By Emily Joyce, SCS Advising Leader  At the University of Illinois, the official major title for all chemical engineering majors is chemical and biomolecular engineering. This allows students in the major to choose around the time of their Sophomore and Junior years whether they want to concentrate on Chemical Engineering or Biomolecular Engineering. This choice will dictate the topics of the technical electives they take in their Junior and Senior years. As a senior in chemical engineering, I chose around the second semester of my sophomore year that I wanted to...

By Katie Southon, SCS Advising Leader  Most STEM majors will find themselves at a conference at some point. Whether you are attending through research or a professional registered student organization (RSO) as a current student, or in the future through your company for career development, conferences serve as a valuable method to obtain personal and professional development. I attended my first conference, WE22, back in October with the Society of Women Engineers Illinois. While there I gained important information such as the importance of understanding what...

By: Emily Joyce SCS Advising Leader As I am approaching the finish line of my college career and preparing for life working as a chemical engineer, I have been reflecting on what I wish I knew as a freshman. Though I knew I wanted to be a chemical engineer as I enjoyed problem-solving, chemistry, and working through math problems, I never could have imagined what life would look like now as a senior in chemical engineering. To help freshmen starting in the major better understand what is in store for them, here is a summary of what a Monday in my life...

By: Katie Southon SCS Advising Leader With the first career fair of the semester starts, it can feel like the pressure is on to secure an internship or a job for the summer. To prepare effectively for future career fairs and interviews, it’s important to focus on leveraging your experiences to effectively communicate how you fit the role; even if your experiences don’t align exactly with the job description. If you have previous internship experience, great! You already have experience with the interview process and with industry. Brush up on what you...

By: Emily Joyce, SCS Advising Leader As we begin to dive into the Spring 2023 semester, it is easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of new classes and catching up with friends as coursework begins. However, this is the most crucial part of the semester where it is important to take charge of your schedule and plans to set yourself up for a successful semester. Taking time to plan your days, classes, and studying will put you on the right track to staying on top of all your classes and make you less likely to fall behind as your workload and other responsibilities increase...

By: Emily Joyce, 2022-23 SCS Advising Leader As we navigate the second half of the semester, it is easy to get caught up in focusing on upcoming midterms and finals and neglect thinking further into the future. However, this is an important time to start focusing on scheduling classes for next semester. Time tickets to register for classes have been sent out and registration will begin in November, therefore it is important to schedule an appointment with your advisor to make sure you have everything you need to be successful next semester! In-person appointments will be...

By Rachel Back, SCS Advising Leader:  We’re about a fourth of the way through this semester, and at this point, it’s really easy to neglect your mental health in order to prioritize your schoolwork and any other responsibilities you have. This is problematic because it can quickly spiral into more serious health complications. According to Yale Medicine, symptoms of chronic stress include aches and pains, insomnia, changes in social behavior, low energy, unfocused thinking, changes in appetite, and...

By Katie Southon SCS Advising Leader:  The heart, a classic symbol of Valentine’s Day. It’s impossible to look around during February and not see colorful pink and red hearts decorating every available surface, which got me thinking: how does this relate to chemical engineering? Chemical engineering can relate to almost every aspect of our everyday lives, and hearts are no exception. The heart is a muscle that pumps blood through the body using contractions that force the blood through the circulatory system. Just like how chemical engineers can calculate the...

By Rachel Back, SCS Advising Leader: Congratulations on making it to finals week! You’ve worked very hard this semester, so give yourself a round of applause and make sure you treat yourself during break- you’ve earned it! The holidays are quickly approaching, so what better time to give back to the community than now? Even though there are people in need all year round, spending time with friends and family and exchanging gifts can truly serve as a reminder of how blessed we are to be living the lives we have right now. If you are interested in giving back to the...

By Katie Southon, SCS Advising Leader: Winter break is coming: a blissful four weeks of time to relax, recharge and reset. It’s also the perfect time to catch up on things that often get pushed aside when assignment deadlines and exam dates loom. Here’s four things you can do over break to set yourself up for success in 2022. 1. Apply for summer internships/research Take time over winter break to get ahead for next summer by researching and applying for open positions. Don’t know where to start? Handshake and...