📢 In this episode of Degrees Between Us: Student Success in College and STEM, Keenan sits down with Emma Sealey, a Biochemistry major at Minnesota State University balancing academics, work, and her premed volunteering. Sarah's goal is to become a doctor, specifically a surgeon. She provides insights for all students that are working multiple jobs while in school to manage finances alongside a full class schedule. Another RISE Bio scholar, Emma also performs calmodulin research for her current projects. If you're a premed and want advice from a strong source, listen in. 0:00 Intro1:30 Premed Background4:13 Community in College5:40 Biochemistry Major8:11 Sociology Minor Price9:04 Paying for College9:57 Working 3 Jobs10:46 Being a TA12:30 Best Extracurriculars for Premed13:30 Reducing Work Hours15:05 College Life Misconceptions16:46 Med School Plans18:43 Study Skills19:13 Overcoming Class Adversity22:40 Emma Admits Keenan was Right23:33 Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education25:27 In-person vs. Online Classes26:50 ACT Prep29:39 Surgery Inspirations30:12 Emma Drops a Brain30:56 Assertive Communication Required in Medicine33:32 Game Theory Funny Story36: 28 College Premed Advice👨‍🏫 Hosted by Biology Professor Keenan Hartert, this podcast highlights the personal stories, struggles, and triumphs of students navigating academia — infused with humor and real talk. Based at Minnesota State University, we uncover the motivations and realities of today’s American students.The best part? This is the only show of its kind. There is no other forum where students + professor share their wider experiences. 🏛️ Join the conversation! Follow for updates & visit my website: ⁠⁠⁠profkeenanhartert.weebly.com⁠⁠⁠📌 What You’ll Learn:✅Why students choose college (or almost don’t)✅How to juggle work, school, and personal life✅The biggest academic & personal challenges students face✅Advice for incoming students & those questioning higher ed✅The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education ✅Is college really worth it?💡 For Parents, Students & Educators—this one's for you!🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about higher education & student success!🎙️ This show dives into higher education, student success, career prep, and the future of learning. Whether you’re a pre-med, pre-dental, STEM student, educator, parent, or just curious about academia, you’ll find insights here!

📢 Keenan sits down with Sarah Oberstar, a General Biology major at Minnesota State University balancing academics, work, and her cancer research priorities. Sarah's goal is to become a biomedical scientist, and she hit the ground running by participating in Minnesota State's excellent RISE Bio research program. This program takes applications of future Biology majors that begin working with professor research from freshman year, building a strong set of lab skills, organization, mentor network, and a friendly community of other students. We share a love for all things interdisciplinary outside of Biology too, including history, the arts, and movies/culture. Listen to have some laughs!

🎓 Higher education is more than degrees and money - it’s about people, journeys, and the connections that shape our world. Degrees Between Us brings students from all backgrounds together to explore one central question: Why college?

👨‍🏫 Hosted by Biology Professor Keenan Hartert, this podcast highlights the personal stories, struggles, and triumphs of students navigating academia — infused with humor and real talk. Based at Minnesota State University, we uncover the motivations and realities of today’s American students.

The best part? This is the only show of its kind. There is no other forum where students + professor share their wider experiences.

🏛️ Join the conversation! Follow for updates & visit my website: ⁠⁠profkeenanhartert.weebly.com⁠⁠

📌 What You’ll Learn:

✅Why students choose college (or almost don’t)

✅How to juggle work, school, and personal life

✅The biggest academic & personal challenges students face

✅Advice for incoming students & those questioning higher ed

✅The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

✅Is college really worth it?

💡 For Parents, Students & Educators—this one's for you!

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about higher education & student success!

🎙️ This show dives into higher education, student success, career prep, and the future of learning. Whether you’re a pre-med, pre-dental, STEM student, educator, parent, or just curious about academia, you’ll find insights here!

📢 Keenan sits down with Ashton Erdmann, a first gen college student at Minnesota State University paying his own way. He’s pursuing a Biomedical Sciences major, balancing academics and work, and building the skills to serve as a Biotech scientist. His unique path to college informs us that the journey is a winding road but one that we can make happen with the right school. We share a fascination for the bigger ideas and where "mad science" may lead us in the future, specifically in terms of potential human enhancement.

🎓 Higher education is more than degrees and money - it’s about people, journeys, and the connections that shape our world. Degrees Between Us brings students from all backgrounds together to explore one central question: Why college?

👨‍🏫 Hosted by Biology Professor Keenan Hartert, this podcast highlights the personal stories, struggles, and triumphs of students navigating academia — infused with humor and real talk. Based at Minnesota State University, we uncover the motivations and realities of today’s American students.

The best part? This is the only show of its kind. There is no other forum where students + professor share their wider experiences.

🏛️ Join the conversation! Follow for updates & visit my website: ⁠profkeenanhartert.weebly.com⁠

📌 What You’ll Learn:

✅Why students choose college (or almost don’t)

✅How to juggle work, school, and personal life

✅The biggest academic & personal challenges students face

✅Advice for incoming students & those questioning higher ed

✅The future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

✅Is college really worth it?

💡 For Parents, Students & Educators—this one's for you!

🔔 Subscribe for more real conversations about higher education & student success!

🎙️ This show dives into higher education, student success, career prep, and the future of learning. Whether you’re a pre-med, pre-dental, STEM student, educator, parent, or just curious about academia, you’ll find insights here!