Jillian Muller at the Loyola Chicago, Class of 2029
What are some of the things you like about college?
"In college, I love the freedom of scheduling that you have. I’m able to schedule my classes how I want them throughout the day, so if I want to get up early and be done early, I can schedule it to be that way! It is very different from the constant 6-hour schedule of high school and leads to more free time to do my own work or other activities. "
What are you studying/involved in?
"I am studying International Business and hoping to minor in French. I am in the International Business Society, the Volleyball Intramurals, and the Letters of Love club. Next semester, I am hoping to join a business fraternity and a sorority."
What is something that surprised you about college?
"Something that surprised me about college was the various classes that can be taken. I knew that there were many core classes that I would have to take, but it is awesome how many various, niche classes can fulfill the requirement! Something that excited me about college was the chance to meet a bunch of new people, and everyone here is so welcoming and pretty easy to talk to."
Doing anything fun on the weekends?
"In Chicago, there are so many fun things going on every weekend. My friends and I have gone to farmers markets, tried new restaurants and cafes, flea markets, the museums, the zoo, and so much more! There is always so much going on if you are feeling adventurous, which is really awesome."
What is a fun fact you have learned about your college?
"Loyola has many cool, hidden study spots, and I continue to find new ones every day!"
What did UniVarsity help you with most?
"UniVarsity helped me the most with branching out and finding new colleges. I never even would have applied to Loyola University Chicago without them because I had never even heard of it before, yet I’m so happy that I found it!! They also helped me dive deeper into the majors I was interested in and what I would potentially want to do with it in the future."
What are some of the things you like about college? "Some things I like about the college are the variety of food options, the commitment to academics, and how there are so many resources to get help with school work or if you have any questions. Everyone is very welcoming and willing to assist students. It's also a plus that I'm in Sixth College, because the dorms are relatively new and really nice compared to a lot of other schools. It's also really easy to order and pick up packages, and there is a lot of available public transportation for students." What are you studying/involved in? "My major is chemistry and other than school, I've joined the club water polo team. I think it's pretty awesome because it functions like an actual team, meaning we have practices at the pool and also get to go on travel tournaments. I've also met some amazing people through the club already." What is something that surprised you about college? "One thing that surprised me is that all the markets function like Amazon Fresh, as in there are no cashiers and you just scan your method of payment, walk in and walk out. The cameras on the ceiling figure out what you've picked up and your receipt will be sent to you shortly after. " Doing anything fun on the weekends? "On the weekends, I tend to hang out with friends. There are some parties here and there, and also the beach is not far away! What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "A fun fact is that we have froyo on campus and the flavors rotate every day with the exception of some flavors that always remain. The froyo is definitely worth the hype. There's also a Target on campus, which many people already know, but it's great." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "UniVarsity helped me the most with figuring out what my priorities were when looking for a college. For example, the weather, sizes of classes, etc. It was really helpful being presented with possible colleges that I might like. Additionally, having another person read over my essays was beneficial because then I got a second opinion on my writing, which was always good towards improving my application."
What are some of the things you like about college? "There are so many things I love about college. If I had to pick one, it would be independence. I have the freedom to pursue a major of my choice, pick classes that I'm interested in, and join any programs available. All of this on-top of living on my own." ." What are you studying/involved in? "I am currently in Pre-Business, looking to transfer into Leed's next year and major in Business Administration with an emphasis on Real Estate. Outside of the classroom, I am in Sigma Alpha Epsilon." What is something that surprised you about college? "One thing that surprised me about college was the amount of free time you have during the day, since many people came from busy days with up to 6 classes and sports taking up whole afternoons. For reference, I usually only have two classes a day now . " Doing anything fun on the weekends? "At CU Boulder, all of the weekend fun happens over on the Hill. A ton of restaurants, bars for when you are older, and all of the Greek and student housing." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "The place to eat here, in my opinion, is Fat Shack. It will be a quick discovery for anyone recently moving in." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "UniVarsity did an amazing job helping me decide on this school, from what my major would be to the location. The scenery around campus is amazing, campus life is outstanding, and I couldn't be more thankful for your guy's help throughout the whole process!"
