Expectations and realities of my first undergraduate research experience

[...]my first hand encounters with animals and industry workers disproved negative misconceptions I had previously held about meat production and improved my interest in Animal Science as a career.\n I gained access to advantaged information and I am grateful to have been given insight to the challenges graduate students commonly encounter in their first years of research. To be successful in research, a student must be self-motivated, willing to become thoroughly familiar with scientific literature and communicate effectively with others in a concise, meaningful way. [...]faculty mentors often handpick URE students observed to be capable and enthusiastic because they must donate time outside of class and demonstrate patience by allowing for mistakes and learning to take place (Dodson, 1997; Seymour et al., 2003).