane 6-7 course workload, the ruined sleep schedule, and the nonexistent social life. And if you go to BCIT I’m sure you’re probably knee-deep in assignments, fuelled by an unhealthy amount of caffeine, and wondering why you voluntarily signed up for this level of stress. But fear not BCIT friends, I have the perfect guide to walk you through the madness and whirlwind that is BCIT, with everything from the insane course load, making friends, dealing with group projects, and of course, surviving on sheer determination (and lots of coffee). 

Step 1: Accept That Your Life Is Now BCIT

Yup, you read that right, say goodbye to any life you knew before school and buckle up because these next 2 years will really push your buttons. You may have once been a fun, social, well rested friend with hobbies and interests, that was fun while it lasted right? But say goodbye to that for the next 2 years now. Now, your life revolves around lectures, assignments, and desperately refreshing myBCIT to see if your grades have been posted. 

BCIT isn’t your typical “chill” college experience where you can coast through on a couple of lectures and some light reading. No, BCIT is quite the opposite. They really love to just throw you off the deep end from day one. The sooner you accept that you are now a full-time academic athlete, the better. It’s also not like you get to choose your course load, class times, and electives, no no no, this is a scary surprise. A couple weeks out from the beginning of the semester you will get a jump scare that is your schedule. Be prepared for the early mornings and late nights and if you’re commuting from far away, I’m sending you the best of luck. Your schedules are generated for you which actually is a huge relief in my opinion, and on the bright side of the hectic course load you get to avoid the stress of registering for classes. 

Step 2: Say Goodbye To Your Sleep Schedule 

Remember when eight hours of sleep was a normal thing? Those were the good old days. Now, if you get five hours, that’s basically luxury. You also will just never be able to fully relax again, there is always something to do, whether it’s posting a discussion post, studying for a midterm, or writing a paper, I can guarantee you will never feel bored again. But hey, at least we will be prepared for the workforce right?

Step 3: Your Love Affair With Caffeine 

To be honest, I don’t even like coffee, and being completely honest, before I started at BCIT I rarely had any caffeine. Now? I’m cracking open Red Bulls at the crack of dawn and having a double espresso with my dinner. It’s wild. You will without a doubt become so dependent on caffeine. Coffee isn’t just a beverage at BCIT; it’s a personality trait. You will consume it in alarming quantities, and at some point, you’ll convince yourself that caffeine is an acceptable substitute for actual food. And there is sure no shortage of this good stuff around campus, whatever you want, you can find. It’s a caffeine lover’s heaven. Just remember that caffeine crashes are real, and there is a limit before your eye starts twitching uncontrollably. (Probably. I haven’t reached it yet.)

Step 4: Surviving Your Classes

Not to toot my own horn here, but I always kinda just thought I was smart and school came natural to me. Well, I mean it did in high school but that is NOT the case now. When I say in some of my courses I’m barely scraping by, I mean it, (I literally just failed my econ midterm last week :). Surviving BCIT classes is an extreme sport. Every term feels like a sprint mixed with a marathon, sprinkled with a little bit of emotional trauma. Here’s how to stay afloat:

• Try not to fall behind: I get that life gets busy, but make your classes your main priority, just trust me on this one, you’d rather over study than under study. There is no catching up once you’re lost. A “quick break” from studying will turn into a 600-slide PowerPoint you don’t understand, just stay focused and on task. 
• Pay attention: trust me I know it’s hard to pay attention the whole time in a 3 hour lecture and it seems easier to just tune out with a little bit of Wordle or Sudoku but don’t do it. 
• Use office hours: I actually never used any office hours my first year but this second year I think my teachers are getting tired of my face. 
• Befriend the smart kid: they might just save your GPA. 
• Group projects: I know, I know, they are awful, and there’s a 90% chance one

Step 5: Making Friends (your emotional support crew)

You’re all in this together so why not make the best of it. BCIT is tough, but suffering alone is even worse. Your classmates will become your second family – whether you like it or not. But don’t worry these classmates will become some of your closest friends. I mean you’re really the only ones who truly understand the BCIT struggle. You’re working through the same course load, dealing with all the same things, and are surviving off of the minimal sleep together so why not make the best of it? Plus, study groups are the best way to prepare for exams in my opinion, getting a group together and chatting out the topics really gets it to stick in my brain! It’s also nice to have a group that’s kinda on the same wave of anti-social and social-ness. You all get that you don’t have time to be social with friends but you can share in the social-ness of study groups! 

Step 6: Don’t Give Up

The thing about BCIT programs is that since they are all generally 2 year diploma programs, people outside of BCIT just assume that they are so easy. Don’t listen to that, BCIT is hard and you are totally allowed to feel like that, but don’t let that turn you off from starting a BCIT program either. The programs definitely pack a punch within the 2 years but hey the stats are great and the results are proven. You see it everywhere, 96% of grads get jobs, and these programs prepare you for the workforce. After all BCIT is a super reputable school and although at times you may ask yourself why you even put yourself into all that stress I can promise you it will all be worth it in the end you get to cross that stage. So if you’re in the midst of the BCIT grind right now, enjoy the ride for what it is, and one day you will get to look back on these struggles and wish you were in school when you’re sitting at your desk on the new 9-5 grind.