Ananth Hariharan

Senior Ananth Hariharan, majoring in Statistics & Computer Science, shares some reflections for students beginning their college journey.

There’s so much more to learn from college than just what we get from our classes. Here are a couple things I wish I took more seriously as a first-year student now that I’m a senior. It pretty much boils down to a simple motto: try stuff out. Hopefully some of these specifics resonate with you and help make the most of your college experience!

1. Explore every opportunity! (responsibly)

Don’t wear yourself out, of course – but if anything looks interesting to you, try it out! We often come into college envisioning a certain life for ourselves, from what we’re going to be involved in to where we’re going afterwards. Just about everything, from my ideas about grad school and career to the people I hung out with, changed so many times based on new experiences. Whether it’s involvement in RSOs, joining a research group, or taking an unrelated class, every step out of your comfort zone is a way to learn more about yourself. The projects you do and the people you meet almost always help to figure out what does and doesn’t work for you, all with the freedom to walk away whenever you want.

2. Don’t rush!

Overloading on classes to graduate early and taking waivers to skip classes should be done with caution. Personal and family constraints aside, having an attitude of ‘just trying to get over with things’ is one that overburdens and underserves the point of college – I’ve had to learn this the hard way on more than one occasion. Living a little bit more in the moment gives you the time and mental space to learn a lot more while enjoying all that college has to offer. For most of us, college is the time with the least real-world commitment and the most freedom, so make sure you’re giving yourself enough space to chill out and have some fun. Try to visit the museums on campus, attend concerts at Krannert, and visiting Downtown Champaign or Urbana during a festival – it might just unlock something new that you never knew about yourself.

3. Get around campus!

There are so many unique spaces around campus, from music halls and gardens to ‘hidden’ study spaces and lesser known libraries. We have a 6,370 acre campus, so there’s much to explore beyond the buildings we attend our classes in. Finding a new place to hang out or study can also introduce you to so many new people with very different backgrounds from yours, which only enlivens the college experience. Try walking into an open building you find, say hi to people, and see what you learn!

4. Like something? Make a project about it!

As students majoring in fields pretty much dominated by virtual tools, it’s easier than ever to bootstrap a project. Especially as a first-year student, when it may feel like you’re locked out of most opportunities, there’s nothing quite like building something yourself based on what you’ve learned in class. You’ll often learn a lot more than you would just through coursework by having complete control over designing a project using your knowledge of statistics. With access to huge datasets online, along with a good deal of foundational tech and stats knowledge, there’s every opportunity to do something meaningful with your coursework. It’s an easy way to start building your resume as well, as it shows off your ability to build something to professors and recruiters.

5. Make (and keep) friends outside your major!

It’s natural instinct to stick to hanging out with friends whom we share most of our classes with, but as most people will tell you, many of the most interesting conversations and perspectives you get are with people of majors radically different from yours. This is easiest as a first-year student since everyone lives side-by-side in the dorms, but it’s easier to maintain that when you’re part of non-academic RSOs or have roommates in different majors. It can also be a source of balance when you’ve got a stressful week and a source of gratitude when things are the other way around (and likewise for them too, I’m sure they’d be relieved knowing they don’t have to take your midterms).

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.  

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!

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.

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

by Alyssa Anastasi

Alyssa shares some advice for new students at Illinois.

1. 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!

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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!

5. 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!