{"id":3014,"date":"2026-05-05T09:37:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=3014"},"modified":"2026-05-05T09:37:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:37:20","slug":"online-education-preparation-for-graduate-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-education-preparation-for-graduate-school\/","title":{"rendered":"How online education prepared one student for graduate school"},"content":{"rendered":"

A bachelor\u2019s degree earned online from Oregon State University can lead to more academic opportunities. Just ask Michelle Cimino.<\/p>\n

For Cimino, earning a bachelor\u2019s in zoology online<\/a> prepared her for a competitive environmental science and policy graduate program at Columbia University.<\/p>\n

We asked Cimino to share what she learned during her time as an Oregon State Ecampus student and how that experience shaped what came next.<\/p>\n

Q. What specific habits did you develop while taking online courses with Oregon State that prepared you to succeed in graduate school?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cTime management. With my Ecampus courses, I had several short-term due dates I had to meet, and I had other assignments I needed to start well in advance. I learned how to manage a calendar to make sure I had all the work done on time.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Columbia, I used the same time-management skills I practiced as an Ecampus student, and I was just very on top of things. It was just an easy transition for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q. Your graduate program is highly competitive. What do you think helped you stand out in the admissions process?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cI was one of the only students focused on environmental justice and traditional ecological knowledge. I majored in zoology (at Oregon State), but I also minored in environmental science and Indigenous studies. In my application, I said I was really interested in amplifying Indigenous voices in environmental policies in the Northeast.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also was the only student who completed a degree online. Everyone was really interested and excited to learn about my experience. They thought all classes were Zoom calls. I had to explain that it was like a simulator or a video game. You do have prerecorded lectures, of course, but that\u2019s just part of the experience. At Oregon State, online education is rigorous.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I think that’s what really made me stand out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q. How prepared were you to interact with other students in person after completing your degree through online education? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cVery prepared. People ask me, \u2018How are you so good at just talking to people?\u2019 I say, \u2018Ecampus taught me how to be out of my comfort zone and network.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking public speaking helped me build confidence to communicate because in that class, they required you to work within a group of four people. And I had people from all over the world, so we all had to coordinate and talk to each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter that experience, I started using group chats for projects, with a mini-icebreaker to reduce awkwardness and help people feel comfortable. Then, I started using Discord for some of my courses, and I met two of my best friends that way. They’re like my people. I’ve never thought in a million years I would have met them online, but here we are.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was anxiety-inducing at first to enroll in in-person courses. I really didn\u2019t know how I was going to socialize or go to events or attend classroom lectures. It was just so new to me. But I was able to adapt really well very quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q. While you were taking Oregon State courses online, you also worked with an environmental group in your community. How important was that local involvement to your career plans?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cI think getting involved with the community really helped ground me and helped me understand what I wanted to do as a career.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow being a graduate student, I’m just so happy that I was communicating and being involved with my community because it really helped build professional experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q. Any final thoughts you\u2019d like to share with students considering learning online with Oregon State? <\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cOregon State has helped me so much. The ability to take a variety of classes ranging from philosophy to human ecology to climate science has given me an education I feel no other institution could provide.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am seeing how tremendously successful Oregon State was at preparing me for this intensive graduate program. It really showed me how effective online learning can be when you engage fully with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

