The University of Iowa is proud to welcome students from all over the world. Our International Ambassadors are students that are excited to make the college search process a little more personal to future Hawkeyes around the globe.

Here, you’ll hear from International Ambassador Calli Tilson, a first year student majoring in Creative Writing with Linguistics and Korean minors. She shares what her daily life looks like as a Hawkeye.

Life at Iowa

My name is Calli, and I’m a first-year here at the University of Iowa. My life here is jam-packed with tons of fun things that keep me busy in day to day life. Let’s go!

The first class I have for the day is my Korean language class at 8:30 AM. I start my day with the su

n, waking up and grabbing a quick bite to eat before heading out. I live in Mayflower Hall, one of the furthest resi

dence halls from campus (however, with my own bathroom and kitchen area, it’s well worth it). Since I live a little farther away, I take the bus to get to where I need to go. The Cambus system makes transportation around campus a million times easier and quicker for both students and the public! The buses run on a consistent schedule, and if you ever wonder how long until a bus arrives at your stop, there’s always Bongo, an app that gives you real-time updates of where buses are and estimated arrival times.

After Korean, I have Civilizations of Korea at 12:30. This is a lecture-style course, one I am taking for dual credit to satisfy both a general education requirement and a requirement for my minor, which is Korean Studies. Sometimes lectures can seem a little long, but I have a professor who is always active and interesting to listen to, as well as a few friends who keep me company! Having the ability to create my own schedule is great – since there are so many courses to choose from, I look forward to taking even general education classes! Last semester I fulfilled my Historical Perspectives GenEd by taking a course all about Russian fairytales and folklore. It was so much fun, I never wanted to miss a class. Crazy, I know!

After my Civilizations class, I normally stop by a dining hall to grab a quick snack before heading to my next class. The Catlett dining hall just opened this year, and it’s one of my favorite places to go! Not only does it look incredibly sleek and modern, the environment is always lively and welcoming. Among other options, Catlett often has a wide variety of multicultural foods on their menu.

Next, I have The Art and Craft of Personal Writing. I’m enrolled in this course for my major, English/Creative Writing. This course emphasizes critical reading skills, as well as giving students opportunities to apply what they learn to their own written pieces, which are discussed and given feedback during workshops. Workshops might seem scary to some writers – after all, writing can be extremely vulnerable – but what I’ve found is that not only do my professors ensure everyone feels comfortable and protected, but my classmates do too. In all the writing classes I have taken this year, I can confidently say that they really feel like complete safe spaces.

Lastly, I have Language and Formal Reasoning at 7:30 PM. This course is technically a linguistics class, but it also fulfills a Mathematics general education requirement, which is what I am taking it for. Even though 7 PM seems a little late to still be going to class, my professor is so passionate about what he teaches that I am always wide awake! He always finds ways to keep things entertaining. This class is one of my more difficult ones, especially since it is lecture-style as well. Fortunately, it’s paired with a discussion class that happens later in the week. My discussion takes place in a smaller classroom-esque setting, with around 20 or so people, plus a teaching assistant for that class. The teaching assistant, or TA, does a great job at connecting one-on-one with students, and is always there if anyone needs help with questions on the homework or concepts covered in lecture. My TA also has open office hours, which is a great resource! If I am ever confused over lecture or am unsure about anything, I know help is only a quick stop away!

After this class I can finally head back to my dorm! I typically make dinner with my roommate before doing homework and hanging out with friends. It’s not the same in every residence hall community, but people on my floor are extremely friendly and close like family. If you walk down the halls, you can often hear music and laughter, and see many open doors! Open doors are following a policy that says if you leave your dorm room door open, people are welcome to stop in and hang out, or just say hi! In the beginning of the year, this is how everyone got to know each other, and is a great way to meet new people on your floor. I have made some of my best friends this way, as well as discovered other students that can help me do homework and study alongside me. On Thursdays, our residence hall always has a fun activity going on, whether it’s international food night, or watching a movie while decorating cookies! Living in a dorm has given me so many new friends, and time flies by when I’m with them!

This is one of the busiest days on my schedule – not every day is this jam-packed. When I have free time, I like to go out to eat with my friends at one of the multicultural restaurants in Iowa City – Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Greek – you name it, Iowa City has it! Other days my friends and I like to watch movies together in the dorm or simply just hang out and talk. On Sundays I have a hip-hop dance class, which is another fantastic way to meet new people. There are literally hundreds of organizations and clubs on campus. From LGBTQ+ organizations to A Capella teams, there’s something for everyone!

Life at the University of Iowa is amazing! Go Hawks!

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The University of Iowa is proud to welcome students from all over the world. Our International Ambassadors are students that are excited to make the college search process a little more personal to future Hawkeyes around the globe.

Here, you’ll hear from International Ambassador Grace Bryant, a first year student double majoring in International Relations with Spanish and French minors. She shares why she became a Hawkeye.

Why I Came to Iowa

As a high school student living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, I always swore there was NO WAY I was going to attend college in-state. I didn’t want to run into people I knew all the time. I wanted to experience the diversity of a big city. I wanted a vast array of academic and experiential learning opportunities that I didn’t think were available at Iowa state schools.

However, upon visiting the UI campus, my opinions changed. Along with falling in love with the urban-feeling campus, I realized that the University of Iowa offers over 200 areas of undergraduate study, meaning anything and everything I was interested in learning about was likely to be offered here. I was excited to learn that UI has sent students to study abroad on all seven continents and that a high proportion of Iowa students find internships and employment opportunities during their undergraduate years.

Deciding to come to Iowa was one of the best decisions of my life. I have had the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes focused on my various interests. I am preparing to study abroad in Spain in the fall and have received scholarships to do so. I’ve become involved with several student organizations, through which I have met people from all over the state, country and world.

