UW Biology Junior and Tour Guide
Hi! I'm Minka, an upcoming junior in the UW Biology department, but I'm also interested in marine sciences, anthropology, and art history. I have loved in Seattle my whole life, so I've had lots of chances to explore the UW campus and tons of spots around the city. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, swimming, tide-pooling, reading, and volunteering.
About me
- GenderFemale
- Current academic yearJunior
- Age19
- Admission typeAdmitted as a freshman
- Academic focusBiology
- Personality typeSomewhat extroverted
- College experience ratingAmazing
Tour type
- Campus tour
- Video chat
Hometown
Seattle, WA
Major(s)
Biology (Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation)
Minor(s)
Marine Biology Considering: Art History, History
Extracurriculars activities
- Greek life
- Club/Organization
- Job/Internship
- ROTC
- NCAA varsity sport
- Recreational sport
- Student government
- Community service
- Religious/Cultural group
- Art/Music/Performance
- Study abroad
- Other
Clubs, organizations & involvement
Washington Public Interest Research Group (WASHPIRG); Internship at Burke Musuem of Natural History and Culture, volunteer at Seattle Aquarium
Housing experience
- Dorm
- Off-campus house or apartment
- Fraternity or sorority house
- Home (Commuter)
- Other
Describe your college experience
Most of my high school was spent during the instability of COVID, so coming to college felt like a MASSIVE step. At first, I was somewhat overwhelmed, but I've learned about myself and how I function best. UW and college as a whole offered me the opportunity to not only meet new friends, but also to learn about myself as an individual.
Tip for future students
Get involved, but don't push yourself to exhaustion. When I came into college, I felt lots of pressure to get involved with EVERYTHING I could and it wore me out. I had to learn to pace myself. Take tons of different types of classes, join clubs, go to events on and off campus, walk around and explore, meet new people, but don't force yourself into it if it's not what you want. Learn what you do and don't like, and learn about yourself.
Favorite class
I have loved GENOME 361 (Intorduction to Genetics and Genomics) and PSYCH 300 (Animal Psychology). Both of these subjects have always fascinated me, so I loved these classes and the professors were amazing. You could tell the classes were designed to help students learn and think about these subjects in new ways.
Career goals
I hope to go into marine ecology and evolutionary biology research. My dream would be to study consciousness, cognition, and the senses of octopus and cuttlefish. I am very passionate about education, so I hope to involve this either through my career or through volunteering.
Ideal way to spend a free night
Cooking a delicious dinner, laughing, and playing games with my friends, maybe a movie afterwords. That, or night time tide-pooling.
High school or secondary school
Grover Cleveland STEM High School, Seattle, WA
Meeting point
The Statue of George Washington
