College Matters. Alma Matters.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Anna enjoyed learning in school. 

When Anna was in 8th grade, in her Earth Science class, the teacher told the class that the Universe is expanding! That fact completely captivated Anna and launched  her interest in Astronomy and Physics in high school.

Anna was socially engaged in school as well. Her crowning achievement was being high school valedictorian & being voted Senior Prom Queen!

Anna  joins our podcast to share her University of Pittsburgh undergraduate journey, Interest in Astronomy, UG Research on Quasars, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Being a Marshall Scholar, Career in Policy, and her Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Anna Quider is the Founder and Principal of the Quider Group. Anna, a Goldwater Scholar, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics & Astronomy, and Religious Studies & The History and Philosophy of Science, from the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Quider holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Marshall Scholar and NSF Graduate Research Fellow.

Memorable Quote: “I really carried that with me to this day, that you know, if you're at a, you know, ‘poop plant’ level of school level of resource, you can still you can still develop into a wonderful scientist, because it's about how you approach and interact with nature and problems. It's not about what kind of fancy equipment you have.” Anna Quider.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Paul had a well-rounded experience in High School. He loved the Sciences and took every science course offered in school.

He had a number of leadership positions in the  student government. He was on the soccer team, track team, and managed the girls soccer team.

From a career point of view, he was interested in medicine. 

Paul joins our podcast to share his undergraduate Honors College journey so far at SDSU, UG Research, Passion for Medicine, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Paul Destefano is studying Pre Med Biology at San Diego State University Weber Honors College.

Memorable Quote: “So Dr. Cork and Mrs. Nicole and Mrs. McFadden and Mr. Stricker, they've all had a huge impact on me. So I would say that my curiosity for medicine and science, science especially, was sparked when I was very young”. Paul Destefano.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences, UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

As a kid, Science for Dr Anil Menon was a dinner table conversation with his parents, who were both scientists. Dr Menon enjoyed those discussions.

As a young boy, he was fascinated with Mendeleev’s Periodic Table of the Elements. This fascination led to his lifelong commitment for science in general, and Molecular Genetics in particular.

Dr. Anil Menon is Professor of Molecular Genetics & Associate Dean of the UG Program in Medical Sciences.

In this Podcast, Dr. Menon reflects on his journey into the then emerging field of Molecular Genetics, Working in Cold Spring Harbor Lab at SUNY Stony Brook, PhD in Jerry Lingrel’s Lab at the U Cincinnati, Postdoctoral work with the Human Genome Project at Harvard, and his Professional Career at the University of Cincinnati.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Dr. Anil Menon is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Menon received his PhD at the University of Cincinnati and did his Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School. 

Memorable Quote: “So, I think I will always be a scientist, I think I'm a little more you know, I view it with less, less naivety now than I did when I first started, but it has not changed. I think the atoms that comprise me, have been touched with, with just the joy of doing science, and I will always be a scientist.” Dr. Anil Menon.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Suggestions for you: College Experiences, UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Shveta Bagade, College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California.

Resources referred to in this episode:

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode Transcript.

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Derek’s high schools changed quite frequently. Despite that he loved school and enjoyed science and math, and engaged in activities like Robotics.

About half way through high school, Derek realized that he would need scholarships to go to college. He then mapped out a plan to raise his aggregate GPA & achieved it to qualify for the Zell-Miller scholarship that would pay for all his college tuition.

Derek joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Kennesaw State University, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Engineering, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Derek Price is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Kennesaw State University and Georgia Tech.

Memorable Quote: “I realize there's no reason to approach anything to do in life with fear. Fear is only going to inhibit you from being the best that you can be.” Derek Price.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

In this episode we will introduce you to a College Application Workbook. The impetus for this workbook came after I wrote a piece in my newsletter Alma Matters Letter last fall about how college application readers have about 8 mins to read an application.

In this Podcast with Athena, we cover, What is Self-Phrase and How to Create Your own Self-Phrase; The Workbook Sections - which include Superpower, Academics, Experiential, Testimony and Fit, and Guidance using Ian’s Story as an example.

You can find the Workbook here.

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Athena Lao is a graduate of Harvard University with a Bachelor’s degree in Classics. Athena then went on to get a Master’s degree in International Education Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania. 

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Workbook: Download from here.

Calls-to-action:

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

While Aparna was working in the Social Development sector, she would save newspaper and magazine clippings of higher education and scholarship opportunities. 

When she took a break from work, when her daughter was very young, she found herself working at a primary school.

Eventually, with some powerful nudging from a friend, Aparna jumped into college counseling with both feet.

On our podcast, Aparna talks about her background, EducationUSA & Experience as EducationUSA Advisor, Counseling approach, 10X International School, and Advice for High School students.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Aparna Chandrasekharan is the Head of College Placements at 10X International School in Bengaluru, India. Previously, Aparna was EducationUSA Advisor in Chennai, India. Aparna graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Botany from Ethiraj College, Chennai India, and Masters in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Memorable Quote: “I would recommend all students looking to study in the United States to either visit or connect virtually with an Education USA center in their region, whether they're in India, South Asia. Like I said, there are centers in 175 countries.” Aparna Chandrasekharan.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

While growing up in India, Prateek participated in Model UN. He found that he enjoyed meeting students from other parts of the world, discussing and debating issues. With these experiences, his interest in Journalism grew. He already loved writing, reporting on world issues.

He decided to apply to the US for college, to study journalism.

As it turned out, the University of Cincinnati had something else in mind for him!

Prateek  joins us on our podcast to share his UG Experience as an International Student, Transition to the US, UG Research in Feminist Issues, Majoring in Int’l Affairs, and Advice for high schoolers.  

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Prateek Raj graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the University of Cincinnati. Prateek is currently pursuing a PhD in Political Science at the University of Cincinnati.

Memorable Quote: “So I can definitely say that…being open to that, being having a little bit of open mind is really important. Because you meet a lot of new people, you get a new perspective about your own field, your own life, your own experiences as a student in the University. ” Prateek Raj.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

As an undergraduate, Prof. Townsend was only able to be a part of a small research project. At that time only a select number of students were able to participate in research.

Today, Prof. Townsend is championing CURE - Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience in her Department and across CCRI so that an entire class of students can experience research - not just a select few.

Prof. Townsend joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at CCRI, CURE, Re-engineering Courses for Research, Evangelizing Research, Research Impact, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Prof. Heather Townsend is a Professor of Biology at Community College of Rhode island. Prof. Townsend received her PhD in Veterinary Medical Science from the University of Florida.

Memorable Quote: “And so for me, personally,  I want a CURE [Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience] on every one of my courses for college, and even just community colleges in general. I try as much as I can to get the word out about these CUREs and how rewarding they are.” Prof. Heather Townsend.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: UG Research

Calls-to-action:

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter

Saoirse was interested in microbiology in High School. This may have had a lot to do with all the volunteering she did at the Hot Springs National Park. She loved nature and hiking.

She also did some research focused on bats at the Park.

Saoirse joins us on our podcast to share her undergraduate journey at Rice, Transition to college, UG Research, Impact of Research, and Advice for high schoolers. 

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Saoirse Disney-McKeethen recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cell Biology from Rice University.

Memorable Quote: “So learning like not just like your immediate friends and asking them for help forming study groups, but also knowing who sort of like your peer academic mentors are, how to go to their study hours, take advantage of that resource, knowing when your professors office hours are, how to get help from them. ” Saoirse Disney-McKeethen.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

Calls-to-action: