Tell us about where you are now and what you are doing.
Hi, I’m Jordana! I started out in the Law and Society CAP stream in my first year, and it sparked my interest in the fields I continue to study today. I’m now in my third year at UBC, though this year I’ll be studying abroad on exchange at the University of Amsterdam. I’m majoring in Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice with a minor in Law and Society—areas I became deeply engaged with after my time in CAP.
Why did you choose CAP?
I chose CAP because the cohort-style program appealed to me. Starting university can feel overwhelming, and being part of a smaller learning community created a supportive environment where I could connect with other first-year students. I also appreciated the streamlined course selection process—having a standard timetable made registration much less stressful and simple.
What did you enjoy most about your time in CAP Law and Society? In your opinion, what are some of the most important skills you learned?
“What I enjoyed most about my time in CAP Law and Society was the strong sense of community I built with my classmates. Having multiple classes together made my first year feel approachable and supportive—we often studied for midterms and exams as a group and shared feedback on each other’s papers.”
These experiences not only helped me academically but also strengthened my communication, writing, and editing skills. I also appreciated how invested the CAP professors were in our success; their encouragement made the transition to university feel much less intimidating and encouraged me to build meaningful connections with professors to support my future studies.
What would you say to someone who’s still evaluating whether this program is the right fit for them?
After my experience in CAP, I always encourage others to see if there is a stream that aligns with their interests. CAP creates a unique sense of community and solidarity among first-year students, something that can be hard to find on a large campus like UBC. It also gives you the chance to explore courses you might not have chosen otherwise—classes that can end up shaping your academic path in meaningful ways, as it did for me when deciding my major. For me, CAP was truly instrumental in shaping my UBC experience, and I would highly recommend it to any student who is considering the program.
What are your plans for the next few years?
Over the next year, I will be studying abroad in Amsterdam to gain an international perspective on social justice, policy, and society. After completing my undergraduate degree at UBC, I plan to pursue law school. Along this path, I’ve felt supported by many of my CAP professors, some of whom I’ve continued to take classes with and build meaningful relationships beyond my first year. In many ways, CAP was a formative part of my academic journey, shaping both my degree and my overall experience at UBC.
