Illinois Tech can help you shape your own big picture, incredible. I’m sure you all have heard of the movie “Top Gun”, right? But did you know there’s Top Gun among law students too? It’s an award given to the winner of an exciting competition where law students test their skills as trial attorneys, Illinois Tech is home to Chicago-Kent College of Law, one of the best law schools in the country, and law students, Zoe, is a recent Top Gun. She says Chicago-Kent’s combination of exceptional professors, foundational education and real world experiences have helped her land her dream job.
– Thanks Alex, hi everyone. When I was looking for a law school, I had three priorities, cost, practical trial skills, and location. It was hard for me to find a law school that prioritized all three but when I found Chicago-Kent, I knew I hit the jackpot. Chicago-Kent is in the heart of downtown Chicago and it’s surrounded by top law firms from around the globe. From day one, I was told that I would learn practical legal skills that I could use as soon as I started working in the legal field. And my professors were right, I immediately learned skills like legal research and trial advocacy skills that I now use every day as a law clerk and as a summer associate. After my first year at Chicago-Kent, I joined the trial advocacy team and I learned how far those skills could take me. Chicago-Kent’s team is ranked third in the country by US News and with good reason. Our eight teams are couched by practicing attorneys and sitting judges from around the country, many of whom are Chicago-Kent’s alums. Everything I’ve learned about litigation, I’ve learned from my amazing coaches and advocacy professors. I was chosen to compete in the hardest mock trial competition in the country, Baylor School of Law’s, Top Gun 2021. After only having 24 hours to prepare both sides of a case by myself, I managed to beat all 15 of the top advocates in the country and took home the title of Top Gun for Chicago-Kent. Since my first year at Chicago-Kent, I’ve grown into a polished and passionate trial advocate. Luckily I’ll be starting as a trial attorney at a large civil defense firm here in downtown Chicago after graduation. The practical skills that I learned at Chicago-Kent made all the difference and I’m so proud to be a CK student. That’s my story. Back to you, Alex.
– If I need an attorney, I am calling you Zoe. Chicago-Kent College of Law is a future focused law school that prepares its students to be ready to practice on day one. With a combination of foundational skills and practical experiences, you’ll graduate ready to hit the ground running. Thanks again, Zoe.
Okay everyone, wait until you hear all the fun opportunities our next student Kelsey is gonna share with us. Kelsey is a sophomore in the College of Human Sciences, majoring in kinesiology and health. Powered by a passion for people, the College of Human Sciences is filled with opportunities to innovate. Kelsey, the stage is all yours.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. Coming here, I decided to investigate all the different majors and found kinesiology and health. Once I found the perfect major, I needed to decide on an option of interest and decided to become an occupational therapist. Iowa State has one of the world’s largest communities of human sciences. They have launched the careers of thousands of teachers, fashion designers, wellness professionals, nutritional experts, and family counselors. Which is why I know Iowa State will help me with my future career. There are over 60 clubs and organizations revolving around human sciences. I’m part of the Pre-occupational Therapy Club, where we have socials, talk about applying for graduate school and have guest occupational therapists talk about their experiences. The College of Human Sciences has a lot to offer like the fashion show. An annual event entirely run by students. I modeled in the fashion show in the spring. It was a lot of fun modeling the different designs made by Iowa State students, walking the runway and meeting new people. It was such to great experience and I hope to do it again this spring. The college also houses, the Joan Bice Underwood Tearoom. A restaurant and classroom teaching operation within Iowa State’s world renowned hospitality management program. This nonprofit restaurant is a 90 seat learning laboratory with meal service provided for faculty, staff, students and visitors. With the different majors, clubs, events and resources, Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences has so much to offer. Plus the College of Human Sciences offers $1.3 million in scholarships every year. I’ve learned so much here and I’m just getting started on my degree. Take it away, Alex.
– Kelsey, it is absolutely incredible how much you’ve done in just two short years at Iowa State. With all those experiences and a pre-health major, you’re sure to create a positive impact on people’s lives. Thanks again for that.
