College Matters. Alma Matters.

Episode summary introduction: Sibi Venkatesan knew he wanted to study Computer Science. He had always enjoyed it and was good at it. When time came to go to College, Sibi moved from Bangalore, India to Berkeley, California to pursue the prestigious Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program.

Sibi gives us a ringside view into his experiences at University of California Berkeley.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Sibi Venkatesan graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from University of California Berkeley. Sibi is currently pursuing a PhD at Carnegie Mellon University.

Memorable Quote: “I just shot him an email saying, I am in your class, I read some of your papers. Really interesting, do you think I could work with you?” Sibi on how he got his summer research project with Prof. Pieter Abbeel at the end of his second year.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Episode summary introduction: Anika Gupta wasn’t very keen on MIT. A campus visit to MIT changed all that. She was taken in by the “air of humility” that she felt in the students she interacted with during the campus visit. Anika went on to get a joint major at MIT in Computer Science and Molecular Biology.

Anika shares her undergraduate MIT experience in vivid detail.

In particular, we discuss the following with her:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Anika Gupta graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Molecular Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Anika is currently pursuing a PhD in Bioinformatics and Integrative Genomics at Harvard Medical School.

Memorable Quote: “If I had to use one word to describe MIT students, it would definitely be ‘Quirky’, but in the best possible way.”

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Episode summary introduction: College counselors have enormous power to do good, to guide students to the right college destinations.

Athena Lao, Head College Mentor at Admissionado, talks about their hands-on approach to counseling.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Athena Lao, is the Head College Mentor at Admissionado, College Counseling firm that works with college-bound students in the US, China and India aspiring to apply to US Colleges. Admissionado has successfully helped students land in the top US universities over the last decade.

Memorable Quote: Athena wants to “help students who are very motivated and be able to reach the dreams they have set for themselves.”

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters. Coronavirus continues to drive the news. 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 almamatters.io/podcasts.

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Episode summary introduction: A chance summer research led him to becoming an Experimental Particle Physicist. Kevin Black majored in Physics as part of his undergraduate program at Wesleyan University and PhD in Physics from Boston University.

Today Kevin Black is a Professor at University of Wisconsin Madison.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Dr Kevin Black is an Experimental Particle Physicist and Professor in the Physics Department at University of Wisconsin Madison. Prior to that he was an Assistant Professor at Boston University. Prof Black received his undergraduate degree in Physics from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. Prof Black then went on to get his PhD in Physics from Boston University.

Memorable Quote: “The type of Physics I do, in particular, would not be possible without public support,” on why Prof Black likes to teach introductory Physics courses to large classes.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Episode summary introduction: Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) offered Chetan Vakkalagdda the right resources and the appropriate experiences to validate his interest in medicine. Chetan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a minor in Music.

Chetan shares his undergraduate experience at WashU.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Chetan Vakkalagadda graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a minor in Music from Washington University in St. Louis. Chetan completed his M.D. from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Chetan is currently a Fellow at the Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern University.

Memorable Quote: All roads at WashU lead to  Medical School.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters. Coronavirus continues to drive the news. 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's Transcript. 

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Episode summary introduction: A tip from his brother’s friend takes Bharath Rabindranath to Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany. Bharath goes on to earn the Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

Bharath looks back at his years at Jacobs, and how he adjusted to life in Germany.

In particular, we discuss the following with him:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Bharath Rabindranath graduated with Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany. Bharath is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Technische Universitat Berlin.

Memorable Quote: Jacobs “is like a small UN almost” referring to students from 110 Nations.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

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Episode summary introduction: She grew up enjoying Math and Science, overcoming societal biases about girls and science. She went on to pursue a PhD in Physics from the University of Wisconsin Madison, making a stop at RPI for her undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics.

Today Isobel Ojalvo is a High Energy Particle Physicist, and Assistant Professor at Princeton University.

In particular, we discuss the following with her:

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Dr Isobel Ojalvo is a High Energy Particle Physicist and an Assistant Professor in the Physics Department at Princeton University. Prof Ojalvo received her undergraduate degree in Physics and Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. Prof Ojalvo then went on to get her PhD in Physics from University of Wisconsin Madison.

Memorable Quote: “Finally, when I got into Research, that’s when I felt like I know what I want to do, I am happy doing it, and I am interested to work very, very long hours, because I was interested in everything I was doing.”

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript. 

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Episode summary introduction: Making sense of the College News of the week curated by Alma Matters. Coronavirus continues to drive the news. 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 almamatters.io/podcasts.

Calls-to-action: