Nathan Ruhde is from Aurora, IL. He started his journey at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in undergrad studying International Studies and Economics. While on this path, he recognized an excellent opportunity to obtain more hands-on experience and learn more about public health. Therefore, Nathan enrolled in the Master of Public Program as an Integrated Graduate Studies Student, pursuing both an undergraduate and master's degree simultaneously as a dual degree student.
Learn more about Nathan’s experience being a IGS student through these questions below:
What inspired you to pursue both an undergraduate and master's degree simultaneously? I knew that I enjoyed my experience at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ as an undergraduate. I made a lot of good friends and I had a lot of support from professors and mentors here. I additionally knew that I wanted to do an MPH at some point in my career. The combination of those two factors meant it was a good fit for me.
What kind of support have you received from either your peers or ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ to aid you in tackling the task of simultaneously finishing your undergraduate and master's degrees? I had a lot of support from many people along the way. When things got hectic, my peers frequently did a good job of reminding me that I was not alone in what I was going through. I think that in and of itself made a world of difference. The faculty were excellent and accommodating as well. They were receptive to both keeping me on track and helping me adjust when things did not go as planned.
What advice do you have for students considering pursuing both degrees at once? Take care of yourself. You have value independent of your performance in the classroom or whether or not you are having a good day or a bad day.
Can you share with me any internships or research opportunities you had and how did they contribute to your post-college plans? While in the program, I did a summer research practicum at the Swetland Center for Environmental Health. The thing allowed me to qualitatively analyze data and gave me more clarity about doing research after graduation.
How did your college experience shape your personal growth and development? My experience was formative for my personal growth. I got to explore my own interests more deeply. I got to work with a lot of different people and gained valuable soft skills along the way.
Best study spot on campus? I personally like going to [Think]Box. They have hotel offices on the sixth floor that I sometimes reserve when I want to sit down and focus.
What is your favorite activity to do in Cleveland? I enjoy going to Cleveland Charge games. They are cheap and it is fun to just experience something different.