Mental health, stress management, and self-care

Posted on January 31, 2025 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

Statistics ambassador Charlotte Sampson writes about taking care of yourself and managing your stress. You are more than your academics, and it’s important to protect your mental and physical well being!

College can be a very stressful time. You have to adjust to a completely new environment and lifestyle while also managing the pressure of keeping up with your coursework and planning for your future.

All of the changes and responsibilities that come with this period of life can feel overwhelming. Learning how to deal with the stress and taking care of yourself is essential for maintaining happiness and success.

Here are some tips and tricks for mental health, managing stress, and self-care!

1. LEARN TO BALANCE
When you are learning how to manage your workload, it can be easy to forget that your life is not just school. Make time to nurture all aspects of your life, otherwise you will probably end up feeling overwhelmed and burned out. Push yourself enough so your grades don’t suffer, but not so hard that your relationships and mental wellbeing suffer – it’s not worth it! Learning to find balance can be a long, difficult process, it’s okay if you have to experiment and learn some lessons along the way. However, it is key to feeling and performing your best, so learn what works for you!

TREAT YOUR BODY RIGHT
One of the most important things I’ve learned is that your mind can’t perform at its best if your body isn’t getting what it needs! Put your health first, school comes second. Be mindful of what you are putting into your body, how much you are exercising, and your sleep.
My mental health improved significantly when I started paying attention to what I was eating. Fuel your body with plenty of nutritious foods and drink water! Making sure you are getting enough nutrients makes all the difference in your energy levels and focus.
I take care of my mind and body by trying to have some form of movement daily, even if that is just a short walk outside! Exercise is a great way to clear your head and take your focus off whatever is stressing you out. I often feel like there isn’t enough time to exercise, but I find that even walking to class boosts my mood and energy levels. It doesn’t have to be long – just make some time in your day!
The best thing that you can do for your mind and body is sleep!!!! You won’t be able to get anything done if you are exhausted, and the lack of productivity will only make you feel more behind. Sleep is essential for your mood, energy, and overall health. Prioritize your sleep, anything you haven’t finished can wait until the morning.

NURTURE YOUR MIND
Make time to do things you enjoy! Come up with something you like to do and try to do it every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Bonus points if there isn’t a screen involved! Whether that be reading a book, drawing, writing, going outside, seeing friends – anything that takes your mind off your responsibilities and helps you relax can have a huge impact on your mood. I try to read every night before bed and recently I have been enjoying coloring. I really enjoy reading because it takes my mind off my own life and gets me involved in a different story. Writing can also be very helpful to work through things that are affecting you, it will leave you with a clearer and calmer mind. My favorite thing to do is to go outside, something about being in nature just makes me feel better!

Another important part of nurturing your mind is building a support system. Surround yourself with people that make you feel happy, loved, and supported. Don’t be afraid to let go of anyone or anything that weighs you down, prioritize yourself and your well-being!

GO EASY ON YOURSELF
Finally, don’t be so hard on yourself – you’re learning how navigate this new chapter of life! Give yourself permission to relax and listen to your body. Take a break if you need it, your schoolwork will still be there after you rest.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is not to compare yourself to others. You are your own person, and your path is your own. Comparing myself to my peers had me constantly feeling like I was behind. Remember, life is not a race, and there is no rush to figure out who you are or what you want!

Setting Up for Success in the New Semester

Posted on January 16, 2025 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

Helen Wu, junior in Statistics, shares her advice for starting the new semester off strongly and making the most of your time on campus.

Hi, my dear friends! I hope you’ve enjoyed your Christmas and had a great winter holiday! Now it’s time to gear up for a brand-new semester — yayyy, so exciting! Let’s dive into some tips to help you plan and slay this semester!

1. Plan Your Schedule Wisely

As a junior looking back, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is balancing ambition with realism. At the start of every semester, it’s tempting to pack your schedule with classes, research, RSOs, and personal projects. But remember: doing too much can lead to burnout, and doing too little might leave you feeling like you’re not making the most of your time. My personal strategy is to write down 10 things you want to achieve and then choose the top three to focus on first — things that align the most with your long-term goals and bring you the most value. Cross out the rest (you can always revisit them later) and realistically list out how much time you’ll devote to each.

