Okay, now we’ll meet up with Alex out on the quad. He’s a junior majoring in global communication. And he grew up in Logan. There’s nobody better suited to describe life as an Aggie and this tight-knit community with Utah State at its core. From one Alex to another, take it away.
– Thanks Alex. Hello everyone, and welcome to Logan, Utah! My hometown and the beautiful home of the Utah State Aggies. Utah State University is the lifeblood of this community. There’s a feeling of excitement and pride associated with being part of it. I grew up here taking Sunday walks on campus, playing piano recitals in USU’s concert halls, and cheering on the Aggies at Maverick Stadium and at The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. The electric energy I felt each time I visited campus, made it clear to me that when I grew up, I wanted to be part of the Aggie family. The Aggie family is iconic. It begins with the friends that you make during your time here on campus, and extends far beyond that to anyone who has ever been associated with the university. It’s the people that you meet and the memories you create together that you remember most from your time in college. And there is so much to do here, both on and off campus to make memories. Getting involved in the traditions here at Utah State is something that I’ve looked forward to doing my entire life. One of my favorites is the Luminary. Where the university president leads the incoming freshmen class on a lantern procession to the quad, where they gather in the shape of an Aggie A, and kick off the four-year adventure that is to come. On the quad you’ll find Weeks of Welcome, movies and concerts, food truck fairs, and on homecoming night, hundreds of students line these sidewalks to share a midnight kiss a top of this block A to become true Aggies. We’ve also got The Howl, which is one of the most thrilling college Halloween parties this side of the Mississippi. There’s plenty to do off-campus as well. Logan is situated between two beautiful mountain ranges, making it an ideal outdoor destination in any season. There are two ski resorts less than an hour away from campus and tons of trails for hiking and mountain biking. My friends and I love to take the 15-minute drive up Logan Canyon, for a day on the beach of Bear Lake, followed by our famous raspberry shake. USU’s outdoor recreation program has all the equipment you could ever need, and they also host outdoor adventure trips. Aside from being an outdoor paradise, Logan is also an arts Mecca. On the same historic block downtown are three stunning theaters, where plays, musicals and operas are produced year round. Plenty of students participate in these productions. You’ll also find art galleries and concerts and venues downtown. I’ve been so inspired by the art scene here in Logan, that I’ve even started writing a musical of my own. Well, there’s a little taste of Logan for you. I hope you can come see it for yourself. Go Aggies! And back to you, Alex.
– Let me know when you’re holding auditions for that musical, Alex, it’s great to get a feel for Utah State, from the perspective of a student and a local. I hope I count as a member of the Aggie family now, that was fantastic, take care.
Now, you’ve heard about the beach. So it’s time to head over to Narragansett town beach where we will meet Emma. Emma has gone coast to coast coming from California and choosing to study in the ocean state. With the shore just 10 minutes from campus, students are able to experience all four seasons while spending time at the beach and living the dream. Emma is so excited to tell us more. Off to you, Emma.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. URI is such a beautiful campus with amazing views, sunsets and more. The village of Kingston as well as the beach town of Narragansett, allow URI students to reap the benefits of a coastal campus. The shining star of this area is the beach as well as the caring coastal community. One of my absolute favorite things to do is grab some delicious food from one of the many Rhode Island favorites around town, like Brickley’s Ice Cream or Iggy’s Doughboys & Chowder House, and sit by the seawall with some friends. Thankfully, this is so easy to do because the beach is only a short 15-minute car ride from campus. There are also so many fun water sports to enjoy nearby. The URI Sailing Center offers kayaking and paddle boarding, which I had the opportunity to experience this past fall with incoming first year students. I even went surfing for the first time at Narragansett town beach with my best friends during Easter weekend. Many students live on campus and head to Narragansett to make memories. However, so many students also love to call the town of Narragansett their home. This past year, I lived down the line in an off-campus house with my three other roommates in a beautiful seaside community. Although living in the residence halls was an unforgettable experience, there’s not many people who can say they lived in a beach house during college. I enjoy living in this caring and close-knit neighborhood where I get to see kids making snowmen in the yard during winter. And I’m greeted at the bagel place down the street by name with a smile every Sunday morning. Calling Narragansett home makes it pretty easy to say. I’m living the dream. When I moved here from California three years ago, I would have never expected to love the state as much as I do. I was so enticed by going to a school by the beach, experiencing all four seasons, and getting to try new things. My time at URI has been such an amazing experience that I now plan to stay on the East Coast for graduate school and beyond. I fell in love with New England and I cannot wait to continue my education and fulfill my dream of becoming a physician assistant. Well, that’s my experience living in this beautiful town. Back to you, Alex.
