Quad Cast

In this episode, Naomi shares how she chose between Columbia and Cal Tech. She talks about her passion for building rockets, social life on campus, favorite museums and ice skating in Manhattan, plus what it's like to be an international student at Columbia today.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro to Naomi
01:49 Brazil to Miami to NYC
03:02 Columbia vs. Cal Tech?
04:08 High School STEM & Service
07:34 MIT Siblings & Comparison to Columbia U
08:27 Favorite NYC Spots
09:17 Making Friends on Campus
10:25 Rockets Team
12:33 Aerospace as an International Student
14:45 From Robotics to Rocketry
16:34 Team Culture
20:08 Clubs and Campus Life
22:11 Students Mentoring Students
24:14 International Community
27:47 Scuba Diving

About the Show:

Quad Cast is a weekly show hosted by speechwriter turned higher ed advisor, Inna Effress. In each episode, students and faculty share personal insights into campus life and their programs. Hear about new frontiers in science, real medical research, and departmental STEM innovations. Feel the wonders of arts and humanities. Hear directly from students about their internships and summer programs, unique career paths, and making the most of their potential in a shifting world, all through personal stories. 

Inna’s love for education began when she emigrated from Ukraine to the U.S., and her family had to start from scratch in a foreign language. After college, she became a writer helping American public figures and lawmakers tell their stories. Now, she works with students applying to top schools. She helps them go after their niche through the transformative force of education, knowing that once a person has it, no one can take it away. 

Cover art by Raisa Effress

“Cathedral of Salt” (intro/outtro) composed by Abe Effress

Alexa Chang shares her insights on BU's international culture, boys and mental health, singing as a Tenor I with the BosTones, Boston life, and her experiences as a Psychology and Brain Sciences major working towards her PhD.

In this episode, Glennis Woosley shares her story of how her passion for journalism unfolded from personal challenges and a desire to connect with people. We talk about her experiences covering impactful events in her school and community and connecting those events to teens, winning multiple awards, earning the School of the New York Times full-tuition scholarship, and a memorable summer at Northwestern's Cherubs program, as she gets ready for college life at Northwestern University.