Jane Vinesky, who earned a bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences online with Oregon State, is shown here on a boat in a whale shark refuge near La Paz, Mexico, recording data on juvenile whale shark behavior and body condition.
I am a Fulbright scholar and graduate student researcher at Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias Marinas del Instituto Politécnico Nacional and Pelagios Kakunjá.
While I was earning my bachelor’s degree in fisheries, wildlife, and conservation sciences online with Oregon State University, the coursework and experiential learning prepared me to undertake independent field research once I graduated. Additionally, in my graduate courses, there is often material that I am already familiar with because I learned it as an undergrad at Oregon State.
The investment I made as an OSU student has been everything. The connections I made with faculty and staff have changed my life. Without encouragement and support from LeAnn Adam — the director of national and global scholarships advising — I would never have applied for a Fulbright grant. My academic advisor, Erica Johnson, always made time for me, no matter what the question was.
“Although I was an Ecampus student, the Oregon State community is so strong that I felt its support from wherever I was in the world.”
Faculty like Brian Sidlauskas, Gerrad Jones, Shalynn Pack and Julio Gallardo made time to tutor me, teach me, counsel me, write recommendations and discuss professional opportunities.
Fulbright scholar Jane Vinesky says she benefited from Oregon State’s experiential learning opportunities while pursuing her degree online.
Although I was an Ecampus student, the Oregon State community is so strong that I felt its support from wherever I was in the world.
Wise words from a Fulbright scholar
My advice is to throw out anything you think you know about online learning. There are misconceptions that online learning is lesser than in-person learning, that it makes you less competitive for jobs, or that you learn less. I got more out of my two years as an Ecampus student than I did in multiple years of in-person learning in my previous collegiate experience.
Additionally, the flexibility of online learning allowed me to travel and undertake multiple internships while I was studying, which prepared me for my career. So take advantage of every opportunity, don’t be afraid to ask questions, meet with your teachers outside of class and connect as much as possible.
Transferring to Oregon State is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. I still keep in touch with the faculty and staff who made a difference in my life, and I can even call some of them friends.
No matter where you are on your academic journey, you can move closer to your dream career by enrolling in one of Oregon State’s top-ranked online programs.
