Syllabus Week!

The first week of classes, also known as syllabus week, is over.  I am now fully aware of how my classes will be and what to expect as the semester goes on.  I am hoping my Senior year continues to go as well as the other years, and so far everything seems to be falling in place.

Coming back to campus also brings in 'welcome week' events! Welcome week events in various parts of campus welcome new students and give them the opportunity to meet one another.  These events include: New Student Convocation, Late Nighter at the Union, game nights, individual dorm dorm events, and many more! The first week on campus might be overwhelming with all the events, but it's a great time to meet others and find your fit at the U of I.

Another event which occurred prior to the first day of class is the "ACES Council New Student Ice Cream Social."  This year the event brought in over 300 people including deans, faculty, new students, and current students.  This is the 2nd Annual Ice Cream Social to welcome new students into the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.

Other Colleges at the University also do something special for the new students.  The College of Applied Health Sciences has a fair with information on various student organizations.  The College of Business sponsors a barbecue.  The College of Fine and Applied Arts have an orientation to provide information before classes begin.  The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences provide music and an opportunity to meet faculty and students.  The College of Media sponsors activities and take a class picture . As many of you have taken advantage of these College welcome sessions, there are also clubs and organizations who provide 'welcome back' celebrations that you may have heard of at Quad Day.

New student events provide a lot of information and you may even meet individuals who will be in classes with you! I hope that you are excited to be on campus and enjoyed syllabus week along with the many events! Although welcome week is coming to a close, there are sure to be events planned throughout the school year!

Summer Programs in the College of ACES

Upon requesting information from the University of Illinois College of ACES, you may have discovered just about every opportunity available when you arrive on campus to take classes.  However, summer programs are available through the College of ACES to prepare high school students for the future. There are two summer programs through the College of ACES: Research Apprentice Program (RAP) and Young Scholars Program (YSP).

The College of ACES offers the RAP summer program to under-served and economically disadvantaged high school students.  This is a great way to introduce interests that are available through ACES.  RAP takes place throughout the summer for four weeks and it provides these high school students with opportunities of their interest. Students form groups that explore companies such as PepsiCo and Archer Daniel Midland (ADM).  The students then learn the values of the company and the process a company goes through when reaching a consumer. 

Last week, I was able to talk with the PepsiCo Team of RAP I.  There were approximately five students in this group working with granola bars.  These students were interested in Food Science, and got a hands-on experience working with Quaker Oats, a division of PepsiCo.  They explained the steps involved that the group took which included: visiting the Quaker Oats Laboratory to develop different granola bars, researching the ingredients and altering them slightly for a consumer test, working with a graduate student to form the consumer test, finding consumers to test the products, and finally evaluating the responses of consumers from the sensory test.

I was able to be part of the sensory test to determine what type of granola bar is most liked by consumers. This sensory test took place in a nutrition laboratory in Bevier Hall.  There were four granola bars placed in front of me while I then filled out a questionnaire that showed how I rated each bar.  With each granola bar I tasted, smelled, and viewed the texture before deciding which one I liked the most.  It will be interesting to see what the results are!

While on campus, the students live together in the Hendrick House and develop friendships with other students.  The students spoke to me about how this program has opened their eyes to what opportunities are available in the future.  The4 students in the PepsiCo Team said they have had a great experience working with Quaker Oats in the RAP program.

The five students I spoke with told me they enjoyed the program and are learning so much more than they would from sitting in a classroom.  RAP offers the students with laboratory and real-world experience that the students can expect if they follow this interest into the future.  For information on the RAP Program visit: http://www.summerprograms.aces.illinois.edu

The stepping stone to professional school..

I blogged earlier about the different programs the College of ACES offers, but additionally ACES could also be your stepping stone to professional fields you may not have suspected.  Professional fields include: Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy, and many more. Within the College of ACES most students major in Business, Animal Sciences, Engineering, etc., and each of these programs can lead to higher education.  There are many alumni who have completed an undergraduate degree within the College of ACES which has led to a professional field.

Jasmine Abdullh, senior in Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN), plans to continue her education to obtain a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD). Jasmine came into the University as a biology major before switching her major to nutrition her sophomore year. She took a FSHN course as a general education requirement and discovered her passion for nutrition.  Jasmine then resear4ched dentistry and found that nutritionists are in high demand to dental offices because they are able to provide information about diets and foods to individuals.  Jasmine is only one of the many students who plan to pursue a professional degree after graduating from the College of ACES.

As you research the University of Illinois for a particular area of interest, don't forget the endless possibilities within the College of ACES.  For more information on professional degrees and graduate studies at the University of Illinois visit the Graduate School site.