– Thanks, Emma. It looks like URI has made an East Coast girl out of you. What an incredible opportunity URI students have being so close to the beach and also being able to live in some beautiful houses. I can’t wait to go try some Rhode Island classics. Maybe I’ll go check out Iggy’s first. Take care, Emma
Let’s head over to the Funk Aces Library on the South Quad now to meet Chase. A senior majoring in agricultural and consumer economics. U of I students can choose from over 150 majors. And they’re encouraged to carve out their own academic path based on their interests and goals. So you get the benefits of a really big school, with lots of options and with individualized attention from professors who know you. Another cool thing about the U of I is that it’s a land-grant university. Which essentially means that it was founded with the goals of serving society and having true impact. It’s in their charter and woven into the academics and research across campus. Chase, please take it away.
Thanks Alex. What’s up guys? So 40 days – that’s the number of excused absences I had in my senior year in high school. It was largely due to my involvement in extracurricular activities. But other days, I spent working on my family’s farm. And honestly, if I could choose between sitting in a classroom all day or being outside working with my hands, I would choose work each and every time. That’s why, when I decided to go to college, I wanted to go somewhere that had a good mixture of being classroom and then application-based learning. U of I has always been known for having a first-class education right here in the state of Illinois. And so I knew that it would challenge me. And allow me to find things that I was passionate about to run with it.
I’m an agricultural and consumer economics major concentrating in agribusiness markets and management. And I chose ACE because I grew up on a family farm raising hogs, cattle, and row crop and has always been involved with the business side of the industry. ACE has greatly expanded my basic knowledge of economics and has allowed me to apply it in so many different ways. Plenty of classes in ACE provide that bridge that I was seeking between classroom and real world situations.
U of I’s college of ACE is also known for having one of the best career fairs and some of the greatest internship opportunities in the state. Some recruiters visit the U of I and nowhere else due to the amazing pool of qualified individuals that they’ll find right here on campus. Obviously, the more hands-on experiences I could get the better. So the first chance I got, I got my full suit, grabbed my resumes and hit the career fair. I talked to dozens of recruiters that day and ended up landing a marketing internship with John Deere at their global headquarters in Moline, Illinois.
My internship started the summer after my sophomore year. And it felt great, putting those hours of learning into use with a fortune 100 company. It was hard to leave after that summer. But I was lucky enough to come back the next summer with another marketing internship. This ended up landing me a full-time offer with Deere that I accepted in my senior year. After graduation, I’ll be working for John Deere in their Marketing Rep Development Program.
I give credit to the U of I. They took a student who wasn’t a big fan of the classroom and gave me opportunities to learn the best way that I can through real world experiences and hands-on lessons. If you’re like I was my senior year, you might think that college has isn’t right for you. But you just got to find the college that fits you and your learning style. And then from there, you can really go achieve your goals. Back to you, Alex.
Chase, great job. Your story really points to both the fantastic academic possibilities here and the hands-on, real-world opportunities that prepare you to have an impact on the world. Good luck on that great job you landed. Cheers Chase.
Now taking center stage, we have Sophie Paul. This is a campus of creators and makers. The arts abound at Puget Sound. And Sophie is a senior majoring in cello performance and is excited to pull back the curtain on what it’s like being a student at a conservatory caliber school of music. Sophie, you’re on.