*Warren Buffet’s Two Lists Strategy; from goalplus.org*

Regarding class schedule, discussing with upperclassmen and advisors to craft a realistic one could save you huge trouble. It’s always wise to have some wiggle room in your schedule than to drop classes halfway due to the overwhelming workload, a lesson I learnt the hard way after taking four major courses and found myself drowning in midterms. Just like Rohan mentioned in his earlier blog post, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Perhaps college is not even a marathon, without a destination or predefined route; it’s more like an adventure where one is free to explore.

Also, celebrate milestones regularly and reward yourself for the progress you’ve made so far. Planning ahead something exciting for spring break, like a fun trip or a relaxing getaway. Whenever I felt drained or uncertain, the thought of an upcoming adventure always lifted my spirits and kept me going. College is about growth, not perfection—so give yourself room to breathe, explore, and adapt.

2. Start Early and Apply Bravely

After listing out your top goals, if it involves any application-related activities, like RSO, internship, or academic research, it’s better to apply early, since the position is limited and mostly are evaluated on a rolling basis. Many academic labs and companies are actively recruiting at the start of the semester. Be proactive and don’t shy away from cold-emailing professors or professionals. Remember, rejection is part of the process, so don’t be afraid to put yourself out there!

Snow blankets the campus during a winter day during the holiday break in January. Everitt Laboratory is visible in the background. Photo taken at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. (Photo by Fred Zwicky / University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)

Also, talk to peers, upperclassmen, and graduates to get insights and advice. Learning from their experiences can point you in the right direction and even uncover hidden opportunities. From my personal datapoint, a great proportion of my friends including myself secured an internship through connections.

Additionally, there’ s lots of campus resources out there! So, subscribe to departmental newsletters or weekly emails — they’re treasure troves of information about internships, research projects, and other opportunities. For example, Statistics majors can explore programs like the Undergraduate Research Experience in Statistics (URES), Illinois Mathematics Lab, or IRisk Lab for research experience. Additionally, LAS offers the ATLAS internship program (Applied Technology for Learning in the Arts and Sciences), where students can gain fantastic industry experience and a chance to work on exciting projects.

3. Relax! Take it easy.

College is all about discovering who you are and what you’re passionate about. Attend events, make new friends, join clubs, and most importantly, enjoy the journey. Don’t stress too much about sticking rigidly to your plan, not sticking to your plan, or having no plans at all. Don’t blame yourself for that! Working out a plan is already a huge progress and a great witness of your aspiring heart, just take a little step closer and see what comes next. Life happens, and sometimes the best opportunities are the unexpected ones. It’s totally okay to adjust your goals as the semester unfolds.

*Main Library Reading Room on Reading Day. Photo taken at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Photo by Craig Pessman / University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign)*

You got this! Let’s make this semester an unregretful one. Good luck and all the best, my friends!

Finding an Internship

Posted on November 18, 2024 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

An internship can be a great way to gain hands-on industry experience alongside your academic journey. Statistics & Computer Science student Rohan Gavankar talks about how he successfully landed an internship, and what helped him as he searched for and applied to different positions.

Rohan mentions working at County Financial; you can read more about CF at Research Park on campus here!

The internship search can be a daunting and stressful process, but there are ways to stand out. Remember, it’s never too late to start looking!

Building a Strong Resume

Before you even start applying for internships, make sure your resume is in top shape. Update it with your latest courses, skills, experiences, and projects. If you feel like your resume needs more depth, start building it with simple projects. YouTube is full of tutorials to help you get started, and once you find a project, go deep rather than wide—focus on making one or two projects thorough rather than scattering your efforts across five. Even class projects, like those from STAT 107, can be valuable additions to your resume. I suggest using Jake’s resume template as it is very common in industry.

