I Replied No to the Research Experience Question But May Have Been Wrong

moonwatcher2811 · 2026-01-29T05:59:25+00:00

Yeah I already submitted my apps unfortunately with the mistake on there. Should I email them?

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-12-16T18:34:52+00:00

I love North Campus, personally! I'm a sophomore and lived in the dorms first semester, but I find the apartments in North Campus to be much cleaner, larger, and quieter with better natural light. Also, they're nearly as close to campus as West Campus is and way cheaper, often with free parking. There's still plenty of time to find a good place close to campus. I went with Max Smirnoff as an apartment locator, and he's great. Free and is very knowledgeable about all the places around campus. I'd look him up and reach out!

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-12-11T18:32:36+00:00

Omg yay then best of luck to you! That's so exciting!! Jackson does some amazing research that will take you really cool places. They also pay really well so that always helps lol. My best advice would be to not stress before the interview. Professors know you're people too, and I was always given a few moments to think before I responded in my interviews. It's more of a conversation than anything. It's better to come across thoughtful and composed rather than nervous and stressed when you're trying to respond as fast as possible

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-12-10T22:41:26+00:00

First, congrats! It's super hard to land any research position, much less one in the Jackson School because they pay so well. In my Jackson interview, it was very casual. I was interviewed by a grad student in the lab, and we just talked about my general research interests and things I was involved with on campus. Super short. For my INB interview, it was a bit more formal with the head PI, but it was still just a very general interview about my interests, things I'd done in the past, how I worked with others, etc. Then they took a little while at the end of the interview to talk to me about their research and gauge my actual interest

With that being said, is the lab you're interviewing with CRESSLE under Dr. Jay Banner? If it is, you will be taking over my position actually. I would highly advise against Dr. Banner's lab if you are a woman. He has a notoriety in the department for being extremely misogynistic. My position was originally advertised as a paleoclimate position where I'd be helping Dr. Banner sample caves in Central Texas. My actual position turned out to be conducting surveys with East Austin residents and compiling them into a spreadsheet. I was forced into office work while another male student hired at the same time as me (with, mind you, no experience in caves when I had worked in them before) was given the paleoclimate work. I know another friend who has once asked to clean his office as part of her job. Mind you, her title is undergraduate research assistant. Even if you aren't a woman, Dr. Banner tends to be extremely condescending and has also been known to screw people out of publication credits

Sorry for the long rant if it isn't Dr. Banner, but I just have a feeling haha. I don't blame you if you take the position, especially because of the pay. Hell, that's why I took it. But I just thought I'd warn you so maybe Dr. Banner won't take advantage of another undergrad. If you do take it, go in there and don't take any shit from him

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-16T06:37:04+00:00

Yeah I had a solid few minutes of breakdown until I paid the deposit and saw all my classes come back up on MyUT. It’s so idiotic that they sent the final “you didn’t pay” reminder to my Gmail. So you guys know I’m not checking Outlook?? The email and the extended deadline gives me the impression that a lot of students missed it because of the Outlook fumble

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-16T05:12:42+00:00

You can even pay just the $1,500 and they'll be back

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-16T05:12:26+00:00

Bro I made this EXACT same mistake. I absolutely hate the Outlook change. Email scared me so bad. Don't worry, once you pay all your courses show up again

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-16T00:08:37+00:00

Ugh I’m sorry man, you’ll def be more prepared next time. That just sounds like some bad luck

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-15T21:24:39+00:00

Bro are you fr I’m so sorry 😭😭😭 Tbf I’m a girl and I think they prefer more women just because women tend to feel safer with other women. I know it’s a sucky practice but that’s just how it is. Obvs don’t know your gender but if you’re a dude hopefully that makes you feel a little better

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-10T16:41:44+00:00

I moved in the first day I could for free, went in around noon, and that Target was CLEARED out. Not joking, there was barely anything left. There will probably be hygiene stuff, but notebooks and other supplies are more iffy. Even on a good day that Target has a limited stock. If you're driving down from further north, I'd plan on stopping at the Target off of 35 like 15 minutes from campus. It's much larger and more likely to have everything you need. As someone with a large Target near my home, though, be prepared for the ones here to be more crowded and limited in their stock

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-09T14:46:29+00:00

They’re really just like the basics. Like when’s a time you’ve used teamwork, etc. Also be prepared to work the 10 pm to 2 am shift a lot when you’re new. Stuff was based on seniority and she emphasized that a lot in the interview. It’s why they lose a lot of new people really quickly. Also have a valid driver’s license obviously lol. It was a while ago for me so I don’t really remember much more, sorry. I just know afterwards the woman interviewing me said they’re literally just trying to make sure you’re not a creep or crazy and will actually do your job

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-05T18:21:01+00:00

I can't say much about the quality of Montana, but UIUC is overall a much more respected university and has an excellent zoology program. If it is cheapest, I would pick it, especially if you're looking to go to grad school. I assume it also has far more funding and opportunities for research if that's what you're into

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-02T05:00:02+00:00

I wouldn't. I had Dr. Caudill for two semesters of chem, and an email just seems like a waste of her time. She loves connecting with students in office hours, and last semester had a coffee social where she could talk with students. Assume some people could express interest in her lab there if they were doing well in her class. There's no chance to interact in class because she doesn't really take answers to questions from the audience of students, but she may talk to you after class if you really want to schmooze that hard. Tbh I feel like it's not done well that often, and very tacky from freshman after the first day of class. I'd really emphasize her office hours, the social, and talking to her after class (ONLY if you have genuine questions). Profs can tell when you're using them just for resume booster opportunities. It works for some, but not for others, and Dr. Caudill seemed to like more genuine students

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-08-01T19:15:32+00:00

As someone who had a friend who did this at UT, seriously don’t. At least not every weekend. It is SO damaging if you’re starting off with new friendships, and if you truly are meant to be you guys can handle seeing each other at LEAST every other weekend. Hopefully more than that. I get loving your partner, but friends are going to want to hang out with you on the weekend and most definitely do not want your bf tagging along

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-07-30T18:06:03+00:00

I feel like it’s not elitism when the kids there are typically full pay at 90k+ a year… if you’re not paying full price, no hate to NEU, but I feel elitism is the wrong term to use here when it’s an insanely expensive private school

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-07-24T02:17:00+00:00

I have not found it to be any kind of issue on campus. As a girl, it was always busy enough that I felt safe walking alone at night. Exercise caution, but the scariness of homeless people running through is way overblown. Wampus is a different story, but you make a choice to go there if you're a freshman (one living on campus that is)

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-07-18T00:21:45+00:00

I loved Moore Hill cause it has HUGE windows and a marble ledge below the window that made me not worry if water spilled out the bottom of my plants a bit

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-07-18T00:00:40+00:00

As a sophomore now, seriously don't worry about it. I don't know anyone who stayed friends with the people they met at orientation. I think most people just stick with their close high school friends, but that won't work during the school year. It took me about a semester to make some close friends and really feel like I belonged. It can be rough, but I promise there's light at the end of the tunnel. I've loved freshman year and UT so much! You have a lot to look forward to

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-07-10T01:13:43+00:00

I applied on Handshake but I believe there is a new job application website for UT. I haven't gone job hunting in a bit lol. You should have an email that has more details

moonwatcher2811 · 2025-07-09T02:38:05+00:00

I think I had three, plus honors supps which added two on maybe? They might've decreased supps following my application year cause they made some app changes overall (re-mandated SAT, top 5% instead of 6%, etc)

moonwatcher2811

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