Showing posts with label College of Science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label College of Science. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Student's Story: Dabney discusses undergraduate research opportunities at VT

By Dabney, a junior majoring in Psychology

Video (below):
Michael, Hokie Ambassador
Michael is a fourth year student majoring in civil engineering. In this video, Michael discusses undergraduate research.

Virginia Tech, being a innovative research university, offers many research opportunities for undergraduate students. This is an excellent aspect of the many things Virginia Tech offers. Not only does undergraduate research expose you to hands-on experience of textbook concepts, but you also gain valuable resume builders for graduate school. As a psychology major, the Center for Applied Behavior Systems (or CABS, for short) was the perfect opportunity for me to become involved in undergraduate research. CABS is incredibly unique in that it gives both graduate and undergraduate students the opportunity to research under current projects and be able to create a research project yourself.

Currently, CABS has several projects running but one of particular importance for me deals with a movement on campus called "Actively Caring." The movement is an attempt to create a more compassionate culture throughout our community by encouraging people to actively care with a green wristband. Essentially, the idea is to see an act of kindness, thank the person for actively caring and pass the wristband to them. It's analogous to the idea of "paying it forward." Through the "Actively Caring" website and research conducted on campus, CABS works towards creating a more empathetic and positive world. This and other CABS projects on things such as pedestrian safety, bullying, and gossip can help create prosocial behavior and change our world dynamic. The whole reason for research is to find new ways to make the world a better place. It's amazing that Virginia Tech undergraduate research actually gives students that opportunity. Being a part of the Actively Caring movement with CABS at Virginia Tech is one of the many ways students may become engaged in the awesome undergraduate research offered.

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Michael, Hokie Ambassador
Michael is a fourth year student majoring in Civil Engineering. In this video, Michael discusses undergraduate research.


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Monday, February 21, 2011

Sara's story: themed housing at Virginia Tech

By Sara, a student in the College of Science
Major: Biology

Video (below): Michelle, Admission Advisor Michelle shares her experience with The WING, themed housing for incoming freshmen.


When I got accepted to Virginia Tech, I immediately began planning activities for my freshman year, as I was now officially a Hokie. I grabbed my computer and started to explore the Virginia Tech website, researching everything from intramural sports to where the best sandwich is made on campus. I stumbled across housing and residence life and noticed a tab called “themed housing.” I had never heard anything about “themed housing” from any of the ten colleges I applied to earlier that year so I decided to check it out. Hours later, I submitted my application to become a member of the Residential Leadership Community (RLC) and the rest is history.

My first class of freshman year was my leadership class in which my professor asked us, “What is a good leader?” We debated over the many answers to this seemingly simple question for the rest of the year. Not only did the RLC expand my problem solving skills and force me to debate with my peers, it brought the learning experience outside of the classroom. Virginia Tech Relay for Life, The Big Event, The International Street Fair, and Gobblerfest were only a few of the events on campus where the RLC as a whole was an active participant. Volunteering on Saturday mornings with the YMCA of Blacksburg with 200 other RLC members was one of the most rewarding experiences of my freshman year. This community provides the university and its students with endless possibilities. I am very fortunate to have been a member of the RLC and was given the opportunity to give back to the citizens of Blacksburg, Va.

Whether you join the RLC or one of the dozen other themed housing options, it will be a great way to expand your horizons while a student at VT. From the first day of my college career, students that shared similar values and interests about leadership surrounded me. Through the RLC, I was able to become involved in other organizations on campus and make the most of my four-year experience as a Hokie. The RLC provided me with the tools I needed to become a successful leader at Virginia Tech.

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Michelle, Admission Advisor
Michelle shares her experience with The WING, themed housing for incoming freshmen.




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College of Science
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Tuesday, December 7, 2010

College of Science Insights


Virginia Tech's College of Science is one of seven colleges that offers majors for incoming freshman and transfer students.


Within the College of Science (COS) there are many student organizations in which you can get involved - from Astronomy Club to the Math Club, you are sure to find an organization that peaks your interest.

In addition, COS offers undergraduate research and study abroad opportunities.

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Friday, March 26, 2010

Student's story: Carly's reflection on being accepted to Virginia Tech

By Carly, a senior in the College of Science

Major: Math


This coming May, fitted with a gown and cap (probably reading on the top “Thank you Mom and Dad” and “Go Hokies!”), I will be ready to walk with my fellow Class-of-2010-Hokies. At the end of that walk I will be handed my diploma. In my hands will be a symbol of four years of hard work in mathematics, a representation of my never-ending dedication to this university, and an illustration of my love for orange and maroon. I will become a Virginia Tech alumna, a Hokie for life.

My four years of being a student at Virginia Tech have come and gone in the blink of an eye. I can still remember my freshmen orientation back in July 2006, my first day of class mid-August that year, and my very first Hokie football game in September of ’06 - an experience I came to treasure and look forward to every single fall semester.

Even though those years have come and gone quicker than I could imagine, it was four years ago that I found out I was going to become a Hokie. And of course, as luck would have it, Virginia Tech was the last school I heard back from and the one I wanted to be a student at the most. For nearly a month, on a daily basis, I would log into my Hokie Spa account to look at how my application was processing and whether or not a decision had been made. All it ever said was “pending.” Pending…pending…until finally, in the last week of March 2006, it changed from “pending” to “accepted.” At the sight of that word, I did not even know how to react. I was just so excited that I was going to become a part of Virginia Tech’s Class of 2010.

