AY1617 – University Honors Program Blog

Study Ablog: From New Zealand with Love

May 3, 2017General News, Student Voices, Study Abroad

The following blog post was written by Peer Advisor Sydney, a SEAS sophomore studying biomedical engineering and currently studying abroad in New Zealand! You can learn more about Sydney here.
As with most great things in life, studying abroad is not easy. Don’t get me wrong, it is a beyond amazing experience that I absolutely wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. But it isn’t all fun and games. Sure, it’s a lot of fun with a fair number of games, but there are still many of challenges along the way. Here are some helpful tips to help you survive the time of your life.

Learn to love planning.
If even the thought of planning a trip stresses you out, be prepared. Study abroad is 25% having the time of your life and 75% planning how to have the time of your life. Whether it’s planning how to even get there, or planning all of the adventures you want to have while you are there let’s just say you and your calendar are about to become very familiar with each other. But hey once you make it there all the stress of planning will melt away.
Step out of your comfort zone
You are on the adventure of a lifetime. Don’t be afraid to take some risks. Don’t be stupid of course, but you can take risks without risking potentially dying. Whenever somebody asks you to do something you aren’t sure about just think, “Will I ever get the chance to do this again?” “Will I regret it if I don’t?” “Will I regret it if I do?” If the answers to these questions are yes, yes, and no, respectively, go for it! Why not? You are there to have fun, so have some fun!
Don’t be afraid to travel alone
Traveling alone is not as scary as it sounds. I promise. Especially if you come into it with plan (see above). During my mid-semester break I spent a few days traveling alone and honestly it was the best few days of my entire break. The great thing about traveling alone is you can do whatever you want whenever you want. It’s an absolutely refreshing feeling and it really takes a lot of the stress out of traveling.
Take care of yourself
Don’t forget to take care of yourself. It is very easy to fall into the trap of feeling like any time not spent adventuring is a waste of time, but that’s not true. It is okay to take some time for yourself to relax and decompress. As great as the whole experience is, it can be stressful. Your physical, mental, and emotional health is just as important abroad as it is back home.
Maybe try going to class?
Yes, you are in an amazing new country with so many great experiences waiting for you. BUT don’t forget, you are still a college student. Sad, but true. You still have to pass your classes and one of the easiest ways to do that is going to class every now and then. You may be in a new country, but college basically still works the same way. Sorry to disappoint.
Take plenty of great photos
When in doubt, take a photo. You absolutely want to catalogue this amazing experience with as many photos as you can. Not only will they allow you to show off to the whole world what an amazing time you are having (we all do it, don’t lie), but they will also help you remember this experience when you get back home. Here are some of my personal favorite photos from my time here:

Spring 2017 Study Hours Are Here

May 1, 2017Featured, General News

FINALS ARE COMING.

Pictured: reasons the library may not your favorite place to study.
Not pictured: Trader Joe’s snacks as far as the eye can see.

Check out the full schedule below:Need a place to study? Come by the Townhouse for extended study hours in the Club Room! We’ll have snacks and coffee (aka “the essentials”) and an overall studying environment that can’t be beat!
Friday, May 5th, 9am-10pm
Saturday, May 6th, 12-10pm
Sunday, May 7th, 12-10pm
Monday, May 8th, 9am-10pm
Tuesday, May 9th, 9am-10pm
Wednesday, May 10th, 9am-10pm
Thursday, May 11th, 9am-10pm
Friday, May 12th, 9am-10pm
Saturday, May 13th, 1-4pm
Sunday, May 14th, 2-7pm

#HonorsProblems: Struggles of an Intellectually-Curious Student in an Achievement-Oriented World

April 26, 2017General News, Student Peer Advisors, Student Voices

The following blog post was written by Peer Advisor Tori, a sophomore in the Elliott School studying international affairs and conflict resolution. You can learn more about Tori here.

It’s 12:52am. You register for classes in approximately 6 hours. In your groggy stupor, you, an intellectually curious student, think to yourself “Math is my weakest academic area, but maybe that’s because I haven’t found a topic that I genuinely enjoy! Calculus sounds interesting!” You, nostalgic for a time when academic success was not determined by the letter grade you receive on a transcript (4th grade, maybe), decide to register for Calc I.

But you, a pragmatist, remember that you are scared of numbers and hate taking exams, and you decide that you don’t want to take any more semesters of math than is absolutely necessary. You, a problem-solver, amend your original plan and decide to register for an accelerated version of Calc I.

You have never taken Calc before. You haven’t taken any sort of math class in 2 years. You tell yourself you will review basic concepts in mathematics. You, a busy person with other more relevant academic interests, don’t. You, a stubborn and intellectually-curious individual, don’t drop the class.

