Thinking About Graduate School? Try SROP!

By Carlos Castillo

 

The Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) offers undergraduate students a unique path to prepare for graduate school. For historically under-represented students in higher education, the SROP experience opens doors to a world that many have never imagined. Hands on, up-close and personal, students learn about the enterprise of research by actually doing it from start to finish.

Through SROP, participants are exposed during the summer to the rigors of graduate school, while being engaged in professional development in scholarly writing, presentation, GRE preparation and more. The experience is unique because in addition to an intensive research experience, mentoring, professional development, and being a part of a nationally recognized cohort of scholars, students receive academic credit as if they were taking summer classes!

At Ohio State, SROP brings students from all over the United States in a variety of fields. Presented below you will find the experiences of three SROP participants. These students also had the opportunity to attend the National SROP Conference, held this year at Michigan State University.

For more information, please visit http://www.gradsch.ohio-state.edu

 


Daviana López-Torres

”I am a returning participant at SROP because of a great experience last year. This time I was looking for a new research experience and wanted to hone the skills necessary to write research papers and make both oral and poster presentations, which have proved critical in my academic career. In addition, SROP does a fantastic job preparing you for the GRE which has given me extra confidence for when I take it as part of my applications to graduate school this coming year.”

Daviana López-Torres, Canóvanas, Puerto Rico – Senior, Applied Microbiology at Universidad del Este

Paola Seguil

“SROP gave me the opportunity to be better prepared to achieve my main goals - doing research on community nutrition and getting a Ph.D. Thanks to SROP I am involved in the study of the impact on food behavior of the Latinos Saludables Program. The experience also gave me the chance to develop and present my research and poster at the CIC/SROP conference and at the OSU SROP symposium, along with the opportunity to work closely with professors and establish professional relationships with faculty within my department and other students and professionals within my field.”

Paola Seguil, Lima, Peru -Senior, Human Nutrition at Ohio State

John Camacho

”The lessons from Dr. Valerie Lee’s presentations on personal and research statements for graduate school will stay with me indefinitely. SROP has taught me to be comfortable and confident when presenting my research abstracts and posters at future professional research conferences. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with Dr. Donald Hubin; through his guidance and mentoring which added invaluable experience to my academic career, I feel better prepared for the difficulties of graduate school and academia.”

John Camacho, Atlanta, Georgia – Junior, Philosophy at Georgia State University

 

Kiara M. Cruz

“SROP was a great choice for three reasons. First, my SROP research project will serve as the basis for my Honors Program Thesis which will strengthen my application to graduate school in Education. Second, the connection made with my mentor translates into valuable feedback and strong letters of recommendation which will be useful during the application process. Finally, coming from a small island like Puerto Rico, I was never exposed to the amount of diversity of backgrounds and cultures as I did through SROP. This valuable experience has prepared me better to deal with the challenges of my future career.”

The SROP is a collaboration of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). The CIC is a consortium of 12 research universities, including 11 members of the Big Ten Conference and the University of Chicago. SROP was created in 1986 by the CIC Graduate Deans to encourage talented, historically underrepresented students to prepare for academic careers.

Kiara M. Cruz. San Juan, Puerto Rico – Senior, Education at Universidad de Puerto Rico (Río Piedras Campus)

The SROP is a collaboration of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC). The CIC is a consortium of 12 research universities, including 11 members of the Big Ten Conference and the University of Chicago. SROP was created in 1986 by the CIC Graduate Deans to encourage talented, historically underrepresented students to prepare for academic careers.

 

 
   

Issue:
Autumn 2008

Welcome to the Ohio State University

¡Bienvenida, Indra Leyva-Santiago!
By Christina Cappelletti

Latin@s At The 2008 Distinguished Diversity Enhacement Awards
By Carlos Castillo

Farewell Dr. H.
By Carlos Castillo

The NASA Aircraft Competition:
A Latino Student's Involvement in the OSU Team
By Alvaro Hernández and Carlos Castillo

Diversity At Work:
Converting Univeristy's Goals into Actions
By Carlos Castillo

Ohio Hispanic Chambers of Commerce:
Celebrating Latin@ Achievement
By Joel Diaz

Safety Wall-ing:
Getting the Most of Your e-life
By Marjorie Adams and Ernesto Escoto

What do Employeers Really Want?
By Ana C. Berrios

Thinking About Graduate School?
Try SROP!
By Carlos Castillo

Getting Involved 101
By Adam Burden

Autumn 2008 Latin American Film Series:
Luis Buñuel's Mexican Films: A Retrospective

Esquina del Editor
The Right Place to Be in This Important Time in Your Life
By Carlos Castillo

Faculty Profile
Grasping Opportunities in Life: Dean Cheryl Achterberg urges Latin@ students to write their own life scripts
By Carlos Castillo

Student Profile
Carlos Cervantes:
Touching Lives Beyond OSU's Campus

By Carlos Castillo

Mi Experiencia
Transforming Adversity into Opportunity Through a Mother's Love
By Jimi Rodriguez

Su Opinión
Promoting a Culture of Inclusion
By Melissa Bellini

Incoming Hispanic/Latin@ Freshmen
Different Backgrounds, Perspectives and Expectations
By Carlos Castillo

Hispanic/Latin@ Student Organizations at Ohio State

GRADUATE CORNER
Advisor, Mentor, Cultural Informant
Three Key Roles to Shape Your Success in Graduate School

By Cyndi Freeman

Spring / Summer 2008 Graduates

Food Review
La rancherita
By Giovana Covarrubias