The Phoenix in the Windy City

The University of Chicago is a private research university located in Chicago’s famous Hyde Park neighborhood. Currently, 16,445 students are enrolled at the University of Chicago. Including 6,286 undergraduate students and 10,159 graduate and professional students. The university was founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, Marshall Field, and the American Baptist Education Society. According to Robert J. Zimmer, UChicago’s 13th president, “The University of Chicago is distinctive in many respects, but perhaps in none more so than our singular commitment to rigorous inquiry that demands multiple and often competing perspectives.” It is this commitment to their mission that has led UChicago to become one of the most elite universities in our nation. 

UChicago was ranked #3 in National Universities, preceded only by Princeton and Harvard. The status of the university has made it quite competitive and expensive. Each year the university only accepts around 8% of applicants. The average cost of tuition is $53,292 and room and board costs roughly $15,726. Although this is very pricey, UChicago makes an effort to provide students with grant and scholarships that make it possible to attend the university. Both need-based financial aid and merit-based aid are offered. Last year alone, the University of Chicago gave $135 million in financial aid to their students.

UChicago also offers an extensive variety of 65 undergraduate majors and 47 minors to their students to study. The most popular majors are Economics, Biological Sciences, Math, Political Science, and Public Policy Studies. The average student to teacher ratio at UChicago is 6:1. Correspondingly, almost all of these classes that are offered consist of fewer than 20 students, giving opportunity for more discussion and interaction in classes. 

In regard to diversity, the University of Chicago’s ethnic diversity consists of 44.4% White, 17.4% Asian, 8.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 5.0% Black. 52% of the student body is male and 48% is female.

Barack Obama speaking at the UChicago Law School

Fun Facts:

- The school mascot is Phil the Phoenix and their teams’ nickname is the Maroons.

- Barack Obama taught at the University of Chicago Law School before his presidency.

- In the past, UChicago has provided prospective students with some very unique and creative application essay prompts. Some of the past prompts asked applicants to literally compare apples to oranges, explain why odd numbers are odd, and to give their pH and explain how it expressed their personality adding, “Feel free to respond acidly! Do not be neutral, for that is base!”

Trip Destinations!

Evanston, declared a city in 1854, currently has a population of 75,000 and is a thriving urban area with an enormous influx of tourist destinations, entertainment, and even construction. The city was home to Native Americans for thousands of years until the Indian Removal Act of 1830 “displaced” them from their homes. 

As Evanston modernized, now, the urban population has diversified and expanded its economy. Evanston is home to Northwestern University, Fountain Square Tower, and Mount Trashmore. Unlike the name, Mount Trashmore is a 65 foot hill located in Robert E. James Park and also has remained as a popular sledding destination in Evanston. As much as there is snow in the winter, there is also heat in Evanston! With watercraft rentals, and sailboat lessons, anyone can enjoy their day down at the beach during summer. 

South of Evanston about 13.6 miles is the Navy Pier, a tourist destination on the shoreline of Lake Michigan that encompasses various family attractions including: Light Tower Ride, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and dinner cruises. There is a Ferris wheel, which was unveiled recently on May of 2016, after the old Ferris wheel got taken down. The Navy Pier has various activities to captivate Chicago tourists.

Seven miles to the west of the Navy Pier is the Garfield Park Conservatory. At 184 acres the conservatory is one of the largest botanical gardens in the country. As the Yelp reviews state, “Great indoor gardens and a fantastic place to go when it is cold out,” “Free admission, free parking, and a warm environment surrounded by multiple rooms full of fantastic vegetation”. Being one of the largest greenhouse conservatories in the nation, it is rather shocking to hear that the admission to the place is FREE of cost. Jens Jenson, former chief landscape architect of Chicago, designed the facility in collaboration with Prairie School Architects during 1906 and 1907. The conservatory still follows Jensen’s philosophy in design and in 2012 won the National Medal for Museum and Library Services. The exhibits feature coco de merseed, an endangered fruit, along with palms, and the octopus of the deserts, which are one of the “plants of interests” at the conservatory. 

