Some of the best opportunities to take advantage of at UConn and in the Honors Program are internships.  During the spring 2012 semester, I participated in the UConn Honors Congressional Internship Program in Washington, D.C.  Each year, UConn places a student with each one of the Connecticut Senate and House offices in Washington, D.C.  As part of this internship, I worked in the office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3).  I applied for the D.C. internship program because I wanted to get a practical and professional experience in my discipline of political science.  I hoped the experience would help me grow professionally and that I would learn about politics and Congress in a way not possible in the classroom.  Add to that the prospect of living in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill, and the decision to apply was an easy one.

As an intern, some of my daily tasks included compiling news clippings, sorting mail, answering phones, booking tours for constituents, and entering constituent correspondence in the IQ computer system.  In addition, I often was asked to attend briefings or hearings, on topics ranging from health care to agriculture policy, and type up memos for the relevant staffer.  Furthermore, I wrote letters in response to constituent questions and performed other projects for the staff as needed.  There were often days when I was the only full-time intern in the office, adding to my responsibilities.

Also, just living in D.C. near the National Mall and Smithsonian museums, having the ability to do research for class in the Library of Congress, and experiencing many different D.C. restaurants and neighborhoods always provided so many things to do.  In particular, getting a tour of the Capitol Dome and being around for the blooming of the cherry blossoms were definitely highlights of the semester.

My experiences in UConn and Honors prepared me very well to take on this internship.  Political science courses I had taken, particularly about Congress, helped give me the knowledge to understand how the institution worked and make connections with what I experienced every day.  Furthermore, I developed organizational, research, communication, and leadership skills through Honors Program organizations, facilitating an UNIV class, and Honors coursework.

Overall, the D.C. Internship program helped me develop both professionally and academically, and made me a better political science student and citizen.  The program fulfilled and exceeded my expectations.  This amazing program is just one of the many internship opportunities the University of Connecticut and Honors Program can help students attain to further their personal and professional development.

John Dearborn, Political Science major, Honors Scholar, Class of 2013

To learn more about the UConn Honors Congressional Internship Program please visit the Honors Study Abroad/Away web page.

The college application process can seem daunting and overwhelming at times, but it certainly does not have to be!  As a current junior in college who has certainly had her fair share of experience with the application process, I would love to share some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way.  One of the most important aspects of this process is to start early.  If possible, get your college essay done during the summer so that you can have time to edit it during the school year.  For the essay itself, remember to always answer what the question is asking, this may seem like a no brainer, but you would be surprised how many students don’t do it.  Also, make sure that it is authentic and really speaks to who you are because this is one of the major ways in which the admissions board gets to know you.  Finally, it is essential that the essay is free from grammatical errors because they will get noticed.

When choosing which schools to apply for, it is helpful to make a spreadsheet that includes what you are looking for in your future college.  For example, you might include average class size, average financial aid awarded, whether or not a particular major is offered, distance from home, housing situation, etc.  This can help greatly with organization, especially when it comes to writing secondary applications that are specific to each school.

As far as the timeline for application season goes, I would say that senior year is when everything starts to really come together.  It is a good idea to visit colleges before school starts since you have more flexibility with dates during the summer.  Early decision and early action applications are usually due in October or November, so it is wise to work on those applications first.  Scholarship applications are due around this time as well, and these can take quite some time to complete.  Regular decision applications are usually due mid-January or February, so having these applications finalized by the time you go back to school after winter break is a good idea.  After applications are submitted, relax!  Enjoy your senior year, prepare for and go to interviews if necessary and watch the big envelopes roll in!

 

Shilpa Kolli, Class of ’15, Environment Science Major, concentration in Chemistry, Pre-Med

HIPS (Honors Initiatives for Prospective Students) has four student coordinators who, with the help of an advisor, oversee the program.  The coordinators are responsible for maintaining communication with prospective students via email and social media.  They also play a major role in putting together Open House events and meet-and-greets for prospective students.  The four coordinators have written posts to introduce themselves and to explain what being a UConn Husky means to them.  One can notice the themes of pride in community and engaging academics as a commonality in all of the posts.

 

 Laura Santry, Honors student, class of 2014
Physiology & Neurobiology (PNB) and Spanish major
Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB) minor

 My favorite part of being a UConn Husky is the pride and sense of community I feel on campus.  I love attending football, basketball, soccer and hockey games to cheer for the Huskies.  I also enjoy when the entire UConn community comes together to show their Husky Pride for events such as Homecoming, Husky-thon, Lip-Sync, Relay for Life and so much more! Furthermore, as a member of the Honors Program, I have enjoyed taking interdisciplinary Honors core classes.

Lauren Silverio, Honors student, class of 2015
English and Psychology major
Spanish minor

Being a UConn Husky carries special meaning for every student at the University.  It can mean being actively involved in athletics through any of the Division 1 sports teams, club sports, or intramurals; it can mean being a contributing member of volunteer organizations both on and off campus; it can mean engaging in challenging and rewarding academic pursuits in any of the numerous programs that are offered.  Most importantly, being a UConn Husky means that all of these different opportunities are always at our disposal – we can be involved in all aspects of student life whether it be athletics, volunteer experience, or academics throughout our time here.  More than anything else, being a UConn Husky means showing pride in the University and enthusiasm for our experience.