Bevier Cafe: Staffed and Managed by Food Science and Human Nutrition Students

Food is a large part of my life.  When looking at me, you would never guess this but I'll be the first to admit I eat way  more than I should! I enjoy trying a variety of foods such as Asian, Mexican, Italian, and many others.  Something else I like is a small-town restaurant or cafe.  I am from a smaller town and like the feeling of everyone knowing each other, especially when you eat dinner at the same cafe. The restaurant in my hometown has one long table that seats about 20 people.  Anyone can come and sit there to eat with other residents.  In my opinion, small town cafes have a comforting feel to them and also a unique taste to the food.

Moving to Urbana or Champaign you may have trouble finding that 'small-feel' cafe. However, I have found a cafe that reminds me of home-style food.  Bevier Cafe is located in Bevier Hall at the University of Illinois.  something unique about this cafe is it is staffed and managed by Food Science and Human Nutrtion (FSHN) students. The cafe serves as a lab to FSHN students as part of their curriculum. Although Bevier Cafe does not hae a large table like my hometown cafe, I still get the same feeling when eating there.  Something I think is neat about the cafe is the studetns chefs prepare the meals and do a tasting before the food is served.

Bevier Cafe is conveniently located, so it is a perfect spot to meet up with your friends to hang out or even study for an upcoming class.  The cafe offers different items each day and the menu can be found at www.beviercafe.illinois.edu.  Bevier Cafe offers Breakfast, Lunch, and 'After Hours' items.  If you have not checked out Bevier Cafe, I recommend you eat there!

Study Abroad

The University of Illinois provides students with hundreds of opportunities.  One of the many opportunities students are able to participate in is study abroad.  The University offers programs within the College of ACES, or you can travel with a different College.  As an incoming student you many not have thought about study abroad, or really want to participate and already have a specific location you want to visit.  Before coming to the U of I, I never put much thought into study abroad.

Transferring into the University as a junior, I heard stories of students studying abroad but never though much about it until recently.  I thought I never had time before graduation and I did not want to spend more than a few weeks overseas.Little did I know what I would be doing a year later.

I thought there was no way I would ever be able to study abroad until one of my friends, Kaitlyn, went to Belgium for a month in June.  While Kaitlyn was in Belgium she wrote a blog (www.kaitlyngoesglobal.blogspot.com) about her experiences and everything seemed like so much fun.  Although she took a class while in Belgium, she was able to travel to Paris, London, and so many other beautiful cities.

Kaitlyn's blogs inspired me to dig deeper into study abroad and I kept thinking of the common saying, "you won't have time for traveling after graduation." I then took the initiative and looked into a study abroad program.  Better yet, I found a class within my major that will study abroad for two weeks! Something even better than that was I looked further into the program where there were a lot of scholarships available to help with funding. Perfect!

Currently, I am in the process of applying for the study abroad trip and will not find out until September if I am accepted.  So there I was, just a year ago thinking that I will never have the time to travel before graduation.  However, here I am, applying to study abroad for the perfect amount of time and pertaining to my interest of study.

The College of ACES has a wide range of programs available.  Among these are trips only for Freshman including: Dominican Republic, Jamaica, London, Paris, Singapore, and more! You can find the complete list and requirements on the ACES Study Abroad webpage for freshmen: http://students.aces.illinois.edu/study_abroad/freshmen

Even though I found a destination that fit my interest with a class I am going to enjoy, there are options of creating your own study abroad trips! I am not an expert on this, but it is available and you also get to plan your own itinerary.  If you have ever thought about studying abroad, I encourage you to look into the programs the University of Illinois offers.

For more information on ACES Study Abroad visit: http://students.aces.illinois.edu/study_abroad you can also contact Dawn Berg for an appointment at dawnberg@illinois.edu or calling (217)333-3380. 

Also, stop by the study abroad fair on September 8th from 11:00am-4:00pm in the Illini Union.

State FFA Convention 2010

Where is your next 'home'?

So, you've been admitted to the University of Illinois and you have finally decided on housing. For some, it may have been a tough decision while for others it may not have been a big deal.  How did you decide where you will be spending countless hours studying, sleeping, and basically just hanging out?

Well, the University of Illinois has a lot of options for housing including: dorms, certified private housing, Greek housing, and apartments.  For more information visit University Housing at http://www.housing.illinois.edu

Since I am a transfer student, I'm sure the dorm life was a much different experience for me than if I had lived in the dorms at U of I. I lived in the dorms my freshman year and absolutely loved it, the picture on the left is of my dorm room.  

My dorm hall was a tight-knit group of friends.  No one would guess at one point we were all strangers.  Still today, even 100 miles apart, I talk to many of those individuals.  In fact, my suitmate is one of my best friends (we had two rooms to one bathroom, so the students in the room we shared a bathroom were called our suitmates). The dorms are a great option because you get to meet so many people.  As an added bonus most of the dorms include cafeteria food, which also means not having to leave your dorm when it is 5 degrees outside in the Champaign winter!