As the days narrow down, we will soon be off to the University of Chicago to study our topics of interests but also explore more of the culture that these tourist attractions have. T - 20 days before liftoff. 

A University of Grace and Truth

Northwestern University has long been a staple of academic excellence in the United States. In 1855, the first class was held with a mere ten students. Today, they teach over 21,000 students, and are ranked in the top 20 schools nationwide. I am so happy that I will be able to observe another one of the nation's top schools. In preparation for visiting Northwestern, it seems appropriate that I learn a bit more about the school, so I took a look at the facts someone might want to know before applying.

First off, Northwestern only admits around 10 percent of the 40,000 (and growing) applications every year, so if you are set on going to this university, you will have quite a bit of competition. On the bright side, you will not have to worry about whether or not you can pay for the school. Northwestern considers all applicants equally, regardless of financial status, and if you do get in and cannot pay, they will provide financial aid (to your demonstrated need) as well!

If you do get in, there are plenty of great things about the school to enjoy. Northwestern is ranked #1 in Communications, #4 in Performing Arts, and #8 in Music in the nation. Those programs are well staffed too. Overall, there are only seven students to every faculty member at Northwestern. The diversity of the school is also pretty good, ranked #17 and #436 out of 2,718 schools nationwide in ethnic and gender diversity, respectively.

On the other hand, the school has some problems as well. It is often above 100 degrees in the summer and almost always snowing in the winter, many students find the amount of classwork quite stressful, and classes can be extremely competitive as well.

However, these are all relatively minor issues, and from this brief look at Northwestern, it seems like a great school to go to. I'm excited to visit the campus and I hope my experiences there reaffirm my conclusion.

Adventures in Chicago

In preparation for the trip in about two weeks, Don asked us to do some research about Chicago. I learned up on the 360 Chicago observation deck (with Tilt), the Art Institute, and the Museum of science and industry. I have to say that learning about some of the sights we are going to visit is definitely making me more excited about the trip.

The 360 Chicago observation deck is a viewing platform on top (the 94th floor!) of the John Hancock building, which is the fourth tallest building in Chicago, and so you can see amazing views of the city from up there. The John Hancock building is also the 33rd tallest building in the world and has won lots of awards for its unique architecture. (Look for the cool "X"-looking braces on the sides). The observation deck was originally opened in 1969.

The John Hancock building is the tallest one

BUT WAIT, not only is 360 Chicago crazy high up, it also has Tilt – which means that you can lean against the large glass windows as they are slowly lowered, adding some thrill to the observation deck!

Adding some thrill to the viewing experience!

So Chicago not only has the 33rd highest building in the world but also the second largest art museum in the US (after the MET in New York), the Art Institute of Chicago (ARTIC). It is one of the oldest art museums in the US, and it is also a research institution that is connected with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

The ARTIC

Some of the famous pieces stored in the ARTIC are A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat and American Gothic by Grant Wood.

Grant Wood's American Gothic

George Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

The other museum that I researched is the Museum of Science and Industry. It is focussed mainly on – you guessed it – science and industry! It has over 2,000 exhibits including a transport gallery, an exhibit on storms and other major natural phenomena, one about genetics in humans and animals, as well as a restored German WWII submarine and full-size replica coal mine (which sounds incredible!). The museum occupies the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and was opened in 1933.

The exterior of the Museum of Science and Industry

The replica coal mine

The Museum of Science and Industry referred to by name on the draft itinerary, but I'm sure there will be time to fit it in on a Saturday afternoon sometime!

Long Day, Short Board Meeting

I went to bed at 4 AM in the morning and woke up at 6:30 AM, preparing myself for a meeting which started at promptly at 9. Drinking loads of coffee, I took off for San Francisco with BART only to find out there were barely any seats on the train and the coffee had not kicked in yet. My body was feeling terrible but I was feeling hopeful of the day. Even though San Francisco was not what I expected it to be, I was still looking forward to speaking at the WCCUSD Board meeting to represent the UChicago cohort. I spoke with Max on the phone about the logistics of the board meeting, taking place tonight, right on the opposite side of the BART map. 