A couple of weeks after finding out via Hokie Spa that I was accepted, I received my formal letter in the mail and the document asking whether or not I wanted to become a part of the student body at Virginia Tech. Within minutes, I signed the form – my mom documenting the occasion with a picture that was to begin the accumulation of photos of my experience as a Hokie. I mailed my acceptance out the same day. I knew I had a month to “decide,” but my choice to say “yes,” if accepted, was settled back in January of 2006 when I submitted my application.

Four years ago I chose to become a Hokie and the experience I have had over those years is one I have loved and will never forget. There are hundreds of photos I will always have as keepsakes showing amazing times at football games, weekend get-togethers with friends, hikes to the Cascades and other spots in the Appalachian Mountains during warmer weather, and other great memories of my time at Virginia Tech. Even though I will be graduating in a couple of months, I will be back to visit this beautiful university multiple times. This place was my home-away-from-home and my love for this university began when I saw the word “accepted.”


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Monday, January 25, 2010

Lisa's story: Why should you do undergraduate research?

By Lisa, a senior in the College of Science
Major: Psychology

As a senior in the Psychology Department at Virginia Tech, I know a great deal about the undergraduate research opportunities here. My research in psychology began in the fall of my junior year and has grown into an essential ingredient in my experiences at Virginia Tech. Here are some reasons why undergraduate research is both enjoyable and important:
  1. Because you're a student at Virginia Tech. We are ranked 42th in the nation for university research, so it just makes sense to take advantage.
  2. Because research is easy to find. Nearly every faculty member at VT performs research, so getting involved is easy. Simply ask a professor about an opening in their lab or just browse a department website to see which lab fits your interests. I've been a member of three labs (the Center for Applied Behavior Systems, the Stress & Coping Lab, and the Child Study Center) so anyone should be able to find at least one!
  3. Because research prepares you for your future. Whether your post grad plans involve higher education or looking for a job, research is the closest thing in college to work experience in your field. Specifically, graduate schools consider research experience in their top criteria for making an admission decision. Plus, the professors you work for will usually write letters of recommendations and/or be a job reference.
  4. Because you've been looking for that application of what you are learning. We've all been sitting in a class and wondered, "Why do I need to know the square root of pi?" Well, I don't know the answer to that question, but through research I've seen the real world application of various psychology concepts I learned in my classes. Sometimes, I understand and learn more about psychology in the research setting than in the classroom.
  5. Because you make connections and start networking within your field. In a research lab, you interact with faculty members and other students in your department. It's a great way to make friends in your major and obtain that 1-on-1 time with your professors.
  6. Because research is an easy way to earn class credits with flexible scheduling. When you join a lab, you choose how many credits you want to take and it gets added to your courses. Each 1 credit of research is equal to 3 hours of lab work per week. Most labs have set weekly meetings, but the rest of the time required of you can be completed during those times of the weekday (and often the weekend) that suit your schedule best.
  7. Because there are opportunities to create, run, and publish your OWN research ideas. Research doesn't always have to be collecting data for other people – you can take the lead, too! This semester I created my own research experiment and supervised 40 of my fellow students who collected the data. While still getting class credit, I gained leadership experience and time management skills. This level of undergraduate research requires one to write a formal research paper. This paper can be submitted for publication in research journals, which is an amazing feet for an undergraduate student and provides an advantage over the competition in graduate school applications and the work force.
  8. Because of UT PROSIM. Research at Virginia Tech is based on our motto Ut Prosim, and is therefore focused on ideas and inventions that benefit our community and the greater world. To be a part of such positive and purposeful research is rewarding in its own right.

Become a part of Virginia Tech's Undergraduate Research and go make a difference and learn so much more! I promise you won't regret it.


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Monday, December 7, 2009

College of Science Insights: Meg's Story

By Meg, a senior in the College of Science
Major: Biochemistry
President, Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Health Professional Society)

The best decision I EVER made was to attend Virginia Tech (GO HOKIES)! The second best decision was to study biochemistry in the College of Science.

As a pre-medical student, the College of Science was a great fit for me from the start. It has prepared me for the medical college admission test (MCAT) as well as afforded me the opportunity to explore the many diverse areas of science. Not only was I prepared in the classroom, but many courses within my major were supplemented with a hands-on laboratory course. It was in these courses where I learned how to apply the material from lecture and to understand and appreciate its relevance in science and medicine today.

Outside of the normal course work, there are countless extracurricular opportunities associated with the college, including pre-professional organizations, study abroad programs and undergraduate research positions just to name a few. It was through these opportunities that I was able to meet other students who shared my similar interests. Throughout the past few years, we have motivated one another to explore our passions and achieve our dreams.

Whether you intend on pursuing a career in medicine, research, or any other field, the teamwork and problem-solving skills you will learn in the College of Science will more than adequately prepare you for whatever your future may hold; the opportunities are endless!

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Monday, November 30, 2009

College of Science Insights

If you are interested in preparing for professional school in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law, or veterinary medicine, or if you are interested in advancing the boundaries of research in science or technology, then Virginia Tech's College of Science may be a good fit for you.

The College of Science offers nine majors which include:
The career opportunities for those who major in programs within the College of Science are endless. From biostatistician to space physicist an exciting career in the field of science is waiting for you. Virginia Tech's Career Services works with undergraduates to help prepare resumes and hone interview skills. In addition, you can participate in career fairs that are held on campus each year.

While you are an undergraduate here at Virginia Tech, you can get involved in student organizations specific to the College of Science. There are more than a dozen student organizations from which to choose.

If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the education abroad information on Virginia Tech's website. If research is your deal, then you are in the right place. The College of Science focuses on producing the next generation of scientific leaders through advancing discovery and solving real-world problems.


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