Finding Ways to Stand Out

With so many applicants for each job posting, standing out is crucial. As a freshman, I learned about Research Park in Champaign, a technology hub with companies offering internships exclusively for UIUC students. For freshmen and sophomores, this type of program is ideal because many places tend to favor juniors and seniors. Rather than wasting time applying to postings with strict requirements, I focused on Research Park, attending open houses, career fairs, and info sessions. This approach landed me multiple interviews and ultimately a data science internship at Country Financial for the summer! Freshman and sophomore years are also perfect times to explore company specific programs, like information sessions or summits. Some companies even fly students out to their offices for these events! In my sophomore year, I applied to a hackathon for JP Morgan and got in. Working with other CS majors from around the country, I built an application for a nonprofit in just 24 hours. That experience ultimately led to a software engineering internship at JP Morgan, all without a traditional interview. So, beyond the roles themselves, look for hackathons, information sessions, and summits that can boost your visibility and get your foot in the door.

*Rohan (on right) with his internship team at* *JP Morgan. Photo credit: Rohan Gavankar.*

Network, Network, Network

Networking can be one of your biggest assets in the internship search. Building connections with employees at companies you’re interested in can lead to referrals, giving you a huge leg up. Use LinkedIn and Handshake to connect with employees and recruiters who might be able to help. Career fairs are also great networking opportunities if you go with a plan. Make a list of companies you want to talk to, know what you want to discuss, and prioritize those connections. This approach helped me secure multiple interviews and saved time by focusing on meaningful conversations rather than aimlessly wandering from booth to booth.

*Rohan (3rd from right) with Code for Good teammates at JP Morgan’s hackathon. Photo credit: Rohan Gavankar.*

It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Finding the right internship took persistence—balancing schoolwork, personal projects, and application deadlines isn’t easy. I constantly revised my resume and kept practicing my technical skills, and it paid off with offers in data science and software engineering. But if you don’t land an internship, don’t worry. There are so many alternatives, like research or taking the summer to build your skills through projects or courses.

*Rohan (left) with teammates at County Financial. Photo credit: Rohan Gavankar.*

Why Internships Are Worthwhile

Internships give you real-world experience and the chance to work in teams in ways that classes don’t. They helped me grow technically and developed my skills as a collaborator and communicator. Especially as we spend so much time doing things like projects and studying individually and for ourselves, internships are a great way to learn what it is like to work for something else. An internship is one of the most valuable steps you can take to build your career path, and I wish you the best of luck in your internship search!

Favorite Non-STAT courses!

Posted on October 25, 2024 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

by Ricky Lin

Ricky is a 2nd year student in Statistics & Computer Science, shares some of his favorite courses outside of Statistics that he’s experienced so far! Read on for some great insights and recommendations.

Everybody has to take their major classes. But when you have the option to choose a gen-ed or just take a class for the fun of it, there are so many awesome options to choose from. This is where the breadth of college comes from, and getting a well-rounded education comes into play. Here are a few of my personal favorites!

BTW the gen-eds double dip in two requirements, so if that’s something you are looking for, register early since spots are limited!

TE 200 Introduction to Innovation

Although this class is restricted to LLC residents, if you are in one or want to apply for one, I’d definitely recommend it! I was part of the Innovation LLC in the Technology Entrepreneur Center and it was a fun environment where I met some cool people! It’s a 1-hour seminar class, where there are weekly readings and class meetings are mostly discussions. You learn about successful entrepreneurs and the keys to success to start from a simple idea to a full-fledged start-up. I took it with Keilin and she was super nice to talk to. I’d definitely recommend talking with her if you have any ideas related to entrepreneurship in general.

However, the most interesting part of the class is participating in the IDEA Fair, which is a project pitching competition where students prototype their ideas and judges award money. Getting to brainstorm and work in a group is interesting, and puts your creativity to the test. Last fall, my team (PATH) secured the $500 AWARE award and it was a great experience!

*Ricky (far right) and teammates with their award from the IDEA fair. Photo credit: Ricky Lin.*

ArtJ302 Intro to Japanese Animation

One of my favorite gen-eds at UIUC is ArtJ302. It’s an online synchronous class run via Zoom, but that doesn’t take away from its engagement and awesome material! Professor Lindsey Stirek was very passionate and nice about the material. She gave us a great overview of anime as a whole and how different techniques are employed to illustrate ideas. Often in class, we just watched classical anime like Akira and Afro Samurai.

