In so many words, “as much as is reasonably possible” and “basically yes.”<\/p>\n
I don’t want to sound like I’m on a soap box or like I’m some spokesperson for the school… But, yes, UPS did all they could to help me get where I’m going. I loved my time there and have few complaints. That’s not to say that every student doesn’t have some complaints; we’re only human after all and it did rain at my graduation. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
But I digress. The next logical questions are “How did UPS prepare me? What did they do?” Well most importantly, UPS allowed (and in fact encouraged) me to do independent research during the school year and full-time during the summers. That’s what grad school is all about in the sciences; research. I feel comfortable rotating in a chemistry lab where I’ll be one of the few biologists there because I have such a strong background in research. I know that I know enough to start a biology project in a chemistry-focused lab and I’m also comfortable enough with what I know to realize when I need to go back to the micro department and get some insights and help from people there. Without all my time at UPS doing research on my own, I don’t think I would feel comfortable in this position.<\/p>\n
UPS’s classes also super prepared me, more than I could have ever guessed. For one, I came into my PhD program with no deficiencies. That means as an undergrad through my undergrad major, I took everything (and more) that my PhD program wants me to take. This means I can pretty much take whatever I want now and don’t have to waste time “catching up”. At least half of the other first years have at least one deficiency they need to make-up this year.<\/p>\n
Right now I’m in two genetics-type classes. And you know what? Genetics at UPS totally prepared me for them. I have all the background I need (maybe even a little more than I need lol). Also a lot of time professors with ask us what we already know about the basics of their research, the big picture stuff. More often than not, I’ve at least heard of what their talking about and I heard it in my upper division science courses at UPS!! So yeah, enough praising UPS; I think you get the picture.<\/p>\n
The point of this was to say that you shouldn’t be afraid of graduate level studies. Graduating from UPS means you’re ready if you want to be.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In so many words, “as much as is reasonably possible” and “basically yes.” I don’t want to sound like I’m on a soap box or like I’m some spokesperson for the school… But, yes, UPS did all they could to … Continue reading