“Distinguished guests, honorable board members, and supportive families...” I practiced silently on the way back home from SF. It was not remembering some portions of the Speech that was an issue but rather the time constraint. I was unsure of the pacing of the speech as I only had 1 minute and 30 seconds on the clock whereas I am used to talking for 8 - 11 minutes. 

“The mike will turn off without a hesitation,” if you speak overtime Hawi reminded me as I anxiously laughed at her text. 

However, I consider myself as an effective communicator. As the Vice President of the Contra Costa College Speech Team, I have given over 10 speeches to 2-year and 4-year institutions on various political topics. This time around, though, the speech would be structured like a commencement address which got me somewhat out of my comfort zone because I was not used to a podium.

Even so, I was excited for the night to network and reconnect with the Chicago cohort. I bumped into Uche Uwahemu, a candidate for Richmond city mayor, and we briefly talked about my journey through the IVY League Connection. Then, I reconnected with the ILC’ers to discuss the logistics behind the presentation - how we were going to effectively make use of the 5 minutes. 

I was speaking to the Board right after Don about how the Chicago cohort will make sure to utilize the opportunities that the ILC provides me to continue on our academic journey. Hawi would take off right after me to talk about how the Vanderbilt cohort would do the same. I felt like the subject of a paparazzi as Don flashed various pictures and the TV cameraman recorded our presentation. Having reserved seats in the front, and pulling up on a suit feels good. 

Wrapping up the day, the ILC’ers and our families took a picture together right outside the multipurpose room at DeJean Middle School. 

SF at Night

Right after the Board meeting, I headed out to San Francisco to meet up with a friend after 7 months. Even though, I got home at 11:30, only to find someone in Texas accessed my social media accounts, the night overall was fantastic. 

San Francisco is great and all but I am sure Chicago will be better. T - 20 days until liftoff.

St-Jean at DeJean

Tonight was the night of the school board meeting and the last (probably) event before departure day! Don emphasized the importance of this meeting via email about a week ago, explaining that it gives the ILC lots of exposure (and a TV spot!), as well as helping with fundraising. In addition to the actual meeting, the evening includes a photo opp, which is why we were required to dress formally and bring a parent.

Now I was happy to throw on a suit to take a nice picture, but bringing a parent would end up being a little more challenging. My mother had to drive my brother to another obligation, and my dad had a meeting for work scheduled at the same time. Don was insistent that my dad should try to make it in time for the picture, if not the presentation, which was possible, but that still left me lacking transportation. Luckily, the board meeting was at DeJean Middle School, which is a convenient ten-minute bike ride from my house. The caveat: I would have to bike in a suit, something entirely new to me! (Spoiler: its pretty much the same as biking in anything else, just a bit more uncomfortable)

Stylin' at the Board Meeting (Left to right: Audrey, me, Ana)

When I arrived, it was 5:55; I was five minutes early. Don arrived at 6:00 on the dot, and we quickly went over the game plan for the evening. We would get 5 minutes near the beginning of the meeting, so we only had time for Don, Hawi, and Shrijal to speak.

Before we presented, Don had reserved (read as: 'placed pieces of paper saying "reserved"') some seats in the front row for us to sit and hold the ILC banner.

Don's very humble and very official "Reserved" signs

Shreejal holding the banner

(Side note here, but maybe the most important revelation of the night: I learned that all the emblems on the ILC banner are just made up by Don to avoid copyright. If you look closely, one of the emblems has a depiction of a guy surfing on a diploma, which is amazing.)

