By Nick Kaufmann, 2018-2019 SCS Student Advising Leader: A chemical sciences degree can be a stressful four years for anyone. The late nights studying for your midterms, the grueling three-hour labs, and the constant drawing of hexagons in your organic chemistry classes are enough to turn anyone’s hair gray. You might think that the classes and labs would be enough hassle, but as you enter your junior and senior year you realize that on top of all the stressful classwork, you have another pressing responsibility; finding a job. Luckily UIUC does a great job of bringing companies that want...

By Maddy Chalifoux, SCS Student Advising Leader 2018-19: Wondering how the university’s new bike share program works? You’re not alone! While may students and community members alike have taken advantage of this innovative new program, many of us are still left wondering exactly how it works. The Indiana-based company, VeoRide, is the organization responsible for bringing this  pilot program to the UIUC campus for the 2018-2019 school year. The company has provided the campus with a fleet of 500 brand new turquoise bicycles. The brightly colored...

By Alayna Johnson, SCS Student Advising Leader 2018-2019             Between maintaining your GPA, holding leadership positions in RSOs, and seeking internships, it can be easy to forget about one of the best ways to make yourself stand out while giving back to your community: volunteering! Here, I’ll share some ways to squeeze volunteer hours into your schedule, great places to find volunteer opportunities, and how to sell your volunteer experience on your resumé. One of the most common reasons students don’t volunteer is because they...

By Kamakshi Katwala, 2018-2019 SCS Student Advising Leader: Being a student in the School of Chemical Sciences on the pre-medicine track requires an incredible amount of hard work and dedication. Every bit of information you learn in your courses from the moment you enter college and take your introductory science courses will be tested on the MCAT and will help you excel in medical school. Here are some tips on doing well in these introductory courses along with the rest of the intensive courses you will be taking throughout your college career: First, take notes. You may believe that this...

By Maddy Chalifoux, 2018-19 SCS Student Advising Leader:                  Have you considered studying abroad, but thought that as a science or engineering major, you would never be able to fit it into your schedule? Well, I’m here to tell you that this is not the case! The study abroad office at the University of Illinois has an abundance of programs to fit the needs and interests of a diverse study body. Opportunities range from year or semester-long exchange programs to summer internships overseas, to one or two-...

By Alayna Johnson, SCS Student Advising Leader 2018-2019 Many people find lab courses even more challenging than lecture courses, especially in chemical engineering and specialized chemistry. Here are my top tips for doing your best in these difficult but rewarding courses. Prepare, prepare, prepare. The only way to have a good experience during the experiment is to prepare yourself outside of the lab. This means that your lab manual is your best friend. Study each experiment carefully and copy the procedure into your notebook with as much detail as possible. Leave blanks to record...

Your Road Map to Graduate School A series to guide you through the long, arduous process of applying to graduate school programs. How to Save Money While Applying to Graduate School One of the things that surprised me the most while I was applying to graduate school was how expensive it was and how extra costs always seemed to pop up when I thought I was finished paying for things! Despite the costs, it is important to remember that applying to graduate is an investment in your future so the price is definitely worth it. However, we are still college students and many of us don’t...