December 17, 2013
Sean Ghassem-Zadeh, from Shelton, CT, is a Combined Dental Program student majoring in Biological Sciences. In high school, he was editor of the school newspaper, president of the Student Council, and captain of the varsity tennis team.
Shaylice Bragg, from New Haven, CT, is in the Combined Medical/Dental program. She is a graduate of Hill Regional Career High School and is interested in becoming a Pediatric Orthodontist.
Rishi Kothari attended Enfield High School, where he was the valedictorian of his class. He is a member of the Combined Program in Medicine and recently studied abroad in Singapore.
Shawnet Jones attended the Watkinson School. She is a member of the Combined Program in Medicine and recently studied abroad in the Dominican Republic, where she learned about their health care system and needs. Shawnet was a participant in the Health Professions Partnership Initiative programming.
Devorah Donnell attended Manchester High School, where she was valedictorian of her class. Devorah is a member of the Combined Program in Medicine and founder of UConn’s Pre-Medical Club.
Allison Baylis attended West Haven High School, where she ranked fourth in her class. She is a member of the Combined Program in Dentistry.
December 6, 2013
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
November 13, 2013
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.
August 27, 2013
How to Get Started:
*You are not required to post your photo on the day the clue is revealed, but all entries must be posted by 11:59pm Sunday, September 8th. (For example, you could submit 15 photos at 11:58pm on 9/8).
Things to Remember When Submitting:
Why is that important? The goal of the Photo Scavenger Hunt is to get as many members of the Honors Class of 2017 to participate! As more individuals participate, the stakes of the raffle prize increase!
Here’s the Final Prize Breakdown:
Whether you submit 1 photo to Twitter (1 entry) or all 17 photos to both Twitter and Instagram (34 entries), you are still one individual, but your additional entries increase your overall chance of winning. Encourage your friends, classmates, and neighbors to participate as well to advance the prize!
The Fine Print:
All photos must be appropriate and activities of those depicted must fall within the confines of the UConn student code and all other campus policies. Any violations will be reported to the Office of Community Standards.
July 8, 2013
By Cheryl Cranick, Honors Program
(The first two alumni interviews reflect excerpts from the presentations given by the 2013 Distinguished Honors Alumni Award recipients the evening before the 2013 Medals Ceremony, to Honors students and University staff.)
When he came to UConn, Dr. Anthony Chiodo, B.A. ’80 (CLAS-Honors), M.D. ’84 (MEDICINE), was not sure how he would get where he was going, but he knew he wanted to do something great. And with the support of the Honors Program he found his path in life; one that led him across the country and back as he developed into an international expert and educator in the fields of pain medicine and spinal cord injury. (more…)