 

 

 Quian Callender, Honors student, class of 2016
Health Care Management major
Public Policy minor

My favorite part of being a Husky includes the ability always meet new people from all walks of life and across all interests.  In addition to UConn’s size, tight communities and close, lasting relationships with peers form.  There’s a huge sense of pride that’s apparent everyday especially during UConn traditions such as Homecoming Week and athletic games.  As a UConn student, you will have the opportunity to pursue any of your interests through the Honors Program, clubs, organizations, volunteering opportunities, internships, and research.

 

 

Shilpa Kolli, Honors student, class of 2015
Environmental Science major,
Chemistry concentration (Pre-Med Track)

My favorite part of being a UConn Husky is having the freedom to pursue just about any academic opportunity while also having a rich extracurricular experience.  For example, although I am a pre-medical student, I am able to learn about the environment and do research in environmental chemistry while staying on the pre-med track.  Another great part of UConn is how great the faculty is about encouraging students to pursue research and independent learning because this really helps to shape how engaged students are in their studies.  Students at UConn are given the opportunity to really pursue any of their goals here, both in and outside of the classroom.

 

Coordinator Office Hours (held in the Honors Programming and Events Office in Buckley):

Quian – Mondays 10-11am

Laura – Mondays 12-2pm

Shilpa – Tuesday 9-10am

Lauren – Thursdays 1-2pm

 

Please feel free to contact any of the coordinators at uconnhips@gmail.com.  We would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about UConn.

 

Perhaps something you may not know is that Honors students at the University of Connecticut are among the most supportive fans of UConn Basketball on campus. We truly embrace Huskymania. You will often see Honors students in the front row at both men’s and women’s games, leading cheers, singing the fight song, shouting, and jumping up and down to the point of exhaustion. Honors students at UConn take pride in every aspect of our university, and athletics are no exception.

So let me describe to you my typical experience at a UConn basketball game on campus at Gampel Pavilion. I start by getting in line a few hours early in order to make sure I’ll be able to get my usual front row seat. If I have a class during this time, someone will switch off with me so that we can keep our spots. I’m speaking, of course, of taking my place in line, not class. It’s never a good idea to switch off classes with friends, no matter how excited you are about the game! Depending on my mood, I will spend my time in line doing anything from listening to my iPod to studying for a midterm. Eventually, I’ll perk up from whatever I’m doing to boo the opposing team as it walks off the bus into Gampel. (As I said, Huskymania is a powerful force.) The doors open an hour and a half before game time. I rush down to the front row to grab my seat along with my friends.

Then comes the most important part of preparation for the game–break out the face paint. I paint half of my face blue and the other half white, adding a U and a C as a finishing touch. A blue and white wig adds to the ensemble. Finally, I don my Jonathan the Husky cape and head back down to the front row to watch our players warm up. I’m ready.

Game time. All of the students and fans start the game by clapping until UConn scores its first basket. The student section stands during the entire game, jumping and shouting when our team is on defense and yelling a cycle of cheers (U-C-O-N-N, U-C Let’s Go!, and Let’s Go Huskies!) when it’s on offense. TV cameras turn to the front row to get our excited reaction after a thunderous dunk, huge blocked shot, or swished 3-pointer. By the end of the game, I have sore calves and a hoarse voice, but it’s worth it every time.

All UConn students, including Honors students, show incredible pride, spirit, and enthusiasm for this university because we are:

Students Today. Huskies Forever.

John Dearborn ’13 (Political Science)
HIPS Coordinator

The Honors Initiative for Prospective Students (HIPS) was originated by a group of students based on their interest in assisting with the recruitment of prospective Honors students. This student-run initiative introduces prospective students to the unique opportunities available in the UConn Honors Program. HIPS-sponsored events include the “Meet & Greet,” which introduces high school seniors admitted to Honors to the Program’s staff, students, and faculty. These spring semester programs offer prospective students a first-hand account of life in Honors. In addition, HIPS assists with Honors information sessions at the Fall Open House and the Spring Open House for admitted students.

To showcase the diverse and exciting Honors student experience at the University of Connecticut, the HIPS blog will cover topics, such as Honors courses, freshmen seminar classes, internship opportunities, Honors housing, research opportunities, the Honors thesis, student organizations, and attending UConn sporting events, just to name a few. Stay tuned to stay informed!

Student coordinators (and their office hours):
John Dearborn, Senior, Political Science major (Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m.)
Laura Santry, Junior, Spanish and Physiology and Neurobiology double major (Mondays, 12-2 p.m.)
Suzanne Xie, Senior, Mathematics/Actuarial Science major (Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.)

Program Advisor:
Rebecca Gates (Rebecca.Gates@uconn.edu)

Questions?  Email uconnhips@gmail.com or call (860) 486-1177 during a coordinator’s office hours.