Moments to Look Forward to This Semester!

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The months between winter break and summer can sometimes feel long. If you’re a freshman, your first few weeks of the school year are full of excitement for your new school and new experiences. You get to look forward to football games, meeting new friends, tailgating, and so much more! After you get settled in, you get to look forward to Thanksgiving break. And then, before you know it, it’s time to pack your bags and head back home for a month-long winter break. All these moments and more can make the fall semester go by in a breeze.

The spring semester, on the other hand, can begin to feel much longer. Your excitement has begun to wear off and it can be hard to see the positives that might come from a new semester. To make this time a little easier, here are some things I am looking forward to in the new semester!

New classes!

New classes can be exciting, especially if you’re enrolled in a class or two that really interests you. New classes also bring new professors and new classmates. I always look forward to meeting my professors on the first day of classes. They really set the stage for what the semester might be like. The first day of classes in the fall was nerve-wracking because I didn’t know anyone in my classes, but now that I have been on campus for a few months, I am excited to have classes with my friends and meet some new ones.

Spring Break!

Of course, every student looks forward to time off from school. Just like the fall semester has Thanksgiving break, the spring semester has spring break. Lots of college students make plans for spring break, whether that’s going somewhere warm with friends, spending time with family, or planning a few fun activities! Luckily for us, spring break is right in the middle of the semester, just 8 weeks from the start. This provides students with a good break to catch up on some class work and spend some time relaxing.

Warm Weather!

If you’re anything like me, the winter season is not your favorite. The start of a new semester means that warmer weather is on its way. I am excited to trade in my hat and gloves for some shorts and tank tops. Warm weather also means there are more places to study outside. Studying outside is always more enjoyable for me than sitting inside.

New Sports Seasons!

The spring semester means there are some new sports that will be starting their seasons soon. If you’re a fan of a spring sport, you get to look forward to watching the Hawkeyes play soon. A few teams that will be starting their seasons soon are the softball and baseball teams, the golf teams, tennis, track and field, and women’s rowing. Students have access to free tickets to all these events, so make sure to reserve yours soon if you’re interested in going and cheering on the Hawks!

End of Another School Year!

Even students who enjoy school look forward to the end of the year. Summer is a great time to step away from the books and recharge for another year. If you’re a freshman like me, summer will single the end of your first year of college. This is such a positive moment to look forward to!

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How I’m Spending Winter Break

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How I’m Spending my Winter Break

Winter break during your college years is very different from any other school break you’ve experienced in the past. In high school, at least for me, my winter break took place while we were in the middle of learning content in school. Because of this, I usually spent my breaks catching up on schoolwork, studying for upcoming exams, and sometimes even learning new information.

Other academic breaks, including Thanksgiving break and spring break, take place in the middle of the semester, so it’s very likely you will still have some schoolwork to do. Winter break, on the other hand, is right in between semesters, and, for most students, there’s no schoolwork to be done. Of course, students have the option to take winter courses if they have a class they want to get out of the way or want to lighten their semester load.

For me, winter break meant going from being unimaginably busy with classes, finals, and studying, to have more time that I knew what to do with. So, I’m going to share with you what I have been doing and will continue to do over my winter break to make the most of my time!

Relaxing

The first semester, or any semester really, can be exhausting. It’s hard to balance school, work, extracurriculars, and social life. Because of this, self-care and relaxation usually get put on the back burner. That’s why it’s especially important to take this time off to relax and reset before taking on another semester.

Relaxing can look different for everyone. Some things I like to do to relax over break are watching movies and shows, baking or cooking different foods, reading a new book, and spending time with family and friends.

Scholarships

Winter break is a great time to be applying for scholarships for the upcoming school year. Most scholarships have essay requirements, and it can be hard to find the time and motivation to write these essays when you have other schoolwork that needs to be done.

The University of Iowa has an online scholarship portal for new and incoming students. Once you log into the portal with your HawkID there will be required and recommended scholarships for you. Once you fill out a general scholarship application, you will automatically be applied to many of the scholarships in the portal.

Another scholarship recommendation I have is to look for ones from businesses and companies in your area. Local scholarships are a lot easier to win than national ones due to the difference in the number of applicants. You can check your high school’s website, and the sites of local businesses to see if they have any scholarships available.

Shadowing / Internship Applications

If you plan on going to a grad school or program that requires volunteering, shadowing, or experience hours, winter break is a great time to be filling out applications. Additionally, if you’re still not entirely sure what field you want to go into or where you want to work in that field, shadowing current workers is a great way to get a feel for the job.