– Thanks Alex. Hi there everyone. I’m coming from the university of Puget Shnifet concert hall, one of our incredible performing arts spaces here on campus. When I was looking at colleges, I knew that I wanted to be involved in music, but I wasn’t sure to what extent. Music is one of my favorite things, but I didn’t want it to be the only thing I could do in college. Puget Sound offers a robust music program without sacrificing a strong liberal arts education. This has opened up many opportunities for me as a musician and student. One thing that I appreciate most is that you don’t have to be a music major or minor to fully participate or access scholarships. So talented students from all areas of study come together and ensembles and classes. Through the school of music, I’ve had the opportunity to build a vibrant musical life on campus that is also deeply connected to my social relationships. This includes playing in symphony orchestra, chamber ensembles, singing in the Adelphian concert choir and working as a peer advisor for many of our first year music students. The arts of Puget Sound also offers rich and diverse visual and theater arts programs which are similarly open to all regardless of major. We have nearly a dozen beautiful creative spaces and studios across campus, including a student run art gallery, creating an environment for students to try lots of things, exploring many areas of interest. The school of music has transformed me as a musician and student, and has opened to many exciting pathways after graduation. I’ve had so many incredible opportunities here and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. That’s all from me for now, back to you Alex.
– Sophie, that was amazing. Your passion is palpable and you make it look effortless. Thank you for sharing your incredible experiences with us. We can’t wait to see one of your upcoming performances.
Now we’re gonna hear from Elena Becker, who is exactly what the university hopes its students become a successful and engaged alum. Elena wholeheartedly believes once a logger, always a logger and she’s going to tell us why, Elena.
– Thanks Alex. Hi everyone. I’m a proud recent alum of Puget Sound, where I graduated with a bachelor’s in sociology and anthropology and minors in French and global development studies. I loved my time here at Puget Sound. I studied abroad twice in Malaysian Borneo in Madagascar, played varsity lacrosse all four years. Led orientation groups and presented my own independent research at national and international conferences. When I think back on my college experience, what really stands out is that Puget Sound gave me the space to figure out who I am and what I care about. It gave me community and mentors and confidence to try some things and fail and try more things and succeed. And ultimately to affirm myself as a leader, a scholar and a person. That approach pays off after graduation. Puget Sound has more than 40,000 alumni worldwide, which is great for networking in the Pacific Northwest and well beyond. Our graduates work at interesting and successful places, like Nike, Boeing, the CDC, Netflix, NPR, apple, and thousands more. For many of us, me included, grad school is a part of that journey. And Puget Sound has a more than 80% admit rate to medical school, 90% to law school and is in the top 10% of universities nationwide whose graduates go on to earn PhDs. Now I’m a master’s student studying public administration at the university of Washington. And I’m so grateful for my undergraduate experience. Because of my time at Puget Sound, I know I’m better positioned to be successful in this new chapter. I love this community and I really can’t wait for you to learn more about it. So Alex, take it away.
– Elena, I can tell how much you love your Alma mater. Puget Sound has an impressive roster of graduates who are doctors and ambassadors, tech entrepreneurs and CEOs and I’m excited to hear where you find your place. Best of luck on your new adventure. Okay everyone I told you the university of Puget Sound was a special place and hopefully it’s clear why and how it changes lives. I wanna thank all the exceptional students, faculty, and alumni for generously giving their time to share the heart of Puget Sound and what makes it tick. What a unique university set in a truly unmatched location. So that’s it for me. Now it’s up to you all to go learn more about the university of Puget Sound for yourself and hopefully we’ll see you on campus real soon. Cheers, everybody.
All right, everyone. Let’s go meet Joel over at Hillside Hall. Joel is a junior who’s a Rhode Island native and is studying mechanical engineering. Joel is gonna talk to us about his experiences meeting all kinds of people while at URI and how participating in clubs sports led him to some unexpected places. With more than 30 multicultural clubs on campus, Joel and other students are able to interact with so many different people. Let’s hear from Joel now.