Okay, so while we have seen a lot of opportunities Iowa State offers academically, there are even more ways to get involved outside the classroom. Over 900 of them. Let’s meet Ally, a student club expert who has taken advantage of just about everything Iowa State has available. Ally, let’s hear all about it.
– Thanks, Alex. Hey, everyone. The second I stepped on campus, I fell in love with Iowa State. With a well known engineering program and a beautiful campus, my heart was captured. Iowa State has more than 900 student clubs and organizations. My first semester on campus, I went to Club Fest and joined 17 clubs. Club Fest is a way for students to connect with other clubs and organizations. Everything looked so fun and exciting, I couldn’t say no. On top of those 17 clubs, I was also involved in the sorority and fraternity community. Now I’m not saying to go and join 17 clubs, but I do suggest getting involved. I joined professional organizations, engineering organizations, and clubs for fun. Like learning how to swing dance. One of my favorite clubs is TEAM, the Engineering Ambassador and Mentor Program. With TEAM, I give tours through the College of Engineering to prospective students and families. And it has been the highlight of my week for the last four years. I’ve also loved being a part of the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of International Engineers. There is certainly a club for everyone and if it doesn’t exist, you can create it. Iowa State is a big school but joining clubs makes it feel smaller and gives a sense of community. Joining clubs also allows you to meet incredible people and gain skills for life after college. Giving tours for TEAM has allowed me to expand my public speaking and conversational skills. And with the Society of Women Engineers, I’m able to network with other professional women in engineering. Come find your club at Iowa State. Now back to you, Alex.
– Wow, Ally! I wouldn’t even know where to start! How exciting that you have experienced clubs to further your educational experience, clubs that allow you to give back and clubs to have some fun with friends. Sounds like you’ve had a blast. And there truly is something for every interest right here at Iowa State.
Next, we’re heading to the Jerry Colangelo Museum here on campus, where we’re gonna meet the legend himself, Mr. Jerry Colangelo. He has owned professional sports teams such as the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and was the Managing Director of USA basketball, bringing home three gold medals. He is a legendary American businessman and sports executive, and he has played a big part in helping make GCU what it is today. Matter of fact, GCU’s business college is named Colangelo College of Business. And he’s gonna take a few minutes to speak about business, being a force for good, and his experience at Grand Canyon University. Mr. Colangelo, please take it away.
– It’s great to be with all of you, and whenever I come on campus, I just kinda get a thrill on and I’m excited about what is happening, what’s transpired over the last decade, and what is still to come. Another thing that has been very important to me is that, the Christian philosophy, the Christian base that we have here at the university, I take pride in the fact that this school stands for what it does, and takes the moral position that it does on all subjects. And it wasn’t too long ago when Brian Mueller came to see me and asked me to really get involved with the school of business here at the university. And that excited me. He had a unique vision in developing a hybrid product, an online emphasis, the building, not a campus. And, of course, what rang my bell, was the fact that basketball was gonna be a calling card. And so, one of the things I could do at that point was use my relationships to try and make that happen a lot sooner than it might ordinarily would’ve happened. So within a matter of months, we were in division one. We have a tremendously bright future in basketball and all sports here because there’s a commitment. All of these things up on the wall, talking about various things that have happened. History of Phoenix over the last 50 years, it was all about making a commitment, and then following through. The growth of the school, the people coming from around the country, is indicative of people looking for exactly what we’ve put in place here. Brian Mueller’s leadership, the management team here, the organization as it’s structured, is just committed to being the very best we could be. This has been a great deal of fun for me going down memory lane, and I hope you enjoyed it. And now, back to Alex.
– Mr. Colangelo, thank you for taking some time to talk about why you are so personally passionate about Grand Canyon University. Your devotion to this university and its message to the world is present throughout campus. That was really special. Thanks again, Mr. Colangelo.
Next, we’re heading over to another beautiful part of GCU’s campus to meet Kara. Kara received her Bachelor’s of Arts in History and a minor in Athletic Coaching from the Honors College here at GCU. And she’s gonna speak on how Grand Canyon University is empowering future leaders in this world. Kara, please take it away.
