I loved the flexibility in the hours and that I always had a consistent work schedule. I also enjoyed that I was able to explore career opportunities in the field/subject that I am interested in. I was also able to build connections with more students and faculties, and those relationships have continued into the school year. I was able to get two great mentors out of the experience, and they continue to give me new opportunities to work throughout the school year.
What I wish was different
I wish there would have been more opportunities to meet and collaborate with other labs, more than just the Tuesday morning meetings. Maybe more mandatory department events in order to make the building seem a little smaller.
Advice
I would tell someone to give it your all while you're there. It is only a couple weeks out of your summer and you get to work on a project that has the potential to make a difference somewhere. That being said, I would highly recommend looking into a project that you are interested in so that it does not feel as much like work. Furthermore, I would highly recommend this for those considering a career in research because not only do you get to explore in your own lab, but there are a couple of field trips that can help you to explore your future.
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Inorganic Chemist
May - July 2022 • Holland, MI
What I liked
Working hands on with chemicals and doing experiments in Dr. Turlington's lab.
What I wish was different
Pretty much perfect, great learning experience. Wish it had gone on longer if anything.
Advice
Be on time, helps stuff get done.
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Hope College Chemistry Research
June - July 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I really enjoyed getting the hands-on experience in research. I was able to learn a lot and be specialized in electrochemistry research. I also liked the Schaap Symposium, where I met a lot of other professionals/professors and had a great time networking.
What I wish was different
Advice
If you are in the sciences, I would definitely try to get a research experience.
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Research Assisstant
May - July 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
My colleagues
What I wish was different
I wish all students were held to the same standard for their quality of work.
Advice
Make sure you talk to the professor that is doing the research you are interested before you apply on sharp.hope.edu.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
June - July 2018 • Holland, MI
What I liked
The subject was good and the autonomy which I was given to do the research was good.
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Be prepared to be proactive when the mentor is too busy to help. Sometimes it is necessary to try to see where you are going and take personal steps to see that you get there.
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Undergraduate Researcher
January 2018 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed being challenged to learn new things in an applied environment and how to communicate my findings efficiently.
What I wish was different
The only thing I would change is the amount of stress I was under to accomplish tasks.
Advice
If you're interested in doing research at Hope, take initiative and email or meet with professors that you are interested in working with.
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Biochemistry Research Assistant
May - July 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I loved doing research at Hope College because it gave me the opportunity to explore research as a potential career.
What I wish was different
Advice
If you're interested in doing research, and you have the opportunity to do research with the same lab for more than one summer I highly recommend it. This was my third summer doing research and it helped me build a deeper understanding of what research is actually like.
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Laboratory Preparation
May - August 2018 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I liked that I learned manythings anout myself. I learned what things I enjoyed and things I didn't.
What I wish was different
I wished it was more research based where I am answering unanswered questions. I also wished that I wasn't working by myself.
Advice
It is tedious and need patience. Must talk with Professor at all times.
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Dow Center Assistant
May 2018 • Holland, MI
What I liked
Workers are allowed to watch Netflix or do homework when there is nobody to help immediately.
What I wish was different
The shifts were 9 hours long. Shorter shifts would have been better.
Advice
Talk to the community members who come in. They are super friendly and want to be a part of Hope College life.
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Research Assistant
May - August 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
The ability to think about physical systems mathematically
What I wish was different
I wish i would have worked harder
Advice
Whatever you put into it you will get out
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May - July 2023 • Holland, MI
What I liked
It was a great opportunity to do real physics research while in undergrad
What I wish was different
Given the nature of the project, the work was quite coding heavy. This is no a problem per se, but could be frustrating for me since my comp sci experience it limited
Advice
Shop around a bunch when looking at groups. You may want to take the lead prof and their publication frequency into account
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Engineering Research Assistant
May 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I loved being able conduct my own research in a field that I am interested in. I was able to co-op with other research firms and join in on conference calls.
What I wish was different
Some days were slow.
Advice
Don't get discouraged when you don't get the results you wanted.
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Circulation Clerk
May 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
That I got to stay near Hope for the summer, the work wasn’t super hard, I was able to make a consistent amount each week.
What I wish was different
More tasks to do
Advice
Bring some stuff to do in the down time
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Research Assistant
May - July 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I liked learning a new programming language and learning software development team tools.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Chemistry Researcher
June - August 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
It fun being at Hope in the summer and connecting with the profs more!
What I wish was different
I wish it had been more engaging
Advice
Make sure you like your lab group!
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Physics Research Assistant
June 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I learned a lot through the research.
What I wish was different
I wish that I had been given more important of a project.
Advice
Be ready to learn a lot.
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First-Year Transitions Director
May - August 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
EVERYTHING! The environment, co workers, supervisors, the workload, free housing, the entire summer!
What I wish was different
Advice
Stay focused and learn from your own experience by developing skills and experience to prepare you for your future. Be intentional and don’t get too caught up in the fun aspect of it. Have a balance of fun and work.
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Grounds Caretaker
May - August 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
I really enjoyed working outdoors and maintaining the campus. I also really enjoyed learning a lot about grounds keeping and about how to drive and use a lot of equipment. The bosses are super nice and friendly and they allow you to have a flexible work schedule if need be.
What I wish was different
I wish that I was paid an hourly more comparable to other grounds caretaker positions in town.
Advice
This job was tiring but very rewarding. Being outside makes the work tiring, but never boring. If you want a summer to clear your mind and do rewarding work without the stress of performance pressure or fear of failure, this job is for you. Also, watch out for some exceptional tan lines.
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Psychologist Research Assistant
May 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
Gaining confidence in my researching competence with what I was doing and learning.
What I wish was different
Sometimes sitting in front of a computer for a really long time was hard.
Advice
Ask for help when you cant remember.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May - July 2019 • Holland, MI
What I liked
The opportunity to answer questions on my own, diving into an unknown subject, and applying what I learned during the school year.
What I wish was different
I would've liked to have a more detailed goal for research during the summer to see my progress.
Advice
I would tell someone to wait until sophomore summer or do it both summers, as during freshman summer you are still uneducated on most engineering areas.