– Thanks, Alex. I’m excited to share with you all my URI experience and how the people I’ve met along the way have been some of the best parts of my college career. Being born in Jamaica and becoming a Rhode Island resident at age four, attending my state’s flagship institution was an easy choice. I want to meet all different types of people with various backgrounds and experiences. And by making URI my home, I’ve definitely been able to do that. When I first started at URI, I was placed in a Living and Learning Community or an LLC. These are communities of students who live together and share the same academic interests. And in my case, I was placed with other engineering students. While it was beneficial for me to connect with others in my classes, I found myself hanging out more with pharmacy majors right here. I wasn’t expecting to become close with students outside my program, but it was my first lesson in realizing that URI was gonna provide me with exactly what I wanted, the opportunity to connect with others who are different from me. Getting involved in club sports was another way I was able to connect with people who had different experiences from me. I was a member of the 2019 club volleyball team that won the national championships in Denver, Colorado. Being able to travel with my team, compete for a national championship, and do it all in my first year was incredible. I’ve always had a competitive streak and club sports gave me an outlet for that even with a rigorous curriculum like mechanical engineering. Through my time on the team, I’ve been able to build friendships that have been strong ever since. The students I’ve met aren’t the only people who have had a significant impact on my time at URI. I’ve also been able to benefit from incredible mentorship through my involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers or NSBE. In this organization, I met two mentors who helped me as I navigated the URI engineering curriculum. I first met Tailynn after she presented at a NSBE event at URI. She gave me the opportunity to travel to the national convention in my first year because she saw my potential. I’ve really been able to find myself at URI. I realized that my interests can extend beyond my major. And by living on campus and getting involved in every opportunity I can, I’ve been able to help others along the way. That’s a little bit about me. Now back to you, Alex.
– Thanks, Joel. Sounds like URI is a community of students and alumni who all wanna challenge themselves and get out of their comfort zone. You’ve had some amazing URI experiences and we cannot wait to see more of what you are gonna do next. Take care.
Okay, Everyone. Kate, a senior in the Chinese flagship program is over at Lippitt Hall, home to the university’s honors program. Students in the honors program study the important issues facing our society and seek innovative solutions to the challenges they encounter. The Chinese flagship program is teaching Kate to be proficient in Mandarin Chinese and allows her to have so many different global learning experiences. Kate sure has an incredible story to tell. So let’s hear from her. Take it away.
– Thanks, Alex. Hi, everyone. In Mandarin, I just said, “Welcome to URI and my name is Kate.” I was originally born in Seoul, South Korea. At the age of four months old, I was adopted and raised in North Smithfield, Rhode Island. As a Korean-American with French-Canadian parents, I’ve always had an immense passion for travel, languages, and culture. And I knew I wanted to attend a university that not only allowed me to further explore these interests, but to expand them into skills and knowledge applicable towards a career in international relations and law. And that’s when I was introduced to the Chinese flagship program here at URI. The Chinese flagship program is one of only 12 other programs in the entire country and offers an intensive, holistic, and incredibly rewarding opportunity for students to achieve a superior level of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. But aside from this, my time as a Ram has also allowed me to travel all over East Asia, all simultaneously earning credit towards my degrees. The URI’s partnership with Korea University, I was able to study abroad in Seoul, South Korea, and attend their international winter campus where I took Korean classes and explore more of my native heritage and culture. Thanks to the help of URI’s Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities, I was awarded both the Boren and Gilman national scholarships, as well as the Rhode Island Demers language scholarship There are a total of more than $44,000 towards my study abroad program in Taiwan. Even beyond this, being selected as a Boren scholar, it means that I’ll have a job with the federal government, working in national security after I graduate, an incredible start to my professional career after college. But if studying abroad perhaps isn’t for you, URI still has countless opportunities for all of its students. Take the honors program for example, open to students from all departments and disciplines, the honors program not only offers students with unexpanded course selection and early enrollment opportunities, but also allows students the opportunity to conduct research or other scholarly and creative work for academic credit through the honors project. Becoming a Ram has provided me with countless opportunities that have allowed for my professional, academic, and personal growth. And I have no doubt that it will do the exact same for you. Well, that’s my story. Now back to you, Alex.
