Between thesis advisor meetings, V491 classes, and writing sessions, the O’Neill Honors Program is a lot of work, but by the end of the process, you will have produced a thesis paper and presentation that you are proud of! I am here, however, to encourage you to think even bigger about what you can get out of the program and how you can leverage your experience to help you with your professional development and growth as a student. Throughout your time in the Honors Program, consider doing the following four things to make the most out of your thesis-writing experience.
- Build a network of experts in your field of interest. Odds are you chose your thesis advisor because they know a lot about the research topic you chose and are interested in. Your advisor can be an amazing resource themselves, but they also probably have a network of friends, colleagues, and former students who may be involved in work with similar policy topics. As you build a relationship with your thesis advisor, consider asking them if they might introduce you to other professors in a similar field of research or if they have connections at professional organizations related to your policy area. Through my advisor, I was connected with research professionals at a national nonprofit research organization and able to be involved with some of the projects they were doing across the country. The research you are doing can be exciting and meaningful way to connect with others who are passionate about similar policy issues and can help you learn about relevant professional opportunities!
- Pursue opportunities outside O’Neill to show off your research. You are already putting in the work to produce an outstanding paper and presentation, so consider showing off your research at a broader university symposium or an independent conference! Indiana University has undergraduate research conferences and journals which are great opportunities to take your research beyond O’Neill and make interdisciplinary connections. Independent academic journals and organizations also have conferences that accept undergraduate research projects. My advisor encouraged me to present at the 2023 ASPA National Conference, and it was exciting to get the experience because I was able to interact with other academics, see how my research fits into broader academic discourse, and ultimately be more than just a class project. Such opportunities can also help you expand your network and build your resume. Believe in the value of your work and do not let being an undergraduate student deter you from doing these things!
- Figure out if an advanced degree is right for you. Diving deep into a research area and producing academic writing describes the two semesters of Honors thesis work, but it also characterizes what might be in store for you if you pursue a master’s degree or especially a PhD. If you feel energized by doing research and eager to learn more specialized skills in your field of research. Pursuing an advanced degree might be a great next step for you post-graduation. You can think of your undergraduate thesis as a way to figure out if this path might be good for you or figure out what you would specifically want to study. Personally, exploring research topics for my thesis helped me determine what sort of issues I was interested in focusing on when Master of Public Policy after I graduate. In my graduate school applications, I wrote about my interest in this specific issue areas and was able to talk about the Honors Program to emphasize my experience in research and academic writing.
- Find support in your writing group and classmates. Not only can befriending your classmates and writing group make your thesis class more fun and manageable, but this community of like-minded peers can help you build connections and friendships that will help sustain you throughout undergrad and beyond. While challenging, writing a whole thesis can be a bonding experience, so consider making group chats with your Honors class peers and meeting to write and work outside of class. My V499 writing group became my academic support group and we helped each other stay on track with thesis assignments, met weekly to work on things, and motivated each other to do our best work on our theses and in other classes. All of my classmates are people who I am hopeful stay part of my network and am I am happy that one thing I gained from writing a thesis was new friends!
Jane Wright is a senior studying policy analysis at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Passionate about getting fellow students civically engaged, Jane is involved with the organization Women in Government at IU and works as a Peer Educator at the O’Neill Career Hub. Jane plans to continue her education by earning a Master of Public Policy and focusing on issues related to governance and democratic reform.
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