– Thank you so much, Alex. After watching my older sister attend GCU and seeing the financial and academic opportunities available, I knew I wanted to give GCU a shot. You see, I graduated high school with a 4.62 GPA and a perfect score on the SAT Reading Section, finishing sixth in my class. This presented me with the opportunity to apply to Ivy League universities, as well as obtain scholarships. I wanted a challenging academic program, close to home, where I could grow as a leader, a professional, and most importantly as a Christian, and GCU provided the perfect balance. Being super involved and being encouraged to be more well-rounded, is a huge reason that I got involved on campus. I wasn’t just a student leader. I played intermural sports, I was a member of the Havocs, which is our sports student section. I did a chapel on Mondays with 7,000 other students to hear the Word of God and worship together. I took outdoor recreation trips to places like Seven Falls in Tucson. I went to as many on-campus events as possible, and I had a job with the Honors College. It was through being an RA for three years that I truly found my place at GCU and met some of the best people I know. I learned how to serve others in ways that were unexpected and behind the scenes. I learned how to put myself out there and communicate with people, and I learned how to better balance discipline with grace. While serving as RAs, a huge emphasis from the university is on how college should not just grow you academically. Dorm life should teach you how to be a good neighbor. Attending sporting events should teach you how to win and lose with grace. Playing intermural sports should teach you the value of physical health and taking mental breaks. GCU graduates should be well-rounded individuals that are prepared to serve wherever the Lord calls us. With the skills and confidence I gained during my time here at GCU, I applied for and became a White House intern during the fall of 2018, I then went on to intern for one of our Arizona senators and was hired full-time. It was with the help of several GCU faculty members who went above and beyond to help me with my applications, resume, professional development, interviews, and letters of recommendation that I was able to succeed in Washington, DC even after I had graduated and moved away. I would not be where I am today if there were not for the things I learned while here at GCU and as a student leader. But more importantly, I would not be where I am today if it were not for the community that GCU provided me. The people at this university truly care about us as students and alumni, and want to see us change the world, wherever God calls us to. I am so thankful for their impact on my life and for my time at GCU. Thanks so much for letting me share my story. Alex, back to you.
– Kara, thank you for sharing that. It’s so fun to hear the awesome stories of GCU shaping leaders like yourself and so many other students going through these doors. That was great. Thanks, Kara.
Next, we’re heading to meet the Provost of GCU, Dr. Hank Radda. There is no question that here at Grand Canyon University, there is one purpose, success of their students. And Dr. Radda is gonna take a few minutes speaking about academics with purpose, and how GCU designs programs that prepare students for their careers from day one here at GCU. Dr. Radda, please take it away.
– Hey, thank you, Alex. On behalf of our faculty, the deans and all colleges, I’d like to welcome you to GCU and share with you some of our programs. We offer over 270 programs, focused on building foundations for careers in business, healthcare and nursing, theology, science and technology, humanities, fine arts and education. Two exemplars of our programs can be seen in nursing and in engineering. GCU has been offering nursing for over 30 years, and is known as an expert in delivering nursing education. The performance of our students is top-notch. They are scoring over 96% on the NCLEX, the national exam that leads to licensure. Engineering is a new program for us, but we built it the same way as nursing, based on the outcomes, based on experience, and within our first ABET accreditation visit, we earn ABET accreditation. And our industry partners are looking to hire our graduates, and they’re coming back after the first graduating class, and hiring more. So we know that, if you develop a program with the end in mind, with industry partners, that the outcomes for students is very good. At GCU, students success is paramount. All faculty and staff are dedicated to the success of students. We really get that feeling in terms of all faculty who go above and beyond the classroom, in terms of student clubs, professional organizations, and internships with industry partners. It is this way of thinking that a student develops wholly as a person, not only in the classroom, but with the industry experience that gives us the results we look for. The other support services academically, come around students in our Academic and Career Excellence Center, so that students could get any extra help they need to be the best. Our goal at Grand Canyon University is to guide students to find their purpose so that they may become the next generation of leaders. Thank you for considering GCU. And with that, I’ll turn it back to Alex.
