Why CollegeChat?

I created CollegeChat to share my personal experiences with those seeking admittance into college. As a current student at Illinois State University, my experiences are specific to my respective university. I have discussed topics unique to my university, topics that are more general, and have done so from the point of view of a current student. While I was in the college searching process I would have loved to view a blog that had a focus on a desired college of mine. The college search process is a long, stressful time in a person's life and is also quite a monumental decision, as it will influence your life in a number of different ways. Opposed to visiting a college first hand and asking the students' opinions on particular topics, my blogs are meant to expedite the entire process by providing this college student insight, at the convenience of your home. In relation to Illinois State, there is much about the college that does not jump out at you the first time you step foot on campus, which is where my blogs come into play. I focus on the areas of the university, in which are not as well known by providing valuable insight about Illinois State University, and the community that the university calls home. If I am able to make even one persons college search less stressful then I will be making a difference, which was my ultimate motive when I decided upon writing these blogs. Your time in college will go quicker than you may imagine, therefore making a well-educated decision on where you will be attending is critical. There is much to consider, many questions to ask, and only a short amount of time.

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Important Facts to Know About Illinois State University

Illinois State University is a large school in terms of population, however has a small school feel in regards to the centralized makeup of the classroom buildings around the quad. As stated in my blog post, "What can be found on, and around the ISU campus," I reiterated the close proximity majority of the campus buildings, from the student recreational facility to nearby campus-run dining centers, every service a college student may require can be found on or near the hear of the ISU campus. Also only a short walk from the quad and you will find yourself in Uptown, Normal; a quaint, yet busy location filled with shopping, restaurants, and much more. Constitution trail, an amazing paved path dissects Uptown and provides a relaxing escape to clear your head and simply take a walk.

Sporting events here at Illinois State allow for students to escape from their daily routines of studying, working, and sleeping; thus enabling them to come together as a student body, and cheer ISU student-athletes on to victory. As stated in a past blog of mine entitled "Sports: The stressed out college student retreat,"the energetic feeling found in college sporting arenas is unlike anything else. These environments provide for a sense of belonging, not only in regards to the team the crowd is cheering for, but because you are there among your fellow student body and faculty. Its a sense of community that is shown at sporting events such as these, and is one of the feelings I will miss most of all upon graduating this upcoming spring.

Illinois State University will not force you to study, to become involved in clubs/organizations, or to be proactive in finding a job during or post-graduation. However, the university will provide you with all the necessary tools to accomplish anything you set your mind to. The rest is up to you, as life will continue moving whether you are ready for it or not. Illinois State has been my home for the past three years, and has taught me more about the world, as well as myself, than I could have ever dreamed. There is no better moment than the
now, and now is the time to state your passion, and make it happen.

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What Can My College Do For My Career?

College is the bridge in ones life that will prepare an individual for a career in the real world. Speaking on my own behalf, the experiences I have had thus far have given me the confidence I need to take on corporate America upon graduation this upcoming May. However, education alone is not enough to ensure success in finding a job post-graduation. It takes countless hours, applications, and interviews to find the right job for you. This is where the utilization of your college's career center is incredibly vital. Here at Illinois State, our career center does a tremendous job in setting up part-time, internship, and full-time career fairs that promote local and national companies seeking out new, young talent. Companies seeking talent in a myriad of areas attend these fairs, and provide an outstanding amount of opportunities to current, and soon to be graduated students. Attached is a link to Illinois States Career Center page (http://careercenter.illinoisstate.edu), which offers services to aid in being hired, reviewing student resume's and providing critiques, promoting events, and much more. Every university strives to have a productive career center, as job placement upon graduation is a huge statistic that can either reflect positively or negatively upon a college. Career Center's will also provide counseling services, which will answer any and all questions regarding the job-placement process, provide advice, connect students with company recruiters, in addition to many more helpful resources.

A college's career center is one of the most useful resources offered. The personnel's main purpose is to help you acquire a job, a task in which they are incredibly well skilled in. Majority of veteran personnel who work for the career center will have personal relationships with company recruiters, managers, and employees, all of which are incredibly vital to become familiar with as you embark in the hiring process. The key is to be aware of the services your college offers to you, and using those resources to your advantage.

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DoubleMap Bus Tracker

Here at Illinois State University, there are a number of university run housing facilities that can be found roughly a 10-15 minute walk off the quad; a location where majority of the classroom buildings are found. My freshman year I lived in Wright hall, which is one of the three buildings referred to as Tri-Towers. The walk from Wright hall was a solid
10-15 minutes off the quad, which made the trek to class every morning more and more difficult as the weather conditions outside worsened the closer to winter we got. The bus system here at Illinois State would pick up and drop off students from Tri-Towers and the quad, thus eliminating the walk to campus. The more I began taking the bus the more I desired to have a way of knowing exactly when to expect the bus to arrive, even more accurately than the scheduled bus time; because come on who wants to stand outside in the snow if the bus you're waiting for is coming a few minutes late? I sure didn't. One day, my friend referred me to an app, which tracks the buses and gives an exact location. The app is called "DoubleMap," and was just the app I was looking for to support my desire not to walk to class in below-zero weather conditions.

