“Inspiring quotes from REACH alumni students
“I can confidently say that REACH was an opportunity like no other. I was able to do hands on work with data and work alongside other likeminded students.”
“REACH has helped me realized that a career in Planetary Science even exists! Everyone was so supportive in what endeavor you pursued and there’s was a sense of genuine curiosity all around. Learning through the extended research project taught me how to manage my time and got me further involved in exploring computational methods.”
“REACH is the reason I am on the current career path that I am on. I was only considering astronomy as a possible field to pursue before REACH, but after learning about what it’s like to actually do astronomy research and being surrounded by such amazing teachers and peers, that sealed the deal for me and I knew I wanted to be an astronomy major. Both the astronomy departments at Northwestern and at UIUC are full of some of the most hardworking yet friendly people I have ever known in my entire life.”
REACH was an invaluable source of college information for me. I learned things about the astrophysics/physics major path that I couldn’t have learned anywhere else. It was so cool that I got to talk to college students, grad students, and professionals in both academia and non-academia, because I think I got a great sense of what astrophysics is like. And I got so much great advice about what to pursue during undergrad to maximize your education. Talking to real astrophysicists also made my interest in physics/astronomy much more concrete. I no longer just think that astrophysics is interesting—now I actually want to DO it. Overall, I would say REACH was a huge factor in my college and career planning—more than I could anticipate— and I’ll always be grateful for all the cool stuff I learned. Even if someone is unsure if they want to study astrophysics, I would recommend REACH. You get such a hands-on sense of the field that you’ll know if you dislike it—and if you hate it, that’s valuable information too.”
“REACH introduced me to what it’s like to learn in an environment where everyone is genuinely passionate about their field. Through the program, I experienced what it means to conduct research (specifically in astrophysics) and developed skills like problem-solving with Python. REACH not only deepened my passion for physics but also made the dream of becoming a physicist feel truly attainable”
“The REACH program was a transformative experience that shaped both my academic interests and career goals. It helped me pinpoint the specific areas of astronomy that truly excite me and gave me a realistic, hands-on understanding of what research entails. I gained not only valuable knowledge but also lasting connections with peers and professionals who share my passion. I left REACH feeling more prepared, inspired, and eager to pursue a future in astrophysics!”
“Although I am not pursuing astrophysics in my undergrad, I look back all the time and appreciate how well REACH gave me an understanding of what the daily work of an astrophysicist looks like. I am glad I had the opportunity to be in the program!”
“I loved my experience at REACH, it inspired me to go into Physics which I majored in for 2 years, and was a great way to see what being in astrophysics was all about! I learned a lot and had a wonderful time. Although I am no longer majoring in Physics, I still hope to go into planetary science and I don’t think I would be as interested in space as I am now if I hadn’t done REACH.”
“I have a broad interest in science and so far haven’t had much success in narrowing it down. But before REACH I had never considered astrophysics, and I will definitely be doing so now!”
“REACH was a defining factor in my decision to pursue physics and astrophysics, and it gave me a head-start in my further research and education experience. Not only did the astronomy research project give me insight into what I am interested in academically, but the experience with learning Python gave me a huge advantage in my further lab work. REACH made my transition to college courses and lab work much smoother.”
“REACH had something to offer for everyone despite their skill level and is one of the most enriching experiences I have had in my high school career.”
“I wanted to say how great and important the REACH experience was for me, especially as a foreigner doing scientific research in a different language and with people whose culture is completely different from mine and just getting to know more of the possibilities related to the astronomy side and gaining knowledge on that was essential. It was surely a challenge but I don’t regret it a second and that’s because you allowed me such a position, so thank you for the opportunity and support which I will remember for a long time.”
“Through REACH, I was able to get some insight in the field of astronomy which was very impactful because my school does not provide many resources or opportunities in astronomy to explore. My school is very focused on STEM, but more specifically technology and computer science of STEM. I had so much fun at REACH, every moment of it. I loved how quickly everyone bonded, getting to meet many different people, and seeing how passionate they were about astronomy. To be honest, at the beginning of the program I felt a bit left out, I didn’t know much about astronomy as others. Throughout the program I felt more comfortable, learning new things and sparking an interest in exoplanets after. Right after the program ended, I took a college course in computer programming and guess what language we worked with? PYTHON! REACH taught me the capabilities I wasn’t aware I held, and to be confident in them.”
“Thank you so much for this experience, it has been amazing!”