The semester goes by, and you find yourself spending a disproportionate amount of time studying for a class in which you’re doing significantly less-well than all your other classes. You, a reflective student, ask yourself: was this even worth it? Why did I do this to myself?

—

Confession #1: This was me.
Confession #2: The grade I ultimately received in this class was lower than any other grade I’ve received in my life.
Confession #3: I would 100% recommend that everybody make the exact same decision.

I chose to take Calc for two reasons: 1) Even though math was never my strong suit, Calc seemed like an interesting and applicable version of math and I genuinely wanted to give it a chance, and 2) I knew that I would rather struggle through a class I found interesting than get a decent grade in a class I absolutely hated. At the end of the semester I realized that, even through the fatigue, complaints, and packages of erasers, I was intellectually satisfied. I had learned more than I had anticipated, and I was proud of what I had learned. Maybe that didn’t always show through on an exam, but I knew deep-down that I was being honest with myself and that I had made a choice that was the best decision for me.

The details of this story are specific to my own experience, but I can almost guarantee that the sentiment is not. Honors students are driven by a desire to learn everything they can about the world around us, and sometimes, this leads us down a more challenging academic path than we had initially anticipated. Maybe my Calc experience will be your experience with a philosophy class or an art class, or maybe you’re struggling through your own personal mathematical abyss. In the spirit of this registration season, I tell you this: TAKE THE CLASS. Trust me, the struggle will be worth it.

Food for Thought w/ Prof. Keeley

April 25, 2017Events, Featured, General News

Join us in the Club Room on Friday, April 25th from 12-1 for a Food for Thought with one of this year’s Faculty Fellows, Professor Melissa Keeley, from the department of geography! Prof. Keeley will be giving a brief talk over a catered lunch. Make sure to RSVP to save your seat (and your sandwich!). More information about the talk is below:

Sustainability: The City Is Where It’s At
Even as national policy priorities turn away from issues of sustainability, cities are taking a leadership role. Cities as diverse as Philadelphia and Chattanooga, for instance, are seeking to reinvent their cities with a new, “greener” identity. Join Dr. Melissa Keeley in a lively discussion about the possibilities and limitations of local action that balances the environment, economy and social equity on issues such as climate change, biodiversity preservation, and healthy food access.

RSVP here!

The Student-Faculty Dinner is Here!

April 24, 2017Events, Featured, General News

A group of freshmen psyched about life (and egg rolls) at the fall 2016 Student-Faculty Dinner.

You may want to take a seat for this news….
Now stand up and start clapping because the student-faculty dinner is Thursday, May 4th, from 5pm-7pm at Chalin’s Restaurant!
This is the annual springtime celebration where Honors students, faculty, and staff come together to eat, talk, and have to celebrate the end of classes and refuel for finals.
Swing by the Townhouse to grab your $5 tickets for this all-you-can-eat extravaganza!

Intern Files: The US Trade Representative

April 19, 2017General News, Intern Files, Student Voices1 Comment

The following blog post was written by Peer Advisor Bridger, an SMPA senior studying political communication and business administration.
When I arrived at GW almost four years ago, international trade was not high on my list of issues of interest. Indeed, I am quite sure I had no idea what “international trade” really meant, to say nothing of how it impacts the lives of people all across the globe. However, as my time at GW wore on, and the issue became more and more salient, I decided it was time to educate myself on the issue. Since I was a Political Communications major who had already finished his Political Science courses, I turned to the world of internships to do just that.

I spent the summer of 2016 at the United States Trade Representative (USTR), working in their Public Affairs Office. While I have interned many places throughout my time at GW, I had never taken on a full time internship. To those reading this, wondering if you should work full time for a summer, I would advise you to do so. At the USTR, not only was I able to develop far more meaningful professional relationships than I have previously at internships, but I was also able to grasp the material to the point that I felt I had, at the very least, achieved a solid understanding of a very complex subject. Moreover, by interning in the summer, I felt I was able to get my first real glimpse into what the “real world” of 9-6 work looks like. You don’t realize, as a student, how tired you’ll be at the end of the day, or how little time there is during a work week for things you really enjoy. While that may sound a bit downtrodden, the experience of working at the USTR made me realize that prioritizing what is important, and working somewhere where you are fulfilled and happy, truly are keys to an enjoyable life.
Furthermore, for those reading and wondering if they should use internships to expand their knowledge base, I say go for it. Believe me when I say I did not have a great grasp on the Trans Pacific Partnership when I arrived at the Winder Building in early June, and that was definitely intimidating. However, by the time I left I felt I had achieved a mastery of the subject, and that I could defend the deal’s merits to anyone. By throwing yourself into professional situations that force you to “figure it out”, you, in a way, force yourself to improve. Especially when pay is minimal or nonexistent, finding ways to take things away from an internship other than the line on your resume is the most worthwhile thing you can do. Expand your horizons, don’t worry if you don’t know everything about a subject, and, if possible, try an internship that allows you to explore a topic that you may not know all that much about.