The best part of the class was the final, where we had the freedom to create a video essay, animation, or any medium related to the topics we learned in class. I just made a video essay on Attack on Titan, but I was blown away by the talent of some of my classmates’ animations. Definitely highly recommend this if you love anime or just want to see what the hype is all about!

Afro228 Hip Hop Music: History & Culture

This class is the latest gen-ed I have taken, and has definitely taken me by surprise. When I signed up, I expected the class to be interesting because I enjoy listening to rap, but I became increasingly invested in the origins and backstory behind the music. The professor, John Meyers, loves what he teaches, and explains things in a critical way that shows you why they are important. It’s not a memorizing date or people type of class, but rather more cause and effect and how the industry has changed over time. In class, we often listen to artists like Public Enemy, 2Pac, Nas, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem.

We also get exposed to social issues in the East and West coast, which are key components of the sound of rap. It’s a sophisticated and rather complex class that encourages further thinking, so if you want to engage with American hip-hop culture and learn about how it has evolved over time, look no further!

To conclude, I’d recommend taking classes that interest you rather than spend time simply fulfilling a requirement for the sake of doing it. Steve Jobs dropped all of his technical classes and took a design calligraphy class just because he thought it was interesting, and the rest was history (this is an exaggeration, but you get the point). Sometimes taking less classes to enjoy college is the way to go—you only go to college once.

One thing to keep in mind is that at first, nothing really makes sense. Everyone is trying to figure life out and what they want to do. But be open to new experiences and give things a try, and when you look back the dots will connect. Go for that business, graphic design, or computer science minor you’ve been thinking about. Why not? I hope this has given some perspective and wish you all the best of luck for registration

Favorite Statistics Courses

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

by Mia Paelmo

Looking for recommendations on STAT courses? Want some insights on what certain STAT courses might offer you? Read Mia’s thoughts below on her favorite STAT electives she’s experienced so far!

When I first came to Illinois I remember the first thing I received during my orientation was a recommended schedule for statistics courses I should take each semester. The first few semesters listed the required courses (STAT 400, STAT 410, etc.), but the remaining half semesters simply said ‘ STAT Electives’. I remember not having any idea which courses to take, but as an incoming freshman I thought ‘Oh well it’s still too early, I’ll worry about that when I need to’. News flash! College goes by faster than you think, and before you know it you’re on Reddit a few hours before your registration slot trying to figure out what the best elective is. Don’t get me wrong, Reddit can be a very useful source when picking out certain courses, I know I have definitely used it in the past. However, it would have been nice to get advice from a friendly face, someone I could trust. And that is exactly who I am going to be for you! Today, I will be recommending two of my favorite statistics electives I have taken throughout the past 4
years.

STAT 385 – Statistical Programming Methods
The first course that I always recommend to statistics majors is STAT 385, also known as ‘Statistical Programming Methods’. I loved this course, and personally think that it should be required for the major because of how useful it is, not just in real life but in other statistics courses as well. This class is basically an introduction to R and RStudio. You will learn data transformations, how to use base R functions, and you will be introduced to many different packages. And while that is all fun and exciting, I think the main reason why I recommend this class to others is because it helps you become comfortable with R and RStudio. After I took STAT 385, I was in STAT 425 and 426, which are two required courses for the major. In both classes, I did most of the assignments in R, and both of the professors did in class examples using R. In fact, I think I have used R and RStudio in almost all of the higher level statistics courses I have taken. So yeah, as a statistics major here at Illinois, it’s good to know R and RStudio. And while the content in STAT 385 is more about programming rather than data analysis in R, I think I was more comfortable using R/RStudio in my other classes because of my experience in STAT 385. I think this is a very well-developed course where you learn many useful tools, and I always recommend this class to anyone who is starting to think of what electives to take. It sets up a good foundation as you start to take more higher level and applied statistics courses.

