As college students, I’m sure you have all been told several times how important it is to get involved in the various opportunities your campus has to offer. Joining ateam, becoming an active member of a campus organization, or simply attending social events are all ways of doing so. With so many choices, though, how should you decide which opportunities to take advantage of and which are just not worth your time?

First and foremost, consider which options sound the most appealing to you. If joining the human rights group or working for the school newspaper does not interest you, it doesn’t matter how good either will look on your resume—you won’t gain much from the experience at all. In order to truly take useful and valuable knowledge away from a position you hold, whether it be as a teammate, a co-worker, or a leader, you must enjoy what you are doing and feel passionate about what you are working for.

While engaging in activities or jobs that help boost your resume is definitely of great importance, it should not be the only thing causing you to take on such a responsibility. However, if you yearn to be a lawyer and the District Attorney’s office hires you as an intern, you have every reason to devote your time and energy to excelling in the position. In other words, take advantage of the opportunities that bring you closer to achieving a goal about which you are passionate or landing a job in the industry of your dreams upon graduation, but don’t waste your time on those that don’t matter to you.

Another thing you should consider is how much of your time you are willing to spend on an opportunity to be involved in campus life. As a student, your first priority must be to do well in your classes. If you’re getting straight Cs, don’t expect the top medical schools to accept you just because you are working at Student Health, interning at the local hospital, and volunteering at a women’s clinic. While those are indisputably all great things to be doing if being a doctor is your calling, your grades must be up to par as well. In other words, don’t let your extracurricular activities hinder your ability to excel academically. If your internship or job is soaking up too much of your time, find an opportunity more conducive to your schedule and workload.

Lastly, keep in mind that any experience is only as good as you make it. You should be devoted to excelling and actively learning in any position you hold or job you undertake. Simply slapping a name or company on your resume won’t get you very far if you have nothing to show for it. Future employers will want to know what skills you acquired from interning for a company. So, if all you did while you were there was get your supervisor coffee and make photocopies, putting that internship on your resume probably will not mean much. 

In conclusion, get involved with the opportunities that interest you, don’t let them affect your schoolwork, and be proactive and driven in any task you undertake. Not only will you have something to add to your resume, but you will have learned some important lessons and enhanced your college experience along the way!

The beginning of this quarter brings forth new opportunities. I am very excited to explore the aspects of sociological research in the research methods class I am taking. I feel like this research experience will help prepare me for graduate school because the skills I will gain from this course will apply to research I will conduct while in grad school. Grad schools look for relevant coursework as well as research experience in order to help them determine whether or not students will be able to succeed in their programs.

I started to ask questions in class about how this course could help out in grad school and it sparked discussion amongst my colleagues in the class that I was not expecting. Another good thing is that the instructor for this course is a graduate student so building this relationship with her has helped me gage the importance of student-teacher relationships. I strongly recommend talking to professors and forging friendships because they really do have great advice to give—especially if someone is thinking about going to grad school.

In my decision to take a research methods course I have found that conducting research is actually fun and not as bad as most people make it out to be. I could see myself in graduate school doing research that inspires me. Being an undergrad student one of the leading research universities in the world has allowed me to build a good foundation in conducting research and now that I see graduation coming up in the horizon I feel that graduate school might actually be a good option for me.

I plan to make more research intensive classes during the rest of my time here at UCSB. The reason I decided to do this is because it will allow me to build my portfolio in terms of research experience and it will also allow me to compile samples of my research work. In the application process for gaining admission to grad school, some institutions request that students submit writing samples to help the assess a students writing ability and thinking processes. I know that in order to gain admission to the schools I want to go to I would need to have stellar examples of my research experience and my intellectual capacity.

Another step to take in planning my graduate school career is researching the programs I want to gain admission to. I have found that some schools require applicants to take certain courses before applying to their programs, so by researching those requirements now I will be able to plan ahead and complete these requirements in time to be eligible to apply in the winter of my senior year.

