When students hear “undergraduate research,” many immediately picture PhD applications, or careers in academia. It’s true, research experience is a golden ticket for those paths. But here is the thing: undergraduate research is not just for aspiring academics. Even if you are planning a career in business, healthcare, policy, or something completely outside the ivory tower, research can still be one of the most valuable experiences of your degree. Why? Because research does not just teach you about your discipline. It teaches you how to think, solve problems, and work in ways that are highly transferable to nearly any career. Think of research as a professional boot camp: it challenges…