Advice, Adventures, and Academics: Dual BA Third Years Share Their Stories

For Kay Kaiser ‘27GS and Ava Markwick ‘27GS, the Dual BA program is about more than classes—it’s about saying yes to challenging opportunities, exploring your passions, and fostering connections that will last a lifetime. And both have done just that! Kaiser, an earth science major, is currently a research intern at Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. Markwick, who’s studying art history, found her niche with Formula Trinity, a student-led team that competes in the international Formula Student competition.

The third years reflect on life in Dublin, what they’re looking forward to in New York, and how the program is shaping their global education.

What are you most looking forward to in the program over the coming year(s)?:

Kay Kaiser: I am looking forward to digging into American policy and research in contrast to European frameworks and exploring fields that, at first glance, seem unrelated to my discipline, like sculpture and film. Environment sciences is already an interdisciplinary field, but GS’s curricular freedom will allow me to achieve a truly interdisciplinary education. Despite working towards two bachelor degrees through the Dual BA Program, I still have the possibility to choose alternative classes that enrich my major.

Ava Markwick: I’m looking forward to living in New York City and experiencing all that the city has to offer. I’m also excited to meet Dual BA students from other programs, as well as other Columbia students. Columbia has an excellent course selection for art history and I cannot wait to begin taking some really interesting classes over the next two years.

Why did you choose to apply to this program and what do you hope to gain from the experience?:

Kaiser: Originally, I was drawn to the Dual BA from an urban-planning perspective; I sought an opportunity to learn from two types of built environments, the planned American-style of New York and the old-growth of Dublin. My own city, Minneapolis, struggles with pollution, flooding, and is one of the most racially segregated cities in the U.S., so I wanted to learn about alternative city-structures to apply back home. I found Trinity to be full of diverse perspectives, which I quickly grew to love after falling into a group of friends made up of over nine nationalities. Through the Dual BA, I built the confidence I needed to move anywhere and make a life of it; this encouraged me to accept an internship at Future Earth in Paris, France and complete a gap year before coming here to New York. The internship was possible thanks to GS’s flexible structure, Trinity’s accommodating administration, and my advisor’s help. Through nontraditional paths at GS like the Dual BA program, more and more possibilities have been opened up to me. I have already gained so much from the experience.

Markwick: I always knew that I wanted to study abroad for at least one year in high school, but I also really wanted to live in NYC. The Dual BA Program allowed me to do both—live in Dublin, Ireland for two years, then live in NYC for two years and finish with two full bachelor’s degrees. The program also draws a lot of very unique students with diverse backgrounds and it’s been really impressive to meet the other students in my program and hear their stories. When I graduate from the Dual BA Program, I want to walk away with strong connections in both Dublin and NYC, as well as a strong academic resume that I know both schools will help me obtain.

What's the best advice you've received and how will you carry that with you in your college journey?:

Kaiser: Always pick the option that opens the most doors, whether that’s doing a crazy experience, applying for something you don’t feel fully qualified for, or saying “yes” more often than you’d say “no.” Applying to things I don’t think I can do has changed my life, and I think it will change yours too. Always go for it!

Markwick: The best advice I received was in my first week of my first year from an upperclassman who said that when it came to joining clubs, join one that has to do with your major, one that has to do with your passions, and one that has nothing to do with anything you’ve ever done before. That advice has led me to make some of my best friends and create some amazing memories throughout my college journey.

What is the last book you read (either for a class or for fun) or movie you saw?:

Kaiser: I just finished “A Tale for the Time Being” by Ruth Ozeki. It’s (partially) a story of how buddhism confronts genocide, mental illness, childhood, language, and quantum physics. What a mix!

Markwick: The last movie I saw was “F1.” I have a huge passion for motorsport, specifically Formula One, and seeing this movie was so fun since it incorporates a lot of real-world technology and locations seen in the world of Formula One.

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your background, something you're passionate about, what TV show you're currently streaming, your proudest accomplishment, a fun fact about yourself? Feel free to add it here!:

Kaiser: Thanks to the Dual BA, I got to go rock climbing in The Burren in the pouring rain, attend the Cannes Film Festival for less than €200, and hitchhike from Utrecht to Paris!

Markwick: Living in Dublin the last two years has benefited me in many ways, but one of the coolest parts about living there has been my ability to practice some of my foreign languages. Dublin is a very international city, and as a result, I have been able to work on my Spanish, Italian, and French both in the classroom and in real life.