LAS Insider blog for prospective students

Over the summer of 2023, Isabel Wojcik worked as a medical assistant at Christie Clinic in Champaign. She provides some thoughts on her experience.

Riley Brandhorst, a junior studying communication, studied abroad in Rome. She reflects on her experience.

One of the major draws of UIUC is the vibrant social scene. But over the summer, when most students go home, campus becomes a lot quieter. The Quad is usually empty, and the study spots that are normally crowded are open.

The LAS Honors program has supplemented my academics, but I have been even more fulfilled outside of the academic realm of the program. The James Scholar Student Advisory Board (JSSAB) has been a big part of my involvement in LAS Honors. The group of students in JSSAB work together to build community among James Scholars and encourage connections among students while exposing them to organizations, events, and opportunities available on campus.

We caught up with a handful of graduating seniors to get their perspective on their time at Illinois, including advice for incoming freshmen. Check out what they had to say.

The LAS Honors Program has many advantages at the U of I. Josie Thannert, a sophomore studying global studies and gender & women’s studies, shares a few.

In the James Scholar Program, enrichment points have rewarded me with some of my favorite memories during my undergraduate career.

Connecting with people on a campus of 30,000 students can be hard. Connecting with yourself and the person you’re becoming is even harder. The LAS Honors program helped me with both over my past two years on campus.

LAS 102 is a course that I would highly recommend to any transfer student joining the College of LAS. The class is a one-credit hour course tailored to provide resources and mentorship for transfer students. It meets once a week with a peer mentor who will act as the first point of contact, teach valuable campus resources, and help kickstart your career as an Illini.

As an incoming College of LAS student, you are required to take an 8-week, 1-credit hour, course during your first semester on campus. For most students, this class will be LAS 101: Design Your First Year Experience. This class is organized to aid newly-minted LAS freshmen in feeling more comfortable while kicking off their time at UIUC.

Sophia Beem is a double-major in creative writing and global studies. She is involved in Students for Environmental Concerns, where she reports on environmental news through the Green Observer.

Muskaan Siddique explains how working with LAS advisors led her to find a unique path that fulfills her interests.