Residence Halls on Campus!

Posted on

Different Residence Halls on Campus

Picking which residence hall you want to live in during your freshman year can be both exciting and nerve-racking, especially when you don’t know much about them. Of course, you can find a plethora of information about the different residence halls on the university’s website, but a student’s point of view can sometimes be more helpful. The University of Iowa is home to 11 residence halls and each of them has its own unique characteristics.

East vs West Side

The Iowa River runs right through the middle of campus and splits it into two sides, east and west. West-side residence halls consist of Hillcrest, Rienow, Slater, Parklawn, and Peterson. The east side halls are Burge, Catlett, Stanley, Mayflower, Currier, and Daum.

Whether you choose to live on one side of the river or the other, you will have a few advantages. The west side is home to all things sports related, including the field house, Kinnick Stadium, Carver Hawkeye Arena, Duane Banks Baseball field, and much more. Being on the west side means you have a shorter walk to any of the multiple sporting events here on campus.

The west side is also home to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Living close to the hospital can be useful if you plan to volunteer or get a job there. Additionally, the biomedical science buildings and Carver College of Medicine are both located on the west side. If you are a potential medical student or interested in a health-related field, I recommend looking into the west side residence halls!

The east side also has its many perks! As a freshman, most of your class will take place in buildings on the east side. Therefore, living in a dorm on that side can be ideal for walking to and from class. Of course, there are always busses running back and forth between the two sides, so you’ll never be stuck walking long distances if you don’t want to.

The east side is also located right on the edge of downtown Iowa City. Most of the residence halls are a five-to-ten-minute walk to shops, Target, restaurants, etc. This can be extremely beneficial when you need to make a quick run downtown or if you enjoy studying in off-campus coffee shops.

Dining Halls

The University of Iowa has three main dining halls on campus. They are located in Hillcrest (west side), Catlett (east side), and Burge (east side). So, no matter what side you live on, you will have quick and easy access to a dining hall.

If the dining halls are closed or don’t feel like leaving your residence hall, there are tons of other great options for food. If you live in Mayflower or Parklawn, you may have your own kitchen in your dorm to cook food. Other residence halls tend to have marketplaces where you can use hawk dollars or flex swipes to grab a quick bite to eat.

Conclusion

Overall, the university has a variety of dorms to choose from and each of them provides students with multiple advantages. You can find more information about dorm pricing, room options, and more on the university’s website. There are also pictures of rooms in each residence hall and YouTube videos that walk you through the residence halls! A few residence halls on campus have their own recreation/workout area, while others have great study places or other fun areas.

Picking a residence hall can be stressful, but there’s tons of information about each of them available to you. Additionally, talking to current students and asking them questions can help you determine which hall would be the best fit for you.

Continue Reading →

Winters in Iowa City!

Posted on

The University of Iowa student body consists of students from all around the country, even international students! Many of these students are from areas outside of the Midwest and aren’t used to the cold, chilling, Iowa winters. Even I, who was born and raised in Iowa, find Iowa winters daunting.

With winter weather right around the corner, I thought I’d share my winter thoughts, recommendations, and ideas.

Buy a warm winter coat! We all know it wasn’t “cool” to wear a winter coat in middle school, but in Iowa City, you’ll need one. Although your classes aren’t too far away, the temperatures and wind chill can feel pretty cold if you’re walking without a coat.  I recommend buying a long winter coat, as I find that mine keeps me warm. You will also want to invest in a good pair of gloves and a hat. I find that my fingers and ears are some of the first things to get cold in the winter.

Boots! Personally, I did not own a pair of boots in high school. At college, I find that boots are a necessity. We haven’t even had a ‘big snowfall’ yet, and I have already worn mine a couple times. Boots keep your feet warm and dry when walking in snow, rain, and ice around campus.

Cars! If you are bringing a car to campus as a freshman, you’ll most likely be storing it in the Hawk Lot. This lot is a few miles off campus and will require some other form of transportation to get there. I personally did not bring a car to campus, but I know a few other students who did. If you are bringing your car, I recommend making sure you have jumper cables and a shovel in your trunk. There may be times when your car won’t start, or you have to shovel around it to get out. If you know you’ll be needing your car on the weekend and want to make sure it starts, you can head to the Hawk Lot, grab your car, and park it in the Hancher parking lot on the west side. Parking here is free after four o’clock on Fridays, and all weekend!