The planning process for grad school is just as important as the planning process was for college. Taking the time out to do this planning now in my junior year will be beneficial to me in the future, and I hope that my experiences in the research methods course I am taking can allow to me gain the skills I will need when in grad school.

Since my last blog, a lot has changed and a lot has remained the same in my journey towards graduation and entering the realm of life after college. While I am still unsure about my post-June 14 plans, my state-of-mind has continued on in a positive direction. While making the transition out of college and into the real world seems intimidating right now, it only constitutes one small step in the grand scheme of things.

Let me take a little step back? I've wasted hours upon hours of my time since the beginning of my senior year stressing out about what the next chapter of my life will include. I've searched the web, attended meetings, and talked to countless individuals about possible internships, job ideas, or grad school options.  I've contemplated my options, stressed about which is the best of the bunch, and worried that I'm going to end up unemployed and living at home once the last of my days as a Gaucho have passed.

Here is where the big change has been made? I've told myself to stop panicking! For the most part, I've been able to do so as long as I constantly remind myself that anything I do will be an experience, an important part of the journey, and only the very first step in the direction towards my future career. Whether I choose to go teach English in a foreign country, acquire an unpaid internship, or find a less-than-ideal job to hire me, chances are it will not be what I end up doing in the long run, but will have a positive impact on my knowledge or skill base, outlook about my future, and, ultimately, on what career path I choose to follow.

Another important fact that I've come to terms with is the current state of the economy. Because most businesses are being forced to cut costs and consequently lay off many employees, now is not the best time to rely on being hired by the company of my dreams. On the other hand, now is the time to do something that interests me and provides me with some sort of practical experience. I've realized that as long as I continue to be an active learner in whatever field I next enter, I will walk away with something I didn't have before. So, when it comes down to it, no journey I embark on next year will be a waste of time or a setback.

I'd like to end with a quote that I came across one day while reading the back of my Starbucks coffee cup. It read, "The irony of commitment is that it's deeply liberating- in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." It is indeed ironic that making a commitment (setting a decision in stone) can have a liberating rather than a constricting effect. In applying this concept to my current situation, I've realized that it's time to start narrowing down my options and begin taking the steps toward committing to just one. Once I've made a decision about what exactly it is I'm going to do, my concerns will naturally dissipate.  I'll then have the ability to really start enjoying this new and exciting chapter of my life!

The LSAT is like any other standardized test, meant to assess your ability to succeed at school. The LSAT in particular is a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills. So, if the LSAT is like any other test then why did I want to pull out my hair studying for it?

Well the LSAT tests reasoning in three sections: reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and logic games with a time constraint of only 35 minutes for each section. I decided that there was no way I would be able to conquer the LSAT without help, so I enrolled in a prep class over the summer in August. I quickly learned my way around the LSAT taking a full length test for the first time and finding myself disappointed at my initial score. I knew I had a long way ahead of me to achieve my desired score, but I was ready to work hard to get there. I was studying constantly and it helped that my friends were all studying for the GREs as well. It was difficult to stay constantly focused because it was summer and the nice weather outside was more appealing than staying indoors studying.

I had signed up to take the October exam, but as the date rapidly approached and school began, I found myself feeling less and less prepared, stressed, and overwhelmed. The week that I was scheduled to take the exam, I decided it was not the right time and I postponed till December. It was relieving to know I had more time to study, but also disappointing knowing that I would have to continue my study and preparation for an exam I really didn’t want to take, but needed in order to apply to any law school. Fortunately, the prep course I had signed up for had what they called a “higher score guarantee,” which allowed me to retake the course if I was not satisfied with my score or if I didn’t feel prepared after the course ended, which was applicable in my situation 

I was quick to jump on the opportunity and reregistered in another prep course that I would take concurrently with my regular fall classes. I knew it would be a challenge to balance school, work, and my prep course. To make matters even more complicated I landed an internship at a local law firm and decided it would be unwise for me to pass up the opportunity. Midway through fall quarter I found myself overworked and exhausted. I needed a break, but I wasn’t going to get one any time soon.

