S-STEM/TRAIN Scholar Kimberly Merrill's Blog

 Oops! I didn't take any pictures.  I talked to two transfer students that I didn't already know. Their major anxieties were similar to mine when I was in their position. Some of the degrees are very broad and have different track focuses. It can be intimidating trying to chose which focus you want and what degree to commit to. No one told me until I was two semesters in at ASU, that you can mix track focus electives and don't actually have to pick a track. I take most of my classes from the conservation biology track in environmental science, but have included electives from other tracks like science communications, ecosystem/global change, and business/leadership. There are some benefits to mixing electives. It gives you an idea of areas you like or don't like. It also diversifies you from other students in your major. Many agencies and employers want well-rounded employess that have leadership knowledege and commmunication skills, so it doesn't hurt to have those

 I am excited and annoyed about Fall 2023.  It will be my final semester before graduation, but I was led to believe Spring 2023 would be my final semester. It turns out a few of the classes I took at community college didn't transfer and give me credit at ASU. So, I have to take an extra semester to take geology, an upper division c/g, and an upper division ethics.  Although it seemed like a setback initially, I am a little relieved to have one more semester to figure out the post-graduation plan. After much deliberation, I think I've finally decided that I really want a masters degree. However, it is turning into a more complicated process than I originally anticpated. First, I need to figure out where I want to get the degree, what I want to research, and who I want to work under (how the heck do I do that?!). Then, I need to figure out the logistics like finances and if it is even an attainable option. I have a daughter, so I have to be able to not only afford tuition, but