College Matters. Alma Matters.

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Gabrielle loved school. She loved science. Her school years were tough because she used to be homeless off and on. 

Despite that, she graduated High School with Honors.

After graduating from high school, she knew she wanted to get a Bachelor’s degree. She couldn’t afford it then.

She worked 16-hour days, and 4 years later decided to study Nursing at Mercyhurst University in PA.

Gabrielle joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey, starting at Mercyhurst, Transferring to SUNY Fredonia, UG Research in Regeneration in Zebrafish, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Molecular Genetics, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Gabrielle Cruz, a Goldwater Scholar is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Genetics at SUNY Fredonia. 

Memorable Quote: “ I think a lot of us like the suffering, a little bit of like, getting through the tough parts. But it's okay to suffer. And it's okay to be scared. It's okay to doubt yourself. But you’ve got to pick yourself back up, you’ve got to keep going on to the next thing.” Gabrielle Cruz.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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Founded in 1791, the University of Vermont (UVM for short) has the distinction of being the 5th oldest university in the US.

Allison graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in Sports Administration. Upon graduation, she found it challenging to find a job. A friend from the Sports department suggested she look at admissions recruiting at the College of Agriculture and Liberal Sciences at Mississippi State. She loved to travel and recruit.

That launched Allison in College Admissions.

In this podcast, Allison gives us an overview of UVM programs, Her Role at UVM, What UVM looks for in their Students, Merit Scholarships, Importance of SACAC, and advice for High School Students.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Allison North, Regional Associate Director at the University of Vermont. Allison is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

Memorable Quote: “...just seeing others when they visit campus and seeing how the light bulb goes off for someone. I think you truly do not know until you put yourself on that campus. And you can see yourself there .” Allison North. 

Episode Transcript: Please visit this episode’s transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences, Admissions Talk

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Daniel took all the AP Classes his High School offered. He loved AP US History. He was also very active in the Science Olympiad and really enjoyed it because it involved building things.

He was also fortunate to have been in a high school where there was a class dedicated to doing research. It was here that Daniel cut his teeth in research, and got his hands dirty doing Battery technology.

Daniel joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at UIUC, Battery Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Summer Internships, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Daniel Cudzich is a Goldwater Scholar studying Material Science & Engineering at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Memorable Quote: “And this goes to one of the things that I really want to emphasize about the research process and it's that you will fail. You quite literally are doing things that nobody else has ever done. But there's so much value in that even if what you learned from the research project is what not to do, right. ” Daniel Cudzich.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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Episode Title: The Meaning of The FAFSA Delays, in College News Fit to Digest. January 5, 2024.

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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.

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Megan was working full time while she was in High School. She found it challenging to balance school and full time work. Megan didn’t go directly to College after High School. 

She had a lot of fear and also lacked the confidence then, about going to college. After working in Health care for almost a decade, Megan joined the Gaston Community College in North Carolina to get a 2-year degree in Nursing.

Little did Megan know where college would take her.

Megan joins our podcast to share journey to college, Working after High School, Going back to a Gaston Community College, Discovering Science, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, UG Research, Transferring to UNCC for a 4-year degree program, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guest: Megan Mitchem, a Goldwater Scholar graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology at University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Megan is currently pursuing a PhD in Biological Sciences at UNCC.

Memorable Quote: “ Once I got this [Goldwater] scholarship, I was like, Okay, well, I should probably keep going. I should, I should probably at least get a bachelor's degree.” Megan Mitchem.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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Gavin went to a high school in the rural south where the focus was greater on athletics & sports. Gavin was more academically inclined.

He was fascinated by Extreme Weather - tornadoes, damaging winds, snow storms etc. He was known as the weather guy in school!

Gavin joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at Dartmouth, Being a Storm Spotter, Volunteering at National Weather Service, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Majoring in Earth Sciences, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Gavin Fry is a Goldwater Scholar studying Earth Sciences with Physics and minoring in Public Policy at Dartmouth College.

Memorable Quote: “And, you know, I've been interested in the physical aspects of weather for a very long time, since I was a toddler. And those interests, you know, stuck with me throughout my middle school years. And in my high school years, if there were any kind of notable weather events that would be upcoming in my area, the students and, and some of my teachers would say, hi, you need to go to Gavin, he's the weather guy! ” Gavin Fry.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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AP Physics was the first course Isabella took in High School that challenged her. It really pushed her to think outside the box.

Then a senior project opened her eyes to diseases that affected not only the elderly but young people as well. That got her thinking about college and Pre Med.

Isabella joins us on our podcast to share her undergraduate experience at Rice, Transition to college, Autoimmune Disease UG Research, Impact of Research, and Advice for High Schoolers. 

In particular, we discuss the following with her: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: Isabella Osuna graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry & Cell Biology from Rice University.

Memorable Quote: “... If I had to give one word, probably determination, I don't know if it's a skill you necessarily pick up or learn. But it was. I mean, research is hard, science is hard and difficult. And at first my research wasn't working, I was finding my results were the opposite of what we want and what we expected. But I didn't stop.” Isabella Osuna.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences

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John calls himself an “average nerd” while in High School. He enjoyed learning and Chemistry was his favorite class. In addition to classes, he was into debate, was in the school orchestra, concertmaster for the local youth symphony.

Since he loved science and liked helping people, he decided to be Pre Med in college.

John joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at WashU, UG Research, Winning the Goldwater Scholarship, Moving away from Pre Med, Majoring in Biochemistry, and Advice for High Schoolers.

In particular, we discuss the following with him: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: John Georgiades is a Goldwater Scholar studying Biochemistry at Washington University at St. Louis.

Memorable Quote: “And, and so I, legitimately you know, did want to be Pre Med, and I thought it was the right decision. But it wasn't really until I kind of, you know, saw the other angle and saw the other opportunities that were out there, that I really came to understand that research is more something that I'm interested in. You know medicine is really interesting. But I think science itself has enough merit for me to, you know, launch myself fully into that area.” John Georgiades.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Similar Episodes: College Experiences , UG Research

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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.

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In the Spring of 2023, Tom conducted a special workshop at Westhill High School. In this episode, we talk to Tom & 3 Students, Melissa, Anne and Chelsea, from the Workshop,

Motivated by his experiences and based on our discussions, Tom decided to pilot a workshop for rising seniors using episodes from this Podcast to build college lists.

On our podcast, Tom talks about Why he created the Workshop, its structure, the content, Classroom discussions, and 3 Students share their experience with the Workshop.

(If you would like the Podcast-based Workbook, please email [email protected].)

In particular, we discuss the following with them: 

Topics discussed in this episode:

Our Guests: 

Memorable Quote: “And they [students] take advice from their peers a lot faster and a lot quicker and absorb it a lot better than they would when they get the advice from a parent, a teacher or an educator. So the fact that you have students on, talking about their experiences on College Matters [Alma Matters], I think it resonates with that. Would you say that ladies?” Tom Stepkoski.

Episode Transcript: Please visit Episode’s Transcript.

Recommended Episodes: College Experiences

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