STAT 432 – Basics of Statistical Learning
The second course I would recommend is STAT 432, also known as ‘Basics of Statistical Learning’. I took this course the spring semester of my junior year, and I enjoyed the content and structure of the class a lot! In this class you will learn about supervised and unsupervised machine learning. You will learn different algorithms such as logistic regression and classification trees, and you’ll use R (see, I told you!) to create models for each technique. I loved this class because I found the material super interesting and it was the first class where I felt like I was using my skills for real life application. It did not just feel like another college class where I had to get assignments done for a grade, I genuinely wanted to build models and understand how they worked. I also think when you have a passionate professor, they can project that passion and interest onto their students. When I took this class in the spring, Professor Gökçe
Dayanıklı taught it and she was very thorough with the material and always valued the feedback of the students, which I think was a great aspect of the course! The final project encouraged us to collaborate with others, develop different models and evaluate their performance, and summarize our findings in a written report. Overall, this was a well-rounded course that offered real life application for both technical and practical skills, I highly recommend it!

To wrap up, I think all of the statistics courses offered at Illinois are exceptional! And while I do recommend looking into the two courses I discussed today when registering for classes, it is important to remember that the purpose of electives is to further explore topics that interest and excite you. I’m glad I was able to share my experiences and I hope this post gave you a little more insight on a few interesting courses we have in this department!

Study tips, academic resources, and productivity tools

Posted on October 8, 2024 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

by Carrie Song

Carrie, a junior majoring in Statistics, shares some advice and tips for finding academic success while maintaining balance in a busy semester.

As we’re getting towards the middle of the semester, the excitement of school getting started might be fading away and it’s perfectly normal to feel stressed about assignments, midterms and other tasks. Whether you are just getting started on your college career or one semester away from graduating, here are some tips I find particularly helpful to make life and studying easier.

Rest
Yes, it might sound crazy but taking a break from time to time when doing intense studying can help you concentrate better. This could be zoning out for 5 minutes after finishing a problem set or going grocery shopping in the middle of the day just to take your mind off work. Personally, I love grabbing a boba and taking a short walk late in the afternoon, it relaxes my brain in a way that I can focus and be more productive when I get back. Also, try not to stay up too late at night, especially during weekdays, as not getting enough sleep will somewhat affect your ability to concentrate on the next day –trust me, you don’t want to fall asleep in lectures and having to make up the contents all by yourself towards the end of the semester.

*View on the South Quad. Photo credit: Carrie Song.*

Practice Regularly
In most STEM classes, the key to success is generally not how smart you are, but how much time you are willing to dedicate to practicing. Doing homework problems independently, organizing notes, working collaboratively with a study group… all these things are super helpful when you’re trying to get a satisfactory grade in a certain class. Having trouble understanding some of the class material? Go to o ice hours! The course staff are there to help students succeed in class. Even outside of class, there are resources that will help you succeed in classes such as the C.A.R.E. tutoring held by the Grainger College of Engineering. Make sure you understand the basic information or concept for a certain topic before you dive into the problem sets, plus constant review of these information will allow you to be more familiar with the subject.

Get Organized & Plan Ahead
Things can get really messy if you have 4 or 5 classes going on at the same time, especially when each one of them has assignments due at a different time. One thing I find particularly useful dealing with it is that I would filter out the big assignments (ones that gives you a longer period of time to finish), and spread them out step by step, making sure I’m constantly working on instead of forgetting its existence until two hours before it’s due. For the works that have weekly due dates, I tend to dedicate a time slot for them in each week and try to finish them during that time slot. This allows a sense of regularity in the messy schedule and in some way, makes a habit. Another thing I find helpful is to have an estimate of how much time you need for each task and give yourself some extra time to finish that task in case something happens. This way, you’ll be unlikely to forget about something and therefore have a higher chance in succeeding.

*Hard at work! Photo credit: Carrie Song.*

Change Study Spots
When you’re tired of your old study spot, go somewhere else and see what else you can find! I find it helpful especially during finals week and everywhere is crowded. A change of environment can be refreshing to the brain and get you back to focusing. Some of my favorite study spots are the ACES Funk Library, the Psychology building and the Illini Union!

*The Funk ACES Library. Photo credit: Carrie Song.*

With that much being said, it’s eventually up to each individual to find out which way works best, and I hope the strategies I’ve taken in the past could be inspiring to you and help ease some of that stress. Nevertheless, I’m sure you’ll do amazing in the semester, best of luck!