What are some of the things you like about college? "I love having independence and that there is always something going on! I love staying busy and there is lots of opportunities here to do this." What are you studying/involved in? "I am an Accounting and Finance major and have joined many different clubs. I am part of a sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, which I love! I am also part of LEADNow, a freshman-year leadership and service program for women, and the pickleball club. Finally, I am in a mentorship program called Neeley Next Step, which is for business majors and helps give guidance about the different opportunities in the business school." What is something that surprised you about college? "One thing that has excited me is how nice and friendly everyone is! I have met so many people, and everyone is super welcoming, which I love. " Doing anything fun on the weekends? "My weekend are very buys with lots of events from football games to sorority events to parties. I also enjoy going out to dinner with my friends." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "The best restaurant/place to get food around campus is called Eatzis They have a very wide variety and all the food is delicious and tastes very homey." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "I would not be where I am today without UniVarsity! I am very grateful for everything that they did to help me. They helped me select the schools that fit what I wanted, which was extremely helpful because I came into the application process having no idea. They also had very good knowledge of the different opportunities at schools, which helped me in deciding. Finally, they helped me to stay calm and organized throughout the whole process so it became way less stressful."
What are some of the things you like about college? "Some things I like about the University of Utah are that the people and the environment are so nice and welcoming. Soroity life is great because there are so many things to do but not too overwhelming." What are you studying/involved in? "I went in with a kinesiology degree, and now I am double majoring in EMS with a focus on being a paramedic and maybe double majoring in Political science." What is something that surprised you about college? "What surprised me at college is how it is so easy to change majors and that it is ok to change your mind on what you want to do. " Doing anything fun on the weekends? "On weekends, it is fun to adventure, and we go on hikes, honestly, anything outdoors is great. Trying new restaurants is so fun because there is so many in the city. Also, going to parties and tailgates is so much fun, and you meet so many people." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "Swig is amazing, and I love going to the local sushi places. I also love walking anywhere, it is really pretty all year round." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "UniVarsity really helped me see what school was the perfect match for me and how to get in."
What are some of the things you like about college? "Some of the perks of going to one of the biggest schools is the wide variety of people you'll meet. Between UCLA's services, Westwood, and being surrounded by big cities, there's never a dull moment." What are you studying/involved in? "I am studying Civil Engineering at UCLA. I am in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) where I plan on joining a project soon." What is something that surprised you about college? "UCLA dining being the best in the nation also isn't a bad bonus. " Doing anything fun on the weekends? "I joined a fraternity, which is where I spend most of my time when I'm not doing schoolwork." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "UniVarsity was a great help in every step of the way. From helping me narrow down what kind of school fit me to helping with my essays. I am grateful for how UniVarsity kept me on track and how supportive they were the entire time. I have no regrets and am ecstatic to have picked UniVarsity and UCLA."
What are some of the things you like about college? "All my friends live 30 seconds away, and professors can just cancel class or end it early at their own will." What are you studying/involved in? "Double major in political science and Spanish, on the Kingsmen swim team, ASCLUG Senate, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and Model United Nations." What is something that surprised you about college? "I was surprised that I didn't miss home too much, and I was excited to meet new friends and make connections ." Doing anything fun on the weekends? "Go to the mall, line dancing, go into LA, go to the beach in Malibu, rest up." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "If you cross one of the bridges on campus while a red car drives underneath, it's good luck!" What did UniVarsity help you with most? "Narrowing down my college list and picking schools that I'd like... I loved every school that I visited that was recommended by UniVarsity specifically for me."
What are some of the things you like about college? "I love all the people here and how everyone is friends with each other. I also love all the help and different help sessions that the teachers and TAs provide for us." What are you studying/involved in? "I'm studying math on the pre-med track. I'm involved in math clubs, chemistry club, intermural sports, and looking to soon get involved in research and Greek life." What is something that surprised you about college? " I was surprised by how nice and willing everyone was to help each other. Most people want to share information with you instead of being too competitive." Doing anything fun on the weekends? "I hang out with my friends, go to club meetings, and study on weekends. We also explore the St. Louis area." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "They give out free popcorn in the DUC every Wednesday evening!" What did UniVarsity help you with most? "They helped me find the perfect college for me, and guided me through the application process!"
What are some of the things you like about college? "Some of the things I enjoy about college are that each day is different, and you can make your own unique day every day. I love getting to meet new people, and especially at UM, it was super cool meeting all my professors and getting to know them personally." What are you studying/involved in? "I am majoring in Community and Applied Psychological Studies and minoring in Business Entrepreneurship and Marketing. I am involved in Club Pickleball, Best Buddies, and a non-profit called Big Brothers Big Sisters." What is something that surprised you about college? "Something that surprised/excited me about college, especially at UM, was how many events go on every day on campus. UM does an amazing job of making the campus so fun with so many different things to do every day." Doing anything fun on the weekends? "My friends and I have gotten to go to the beach almost every weekend since we moved in, and we've made it almost a tradition to go every Sunday. The beach is super close to campus, and it is such a fun thing to do on the weekends." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "There is so much wildlife on campus! Everywhere you look, there is either a lizard, duck, parrot, iguana, cat, or your name." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "UniVarsity kept me calm and helped me to feel confident in the college application process. It was so amazing to have them review my progress and keep me on track. It is also so amazing the relationship that is made from UniVarsity, keeping in contact with them in college is super special."