Visual representation of how the ILC prepares us for college

We then said the pledge of allegiance, listened to the minutes of the last meeting and finally heard two other organizations present to the board before it was our turn. Both Shrijal and Hawi managed to give excellent speeches despite only having 75 seconds, and Don managed to finish with 16 seconds to spare (which he did not hesitate to tell the board).

Shreejal speaking on the behalf of the Chicago cohort

In the meantime, my dad had managed to arrive and was there for the picture. Isaac, Shrijal and I got to sit down in the front, and the parents stood in the back.

The nice, formal picture

All in all, the meeting went very efficiently, something I feared it wouldn't! Next time I see the ILCers it will be an ungodly hour in the morning, but I am still looking forward to it.

A Night of Firsts and Lasts

This Wednesday night, was the presentation of the Ivy League Connection to the school board. Tonight all of the ILCers and their parents convened at Lavonya DeJean Middle School once again. My mother and I arrived at  DeJean shortly before 6 PM. Mostly everyone was there already and the rest of the members of the ILC arrived within the next few minutes.

As always, Don was highly prepared for tonight. He arrived with a cart piled up with the ILC banner and other items for us to use for the group picture we planned to take. He also had already reserved our seats with some very flattering reserved signs.

Don gathered us and we briefly went over our positions for the presentations and for the picture. Don explained Shreejal and Hawi would need to be closest to the podium since they were speaking for their respective cohorts. He stressed that even the few seconds it would take Shreejal and Hawi to get into their position were of value since we were only allotted five minutes for the entire presentation. After receiving instructions from Don, it was only a matter of waiting until 6:30 PM when the meeting was meant to start.

The school board meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a roll call of all the board members. Time was also spent adjusting the agenda and making a few other procedural motions. Shortly after, we moved on to the presentations. The first presentation on the agenda was carried out by Advocates for Equity in Education Recognitions. Their presentation was to recognize some district faculty members for the part they played in advocating for education. The second presentation was by Healthy Richmond who spoke on recommendations related to improving school climate. These two presentations were quite short so our time to present came faster than I expected.

Once it was our time to present, Don gave a short introduction to the program and gave the board perspective of just how much this program changes the lives of the ILCers. After Don’s introduction, it was Shreejal’s and Hawi’s turn to speak on behalf of our cohorts. Considering they only had 75 seconds and had to speak very fast to stay within the time frame, they both gave great speeches and were able to articulate well our excitement and gratitude to the board. Thankfully, we were able to finish the presentation even with a few seconds to spare.

After our presentation, we stepped outside to take our group picture. The process of getting everyone into position for the picture was quite an extensive one. This is considering that there were less than 20 people in the picture. Don had mentioned earlier that evening that a previous ILC picture had included around 96 people. I can’t help but wonder how long that photo session lasted and how much time Don had to spend editing. An ILC of that size also brings into perspective how much the number of ILCers has dwindled since there is only 8 of us this year. Hopefully, the ILC can once be that size again and continue changing the lives of students in our district.

Overall, the ILC presentation to the school board was another great milestone in our journey. I got to attend my first school board and realize how much more there is to the decisions that impact our school life. I also got to see the other ILCers one more time before we all reunite again on July 5th at 2 AM to depart to UChicago and Vanderbilt.

The 2018 Ivy League Connection

A Brilliant Board Meeting

This afternoon, the Chicago and Vanderbilt cohorts came with a parent apiece to the West Contra Costa Unified School District meeting at the Lovonya Dejean Middle School. I arrived at 5:50, about 40 minutes prior to the start of the public section of the meeting. The other ILCers filed in over the next few minutes, and Don arrived promptly at 6:00, exactly as he had said he would. We met to discuss how to make sure we stayed within the strict five minute time limit, as well as talk about the photo we would take afterwards. We then dispersed to unroll the banner, find our seats, and see whether or not we could snatch one or two fig bars from the side table.

The meeting began with roll call of the board members, followed by the pledge of allegiance. The first few issues to come up were simply motions change the order or date of discussions. After those had passed, the requests to address the board began. First came a group which publicly thanked great teachers for their service and presented them with awards. The second group to speak was a committee composed of students, teachers, parents, and district staff working to improve district policy and to address health issues in the district.