With winter starting, these are just a few of my recommendations for helping anyone prepare for the long months ahead. As the season continues new discoveries and ideas will be made and I will have more to share come the spring semesters. Hopefully, you take the above recommendations into consideration when preparing for winter in Iowa City!

Continue Reading →

Ways for Pre-Medicine Students to get Involved!

Posted on

One of the main reasons why I chose to continue my education at the University of Iowa is because of the multitude of opportunities available to students interested in a health career.

In just my first semester of being here in Iowa City, I have learned about different clubs, jobs, volunteer opportunities, etc. and I am excited to share them with you!

Volunteering

Not only do volunteer hours look great on applications, but they are also a good way to get exposure to different environments, learn about your interests, and always make you feel good.

There are a variety of volunteering opportunities available on campus, and students will often get emails about these opportunities. Aside from these, there are a few opportunities Pre-med students might take a liking to.

The first of these is volunteering at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. I currently volunteer here in the Mother Baby Unit. Upon applying to be a volunteer, you get to select from over 30 different units in the hospital. If you have any interest in working in the health care field, or more specifically, a hospital, I highly recommend looking into volunteering at the hospital! You can find more information on the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics website.

Another great volunteer opportunity is through the University of Iowa Mobile Clinic. The Mobile Clinic is a student led organization that strives to provide free health care to underserved groups of people in the Iowa City community. Being a part of this organization is a great way for students to get exposure to a side of medicine most students don’t get. In addition, you can gain hands-on experience and get to meet people from a variety of backgrounds.

Student Organizations and Clubs

As many people know, the University of Iowa is home to over 500 student organizations. With this comes a variety of clubs directed towards Pre-med students.

Medicus

Medicus is a student organization that provides Pre-med undergraduates with opportunities to hear different speakers, including physicians and medical students, volunteer, work in small clinics, attend fun socials, and so much more! You can learn more about this organization on their social medias and website.

MAPS

Although I am not a part of it myself, Minority Association of Pre-medical Students is a great way to be involved at the university and learn more about being a Pre-med student.

Pre-PA Club

The Pre-Physician Assistant Club here at the university provides students who are interested in becoming a PA with tons of valuable information about applications, patient contact hours, volunteer experiences, etc. If you are interested in becoming a PA, I highly suggest you check out this student organization.

There are multiple other student orgs on campus that Pre-med students may be interested in including From Cover to Cover, Dance Marathon, Doctors without Borders, etc. Being in any student organization will help you make connections with other students and learn about other opportunities and experiences.

Research and Jobs

Although I took my first semester to adjust to life in college, I plan on getting a job my second semester. If you are interested in finding a job either on campus or near campus, I recommend downloading the Handshake app. Here, you can find so many job opportunities and apply to them with just a few clicks.

Another resource is the Pomerantz Career Center website. Under the “Jobs & Internships” tab, you can find a whole list of student employment opportunities. Many of these jobs are ones that involve medical- or science-related aspects, perfect for Pre-med students!

If you are interested in research or studies, you are in luck here! There are hundreds of studies of all sizes and topics for you to be involved in. On top of that, they are always looking for undergraduates to work on research projects. Sometimes, this includes being paid, volunteering, or receiving academic credit!

When you come to the University of Iowa you will have countless opportunities to be involved. As a Pre-medicine student, there are multiple options specific to you and your interests! You can find more information about any of the topics listed above through the university’s website.

Continue Reading →

Creating the Perfect Class Schedule

Posted on

One of the greatest advantages of college over high school is that you get the freedom to take the classes you want to take. With this, you also get the opportunity to build your own schedule. You can choose when your day starts, when it ends, what breaks you have, if you have any days off, and much more.

Building your schedule for your first semester can be a little rocky because you aren’t on campus yet. Once you begin to stay in the dorms and attend classes every day, you learn what type of schedule you like, and what you want to avoid. As someone who has been on campus for a few weeks, here is what I have learned regarding creating the perfect schedule.

