Why might engaging in research and creative activities be the right choice for you?

• Getting additional experience might be necessary to help you be competitive for the best jobs or graduate school programs.
• Learning by doing is a great way to get more out of your degree.
• Being mentored by professors or grad students can show you that what you learn is class is truly useful, and how it is applied in the lab or the field.
• You might learn something in the lab that will change your perspective and ignite a passion for discovery that will inform your career choices.
• Your work can contribute to discoveries, interventions and creative works that make a positive impact on the world.

How can you find out if engaging in research and creative activities is the right choice for you?

• Visit your favorite professors during office hours to ask for advice on how to achieve your career goals.
• Talk to graduate-student TAs and ask them about their career goals.
• Consider attending the Student Research Symposium this spring to talk with other students.
• Conduct informational interviews with recent SDSU graduates who are already doing what you want to do.
• Gather information from your major advising office.
• If you decide this is a good choice for you, don't think you need to be an expert to get involved! Start by finding a good mentor.

Don't let these commonly held myths get in the way of participating in research as an undergraduate.