Student Testimonials
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"Allow yourself to have an open dialogue with your professors and advisors and be honest with them, then there is no way that you can't succeed."Wes Christensen - Vermillion, SD Major: Earth Sciences 2008 Alumni |
I chose USD for many reasons. It is a great value and close to family and friends, it allowed me to work as a research assistant after graduation while taking graduate classes and has a lot of opportunities to work with different professors in different departments.
I was inspired by an Ecotoxicology class that I took with Prof. Jake Kerby. He had a way of involving everyone and making sure we all understood the information. I discovered a new appreciation with how humankind interacts with the living world after taking that class.
My favorite part about USD was being able to tailor my educational needs to suit my situation. I had military duties that required me to be away from school for long periods of time, but the professors in Arts & Sciences worked with me and I was able to complete my degree. If I had not had this support and willingness from them to work with me and my situation, I could have easily been lost in the shuffle and who knows where I'd be at now.
Working with Prof. Mark Dixon, Biology and Tim Cowman, SDGS/MRI as an undergrad and graduate student allowed me to expand my knowledge and acquire skills that I now use in my current career as an Environmental Scientist with the South Dakota Geological Survey in Vermillion.