Starting time:

My whole life, I have been an early-morning person. During the school year, I was usually up between five and six o’clock in the morning to work on homework, work out, or just take my time to get ready. In the summers, I played softball and was always getting up early for practice. On days we didn’t have practice, I was getting up at six-thirty to get ready for work.

Contrary to what many people say, when I came to college, this aspect of me did not change entirely. Of course, everyone has their own experiences, but if you are an early morning person in high school, there is a chance you will still be an early morning person in college, it just may not be as early as you are used to.

Starting your classes at eight thirty is not ideal, but do not let it intimidate you. If your class is offered at a different time of the day look into it, but if eight thirty is your only option, or if the professor you want only teaches at eight thirty, do not worry. I currently start four out of the five days of the week at eight-thirty. As I build my schedule for next semester, I am hoping to be able to start an hour or so later.

Labs:

For those of you who are taking science courses that require a lab, my greatest suggestion is to schedule your labs in the morning. Most labs are in blocks of about 3 hours. I speak from experience when I say that getting this long block of class out of the way early in the morning is so much better than getting out of lab at five or even eight o’clock at night.

If you get your lab out of the way in the morning, you will have the rest of you day to catch up on work, maybe attend a few other classes, or just relax.

In planning my second semester schedule, I am hoping to have both of my science labs in the morning, one at eight and one at nine thirty, on separate days of course.

Ending Time:

Ending time can depend greatly on when you start your classes. If you have early morning class, such as eight thirties or nine thirties, you will want your day to end early, around one or two. If you start your day later, such as eleven thirty, your day will have to go a little longer.

If you stretch your day too far out, it will feel like you are spending more time in class than you actually are. Additionally, if you are someone who doesn’t start your homework until after you are finished with classes, and you stretch your day out, you will be crunching to finish your homework at night and potentially staying up later than you should.

This leads to the next point I’d like to address, breaks.

Breaks:

While creating your schedule for the University of Iowa, you may be thinking that the campus is too big to schedule classes back-to-back. I am here to tell you that, with a few exceptions, this is not entirely true.

I personally enjoy having classes back-to-back because it leaves me more time in my day to do other non-class-related activities.

If you feel you need a break for lunch, due to location of classes, or for some other reason, I suggest doing an hour’s break. This is enough time for you to get to your next class, maybe work on a little homework, or grab something to eat, but it won’t take too much time away from your non-school hours.

Others:

These are just my personal recommendations for creating a schedule. A few other things to take into consideration would be what time you want to be done of Fridays, scheduling around a job or other commitment, and the location of classes that are far away.

However your first semester schedule ends up, do not worry. In this semester you will get to learn and discover your likes and preferences. Then, you’ll have the opportunity to incorporate these into your future semester schedules!

Continue Reading →

3 Ways to Take Care of Yourself as we Close in on Round One of Midterms

Posted on

To many, the leaves begin to change and the drop in temperature signals the start of the fall season. And who doesn’t love fall? Warm Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes, cozy sweaters, and Halloween movies are just around the corner. To college students, this time of year signals round one of the midterms. For many students, exams can be very stressful. Everyone wants to do well and in order to achieve this, you have to put in hours outside of the classroom.

It is important that during this time students stay focused and engaged. They must pay attention in lectures, put in time outside class, and put their best foot forward. It is equally important that during this time students remember to care for themselves and their well-being. Taking care of your mental health and participating in acts of self-care are important steps on the path to success.

Here are my top three tips for taking care of yourself during this sometimes-stressful time of year.

  1. Treat yourself to some frozen yogurt after a long day of classes and studying

Downtown Iowa City is home to THREE tasty frozen yogurt places, Yotopia, Freddie’s Frozen Custard, and my personal favorite, Aspen Leaf Frozen Yogurt! What’s better than filling a dish with any combination of over 15 different frozen yogurt flavors and more toppings than you could ever imagine.

Not in the mood for frozen yogurt? Aspen Leaf is also home to a large variety of tasty caramel apples!