– Dr. Radda, that was great. The way you’re building the strongest academic student body in the Southwest while guiding students to find their purpose to become the next generation of world leaders, is inspiring. Thank you again for that. Cheers, Dr. Radda.
Okay, let’s make sure we talk about the academics at Goucher too, which is rated a top liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report. Goucher has a unique curriculum, strengths in both arts and sciences, and recently added in-demand majors. For more on the academics and passions you can explore at Goucher is Phong Le, Associate Professor of Mathematics and also an alum of the college. He has some great insight for all of us. Phong.
– Hi everyone. I’m an Associate Professor of Mathematics in The Center for Data Mathematical and Computational Sciences. I coordinate our Integrative Data Analytics Program, I’m also Co-Director of The Maker Space, and support community-based learning. I was also a student at Goucher, back in 2003, I majored in math and minored in music. To me, Goucher has always been a place where students are ready to explore, be challenged, and have big and small conversations. We ask them to make connections deeply across disciplines. I may ask my intro class students the limits of a racial diversity index or when we talk about median income instead of mean income. Other colleagues help our students explore how art has shaped how we think of and define nature. Beyond our Interdisciplinary Gen Ed Courses that we call Complex Problem Exploration, we offer over 60 different academic programs, many of which, such as the Integrative Data Analytics Program I’m part of, are meant for students with broad interests who are looking for breadth and depth in their studies. Our curriculum also contains areas of common inquiry on questions of justice. One about race, power and perspective, and another about environmental justice. Goucher also has great graduate programs, as well as premier 4+1 options with institutions like Johns Hopkins University. My current pet project is The Maker Space. I’m team teaching a course with our gallery curator on the ethics of art and artifact reproduction. Students will be challenged to think about the technical aspects of 3D scanning and printing while simultaneously asking themselves whether what they are doing is appropriative, disrespectful, insensitive, or unethical. I love teaching at Goucher. The students are creative, funny, and kind. I look forward to finding new ways to engage them and know that they’ll respond with joy and enthusiasm. Now back to you, Alex.
– Oh wow. That Maker Space is really neat. What a fun thing for students to get their hands on and experience with. Thanks Phong for letting us see what you’re up to and filling us in on all the academic opportunities students have here at Goucher. Thanks again. Okay, everyone.
At Illinois Tech, you know all about the million dollar sermon. This inspiring manifesto called upon Illinois Tech founders to create a university that will provide students from all backgrounds with an exceptional education, to prepare them to become leaders in a new industrial society. Today, cyber forensics and security student, Sofia, is studying a cutting edge topic that’s on target to lend her a great job after graduation. Let’s hear more.
– Thank you for the introduction, Alex. Hello everyone, when looking for my ideal college, I knew that I wanted to attend a school with a strong focus on technology so that I could explore my interest in computing, Illinois Tech offered the academic opportunities and student community I was looking for. As a first generation college student, the idea of higher education felt overwhelming. I wasn’t sure of how to maximize my time at Illinois Tech. My academic advisor encouraged me to apply to the accelerated master’s program and I was accept did to the cyber forensics and security track. This ended up being the perfect fit for me. I was greeted by a program that is challenging and professors have strived to make the content exciting. Through my classes, I met students from different countries and cultures, each with unique perspectives to learn from. Affording education was another concern of mine. Founded with a mission to provide a relevant college experience that is affordable for all Chicagoans, Illinois Tech offers several forms of financial aid, such as a Chicago Difference, which covers the cost of attendance for Chicagoans in need. Thanks to the financial aid that I receive, I’m able to focus time outside of class on student organizations and volunteer work. Illinois Tech is committed to providing quality programs, not just to college students, but to high school scholars as well. I’ve worked as part of the pre-college team to launch the Illinois Tech DevUp Scholars Program, an initiative focused on equipping high school students from Chicago Southside with leadership skills, through social justice and stem entrepreneurship opportunities. With the help of my professors and peers, Illinois Tech’s hands on curriculum has helped me grow as a team member and future part of the cybersecurity workforce. That’s all for me, back to you Alex.
