I loved working with incoming students and my coworkers were amazing!
What I wish was different
I wish Orientation would have been in person, just because the incoming students would have gotten a feel for MSU and had a sneak peek at campus.
Advice
To know that there are so many people willing to help you, and it is okay to not know all of the answers.
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Research Assistant
May 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I loved gaining the experience needed for a potential career path, as well as learning more about how research works while performing studies/experiments and what happens afterward. I made a lot of connections as well!
What I wish was different
Nothing!
Advice
It is crucial that you are able to successfully manage your time, as well as follow the rules of the research lab and contracts you have signed. Never give out any information about participants and, sometimes, the study!
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
May - September 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
This job gave me experience working on research within my discipline. I enjoyed working with faculty members in my department/college on work related to both my major and minor.
What I wish was different
My work was able to be conducted remotely, but it would have been a nice experience to have been able to go to archives and meet with the faculty members I was working with in person rather than remotely.
Advice
Research opportunities as an undergrad, especially in a field like history, gives you great experience and knowledge about if you'd be interested in more research work in the future or even graduate school.
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Human Resources Intern
January - March 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
The people
What I wish was different
The timing, COVID ended it
Advice
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Nursing Research Assistant
March 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
It is a new experience for nursing students. I am able to work closely with the Nursing Professors and form new skills in scholarship and writing. Scheduling is really flexible and the work is not too overwhelming with my classes.
What I wish was different
I would've like to have increased my hours.
Advice
Ask many questions to make sure you are doing the work correctly.
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Research
September 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I like the experience that I have gotten, and the pay is good for the amount of time that I put in.
What I wish was different
I wish that this job was in person, but I don't blame anyone for the fact that it is not.
Advice
Make sure that you take this job seriusly from the start. Even though this isn't a typical enviornment, the research we do is just as important.
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New Student Orientation Leader
May - August 2020 • Ann Arbor, MI
What I liked
I really enjoyed getting to meet the incoming students. I know that things might have looked different for their orientation experience due to the pandemic. However, I enjoyed hearing why they chose to come to Michigan State University, what their major is, and any other passions that they wanted to share. Also, we got to have meetings with the students where we would tell them about useful resources (tutoring etc), clubs, and helped them create their class schedule for their first year at college. I was even able to tell them some of my personal experiences and what I have learned so far to try to ease their nerves. It was a great experience and I am truly grateful for it.
What I wish was different
I wish I could have met them all in person, but safety comes first! I am glad that I at least got to hear and see a lot of their faces. I cannot complain though because I know a lot of people have had it hard this year. I believe my experience was overall pretty great.
Advice
Keep in mind that you may only meet these students one time and may never see them again (which is unfortunate). But, I say that because that means you want to create the BEST experience for them as much as possible. Smile! Joke around with them! Do not be afraid to give them advice, especially if they ask for it. Give them the hope and happiness that you have and they will enter MSU with that same feeling. They need that! I know that I do not have the power to make anyone happy and hopeful, but I do know that I have the power to remind them that they have that sense of happiness and hope within themselves.
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
April 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
The job was very flexible, and I was working remotely due to COVID. I loved the project I was working on and my mentor was very helpful not just with work related but also with general questions.
What I wish was different
Advice
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research assistant
August 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
Make my own hours, mentorship, own project, leadership opportunity
What I wish was different
Better pay
Advice
Take advantage of opportunities
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Enviroweather Lead Student Technician
March 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
Work schedule is very flexible, great opportunity to mistakes, learn, and fix your own mistakes. I loved being in the field and talking to/working with growers.
What I wish was different
Little training when you start the job, you are thrown in head first and must learn very quickly.
Advice
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student technician
January 2019 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
It is a great environment, and learning experience.
What I wish was different
Advice
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
April 2019 - March 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
My boss was amazing, and she was very flexible when I needed to take a day off.
What I wish was different
It was more related to my major.
Advice
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Undergraduate Researcher
May 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I've really enjoyed the opportunity to lead my own research project. I've learned a lot of skills along the way.
What I wish was different
NA
Advice
Reach out to professors and create your own research opportunities! If there's something you're interested in, find a professor researching something similar or adjacent, and let them know your proposal.
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Research Assistant
April 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
What I wish was different
Advice
Working remotely is hard but worth it if you are working with the right people!
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MSU New Student Orientation Leader
May - August 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I liked getting to know all of the people.
What I wish was different
I wish it was in person.
Advice
It's a great job and I highly recommend it.
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EnSURE Research Intern
May - July 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I really liked being able to approach site remediation and contaminant biodegradation from a research perspective. Because working with contaminants in water is a big part of environmental engineering applications, it was a good change in perspective to see how remediation methods that we learn about through our coursework are developed, adapted, and applied.
What I wish was different
My research position was remote for the summer, so all of my work was done on the computer using the HPCC, Excel, and other softwares. I would have liked the opportunity to work in the lab as a part of the internship (as had initially been a part of the position), but I still appreciate the opportunity to be involved in such interesting and important research.
Advice
Be diligent, yet flexible, in your search for a summer internship. I wasn't expecting to get involved with research over the summer, but took advantage of an opportunity presented to me by one of my environmental engineering professors. It is helpful to start early in your search and applications in addition to fostering relationships with your professors so that you have options for the summer. You never know -- the opportunity you choose to pursue might not be on your radar yet!
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Captioning Freelancer
May - August 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I enjoyed working remotely and had a great supervisor.
What I wish was different
I wish there had been more structure to what was expected from us as employees. I think that there was lots of miscommunication that came with a mainly technological and remote position.
Advice
With remote, asynchronous jobs, it is key to set up an everyday schedule with yourself.
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Animal behavior research assistant
September 2018 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
The people and the environment
What I wish was different
Nothing
Advice
Very good starting position and helps establish connections
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Undergraduate Researcher
May - August 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I loved the independence and opportunities
What I wish was different
I wasn't able to be in the lab because of COVID, which made me sad.
Advice
Be proactive - take initiative and independence on your project.
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Weed Research Field Intern
April 2020 • East Lansing, MI
What I liked
I liked working outside most of the time. I also work with great people. The hours are flexible enough to work and have a full student schedule.
What I wish was different
I wish there was less bending and crouching while doing certain tasks in the field.
Advice
Wear pants. It will keep dirt out of your shoes and prevent bug/spider bites on the legs.