After a long day of classes, studying, or taking an important exam, you deserve to indulge in some of the best deserts Iowa City has to offer. Taking a short walk to satisfy the sweet tooth everyone has is a great way to treat yourself for all your hard work.

  1. Watch the sunset from the steps of the Old Capitol

Midterms are often stressful and have your mind turning in what seems like 100 different directions. One of the best ways to relax and calm your mind is to watch the sunset from the steps of the Old Capitol building. The Old Capitol is located on the Pentacrest, right in the middle of campus. Sitting up on a large hill, it is one of the best places to watch the beautiful Iowa sunset.

Grab some of your friends, a blanket, some late-night snacks, and your camera! If you aren’t able to spend too much time away from your studies, this is a great way to take a short break and is sure to relieve some of your stress.

  1. Walk the scenic route around the Iowa River

For many students, studying for midterms means sitting hours of sitting, reading, writing, and a nonstop flow of information. As we all know, it is extremely important that we give our brains a break from the chemistry and calculus mindset.

It is especially important that during these breaks we take a step away from our schoolwork and get some fresh air. Why not grab some fresh air while taking in the beautiful sights around the Iowa River. Students are provided with a walking path through campus and around the river. There are multiple footbridges, and each hold their own unique views of campus.

Taking a step away, getting some fresh air, and moving your body are great ways to be the most focused and engaged student.

In conclusion,

There are countless ways to take care of yourself during stressful times. I have found that it can be most helpful to simply take a step back from your academics and spend some time doing something you enjoy. This refreshes your mind and can make the time you do spend on schoolwork more focused and productive.

Lastly, although hard, it is important to remember that you will experience struggles and hardships in college and at many other points in your life. During these times when you feel stressed and overwhelmed, take a few steps back and regain focus on where you are and who you are. Your mental health and feeling of well-being are not something to push to the side. Believe in yourself and you will go far!

Continue Reading →

My First Day as a Freshman on Campus

Posted on

The first day of school can be full of all kinds of emotions, no matter what level you are going into. The first day as a freshman at the University of Iowa is no different!

Like many other freshmen, I was full of nerves and excitement as I woke up on Monday morning. I knew that I was ready and well-prepared to embark on this new journey, but that didn’t stop my stomach from spinning in circles.

Waking up Monday morning, I had all the first-day worries. What if I couldn’t find my classes? What if I didn’t make it on time? What if I was the first one there? What if I was the last one there? I was worried about the size of classes, not knowing other students or my professor, and navigating my way through such a large campus. Worry after worry popped into my head as I walked to my first class.

I started off my day with a Biostatistics lecture with roughly 140 other kids (and this would be my smallest lecture of the semester!). When I made the decision to come to Iowa, one of my top worries was that I would not adjust well to the larger class sizes and big lecture rooms. 15 minutes into my first class of freshman year, I knew that I had been worrying for nothing all along. I ended up LOVING the lecture-style class, even with over 100 kids. I found it to be the perfect environment to focus. Additionally, the bigger the lecture class, the more chances you have of getting to know new people.

Almost each lecture class offered at Iowa is coupled with a discussion section of about 20-30 students. This gives you the chance to get to know other students more in-depth and have direct contact with a TA (teaching assistant) to ask questions or clarification. So, if you’re worried about never being able to talk to the professor, ask questions, or engage with other students, don’t stress. There are many opportunities for these things during discussions, office hours, TA hours, Supplemental Instructions, etc.

After my first day, I can confidently tell you, “It’s not that bad.” The University of Iowa campus is set up perfectly for college students, ensuring that you can make it almost anywhere in the time you have. There are also multiple navigation aids such as google maps, signs posted around campus, and other faculty and students to help you find your way. Secondly, the professors and teaching aids understand that you are a college student with a potentially busy schedule. Arriving just a few minutes before class, or even right on time is no worry.

As I closed in on my first week as a college student, I felt so much better about my choice to come to a larger university, even as someone who came from a school of fewer than 1,000 students. The University of Iowa is definitely a school with large campus opportunities and a small campus feel! What more can you ask for?

Continue Reading →