Hamilton Grad Visits Students to Share Advice
Allie Stephens speaks to a group of students on March 16. Photo submitted by Ms. Wainio.
Jonathan Wang
Allie Stephens, a UW-Madison senior and Hamilton High School alumnus from 2017, came back to Hamilton on March 16 to speak to students about her education and experiences. She is almost done with her undergraduate in Civil Engineering and is planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Glaciology from UT-Austin. The reason for this Ph.D. was because she got very invested in some undergraduate research involving how glaciers break apart and all the modeling, math, and physics behind it.
In her talk, she discussed two different examples of how glaciers can break apart due to rising water temperatures. Stephens emphasized how her Civil Engineering background is very helpful in modeling and scientifically explaining processes. She recommends an engineering background because it can be applied to many different fields, and says it is like a combination of physics, math, and application. She also explained how she was able to get this research opportunity by befriending professors.
Stephens is president of an organization called Engineers Without Borders, and she helped to build solar panels in many locations, including Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, to reduce the electricity cost of the school. She said that to do well in college, connections with professors, research, and clubs matter more than GPA.
Along with this, Stephens had several other tips for students about how to be successful post-high school.
Build strong connections with professors. This leads to greater research opportunities and good recommendation letters. Additionally, many professors have deep networks and are connected to MIT or Stanford professors (or other top schools), so connections can help you enter a good graduate school.
Take advantage of research opportunities. This builds greater real world experience and is impressive to include on a resume.
Join clubs in college. Clubs give you an opportunity to make an impact on your community while providing real world experiences. They also give you an opportunity to become a leader. Additionally, listing clubs on your resume shows that you’re involved in your college community and will make you stand out from other applicants.
If you have any questions about her education, experience, and recommendations, contact Allie Stephens through email.
anstephens@wisc.edu