I continued to study and prepare for the test, but as the December date approached I found myself nervous and feeling unprepared once again. I took one final practice test the week prior to the exam and was incredibly disappointed to find that my score was still several points away from my desired score. My instructor for the prep course recommended that I postpone, but I was reluctant to do so because I had already done so in October. I put a lot of thought into deciding whether or not I should postpone once again and I found that the pros outweighed the cons. Postponing again would allow me to study more over winter break, hopefully helping me to achieve the score I wanted and needed to apply to my desired schools.

It was a difficult decision to make, but I changed my test date to February. I was disappointed, but even more determined to stay focused and study harder. I came back after winter break only to discover that I had two midterms the week I was scheduled to take the LSAT. I knew it was another hurdle to overcome, but I felt that I would be able to prepare myself for it. As the date in February approached I felt anxious and worried about whether or not I would be able to do well on the test. The week of the test I contemplated changing my test date again to June, but after thinking about it and talking it over with a friend we decided that there was always going to be some obstacle I needed to tackle. I was reluctant to take the test because I had heard that if you take the test several times law schools average your scores and I really just wanted to take the test once and never have to think about it again! I decided that it wasn’t worth waiting several more months to take it and if I needed to I would take the test again. When February 7 came around I woke up early, walked to the test site on campus, and took the test. It was finally over!

So it has been a while since I’ve written a blog and that is partly because of the time I spent back home during break reflecting on the past quarter. Before I left for break I was informed that I did not get the REU research internship in Delaware. I was literally crushed when I found out because I was looking forward to researching AIDS during the summer but I learned that things do not always work out the way you want them to and I am okay with that—I realize rejection is just a part of life.

After hearing the news I started to think about how other students must feel when they do not get jobs or internships. Learning to cope with the rejection is a touchy subject and I never realized how sensitive I was to it. I am glad that it happened though. If it were not for this experience I would not have been able to see a different side to the world of internships. I also realized that it was not the end of the world.

My tactic to deal with the rejection was to move on and look for a new internship—that is just the way to deal with these kinds of things sometimes. Almost by stroke of luck, I received an email from my Sociology advisor informing me that there was a research internship available through the same program funded by the National Science Foundation.

This is my second chance at landing an awesome summer internship. The program I am applying to is actually on the UCSB campus and pays the same rate as the REU program in Delaware. The subject for this internship is researching the different societal methods which affect and are affected by nanotechnology. I know—nanotechnology? What am I thinking applying to a program in nanotechnology?

Actually, I am glad that the subject is not one that I am totally familiar with because I enjoy learning about new subjects and tying them into what I already know. Nanotechnology seems like an up-in-coming and wide reaching field of study and I am actually excited to see if I can learn more about its affects on society—especially in this globalizing society we live in.

My goal for the next few weeks is to develop a comprehensive and innovative statement of interest for this program and brush up my resume to make it seem more professional. I know it will be hard work and I have already started doing some research on the field to get a better background on what I am getting myself into. I’ve set up an appointment with an advisor at Career Services to look over my resume and critique my application to make sure that I did not mess up anywhere—it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion.

If I can land this internship I will be more than satisfied with myself because it has been a seven-month long process so far trying to secure a summer internship, so at this point I sort of feel it is about time I actually get one that I am interested in. This should be interesting!

Hi!  My name is Jessica Serber and I’m a fourth-year Global and International Studies major and Professional Writing minor at UCSB.  I will be graduating this June and couldn’t be more nervous about what next year has in store for me.  But, after months of stressing about what my future will look like, I realized that I need to stop worrying and be excited about my post-graduation life.  While the transition may not be easy, there are so many new adventures I have to look forward to!

When I first began thinking about what I wanted to do after graduation, I didn’t even know where to begin.  How was I supposed to choose between all the opportunities and experiences the world has to offer?!  I started by paying closer attention to e-mails I was receiving from the Global Studies department and Career Services.  Many times, they include information about career-related workshops or fairs and links to websites about post-university programs ranging from graduate school to volunteering abroad.  As I read more and more of these e-mails, I realized that there were many things I found interesting and could see myself doing.