– What an amazing story Sofia, thank you. At Illinois Tech, you’ll receive an excellent education plus really cool experiential learning opportunities that lead to professional success, with fantastic scholarship packages, a personalized career plan and hands on experiences, it all adds up to one high value degree. Thanks again Sofia.
What’s it like to experience a world that knows no bounds? At Illinois Tech, students have the free them and support to follow their passions. Take business administration student Ahmad, he’s working to launch a startup plus he’s a member of the basketball team, president of student cultural groups, and had two great internships. Ahmad says he knew Illinois Tech will provide him with the best resources to pursue all his goals, Ahmad.
– Thanks Alex. What’s up everybody. When it came down to making the college decision, there was no doubt I imagined being at a place with endless opportunities. That’s when doors open here, at the only business school in Chicago with the tech focus. A chance to stay close to home with the Camras Scholarship and all the necessary resources to embrace my life journey. I truly believe the universe brought me to Illinois Tech. My academic start here exposed me to so many elements of the business world to finance, marketing, data analytics, and much more. Through time, Kaplan Institute inspired me to co-found the start up Beyond the Soul. And our company has a vision to improve physical therapy practices and hope for all through the use of wearable technology. This lifestyle has prepared me to use business and tech to leverage my passions. It also has served a way to challenge me to my core. I’ve never wanted things to be easy at Illinois Tech. I’ve worked to add my own twist to solving the world’s problems. The next thing I knew, I saw myself as a four year starter on the men’s basketball team, leading our world languages and coaches club as president, further in my career interning at BMO Harris Bank and NBC Sports. I’ve applied what I’ve learned to every aspect of my life. The art of business is never ending, constantly changing, propelling me forward. Just think about what moves you, ’cause I know Illinois Tech’s innovative learning environment, is the vehicle that drives me. So continue to follow my story. I’m at a place where there are no bounds for me to showcase my creativity, leadership, and charity towards myself and every single person around me. Taking it back to you Alex, thank you.
– Wow, now you’re making me feel like an underachiever Ahmad. There is definitely an art to fitting together all of life’s puzzle pieces with an exceptional education, mentorship and hands on experience.
Okay everyone, let’s jump into the colleges at Iowa State University. Let’s head over to the College of Engineering. Kara, a sophomore in industrial engineering is here to tell us about Iowa State’s nationally ranked engineering programs. Kara, welcome to “The College Tour”. Please take it away.
– Hey, everyone! Thanks for that awesome introduction, Alex. When it came time to decide a career path, everything sounded interesting to me. I knew I wanted a career that gave me the opportunity and tools to help people and use my love of problem solving and creativity. After researching dozens of career paths, my brother, studying civil engineering at Iowa State, suggested I look into industrial engineering. I’ve never looked back. The faculty and professors at Iowa State really care about the students. Last year, I was overwhelmed. Moving away from home, starting a challenging major at a large university and adapting to remote learning all during a global pandemic. However, I was blown away by the faculty in my department. Before school started, I attended a new student zoom with current students and professors in my department. The engineering department is amazing about connecting with students through office hours and always being available for questions. Outside of the department, I use the supplemental instruction services and tutoring from Iowa State. Research is another exciting opportunity through the College of Engineering. This year, I’m an undergraduate research assistant for the Human Factors and Ergonomics Lab. This research focuses on engineering the medical field and creating opportunities for life saving advancements. From my experience so far, it is no wonder that Iowa State’s College of Engineering consistently ranks among the top 25 programs at public universities. Iowa State boasts both quantity of students and quality. With 1,400 companies recruiting College of Engineering students, graduates have a 93% placement rate within six months of graduation and a starting salary of over $69,000. The College of Engineering and engineering clubs at Iowa State have helped me to succeed socially, academically and professionally. That’s my experience so far at Iowa State. Go, Cyclones and back to you, Alex.
– Kara, your story highlights a student focused community and your enthusiasm for Iowa State is very apparent. The research you’re involved within sounds amazing. And we’re eager to see the positive impacts it will have on the medical industry. Congratulations on all you’re doing, Kara! Take care.