The University of Iowa is a wonderfully diverse campus in which I’ve had the opportunity to pursue my interests and dreams. I couldn’t be happier to be a Hawkeye!

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The University of Iowa is proud to welcome students from all over the world. Our International Ambassadors are students that are excited to make the college search process a little more personal to future Hawkeyes around the globe.

Here, you’ll hear from International Ambassador Ala Mohamed, a first year student double majoring in Marketing and Chinese. She shares her experience in getting involved on campus with Brand You, a fashion and marketing student organization. In Brand You, Ala is involved with styling and modeling for photo shoots, and promoting the organization to fellow students.

Brand You

One of the most exciting things about Iowa is the opportunity to join clubs and do things you enjoy. I am a big fan of fashion and graphic design, so I joined a club called Brand You and I’ve had the best experience so far.

One project I really enjoyed was a paparazzi styled photoshoot, where models had to pretend to shy away from the camera as if they were some sort of celebrity.

This project was inspired by Balenciaga’s latest Instagram posts which featured models also shying away from the paparazzi, but in Balenciaga’s latest winter collection. I really enjoyed this project because I was able to work with new people while doing something that I love.

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Hi Future Hawks!

With just months left until you begin your first college classes at the University of Iowa, I want to remind you of resources available to help you succeed academically and personally at the University of Iowa!

At your summer orientation program, you will meet your academic advisor and select your classes for the fall semester. Your academic advisor is a wonderful resource to you throughout all of your years in college, but most importantly your first semester. Your Academic Advisor can help provide insight to help you decide what you would like to major in, how classes can best fit your interests, help you create a balance between schoolwork and having free time or being involved on campus. They are like a one-stop-shop for any questions on how to succeed your first semester.

It is important to focus on your academics upon arrival to Iowa, and seek out resources that will help you do your best in your classes. Supplemental Instruction is a free resource offered for assistance in many of the classes students will take during their first year at Iowa. It is a tutoring session led by an upperclassman who has previously exceled in the course. The Academic Resource Center (ARC), located in the Iowa Memorial Union, assists students with finding tutoring opportunities, but is also a great place to start learning about our other tutoring centers on campus. Learn more about the opportunities here.

Don’t forget to have fun and get involved on campus! If you have questions about different student organizations or how to take the first steps to being involved, make sure to stop by the Pick One Fair during On Iowa! or reach out to the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership. Remember there are over 500 different student organizations and ways to make connections on campus!

Erin Monroe
Admission Counselor
The University of Iowa
Office of Admissions

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Hi Future Hawkeyes!

Each day, it is getting closer to the deadline to accept your offer of admission. The last day to accept your offer of admission to the University of Iowa is May 1^st , and we want to do everything possible to help you make your decision.

Important factors to consider:

• Do you feel comfortable on campus?
• Does the University of Iowa feel like home?
• What do you see yourself getting involved in on campus?
• Is this the right financial fit?

Consider visiting campus! If you have not visited the University of Iowa yet, we strongly encourage that you do so before May 1st. If you have been to campus before, we would love to welcome you back! This is a great opportunity to ask questions to our current University of Iowa students. By visiting campus you can gain a better feel for the way campus is set up and where you will be spending your time as a student for the next four years. We would also encourage you to explore downtown Iowa City and get a taste for the local culture that makes up our eclectic college town. Click HERE to schedule a visit, or call our Admissions Visitor Center at 319-335-1566.

What remaining questions do you have about the University of Iowa? Please contact our Office of Admission to speak with an available Admission Counselor to find the answers to your questions to help you make your decision. Phone: 319-335-3847 Email: admissions@uiowa.edu

In the end, trust your gut. If Iowa feels like home and you are excited about all of the opportunities that come with attending a Big 10 institution with a small town feel, make sure you accept your offer of admission via your admissions profile by the May 1st deadline.

We are excited to welcome you to the Hawkeye Family, and we hope to see you on campus this fall!

Go Hawks!

Erin Monroe
Admission Counselor
The University of Iowa
Office of Admissions

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It’s about four months away from your high school graduation, congratulations! But don’t forget about your long-term goals. Before you know it, you will be caught up in the excitement with the end of high school activities, hanging out with friends, and preparing for your summer festivities. While these are all things to look forward to, there are some key factors to keep in mind over the next few months to prepare you for college and set yourself up for success.

First, don’t forget to finish strong in your classes! Your grades still matter. Even though you have already been admitted to Iowa or other institutions, you still need to try to get the best grades possible. Colleges will be requesting your final transcripts upon high school graduation. These final grades will be used to confirm that you are in good academic standing prior to starting at the University of Iowa.

Next, you should apply for scholarships within your community. Work with your high school counselor to find scholarship opportunities. Many times, your high school counselor will have some great pointers or places to begin searching for outside scholarships. Also, consider looking at scholarships on a national level, such as databases like Fastweb and College Board.

Over your high school career you may have taken Advance Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate Program (IB), or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) courses. Now, you might be wondering if you can receive college credit for your hard work in these classes. Visit our Credit by Exam Options to see how you can earn college credit before you arrive on campus. This will free up time and money to potentially pursue a double major, an additional minor, and/or a study abroad experience.

If you have not applied to the University of Iowa yet, but still have interest in attending, our application deadline is quickly approaching on March 1^st! Apply now, HERE!

For students who have applied and been admitted, you have until May 1^st to accept your offer of admission. You can accept your offer of admission via your admission profile by paying the $250 acceptance fee.

Enjoy your last few months of high school, and welcome to the Hawkeye family!

Erin Monroe
Admission Counselor
The University of Iowa
Office of Admissions

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