– Wow. Kate, thank you for sharing. It’s amazing to hear about the experiences that URI students can have because of the university’s global mindset with over 700 plus study away opportunities. Your work with URI’s Office of National Fellowships and Academic Opportunities is surely leading you to some big places. From the experience you’ve had abroad to the work you’ve done here in Kingston, you’ll surely be able to change the world and I can’t wait to see what you do. Take care.
It’s now time to go to one of URI’s 26 student residence halls and meet Sonika. Sonika is a student from Dubai, United Arab Emirates who chose to leave her home country and study pharmacy at URI. Sonika, along with other international students from 76 different nations have made URI their home. Let’s hear from Sonika about her journey at URI.
– Hi, everyone. I decided to fly almost 7,000 miles to pursue the six-year doctorate of pharmacy program at the University of Rhode Island. I was born and raised in Dubai, UAE. And as much as I love my city, it had started to become my comfort zone. So I knew I was ready for the next step. While it did take time to settle in, the URI community offered nothing but kindness, acceptance, and support. When I think of home, I think of a safe space where I feel supported and have people to go to in times of need. And URI is exactly that. While it’s not required to live on campus, I would highly recommend that you do. I made some of my best friends in my major through the Pharmacy Living and Learning Community or LLCs. Everyone in my classes lived in my residence hall. Each morning, we would wait for each other in the lobby. Then get a delicious breakfast at the dining hall. Walk to all our classes. Grab lunch together. My personal favorite is the sushi. And then we would study in the lounges until dinner where we’d enjoy the amazing stir fry station or different options at the deli. So essentially, living on campus is just a massive sleep over with all your best friends. As I was adjusting to URI, I started to become more involved. I joined two on-campus jobs, which means it was only a convenient walk away from work. And I also joined clubs and organizations, including Lambda Kappa Sigma, the professional pharmaceutical sorority that helped me meet my best friends and form a family. On the weekends, we would meet up and attend group fitness classes like yoga or Zumba. As I received a lot of support that helped ease my transition, I thought it only right to repay the generosity in the form of mentorship. I’m the Resident Academic Mentor or RAM for the College of Pharmacy’s Living and Learning Community. So I actually live in the same residence hall as our first year students. I support their transition to college life by sending them helpful newsletters and holding programs like resume workshops, ice cream socials, study abroad info sessions, and more, giving them a chance to get to know each other and also feel more comfortable at URI. I absolutely love being a RAM and getting to know my students every year. Watching them become more involved and take up leadership positions is such a rewarding, full circle moment for me. I feel more confident in the way I carry myself, my ability to manage time, be productive, lead a crowd, and facilitate discussions with my students, and also find a balance between work, academics, social life and me time. I feel like I’ve come a long way and I have URI to thank for my growth. So thank you for letting me share my story with you. What’s next, Alex?
– Thanks, Sonika. Living on campus really seems to have had a positive impact on your time at URI. These Living and Learning Communities brings students together and help them make Kingston their home. The support services and the people students meet, give them a way to make URI their true home away from home. Good luck in your fifth year of pharmacy school. Take care, Sonika.
The University of Rhode Island is located in the southern village of Kingston. And it’s 14,572 students are able to explore the smallest state in the country while having some big adventures. Let’s go meet Brian, a senior secondary education and history double major who calls Rhode Island home. Brian is gonna show us how he takes advantage of everything the state has to offer, from the top of the state, down to the southern coast. Take it away, Brian.
