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• Winter, snow, and thermal gloves!

  Mar 6, 2013

  130 views

  Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn.
  C. S. Lewis

  As an international student, before I came to college, I had never experienced icy winters. I was used to hot and humid weather, and part of the reason why I chose to attend the University of Illinois may have something to do with getting to touch snow for the first time in my life.

  Before I started my freshman year here, I used to imagine what snow would feel like. From what I saw in the media, I imagined that snow was white, soft, and dry. I saw people dancing and running around in the snow, and felt jealous that I couldn’t experience those sensations myself. As I started to learn more about the United States though, I realized that very few people enjoyed winter as much as me.  Frequently, my friends would remind that winters in Champaign

• Student Blogger: Leave the Jeans at Home

  Feb 11, 2013

  187 views

  By Bentic Sebastian

  Career fairs are a major event held on campus. At the career fair, recruiters from all over the country come to the university to recruit the brightest and most talented individuals. There are several career fairs held on campus. Career Fairs are held at different times throughout the year. They are usually held in March and November. It is a very important day for students. By getting selected, their work experiences will be highly valued among companies after they graduate.

  As a freshman, I heard about the career fair through my e-mail, and I was instantly curious about how students like me got selected by recruiters. When I found some free time between classes, I rushed over to the Illini Union, which is a major venue for career fairs. As I approached...

• Beating the Winter Blues

  Feb 1, 2013

  89 views

  By Jessica Young

  Though we don’t get nearly as much snow as some of the more northern states, the months of January and February are still probably my least favorite times of the year in Illinois. The holiday season is over, the school break is over, and it is still cold and dark outside. I strongly dislike scraping ice off my car in the morning and being able to see my breath while I wait for the bus. Not to mention the wind. I hate those cold bursts. Unlike fall, the spring semester really doesn’t do much to welcome you. To counteract these frigid images I decided to take an ISSS poll...

• Finals: helpful study tips

  Dec 17, 2012

  122 views

  By International Orientation Student Leaders

  It's finals time at U of I! This week, our International Orientation Student Leaders share some insights and tips on how to approach studying for finals and keep stress levels at a minimum. Best wishes to everyone!

   

• Christmas; 'tis the season

  Dec 10, 2012

  69 views

  By Adam MacTaggart

  Christmas is celebrated on December 25 around the world as one of the most important Christian holidays. Gifts are exchanged, Christmas music plays in homes and department stores, and people spend time with their families. While the diverse population of the United States means everyone celebrates Christmas a little differently, there are some important features that are widely observed throughout the country...

• Student Blogger: First Thanksgiving

  Nov 27, 2012

  79 views

  By Bentic Sebastian

  Thanksgiving is a holiday which a college student hopefully waits for! In UIUC, the holiday lasts for about 9 days! That’s more than a week of doing anything you want; no deadlines to meet, and no classes to go to!

  I celebrated my first Thanksgiving last year, at my uncle’s house. It took me about three hours to travel to Skokie, a suburb around Chicago. I arrived at around 2pm on the day of Thanksgiving. The house was alive with the sounds of children walking around hurriedly, chattering away about decorations. They had arrived earlier to help with preparing for the celebrations. The excitement was contagious. I freshened up in a matter of minutes, and eagerly went down-stairs to help out.

  We had a number of tasks to complete. The first task was that we were to make sure that the two turkeys in the oven didn't get overcooked. While two of us stood guard at the oven...

• Career Networking: the inside scoop

  Nov 26, 2012

  43 views

  Our post this week is from guest blogger Tori Spring, Assistant Director at the Career Center.
  

  By Tori Spring

  What is the number one secret of finding a job in the US??   Networking!

  Statistics show that over 75% of jobs are found through networking. Why? Because knowing someone helps you stand out! Think about how similar your resume might look to others in your program. How are you actually going to stand out amongst the hundreds of other resumes? If you’ve talked to someone at your dream company, then they know that you communicate well, are interested in the company, and have the skills for the job. All of a sudden, you are a much better candidate for their job. So stop...

• Thanksgiving

  Nov 13, 2012

  109 views

  By Sondra Schreiber

  As you probably know, Thanksgiving Break is coming up in just a week! But, besides a week off from classes, what does this holiday mean to Americans? The Thanksgiving holiday is unique to the United States and Canada. In the US, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the third Thursday in November. The history of Thanksgiving is not exactly clear, but it is commonly traced back to a plentiful harvest in 1621 at Plymouth, which is in present day Massachusetts. Most children in the US are taught that at this first Thanksgiving the settlers (called pilgrims) and the Native Americans celebrated the bountiful harvest together by having a feast.

  Today, Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with family and food. It is seen as a time to be thankful for what we have. Food plays a major role in Thanksgiving, especially turkey. Traditionally...

• Homesickness and ways to cope

  Nov 12, 2012

  99 views

  ISSS collaborates with many campus units to better serve our student population. This week, we'd like to share a guest post from the Counseling Center.

  By The Counseling Center

  Feeling homesick can be very natural when someone experiences a sudden change in environment or routine. Living and studying in a country and culture other than your own can certainly cause that change and result in significant stress and isolation. Homesickness is a real issue and you are not alone. Many other students are feeling how you are feeling– it just might not be talked about openly and in depth, but that does not mean you are the only one experiencing it. Homesickness can include sadness...

• Student Blogger: Academic Adventures

  Nov 7, 2012

  84 views

  By Bentic Sebastian

  "Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood." - Marie Curie

  I was a bit frightened about the amount of new material that I would learn about when I came to the University of Illinois, but now I’m enjoying the experiences and learning to make the most of them.

  I feel that my academic life is much better off now than it was last year. I am more organized now. I know how to use office hours properly. And I have some knowledgeable friends who I can discuss concepts and doubts with.

  Last year, I was very confused about how to go about organizing my schedule. In my first semester here...

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