In addition, I began thinking about how I could use the knowledge, awareness, and compassion I’ve gained from being a Global Studies major to take that step out of college and into the professional world.  I truly feel that my major opened my eyes to new possibilities that I never imagined existed.  From learning about the United States as well as many other countries and their cultures, I’ve become thoroughly interested in humanitarian issues and working with the worlds less fortunate citizens.

Thanks to all those e-mails I’ve been reading, I now know that there are tons of ways in which I can turn my passions into a job for next year.  My options are endless and include everything from volunteering abroad, to becoming a corps member for Teach for America, to acquiring an internship or job. Over the past few months, I’ve devoted a great deal of time to applying for Teach for America. 

Teach for America is dedicated to eliminating the educational inequality that exists within the United States.  The program places mostly recent college graduates in low-income schools with the hopes of helping students achieve at higher levels.  The great thing for many applicants is that no teaching credentials or education degree is required, only the willingness to participate in a summer institute where you will be professionally trained to become a successful teacher.

Teach for America has already had a huge impact in the lives of thousands of students and continues to thrive each year!  Because of my desire to engage in work that helps the world become a better place, I have spent many hours researching about and preparing for Teach for America’s demanding interview process in hopes of becoming a corps member.

Teach for America is just one of many amazing opportunities out there for recent college graduates.  For now, all I can do now is to continue exploring and researching all of my options until I come across something that’s really right for me.  Although graduating college and moving into the “real world” is undoubtedly an intimidating feat, it is also extremely exciting.

There are many exciting things happening in my life lately. I recently applied to an REU Program through the University of Delaware at the end of February. REU stands for Research Experience for Undergraduates and it supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program.

I definitely recommend anyone interested in applying for paid research opportunities to go onto the National Science Foundation’s website (nsf.gov) and look up REU programs within their related field. This opportunity to do research is open to sophomores and juniors from all universities nationwide. Since these opportunities are open to so many students, getting accepted to one of these programs is highly selective—but that is not stopping me and should not stop you from applying because you never know what your luck may be.

The program I applied to is through the Social Science sector and involves doing research on AIDS related issues like prevention and tracking methods. I am extremely excited to hear back by the end of this week if I get an offer to participate in the program. It is highly selective program-only about ten students from the United States are chosen each summer—and the benefits to this experience are invaluable. The program provides a stipend of $3,600, housing is provided, and meals are provided as well. In addition to this there are two field trips to conventions in Colorado and in D.C. Basically this opportunity seems like it would be extremely beneficial to my future career goals.

I would like to join the Peace Corps after graduating college and help out with AIDS issues in Africa so landing this research experience would be helpful in expanding my knowledge base of this pandemic. I truly hope to one day make the lives of AIDS victims much easier either trough developing new treatments or policy recommendations. I really hope to get this internship also because of the opportunity to become published. There is a possibility to get published by participating in this program because two of the ten student researchers are chosen to come back the following summer and present their research, while having their work published in a research compilation.

I think it is definitely worth it to take the time out to look up research opportunities while still an undergraduate because it not only helps with the courses you take but it also gives students an edge amongst other people applying for jobs after college because the hands on experience gained from doing research reflects a sense of determination and dedication to employers. Like I said before there are a ton of different fields within the REU program that have opportunities available for research so take the time to do your research on these. Here are some of the fields that have research opportunities with the REU program…

Good luck:

Astronomical Sciences
ATM
Atmospheric Sciences
Biological Sciences
Chemistry
Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Cyberinfrastructure
Department of Defense (DoD)
Earth Sciences
Education and Human Resources
Engineering
Ethics and Values Studies
International Science and Engineering
Materials Research
Mathematical Sciences
Ocean Sciences
Physics
Polar Programs
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences

My experience in the UCCS program was extremely fruitful. Between the summer of my sophomore and junior year I participated in this research intensive program while beginning my first internship. I was very nervous to start this program because I knew I would be one of the youngest people in the group and I honestly did not know what to expect.