What are some of the things you like about college? "Some things I like about Michigan State are the good bus system, and how available the ways to get around campus are because of how big it is. I love the big state school football program they have because the games are insane. I like the size of the dorms." What are you studying/involved in? "I'm studying biomedical lab science and am a part of the rugby team." What is something that surprised you about college? "Something that surprised me was the amount of people here and how if you don’t find your people on your first day, there is plenty of opportunity to find people." Doing anything fun on the weekends? "Hanging out with people I meet and going to games." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "Fun fact is on 3rd down (football) they jingle their keys, also people tailgate just on the school like paths and grass." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "Y'all helped me a ton start my search and really narrow it down, like I didn’t know the first steps, and y'all really laid it down for me."
What are some of the things you like about college? "CMC supports its students in ways I’ve never seen at another college: from orientation trips at the beginning of the year that give you a great group of friends, to countless free activities, to the teachers themselves. If you think about your favorite teacher in high school, that’s pretty much every teacher at CMC. They are extremely passionate about what they do and they’re committed to their students, as evident by the office hours and willingness to support any student no matter where they are in their journey. I had teachers in my first semester who were willing to get on the phone with me and walk through my essay even when it wasn’t their office hours. Beyond academics, you’ll find that the social life is welcoming here. The students are intelligent, but there is not a stressful level of competitiveness that you find at most other colleges. I was worried about making friends, but the process could not have been easier with a support system given to me by the college and the type of students that attend CMC. Beyond that, CMC looks out for the safety of their students and their progression as a human beyond college. " What are you studying/involved in? "My two favorite things this past semester academically was my acceptance onto the Model United Nations team and my intro Arabic class! MUN is like a second family, and I’ve learned so much in just one semester. Though everyone competes as an individual in MUN, the team is incredibly supportive of every member, and as someone new to MUN I immediately felt welcome. With Arabic being such a hard language, I was nervous to take this class. Surprisingly, however, it immediately became my favorite course. Not only was the professor extremely kind and intelligent, she cared so much about her students but at the end of the semester she threw a mini party for us at a Middle Eastern restaurant. I was able to grow close to her this past semester and knew that she was as committed as I was to seeing me succeed. The benefit of a small college like CMC, is that every teacher is able to get to know their students and connect with them on a deeper level. Knowing that you are not a number truly alters your experience as a student as it did in this class." What is something that surprised you about college? "As I stated previously, I was nervous about making friends. However, because of the support system CMC has in place, the process of connecting with people was so easy. I will be honest, anyone’s freshman year, especially the first semester, will feel lonely. But, with countless clubs, outgoing students, and social events, it’s almost impossible to not meet someone you’ll become friends with. The thing that surprised me the most however, was how connected people are with the staff. I have friends that will jam out in the music room with the security guards when they’re off shift, and I’ve sat down for tea at the Athenaeum with almost all my teachers." Doing anything fun on the weekends? "CMC students always love to have something to do! I loved going to the village on the weekend to see the farmers market with my roommates, going to the music room, attending amazing talks at the Athenaeum, and going to parties. It’s true that CMC students work hard and play hard, but that being said I have never once felt unsafe in any party scene, which I am extremely grateful for. This is in part due to the orientation we receive and the constant reminders from the school about how to say safe, and also in part due to a group on campus called Advocates which is dedicated to ensuring the safety of students. They will “lifeguard” at parties, and I’ve received training in bystander intervention. All the students are volunteers and are not paid, which I think is yet another testament to the care CMC students have for each other." What is a fun fact you have learned about your college? "I will forever look forward to two things at the cafeteria that I never expected: the pizza and the churros. The pizza is probably the best I’ve had in my life. Secondly, my roommates and I have a tradition that any night they have churros, we grab a brunch and dip them in a mocha latte. It is incredibly delicious." What did UniVarsity help you with most? "The biggest thing I received help in was organization and accountability. The hardest thing about any of the essays or part of the application process with starting and committing fully to the process. I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for the support I received and how it helped keep me on track. Furthermore, I received a lot of aid in organizing my ideas and making sure they got on the page in a clear, concise, and creative manner. I stressed for so long about my personal statement, and was so glad to have it done the summer before. It was the greatest bonus and gave me so much confidence.