How has learning online with Oregon State shaped your experience? Tell us your story<\/a> for our Oregon State Everywhere series.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>A bachelor\u2019s degree earned online from Oregon State University can lead to more academic opportunities. Just ask Michelle Cimino. Earning a bachelor\u2019s in zoology online prepared her for a competitive environmental science and policy graduate program at Columbia University. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":3015,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,672,677,8,676],"tags":[159,544,516],"class_list":["post-3014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-learning-experience","category-students-and-alumni","category-students","category-why-osu","tag-college-of-science","tag-osu-everywhere","tag-zoology"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MichelleCimino.jpg?fit=6000%2C4000&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-MC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2573,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/zoology-graduate-thrives-online-samantha-crockett\/","url_meta":{"origin":3014,"position":0},"title":"Oregon State zoology graduate thrives online with OSU Ecampus","author":"Tom Henderson","date":"June 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Encouraging professors and hands-on work helped Samantha Crockett expand her horizons in animal behavior, conservation, ecology and more in Oregon State's online zoology bachelor's degree program.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A smiling woman stands outside in front of a large green bush.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Samantha-Crockett-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Samantha-Crockett-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Samantha-Crockett-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Samantha-Crockett-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1210,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/zoology-online-bachelors-degree\/","url_meta":{"origin":3014,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State brings its zoology expertise online with first-of-its-kind bachelor\u2019s degree","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 17, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University has launched the nation\u2019s first\u00a0online bachelor\u2019s degree program in zoology, combining OSU's expertise in the life sciences with its industry-leading work in online education to provide students with a solid foundation in the biological sciences at all levels.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Beaver swimming","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Zoology-hero-image-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Zoology-hero-image-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Zoology-hero-image-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Zoology-hero-image-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Zoology-hero-image-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1676,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/top-online-bachelors-degrees\/","url_meta":{"origin":3014,"position":2},"title":"Oregon State earns four top-five rankings for online education from U.S. News & World Report","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"January 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University is ranked No. 4 and is among the nation\u2019s top 10 providers of online undergraduate education for the seventh straight year in a list published today by U.S. News & World Report. The No. 4 ranking of Best Online Bachelor\u2019s Programs also puts Oregon State in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A person sitting at a table and typing on a laptop, with an Oregon State University water bottle in the foreground. K-12 remote instruction resources","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/oregon-state-ecampus-student-laptop.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1100,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/oregon-state-online-top-10\/","url_meta":{"origin":3014,"position":3},"title":"Oregon State online bachelor’s programs ranked 3rd in the nation by U.S. News","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"January 15, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University\u2019s place among the nation\u2019s best providers of online education has inched closer to the pinnacle amid the release of new rankings by U.S. News & World Report. The 2019 report features Oregon State Ecampus at No. 3 among nearly 400 institutions in the category of Best Online\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Valley Library on Oregon State University's Corvallis Campus is home to Oregon State Ecampus, a leader in online learning. Ask Ecampus","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/valley-library-oregon-state-univ.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/valley-library-oregon-state-univ.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/valley-library-oregon-state-univ.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/valley-library-oregon-state-univ.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1319,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/environmental-sciences-online-heath-blackmon\/","url_meta":{"origin":3014,"position":4},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: \u2018My Ecampus degree gave me an edge\u2019","author":"Heath Blackmon","date":"January 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"The quality and the rigor of courses that I took at Ecampus were on par with any in-person class and prepared me for a future in science. Even though my classes were taken at a distance, the professors built learning activities that gave me firsthand experience in analyzing and interpreting\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Heath Blackmon, Oregon State University Ecampus environmental sciences graduate and assistant professor at Texas A&M University","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Heath-Blackmon-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Heath-Blackmon-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Heath-Blackmon-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Heath-Blackmon-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1731,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/student-clubs-adrian-gonzalez\/","url_meta":{"origin":3014,"position":5},"title":"Student clubs create a sense of belonging for Oregon State\u2019s distance learners","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"April 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Nearly 100 student-led clubs and organizations are open to Oregon State's online learners. The benefits of joining a club from a distance are real. Just ask Adrian Gonzalez \u2014 an Ecampus zoology major who is also a member of OSU\u2019s Wildlife Conservation Club.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adrian Gonzalez is pursuing an online zoology degree with Oregon State and takes part in a student club from a distance.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Adrian-Gonzalez-zoology-744x478-210413.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Adrian-Gonzalez-zoology-744x478-210413.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Adrian-Gonzalez-zoology-744x478-210413.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Adrian-Gonzalez-zoology-744x478-210413.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}