GW Health Professions Fair

April 18, 2017Events, General News

Interested in pursuing a health profession after graduating from GW? CCAS’s Health Professions advisors will be hosting the 2017 Health Professions Fair!

The fair will be taking place on Tuesday April 25th from 4-7pm at GW’s Smith Center. Registration is open to the community and is free. Interested participants can register to attend here. Currently, there are over 75 schools registered. There will also be 4 breakout sessions during the fair:

4:30-5:15pm

All About: Association of American Medical Colleges. The session will cover information for Aspiring Doctors, the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP), the Fee Assistance Program, Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR), The MCAT Exam, The AMCAS Application, Financing Medical School with FIRST, and more Resources for applying.
All About: GW’s Anatomy Minor and Tips on Admission to Medical School. Dr. Kurt Johnson is an active member of the GW’s Medical School Admissions Committee and a Professor of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology. This session will cover general tips for applying to medical schools as well as provide details about GW’s Human Anatomy minor.

5:30-6:15pm

All About: Personal Statements. GW’s Nicole Mintz will cover tips to assist students in crafting a personal statement
All About: The Application Process. Attendees will get an opportunity to hear from current GW medical students about their application process, what they wished they knew, what they wished they did differently, and their medical school experience thus far.

Honors Research Showcase

April 18, 2017Events, Featured, General News, Research Stories

You are invited to celebrate the research of your peers at the University Honors Program Research Showcase!
Enjoy brief, casual talks and ask questions Friday, April 28th from 2pm to 5pm in the Club Room of the Honors Townhouse. Let your fellow UHPers know how proud we are of their dedication and willingness to take a risk in order to contribute and disseminate original work as active scholars!

I don’t know how to put this, but they’re kind of a big deal.

And if you have research you’d like to present, let Catherine know by Monday, April 24th to be included in the program!

Honors Cords, Grad Reception, and the Senior Survey

April 17, 2017Events, Featured, General News

If you’re graduating, have we got the survey for you! When you complete it, you can pick up your gold honor cord to wear at graduation. You can also pick up your 5 tickets for the UHP Graduating Seniors reception between 5/8 and 5/18. I’m not saying we’re holding your cords and tickets hostage, but I’m also not not saying it.
Here’s what you need to know:
First, complete the senior survey. You can do this online starting today. The survey is anonymous so that you can feel free to be honest, but we need to confirm that you’ve completed the survey. To do this, we will collect your childhood street name (think like a security question), which will be used to verify that you completed the survey.
Next, come pick up your golden cord and graduating senior reception tickets at the Foggy Bottom office staring Monday, May 8th. You can continue to pick up your materials any time during regular business hours (9AM-5PM) after that up until the Thursday before graduation. We’ll check to make sure you’ve already completed the Senior Survey by asking your to confirm your childhood street name.
Finally, attend the UHP Graduating seniors reception. We’ll be in the City View Room at 1957 E Street from 5-7pm on Saturday, May 20th, 2017. Please note the reception will feature a cash bar and you will be able to pick up one drink ticket per guest when you check in at the reception. Graduates can also take part in the annual UHP tradition of signing our senior poster.
Note: CCAS students attending the Undergraduate Degree Programs Celebration #2 at 3:30 will have plenty of time to celebrate at both events!
We look forward to seeing you and your guests at the reception!

Spring Hike w. Prof. Ralkowski and TRAiLS

April 14, 2017Events, Featured, General News

The UHP took on Old Rag in Spring 2016, too!

It’s that time of year, folks! The air is crisp and warm, the cherry blossoms are pretty much all dead, and finals are right around the corner. Spring has sprung! Celebrate the last week of classes with the UHP’s annual Old Rag hike! Prof. Ralkowski and TRAiLS will be taking a limited number of UHPers on this advanced hike on Saturday, April 29th.
To reserve your seat on the bus, you MUST fill out the TRAiLS registration form and bring your $5 payment to the UHP front office.
We’ll meet at the Townhouse at 8:30 to head over to the Shenandoah National Park together. Lunch will be provided, but make sure to check the packing list and bring things like water and a backpack! We’ll get back to campus around 8 PM.

Tag: AY1617