Why and When Should I Get Involved in Research?
In every field, there are countless questions waiting to be formulated and resolved by researchers—including undergraduates like you. These opportunities to uncover new knowledge are just the beginning of the reasons why you should engage in undergraduate research.
Why Get Involved?
Why should you get involved in undergraduate research? The benefits of conducting research and pursuing scholarship and creative activities are boundless, but they can vary from student to student; what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. Engaging in undergraduate research will be well worth your effort because it’s an excellent way for you to:
- Gain experience and skills that benefit you academically and professionally.
- Develop as a critical thinker with experience solving complex problems.
- Boost your résumé.
- Test drive a career.
- Define your own future.
- Engage more deeply in your discipline and even contribute to it.
- Learn and use techniques, methods, and practices that are appropriate to your field.
- Sharpen skills that are useful across many types of jobs and valued by employers.
- Communicate your results in professional ways to others in your field and beyond.
- Prepare for the rigors of graduate or professional study.
Timing
Now that you are interested, the next questions is when is the best time to engage in undergraduate research with a mentor at WSU? You can:
- Start as early as your freshman year! Or at almost any point in your baccalaureate program!
- Work with a WSU faculty member throughout the academic year, and/or over summer.
- Apply for summer research opportunities beyond WSU.