College Experiences That Helped An Assistant Professor At UCR Succeed
Michael, an Assistant Professor, emphasizes the importance of proactive engagement in undergraduate studies, advising students to "extract as much out of this as [they] can," including taking extra math courses and auditing classes beyond required coursework to cultivate a deeper understanding of their field of interest. This active approach, a shift from a high-school mindset of minimizing work, ultimately contributed to their success.
Career Exploration, Higher Education, Academic Success, Policy, Maximizing Learning
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michael Bates
Assistant Professor
University of California Riverside
University of Michigan
History & Economics Michigan State University, (PhD) "Michael Bates has over 6 years of experience in policy research, advising, and teaching across in the areas of labor economics, education, and econometrics.
Economics, History, Art History
Education
Education
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Take more math courses than required.
2. Actively seek out and participate in policy-related activities.
3. Maximize your college experience by attending extra classes and fully engaging with the material, shifting from a passive to an active learning mindset.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad that helped set you up for success?
I took more math than most history majors, which was helpful. More than that, I remained interested in policy.
I was looking for places to get involved and interesting questions. I wanted to get as much as I could out of my undergraduate experience.
I even sat in on classes I wasn't taking for a grade, just for the consumption value. It was a transition from high school.
In high school, I focused on minimizing my workload. In college, I switched my perspective to focus on extracting as much as possible. I was already paying for it, so I wanted to get the most out of it.