This app saved me countless times from the exposure to sever cold, and because of it I am forever grateful. No student should be found without this app, especially if that student lives in either Tri-Towers or Cardinal Court here at Illinois State. The walk from these buildings, especially in winter, can easily be avoided by using public transportation, and if public transportation is your decision, you can't be caught dead, or frozen, without the DoubleMap app prioritized on your home screen.

"Choosing the Right College," by Ashley Nguyen--Under further analysis

For those who would like to ready Ashley's work please do so at:
http://theodysseyonline.com/whitman/choosing-the-right-college/183857

Ashley's blog hits right on the same target in which I have aimed my blog. Ashley focuses her attention at informing high school seniors of some fairly large concerns that are sure to be on the minds of those students looking into further education post-graduation. She encourages her high school target reader to forget their prior conceptions of what they want from their college, and instead to focus on a broader picture, to remain open to other options aside from their initial college choices. She then switches gears to what these college prospects should weigh into their college selection process, which includes what the school can offer you, how much independence you would like, what the student life is like, and finally she leaves an encouraging conclusion to have fun during the entire process.

What the article is lacking

The college selection process for high school seniors is a long, tedious endeavor with many aspects to consider along the way. I believe everything Ashley stated was spot on and should certainly be considered by college prospects, however in addition to a few other areas as well.

1. Tuition is the most important factor when it comes to the college selection process. Before you are able to strongly consider a college and what that school can offer you check and see how much yearly tuition is. I personally found myself falling in love with a school, only to find out I could not attend due to financials. 
2. The programs in which a college offers should be a top area to consider as you will want to attend a school that can provide you with the education you desire. For students who are undeclared this still is applicable to you, however can be looked into further during your freshman/sophomore years once you have a better understanding of your future ambitions

What I love about this article

Ashley provided an amazing overview of the college consideration/searching process. In an decision with so much to consider she was able to hit some large key points, and did so in a concisely worded manor. This was a great read and was refreshing to view from another's perspective.

How to Balance Your Schedule to Optimize Your College Experience

Attending college is a privilege; a luxury not to be abused or taken lightly. The greatest difficulty I have encountered during my time spent thus far in college is the management of my time. The ability to organize myself academically, professionally, and socially has be challenging yet incredibly rewarding. Living a fast paced, high-energy lifestyle has taught me the value of time, an attribute that cannot be learned simply sitting in a lecture hall from 9:35-10:50 Monday and Wednesday.

Ryan O'Grady's blog post "Balancing a College Lifestyle," posted on September 29, 2015 reiterated the necessity to place one's full-most attention on classwork and being prepared for your academic obligations. A belief I am in no way trying to refute, as our performance within the classroom is the primary reflection on our overall college performance. I am a strong advocate for applying yourself outside of the classroom, through joining organizations and becoming as involved as your schedule will allow. However, what I believe the article was lacking was that in regards to the social experiences one must account for on the weekends. Weekends here at Illinois State University must be carefully accounted for and planned to allow for ample time prior to the night beginning to complete any and all course work in order to go out, relieve stress, network/meet new people, and truly make your time spent in college enjoyable. College is a balancing act of class, work, student organizations, and social/down time, and through careful planning you will find mastery in the art of time-management and reap the rewards in return for your efforts.

College goes quicker than you would expect, don't waist time, but plan it, and you will have the best 4+ years of your life.

If you would like to reference Ryan O'Grady's blog post "Balancing a College Lifestyle," please do so at http://theodysseyonline.com/eastern-illinois/balancing-college-lifestyle/177235

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Watterson Dining Center--Under Review

When one is searching for the right college there is much to consider. What majors are offered, how big is the campus, how much is tuition, where will I live, etc. However, never once did I question what food I would inevitably her eating on a daily basis my entire freshman year of school. This topic, in my opinion, is heavily overlooked and yet, an incredibly important aspect to consider. Therefore, my review on Watterson's Dining Center will hopefully shed some light on what a year of eating dorm food is truly like.

The vast array of food selections found within the dining center is quite overwhelming, at least so you thought. After the first couple of weeks of eating around the dining center you will soon come to the realization that the food does not quite have the same taste it once did. The pizza is not quite as crisp, the soup is not quite as palatable, and the burgers are bland. The food quickly loses its luster and you will soon be looking for more creative ways to surprise your palate. You will begin looking up the daily menu off of the university website for the dish of the day, which will make or break your meal for the evening. I came to the point where I would choose to eat out over condemning myself to another night of lukewarm pizza and gummy pasta with watered down tomato sauce. Don't get me wrong, I have had my fair share of quality meals, but with even the variety of foods offered at the Watterson Dining Center there comes a certain time were that variety just isn't enough.