I plan on going to medical school, so I am hoping to get some shadowing experience over spring break and this coming summer. Many of my local hospitals require applications to be filled out a few weeks in advance, making now a great time to get started on those. Be sure to check on the requirements for the workplaces you’d like to shadow at.

It’s also a great time, especially If you’re a freshman, to start making note of the activities you’ve been involved in. I have an excel spreadsheet that lists my activities, when I was involved, what I did, and who to contact if I need further information or a reference. Furthermore, I have a word document where I write about some of my experiences with these activities. This will come him handy when writing scholarship or application essays where you have to recall how you felt / what you did for these events.

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Semester Favorites

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My First Semester Favorites

I recently finished up my first semester of college and am excited to share some of my favorite moments. Navigating your first semester as a college student can be difficult. For many, it’s your first time living on your own, your first time being away from home, and a roller coaster of ups and downs. Despite this, there are so many memories that are being made along the way that make your college experience one to remember.

Favorite Moments from First Semester:

Football games! One of the best parts of being a student at Iowa is getting to experience the college sports atmosphere. Whether the Hawkeyes are winning or losing, Kinnick stadium is a great place to be.

My favorite football game this semester was the one against Michigan. My friends and I got front-row seats in the student section for this game. I had never watched a game that close to the field before, so it was a really great experience. Not only did we have the best seats, but we also got free Iowa hats!

Football fan or not, Saturdays in Iowa City are the place to be. Nothing beats walking around campus and seeing thousands of other Hawkeye fans dressed in black and gold on their way to support their team. Tailgating before and after games, cheering on the hawks, watching the talented cheerleaders, and spending time with friends and family are just a few things that add to the joy of being a Hawkeye.

This semester, I also went to a few basketball games, both men’s and women’s, and the Iowa vs Iowa State wrestling meet. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is so fun to be in, especially during the instate rivalry games! I would definitely recommend attending at least one basketball game and wrestling meet while on campus!

My friend and I at the Michigan game!

Student orgs! Some of my favorite memories from this semester were the ones I made with friends I meet through the student organizations I’m involved in.

My Medicus club had a few socials this semester including one at Molly’s Cupcakes! I got to spend an afternoon meeting and talking with other students and learning about their work experience, organizations they were involved in, and what fields of medicine they were interested in, all while enjoying some free cupcakes.

Pancakes! During finals weeks, the IMU (Iowa Memorial Union) hosts tons of different events for students including breakfasts, snacks, massages, emotional support animals, yoga, etc. Finals can be a really stressful and busy time, which is why it’s so nice to have fun activities to do to help you relax. One of the events this year was a free pancake breakfast. A whole team came in and spent all morning making some of the best pancakes I have ever had! My roommate and I went and enjoyed some pancakes before we started studying for the day.

Movie Night! One of my favorite ways to relax after a long week is to watch a movie with friends. My favorite movie night this semester was when some friends and I watched Top Gun Maverick. We cooked some frozen pizzas and ate snacks all night long! Little moments like this are what make your semester memorable!

Wilson’s Apple Orchard! During one of the first few weeks of the semester, some of my friends and I took a drive down to Wilson’s Apple Orchard. Located just a few minutes outside Iowa City, Wilson’s is truly beautiful during the fall.

We walked through their little shop and ordered some apple cider and apple donuts! We enjoyed these while sitting on picnic tables that overlooked the orchard. The weather, view, and food were so good!

Since we went on a Friday night, we got to ride the tractor ride for free! It took us down into the trees, through a stream, and around the orchard. I had such a great time laughing with friends and relaxing away from campus.

 

My friends and I at Wilson’s Apple Orchard!

Hurts Donut! After a long week of classes, midterms, and college life in general, my friend and I would drive over to Hurts Donut. It was so hard to decide which delicious-looking donuts I wanted to try that week. My favorite one so far is the S’mores!

The S’mores donut from Hurts Donut.

There’s no doubt that college can be hard. Navigating friends, relationships, living situations, and classes can be a lot for anyone to handle. That’s why it’s important to find friends and events that help take your stress away, even if it’s only for a little while. Memories you make at college will last you a lifetime!

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Residence Halls on Campus!

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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.

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Winters in Iowa City!

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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!

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Ways for Pre-Medicine Students to get Involved!

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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.

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Creating the Perfect Class Schedule

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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!

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

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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!

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My First Day as a Freshman on Campus

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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?

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