Five Pieces of Advice I Would Give to a First-Year Student

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

by Alyssa Anastasi

Alyssa shares some advice for new students at Illinois.

There is not one “set path” to achieving goals
It is really easy to compare your own journey to others and think that what you are doing is not enough or not the “right” way to achieve your end goals. Something that I’ve learned over the past 4 years is that there is no right or wrong way to go through college, get an internship or job, and achieve your goals. An eye-opening experience I had was at my first internship where the head of the Data Analytics team was an English major in undergrad! It really showed me that what happens in undergrad doesn’t define exactly what will happen in your life and career. When I came in freshman year, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I started as an Elementary Education major who then switched into Statistics, and then switched to Statistics & Computer Science.
My path is definitely not the typical path of a Stat&CS major, but I have still been able to experience internships and opportunities that I have been passionate about and learned so much from. As long as you are doing things that you feel passionate about and are proud of what you accomplished, there is no right or wrong answer for what you need to do to get the opportunities that you want!

Build your Network
When I first started college, everyone always told me that building my network was important, but to be honest, I never took it seriously or understood why it was important. Now, as a senior, I understand that building a network allows you to meet more people, learn about opportunities, and even gain opportunities in RSOs or internships that you wouldn’t even know about without them. If you’re feeling nervous and wondering where you even start building your network, I would recommend first meeting people and making friends with students from all years in your major. It can be helpful to know people within your major to take classes with and get recommendations and resources from. Then, I would network with professors, especially ones whose research is an area of interest to you. You can do this by attending office hours, asking questions, and even becoming a course assistant for classes you enjoy. I would also recommend attending career fairs to speak to recruiters and current employees to gain insight into the positions they have.

STAT 107 course staff. From left: CA Alyssa Anastasi, Professor Karle Flanagan, Professor Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, TA Arghya Chakraborty, and CA Helen Wu. Photo credit: Alyssa Anastasi.

Take Advantage of Campus Events and Resources
One of the best things about college is that there are so many events, opportunities, and resources available just for students! College is unique in the sense that everything you need is available within walking distance. On campus, we have access to McKinley for doctors’ appointments, the ARC for the gym, and the second largest academic library in the country, just to name a few! There are also many ways to meet people and explore interests like intramural sports through Campus Recreation, RSOs (academic and hobby related), and part time jobs. In my time at Illinois, I’ve worked at the Ice Arena (I love to ice skate), on tech crew at Krannert Center (I hung lights for plays and musicals), and as a course assistant for STAT 107 (#datascienceduo). There are also so many things that I would recommend experiencing at least once to get the full Illinois experience. Some of the top items from my list are: going to an Illinois football and basketball game, seeing a show at Krannert, attend a barn dance, and see the cherry blossoms at Japan House!

Attending a football game at Memorial Stadium. Photo credit: Alyssa Anastasi.

Go to Office Hours
Office hours are the BEST resource if you are struggling in a class. Office hours are hosted by professors, TAs (typically graduate students), or CAs (typically undergraduate students) who have expertise in the material. They are there to help support your learning and can walk you through homework assignments, midterm review, and anything related to the class! I know it can be scary to go to office hours, but it is always worth it!

You deserve to be here!
You got into UIUC for a reason – you are deserving and belong here just as much as anyone else at UIUC. No matter what your experiences are, imposter syndrome can affect everyone. Even the people who you think would never experience imposter syndrome, probably do in some way. Through your time here, it is really important to know that you are fully capable of doing anything you want to, from passing a hard class to securing an internship! It is easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, but the only thing that matters is that you are happy and you feel successful! College is about YOUR experience, and it is so important to remember that!

Course Recommendations Outside of STAT

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Jennifer Anderson Bliss

Three of our ambassadors share their recommendations for courses outside of the Statistics major. As we approach Spring registration, take a look at these valuable courses!

