A REU is a great experience for someone considering graduate school and looking for research experience. It was a great summer and I got so much experience not only in a lab but also with presenting and learning about graduate school.
What I wish was different
REUs can be hard to find for engineering students and should be encouraged by professors and universities more. I wish I was more aware of them and would have applied sophomore year as well.
Advice
Be willing to go out of your comfort zone and try new things and meet new people. Especially at an internship.
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Data Analytics Intern
May 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I have enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes view and business side of sports. I have always been passionate about sports and The University of Alabama's teams specifically, so this has been a great experience. Also, everyone within the athletic department has been incredibly appreciative of the interns' work.
What I wish was different
I wish the internship was paid.
Advice
Get involved in any student organization that you have interests in. I found out about this opportunity through the sports analytics club GroupMe.
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Program Counselor
May - June 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I loved the hands on experiences I had with the kids I worked with and having the ability to give back to a program that I participated in during my high school years.
What I wish was different
The schedule was a little crazy, but it's what is necessary for the time constraints the program is under!
Advice
Dedicate extra time to your job when working with students. Everyone benefits from it and you create lasting connections with them!
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Avanti
May - August 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I loved working with students and families by assisting them through the orientation. Helping set incoming students up for success.
What I wish was different
Honestly, nothing! The summer went by smoothly and I couldn't ask to be at a better place.
Advice
To enjoy every minute of being an orientation leader. Make connections with different campus partners, spend time with your team as much as you can, and just live in the moment.
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Tutor
May 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
Wonderful atmosphere.
What I wish was different
More hours.
Advice
Stay positive !
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Desk Assistant
January 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
The hours.
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Don’t quit a job that lets you study while you’re there.
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Undergraduate Researcher
May - July 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
Being able to apply a lot of the material that I learned in my classes to actual experimental protocols. I loved that it was very hands on and that I was constantly learning something new. I gained so much knowledge on different research procedures and was able to actually apply the scientific method.
What I wish was different
I was in a lab all summer with no human interaction other than my mentors. It got just a little lonely at times.
Advice
Even if it may seem overwhelming at first, it will be so so worth it in the end when you finally realize how much knowledge you've gained. It's definitely a lot of work, but being able to fully run a research project(whether or not you succeed) on your own is so satisfying.
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Director of Inclusion and Outreach
August 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I liked that I could connect with organizations
What I wish was different
I wish the students would use our resources more often
Advice
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REU Research Assistant
June - July 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I really enjoyed how laid back the research life was. I had a bunch of stuff to do, but I got to do it on my own time. I wasn't slave to a time clock, which means if I finished all my tasks I didn't have to go to work. It was a very nice way of working and learning, and made me learn to manage my time wisely.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have started my own project instead of being put on in the middle of one.
Advice
I recommend people try to get some experience with research, but not necessarily during the summer. You can do research while in classes, and then use your summer for an internship or job.
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Energy Engineer Assistant
January 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I liked that I was getting experience in my own field. I learned many things that I didn't think I would need to know and I learned about other engineering fields.
What I wish was different
I wish I had more diverse projects.
Advice
You get out of it what you put into it. If there's something you're interested in you should ask and they will be happy to teach you outside of your job description.
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Student IT Technician
August 2015 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
Super flexible schedule that allowed you plenty of time to focus on schoolwork
What I wish was different
Advice
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Undergraduate Researcher
May - August 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I liked the hours, my professor, the research I did, the grad students, PhD students and undergrads,
What I wish was different
Nothing it was great I learned a lot met a lot of people and made connections.
Advice
Do research so that you can prove to yourself how independent you actually are.
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Remote sensing intern
May - August 2018 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
Being able to work from home
What I wish was different
little bit better planned out
Advice
network with your colleagues
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Student Assistant
May - August 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
The fast paced environment brought excitement to each day.
What I wish was different
A higher pay rate would have been wonderful.
Advice
You must be able to talk to people. Public speaking and constant interaction was a big part of the job.
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Orientation Leader
October 2018 - September 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I really enjoyed getting to talk about our school and taking people on tours. It was also fun getting to know my teammates and our professional staff members.
What I wish was different
I wish we could have organized the orientation process a bit more. Some parts seemed to drag where others were fast paced and could get confusing.
Advice
I would say enjoy all the time you spend with the team. You can only be on the team once, so live that time to the fullest!
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Undergraduate Researcher
March 2020 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
Liked working on a real engineering problem, working to model and design an experiment
What I wish was different
More structure and organization
Advice
Staying organized from the beginning benefits everyone
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Student Coordinator
August 2018 - September 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I enjoyed getting to spend a summer in Tuscaloosa helping lead the team of parent ambassadors as they led parents and families through Bama Bound. I gained experience in leadership, communication, and time management throughout the year long commitment.
What I wish was different
I wish I had known more of what the job would entail through a better realistic job preview.
Advice
I would say any experience is helpful even if you don’t plan on pursuing that field or career. Even though I won’t be going into higher education, I still learned valuable skills.
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JECTF Intern
August - December 2020 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
I like that I was offered the opportunity to learn how evidence is retrieved and stored.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have had more learning experience in the lab.
Advice
Do not think that deleting something on your computer means it is gone forever. People are trained to retrieve it.
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Center for Instructional Technology student worker
March 2017 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
The work environment
What I wish was different
More responsibility
Advice
Great for students who need a job
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Experiential Learning Intern
August 2018 - May 2019 • Tuscaloosa, AL
What I liked
My supervisor is amazing! Ms. Pamela Derrick! I still visit her and talk with her and she is helping me with my process to get into Graduate School
What I wish was different
Nothing! I loved it!
Advice
Learn everything you can! Ms. Derrick has so much knowledge! Listen to every word!!!
