Getting into grad school takes more than just grades-it takes recognition, the kind of recognition that Agrain can give students.
Agrain is a student-run journal that publishes undergraduate papers twice a year in the areas of archaeology, anthropology, geography and geology.
"The name, Agrain, was chosen to illustrate the power of ideas," reads Agrain’s mission statement. "In a sense, it is a grain of truth we seek, and the grain of wisdom we draw on to expand our knowledge. And, in truth, the grain of salt with which we must take ourselves."
Agrain Director Christopher Rebus said the publication was formed last year to fill a void of undergraduate journals on campus.
"The idea is two-fold," said Rebus. "At one level, we wanted to provide a forum for students to submit undergraduate work for publication in a journal that would embrace their work and still have a professional shine to it. This was to help those seeking further education at a graduate level, to have a leg-up by being previously published. Also [at the other level], to have a corpus of information for other students to get the flavour of what a good paper looks like."
While Agrain is completely student-run, it strives to be professional. Once submitted, a paper goes through a rigorous editing process that begins with a peer review by a grad student or professor specializing in the field.
"Every paper has to be well-written," said Agrain Treasurer Christine Cluney, adding that she would like to see the journal diversify. "Because those of us on the executive are all archaeology majors, most of our contact is with other archaeology students. We’re really trying to get more geology and geography papers."
Future plans for Agrain involve expanding its market to the rest of Canada, and all of North America as its reputation grows.
"I want to see it continue after I leave," said Cluney. "Hopefully, it will get only get bigger and better."