Tips on Obtaining Undergraduate Experience

There are times when it seems to me as if I am just doing what is expected of me or doing what many other students would do in my place.  I only begin to really feel accomplished once I have completed what I have wanted to do, and those around me (most importantly my family) feel pride and look to me for guidance.  This post is meant for those students that wonder how any student can get some experience in animal science, which really can be applied to any field.  Specially for freshman, when the idea of finding a professional willing to help an inexperience 18 year-old seems almost impossible.

Many of my colleagues have grow up in farms or have worked and owned numerous pets, they may also have great connections through their family members.   I seem to be the complete opposite of these students, I was born in a large city (Bogota, Colombia) and have moved to the United States where I had no contacts with any faculty in Animal Sciences.  The first and what I found is the best step is to introduce yourself to professors or the professional that you have an interest in working with and talk to them about your interest.  I have found many are willing to work with and help students that have an interest in their field and the initiative to ask.  Because they do teach several classes, and have their graduate students, etc., they may lose track of the email you send or forget this is why perseverance is key.  Allow them a week to respond if an email is sent or schedule a meeting with them.  It may seem as though you are bothering them at first, but it is always important to remember that they are there to help students develop and find passion in a field.  

It is also certainly possible to work on more than one project, but organization is key.  Another important idea that seems logical, but a few seem to forget is the importance of communication.  Being able to talk with that professor or veterinarian, etc. and understanding what you both hope to obtain from the research or experience.  

Another great way to learn about an experience is using those resources available through the career center, clubs, or other organizations.  I found a great program the the Latino Cultural Organization at the University of Illinois that I did apply and get accepted to.

I personally wanted to get the most out of my undergraduate years in order to both do what I enjoy most and learn a wide variety of things throughout my work.  Those are pretty much the simple and quick tips I use to find a way to work in my field more.  This is what I did in the Spring and before I knew it this summer I am currently working on two different research projects in which I hope to present both at different symposiums, involved in two research programs that help students prepare for graduate school, taking a graduate level summer course, and volunteer as a medical intern at the humane society.