OASIS BLOG

First-Year Students: Why You Belong at the Career Fair

September 23, 2025

As career fairs kick off this fall, it is tempting for first-year students to think, “I’m a first-year and no one is going to hire me so why bother?” The truth is very different. Attending the career fair early is not about simply walking away with a job offer. It is about learning the rhythm…

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Making Your Daily Routine Work for Academic Success

September 16, 2025

As a first-year student, you’ve probably noticed your days starting to take shape. You know when you walk to class, where you grab your meals, and the times you’ve carved out for learning and preparation. But now is the moment to take it a step further: are you being intentional about what, when, and where…

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From Questions to Connections: Making Office Hours Count

September 2, 2025

Engage Early and Often One of the most valuable yet underutilized resources in college is faculty office hours. These dedicated times are not just for students who are failing or confused; they are an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with your professors, deepen your understanding of the material, and demonstrate your commitment to learning. Establishing…

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Unlocking Genius in Plain Sight: Challenging GPA-Centric Selection

March 12, 2025

In the realm of undergraduate research, developing a strong talent pipeline requires more than simply identifying students with high GPAs. It demands a deeper, more inclusive understanding of potential—one that goes beyond numerical thresholds to recognize the full spectrum of student ability, motivation, and growth. The overreliance on GPA, particularly a 3.5 cutoff, as a…

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Empowering First-Time Researchers: Bridging the Gap Between Learning and Application

March 1, 2025

I still remember the first time I was asked to conduct research outside the classroom. I was excited—energized by the idea of diving deep into a topic I cared about. But that excitement was quickly followed by a wave of uncertainty. Where do I start? What even counts as “research”? I didn’t know how to…

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The Power of Independent Learning: Why It Matters and How to Foster It

February 10, 2025

One of the most important—yet often overlooked—predictors of student success is the ability to learn independently. And I’m not just talking about studying solo. Independent learning is about helping students build the mindset, habits, and confidence to take charge of their own growth, both inside and outside the classroom. The truth is, many students enter…

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