From Yutong (Tanya) Wang:

ASTR 121
My favorite course is ASTR 121 – Solar System and Worlds Beyond. It offers a comprehensive study of our celestial surroundings. This course explores the intricate orbital mechanics of planets and moons, unravels the enigma surrounding the genesis of our Solar System, and introduces us to the discoveries of exoplanets in distant stellar systems.

What sets ASTR 121 apart is its immersive pedagogical approach, which includes attending enlightening presentations at the Staerkel Planetarium and participating in night observatory sessions. These practical experiences not only enhanced my comprehension of the universe but also motivated my curiosity for the universe. ASTR 121 has been pivotal in igniting my fervor for astronomy and planetary science.

CHLH 260
Another course I would recommend is CHLH 260, Introduction to Medical Ethics. This course talks about ethical complexities of the medical field, and it’s unlike any other class I’ve experienced. What makes it unique is that it uses movies and TV shows to explore medical ethics. Analyzing ethical dilemmas and moral challenges in media sources makes it highly relatable and engaging.

Finally, I was tasked with writing an essay that examines different ethical concepts and reflects on our chosen media source. CHLH 260 left me a lasting impression by its unique blend of media analysis and ethics and deepen my understanding of the complexities in healthcare area. It’s a course that has not only broadened my knowledge but also shaped my perspective on ethical decision-making.

From Jieruo (Kelly) Li:

ANSC 207
One of my favorite courses outside of statistics is ANSC 207, “The Science of Pets and How to Care for Them”. The course focused on introducing the biology of companion animals, including their physical structure, nutrition, behavior, and reproduction. While most people consider cats and dogs as their primary choice of pets, these two animal species are the primary focus of the course.

Despite being a huge animal lover, I don’t have a pet of my own because I always felt a strong sense of responsibility for having a companion animal. But after taking this course, I learned a lot about the potential congenital and heritable disorders for certain dog types, different stages of pet growth, “checked pets” for airline travel, ways to distinguish the gender of a kitten, and even how to adopt a cat from the shelter! So, if you are an animal lover who might want to have your own pets but don’t have any experience, don’t worry! ANSC 207 is the perfect course to help you learn everything about companion animals!

FSHN 343
Another course that I found really interesting is FSHN 343, “Foundations in Beverage Management: Introduction to Wine, Beer, and Spirits”. It is worth mentioning at the beginning that this course has an age requirement of 21+ and is only open for registration in the fall semester. The course will focus on the application of principles and practices related to the preparation and service of alcohol and specialty beverages in the hospitality industry.

Students can learn about the origin, stories, and techniques of making beer, wine, spirits, and cocktails while having the opportunity to taste them and make observations of aroma, flavor, and other characteristics. Most importantly, each student will study beverages in a safe way because everyone must complete alcohol training and become certified.

From Ruihan (Rita) Liu:

ANSC 205
One of my favorite courses outside the realm of statistics has been ANSC 205: World Animal Resources. In this course, you’ll get a chance to explore the world of animals and their various roles within different climates, economies, and cultures. Plus, you’ll get to delve into how these animals lived today and what the future may hold for them. It’s a journey that is eye-opening, offering insights that go beyond the ordinary.

At the start of the course, you get to pick a country to focus on. As an Advanced Composition class, ANSC 205 presents an opportunity to gradually craft a well-structured essay while gaining a deep understanding of a particular country’s unique animals. You’ll start by brainstorming your topic and digging into available resources online. Then, you’ll craft your first draft, get some feedback, and finish up with a final draft. It takes some time and effort, but the journey of gathering pertinent information and building a comprehensive essay about animals is truly engaging.

Another interesting aspect is its incorporation of peer reviews, typically occurring between the first and final drafts. It’s a chance to see what others are doing and how their essays are shaping up. Reading something completely different from your own topic can really make you think about how to improve your work.

Professor Emmert also offers invaluable support and guidance, ensuring that we remain on the right track and providing all the encouragement we require. It’s not solely about studying animals; it’s a comprehensive opportunity to acquire skills in research, writing, and critical thinking.

In summary, ANSC 205: World Animal Resources is a class that I absolutely adore. It’s packed with fascinating insights into the world of animals and offers a unique learning experience.

Statistics Ambassadors Blog

Experienced STAT students share their wisdom