– What’s going on, everyone? I’ve lived in Rhode Island most of my life. So I’ve spent a lot of my time exploring the most beautiful, entertaining and tastiest places that the state has to offer. This makes me a bit of an expert on everything Rhode Island. Going just beyond the borders of our extraordinary college town is a 25-minute drive to one of the most iconic places, Newport Rhode Island. I’ve spent countless days with my friends going to Newport to hike the seawall, taking the views on ocean drive with its iconic mansions, shopping on the wharf, or eating at one of the best restaurants right on the harbor like Diego’s. People travel from all over to see Newport and for good reason. While Southern Rhode Island is guaranteed to win you over, my favorite part about going to school here is how our campus is located just 30 minutes from our state’s capital, Providence. Providence is a city that prides itself on its amazing food, art, and the culture. When I come to Providence, I know I’m going to have an incredible experience. The best part about Providence is that it’s a city all about the people who love the place that they live. I love going to so many different spots like Federal Hill, Wickenden Street and Thayer Street, which are filled with authentic Italian food, food trucks, and amazing street food with local vendors. Spending a day in Providence can take you to so many different places, from spending a day shopping at the mall, going to art museums, catching a concert at The Strand, and exploring the ins and outs of the city. Well, I could probably go on for hours about living near the clear beaches of Narragansett or the perks of being 30 minutes from a beautiful city, I think the greatest part about going to school in Rhode Island is the fact that you can drive anywhere in the state in under an hour. Think about that. You’ll be only a short drive from some of the most interesting, unique, and beautiful places ever. This has great benefits for URI students for their academics and internships too. As an education major, looking to learn more about the process of working in an urban school setting, I have the resources to pick and work at nearly any school in the entire state. The ability to explore so many different towns all within an hour from campus is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. Living in Rhode Island and going to school in the ocean state has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. And I’m looking forward to exploring it even more. Thanks so much and back to you, Alex.
– Thanks, Brian. Being able to travel anywhere in the state in just a short amount of time is something that is really unique here to Rhode Island. Brian, you have definitely taken advantage of all the state has to offer. And it sounds like there’s still more left for you to explore. Have fun.
All right, everyone, let’s meet up with the one and only Tyler, a junior business administration major, you can find him showing off his moves on the court in the new Screaming Eagles arena. but even more impressive is his list of student organization involvement. Tyler, can’t wait to tell you about student life and all the opportunities to get involved. I’m throwing the ball to you Tyler.
– I appreciate the intro Alex. At the University of Southern Indiana, I’m a long way from home and that’s something I’ve always wanted to experience. Originally, I thought it’d be near impossible balancing my academic, athletic and social life. But once I set foot on campus, I found the resources and clubs that would help us be successful both in and outside the classroom. I’m part of the men’s basketball team and the president of the black student union on campus. I can tell you firsthand that the love from the students and fans all around the community is genuine and welcoming. From academics to service clubs to even Greek life, there’s something for all students on the campus. I’m even a part of the Authentically Me Natural Hair Club. You don’t have to be a collegiate athlete to be active at USI. At the Recreation, Fitness and Wellness Center There are countless ways to get active in the 100,000 square foot facility. You don’t wanna be inside, no problem. Check out a bike or hit one of the trails. There’s also intramural leagues to choose from to meet other people in break a sweat. They even offer a monthly Eagle perks program where students receive free or discounted tickets to activities all around the community. Last month was laser tag and trust me, we had a blast. Finally, my academics is way more than being in the classroom and studying for an exam. In the Romain College of Business we are connected to a network of business professionals within immunity. We are introduced to countless guest speakers across the country and even the world who are willing to share their stories and the steps that they have taken to reach their success. I’ve soaked up so much knowledge and built family caliber relationships while being at USI. Maybe you should try it too. That’s all I’ve got. Thanks Alex.
– Thank you Tyler for that glimpse of what it’s like to be a college athlete, but also proving it’s important to get involved and make a difference through the countless organizations on campus. I have a feeling your alma mater will be asking you to share your alumni success story in years to come. Carry on and cheers Tyler.