The first step for me to take was getting an internship. I actually did not land my internship until the second week of the program, which is sort of rare since most of the other students in the program had secured their internships during the previous quarter. I ran around the state capitol with copies of my resume and hoped to get an interview.

This was definitely not an easy process, but I quickly learned the importance of networking and developing what is heavily referred to as “thick skin” in politics. I went through countless interviews after interview until finally I got an offer from a Legislative Assemblyman named Tom Berryhill. I took this offer because the prospect of getting first hand knowledge of the logistics behind how the California State budget is passed really intrigued me. Also, I wanted to learn about the way state politics works so I figured what better way to accomplish this than by getting into the action on the “battle field” as many like to call it.  

While interning in the capitol, I got the opportunity to do thorough policy analysis on bills in line to be passed. This was a great learning experience for me because things like as such are not taught in any classes you can take at a university. Also, I got the opportunity to see first hand how deals and pacts are made to get advocates for certain measures. This was really interesting to witness because it made the formality of politics much less daunting since I was able to see how informally certain things actually do get done. Getting this “behind-the-scenes” experience has really helped my cohorts from the program and I gain an edge on our fellow colleagues.    

I made friends with other interns and began to thrive in this politically-driven climate. I had never known politics could be so empowering until I began this program. There were a few of my cohorts from the UCCS program working in the capitol as well so the convenience of having more familiar faces was beneficial because of the networking opportunities that developed between my agency and their agencies.   I felt extremely lucky to have been able to grow in and learn through such an amazing program. The reputation held by the UCCS program at the state capitol is phenomenal and anyone interested in a political career should definitely consider applying to this program.

Aside from the priceless experience, I was able to gain unique confidence I doubt I would have gotten from any other internship—especially for being my first internship. I highly recommend anyone at least slightly interested in this program apply to the UCCS program or the UCDC program.

So what is involved when trying to decide whether or not to declare Sociology as a Major (or a Minor)? I know that for me the decision was easy because I wanted to learn more about social activism and ways that others have dealt with injustices. After taking Soc 1 in the fall Quarter of my freshman year I definitely knew I was going to be a Soc major. The empowerment I gained from this class and all other Soc classes I have taken at UCSB really solidified my decision to declare Sociology as my major.             

Personally, I never thought I would find a major that deals with issues I think about daily. Understanding the course work just came naturally to me because type of issues that are taught in Sociology classes deal with issues I have felt passionate about my entire life. I feel this comfort level is definitely one of the main factors that frequently keeps me interested in pursuing a degree in the field of Sociology.                        

On a different note, I had some issues when trying to convince my parents that this would be a suitable major for me to grow in. Their concerns mainly dealt with the job outlook for this field. For them, they only saw me being able to be a professor or do research work if I majored in Sociology. I informed them; however; that there are way more options available for careers than becoming a professor—especially since I am planning on doing graduate school after my time here at UCSB.           

Sure there are setbacks to this major...just like there are to all majors....such as trying to figure out what the heck I am going to do with a B.A. in Sociology after college since the major is so broad. However, the thing I have found helpful about this "broadness" is the fact that having such a wide-ranged foundation can play into one's own advantage when applying to graduate school because there are many programs that Sociology majors can qualify to study in such as: public policy, non-profit management, social worker, etc.          

One important thing to note about the Sociology Department is that it makes up a very small and tight-nit community. This has been extremely helpful for me because of the fact that I have been able to get to know the professors and advisors on an intimate level. This is definitely rare to find in other departments on our campus. This also allows for awesome accessibility to great resources, such as research opportunities within the field.                

All in all I've truly enjoyed my undergraduate experience thus far as Sociology major. The professors and advisors in the Sociology Department are extremely friendly and helpful when it comes to picking classes, finding research opportunities, and landing great internships. I highly recommend that any one interested in declaring this major come into the Career Services (a.k.a. the Pink Building next to H.S.S.B.) to explore all of the different options available to Soc majors.