Sophomore year, I moved off campus into a townhouse.  This was not part of University Housing and I honestly regret this decision.  Living off campus I did not feel as involved in organizations because I would have to drive into campus for extracurricular activities. I'm a very social person and while living off campus was not able to interact as much with my friends because we were very spread apart.

Junior year is when I transferred to the University of Illinois.  I joined a sorority and lived with 55 other girls.  That seems like a lot, but it doesn't feel like this many girls are in one house.  A sorority is a great option if you are looking for sisterhood, service, social life, and academics.  Of course, I might be biased on the sorority life but I feel it makes a person well-rounded.  Some sororities on campus do not have houses and this may be an option for you as an incoming student.  Now, going Greek isn't for everyone and this is understandable. 

Now, it is my senior year and where am I living? Well, I'll be moving back into the sorority house to not only live with one of my best friends, but 54 others! The photo to the right is part of my pledge class in the sorority on an ice-skating event. I am looking forward to sharing my experience with the new members who will be moving into the house in August.

That is my personal experience on housing, now where will you be living?

Pineapple Wine?

The University of Illinois is usually known for students on campus, but what happens when summer rolls around? Wine Tasting! The University of Illinois hosted the 2010 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition in the College of ACES Bevier Hall on June 7-9.  According to the June 9, 2010 Daily Illini the competition is not held at the state fair for reasons such as the advantages to having a controlled environment at the University.

A total of 407 different wines were tasted by 12 judges.  Wines included the traditional zinfandel and ranged to pineapple! Prizes include a gold, silver, and bronze medal to each category of wine and these winners can be found at the Illinois Wine site.

This is just one example of an event that takes place on the U of I campus.  During the school year, entertainment and events occur all the time.  Every weekend (and pretty much every night) there is something to do on campus.  Even during the day walking to class you will probably come in contact with some sort of out-of-the-ordinary happening.  I'm sure you've all heard of the tightrope walkers on the quad, right?

What's with all the ORANGE bags?

This is an exciting time of the year for incoming freshmen and transfer students. Why? Well, as most of you have visited the campus already it’s time to return to the University of Illinois and register for classes!  

Orange bags (which you receive upon arrival) seem to appear everywhere as I walk across the quad. Most of you should have already signed up for a day to attend the campus and register for classes. During the day you chose, you will meet with an advisor to discuss the courses that fit best with your major.  

The day is also an opportunity to obtain your Student ID card, also known as an i-card.  Your i-card is used for multiple things such as: a gym pass, bus pass, discounts at restaurants in the area, library card, meal plans, and could even be used as a bank card! It is important to keep your i-card on you when attending classes for identification purposes.  For example, I had test in one of my classes that needed my University Identification Number (UIN) and also a picture ID and the i-card fulfilled both requirements.

During registration day you also will meet individuals within your major.  Take advantage of introducing yourself and getting to know others, that way you already have a friend and who knows, they may just be in the same classes as you!  

Registration day at the University of Illinois is something to look forward to. You will be able to do all the things listed above and also familiarize yourself with the campus.  It is a busy day but don’t get overwhelmed, there will be plenty of time in the fall to familiarize yourself with campus! 

What day are you coming to register and if you’ve already completed that step, what are your Fall 2010 classes?

Why ACES?

Are you considering the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences? If so, this post is for you! I have been at the University of Illinois for a year and am positive I made the right choice with the College of ACES.

There are 8 departments within the College and over 40 majors and concentrations available.  Concentrations within the College range from Family Studies, Ag Accounting, Urban Forestry, and 42 others.  There is a concentration for almost any area of interest.  The departments available are listed below:
-Agricultural and Biological Engineering
-Agricultural and Consumer Education
-Animal Sciences
-Crop Sciences
-Food Science and Human Nutrition
-Human and Community Development
-Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
-Division of Nutritional Sciences

Worried about the large classes and being a 'number' rather than a 'name'? Well, in Fall 2009 the College of ACES had 2,433 undergraduate students and 981 academic staff.  That equals out to 3 students per academic staff.  From my personal experience, professors are genuinely interested in the students and their future plans.  The classes are a size that allows professor interaction and class participation.

Need something to do besides class? Academics are the main focus at the University of Illinois.  However, the College also encourages extracurricular activities.  There are over 25 students organizations within the College of ACES and at least one of these is sure to be of interest to you.  Clubs range from livestock judging teams to Agriculture and Consumer Economics Club (ACE Club).

Worried about school in financial terms?  Over $1 Million in scholarships is given out for the College of ACES students.  These scholarships are academic and need-based.  Students are strongly encouraged to apply annually for these awards.

So, if you are looking for a top-ranked school with award-winning professors and many extracurricular activities, the University of Illinois, College of ACES is for you!