OASIS BLOG

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…

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…

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…