What I remember most vividly from high school is the sheer excitement of taking three months off from studying over the summer. Thankfully, I’ve found that feeling persists even in college. After dealing with the last...
Category - Academics
You can only learn so much from reading. Get a closer look at what academic life is like at Illinois from people who have actually been there! From honors programs and research to specific classes and projects, our students have lots of experiences to share.
MichaelAcademic Leave of Absence
Not many students opt to take academic gaps in the middle of their college career. Many don’t even know it’s an option to start with and others view it as something that shouldn’t be done unless it’s absolutely...
Five Ways to Prepare for Exams, Stressful Weeks
At this moment you could be studying, cramming, reading, etc. but honestly, I’m glad you’re willing to take the time to read this in order to help with future exams! During my 1.5 semesters at Illinois, here are some of...
NishaAcademic Advising
College is an exciting adventure for students. It feels wonderful to have the time and freedom to chase your academic and professional goals. You have the chance to explore and develop your passions and satiate your...
TonyThe Academic Mindset: Part 4 — Enjoy the Chase
One of the rallying cries of rebuilding teams in professional sports (and maybe even a Big Ten team here or there) is “it’s a process,” or “trust the process.” There’s something about the process that really hits us. We...
MarkChanging Majors on Campus
Senior year is tough. Between the college applications, advanced coursework, and multiple extracurricular activities, you have a lot on your plate! It’s hard to know for sure if the major that you listed on your...
HannahWhat #midtermseason Is Really Like
What is up, my dudes? So last week I talked about college midterms and how to prepare yourself for them. When I went back to read it, though, I realized that I was not being as transparent as to what my #midtermseason...
JulissaThe Best Study Spots on Campus for Your Every Need
Finding the perfect study spot is, in my opinion, the most important part of having an effective study session. The right vibe and ambiance affects how much you are able to focus and stay on task. The following are some...
Kripa#Midtermseason
It seems like classes started literally yesterday and I am already prepping for my first set of midterms. It’s the end of Week 4 and normally around this time everyone has an exam, paper, presentation, etc...
It’s That Time of Year Again…
It’s that time of year again… Exams are right around the corner here at Illinois. Students are hitting the books, libraries, and coffee shops all around campus. This time of year is a stressful time, so below are some...
Illinois’ Winter Session
It’s finally winter break for us here at Illinois! While these few weeks are a time of rest and recovery for a lot of students, a handful like to take advantage of this time off to take an extra class, study abroad, or...
The Academic Mindset: Part 3 — The Art of Showing Up
We’re continuing into the third part of my five-part series about developing an academic mindset to get you through your four years of college, regardless of your major. So far, we’ve discussed the...
Surviving Midterms
I’ve been MIA these past few weeks due to a second round of midterm exams—I apologize for that! But I am back, better than ever! My midterms these past few weeks were definitely stressful, to say the least, but I want...
There are Certain Things You Can’t Prepare for Prior to Studying Abroad
There are certain things you can’t prepare for prior to studying abroad. Being in the near-direct path of a super typhoon is one of them. It’s roughly 9:30am on Wednesday, Sept. 12, and I’m sitting in the back row of my...
StevenEight-Week Classes are Awesome!
Based on the title of this blog, you probably know how I feel about eight-week classes. You might even be thinking “Why read anymore? This guy just gave away a major spoiler here.” Well, sorry for the...
JacobThe Academic Mindset: Part 2—Make It Pretty
This is the second part in a five part series on working on developing an academic mindset to get you through the college years. The goal of such a mindset is to give you principles with which you can take on any kind...
Learning How to Learn in College
Fall at Illinois: a time when campus doesn’t look any better than when blanketed with ombre orange leaves. Colder weather means sweater weather. The smell of pumpkin flavored coffee diffuses through the air, and...
FizaCollege Made Me A Nerd—And I Love It
So here’s the deal: I worked my butt off in school to get where I am today. I spent hours on end studying and took AP classes when I could. I put in a lot of effort to excel academically. Truth be told, school was...
RachelThe Academic Mindset: Part I — Trying is Cool
This is the first part in a roughly five-part series on developing an academic mindset that can get you on a fast-track path to success in whatever major you’re in. While I wish I did all of these things all four...
There’s a First Time for Everything: My First Week in the Classroom
They are big, bad, and scary; they are loud and all-knowing and ready for battle. They are middle-schoolers. About three weeks ago, I began my early field experience as a student teacher, and boy has it been wild. I was...
