Category Archives: Uncategorized

Self-Reflection as a Form of Research 

For all the writing, analysis, and problem-solving we do on a daily basis in college, I feel that we do not often consider self-reflection as a way to strengthen our research processes or as a kind of research in and … Continue reading

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The Global Core: Exploring the World from the Classroom

One of my favorite parts about Columbia has been the freedom to intertwine my academic interests with the exploration of my Asian American identity. The primary route I have chosen to do so is through the Global Core requirement. The … Continue reading

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Using Psychology To Foster Beginner’s Mind 

  “Beginner’s Mind: the idea of engaging the world without preconceptions, as if you’re seeing everything for the very first time.”  – Dean Valentini  We make millions and millions of decisions each day. And with the many, many priorities we … Continue reading

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Research Symposium!

About two months ago, Columbia and URF hosted their annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, an event that allows students to showcase research projects they have been working on. It happened to coincide with Family Days Weekend, and I eagerly waited on … Continue reading

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A ‘Not To-Do’ Guide from Machiavelli: Being a Successful Columbia Student Leader

Throughout your year in Contemporary Civilizations (CC), you are exposed to, amongst other topics, perspectives on what ‘good’ civil society looks like, what ‘good’ government looks like, and what ‘good’ leaders look like. One of the main reasons why I … Continue reading

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Classwork to Conference Presentation: Developing a Class Paper into a Conference-Ready Research Project

If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably interested in research as an undergrad. Also, if you’re reading this blog, you may not know where to begin. In this post, I hope to demystify the process some by outlining how I … Continue reading

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Transferring into the Core

“As the stars made themselves visible, Milkman tried to figure what was true and what part of what was true had anything to do with him.”  ― Toni Morrison, Song of Solomon As a transfer student, the arrival to Columbia … Continue reading

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Putting It All Together: Tools for an Organized Project 

So your research project is finally underway: now what? For me, the natural next step is to get organized. I have compiled some of my favorite tips and tools for managing any type of project. For context, I am a … Continue reading

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“Useless” Research: Applying Research Skills to an Unrelated Summer Internship

In the spring of 2021, I attended a virtual undergraduate Classics conference and presented my research on Lucian of Samosata, a 2nd Century Greek satirist. In my paper, I focused on a text called On salaried posts in great houses, … Continue reading

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Peer-to-Peer: The Core as Taught by Graduate Students

“The object of education is to teach us to love what is beautiful. ―  Plato, The Republic When the Core Curriculum is introduced to eager first-year students during their initial weeks on Columbia’s campus, or even earlier during a proverbial … Continue reading

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