Finally, it was our turn. Don graciously introduced us, emphasizing the importance of the program as a way to introduce students to the idea of attending college out-of-state. After his brief, one-minute speech was complete, Shreejal and Hawi went up to thank the district for their continued support of the program. After all, it could not be done without them. After Don finished up the second half of his speech, we retired to the schoolyard to take a photo with our parents and the chaperones.

It was really cool to see what a board meeting looks like, and it felt good to give deserved thanks to the people allowing us to go on such an amazing adventure.

Orientation, it's already here!

It was T minus 1 month before take off - June 4, 2018. 

While Don was talking about the expectations placed upon the students by the district and ILC, my mom and I were listening attentively so by the time it was July 5, we would be ready to head out to Chicago! I saw the rest of the ILC'ers and that added to my excitement. If necessary, I felt that I could go home to pack and already go off to Chicago. That's how much excitement I had flowing down my veins.

On the other hand, my mom was somewhat nervous because this would be the first time I would be off to a new place without a parent. The only time I had been away from my mom for over a month was 6 years back when my dad and I went to Nepal. Even at the airport, there were a lot of tears. 

Nevertheless, as Don was speaking, my mom got somewhat emotional. She was very proud because she would not have even dreamt of her kids being granted these opportunities, when in Nepal. My high school, Middle College, does not have a lot of parent - student programs but this was one of the few times she saw me in the spotlight. I am glad that it was mandatory for one of our parents to be there. 

John Hillyer, the chaperone for the Chicago cohort, and Tori Sciacca, the chaperone for the Vanderbilt cohort, soon gave a quick five minute pitch on their experience with the ILC and why parents should trust their kids with the ILC. 

The next thing on our agenda was reviewing the itinerary with our respected chaperone, Admiral Hillyer. The Admiral talked about the logistics behind our travel including the arrival at Chicago all the way to what the last day at Chicago will look like. As Don came over, he announced that we will be able to keep the books for the courses we were taking, which made me even happier. I always enjoyed Economics but taking it at UChicago - would not have dreamt of that. University of Chicago has one of the best economics programs in the world and given so many resources, there, would help me as a student develop the critical-thinking skills necessary to hopefully be one of the Economic advisors for the POTUS in 10 years time. 

We concluded the event with Don showing us the loaner items, we could borrow once we are off to our universities. The ILC'ers, then, gathered to take a picture before officially concluding the event.

I still remember Max's dad saying, "1, 2, 3 Ready," every 5 seconds, while taking the picture, which definitely helped us smile. 

A very productive afternoon with an intelligent group of people. 

Clueing In the Parents

Yesterday evening the 2018 ILC Orientation took place at Lavonya DeJean Middle School. The purpose of the orientation is to inform everyone involved about what to expect on the trip, this time including the parents.

The night began with Don giving us a run-down of what we would cover during the orientation, including a detailed itinerary of our trip, loaner items, and what to expect in the following weeks leading up to our trip. This was followed by the chaperones who introduced themselves to our parents and explained why they should entrust them with us.

My mother and I

(I promise I was not as bored as I look).

Once introductions had been made, we split up into our cohorts to discuss closely some more details about our trip. In our respective groups, we went over the draft itinerary Don had provided. I was glad to see we finally got some concrete details about our Departure Day. We learned we are meant to be at El Cerrito High School at 2:15 AM that day! When I saw this I thought “I might as well not go to sleep” but I was quickly corrected by Don who advised that no sleep plus a day full of traveling and sightseeing would be a recipe for disaster. 

On the upside, we get to travel with Southwest, which allows two checked bags so I don’t have to worry about packing everything I need in just one. Also discussed was our stay at the Omni Hotel, our finalized list of sightseeing options, orientation dates, class start and end dates, and finally the return back home. Through each part of the itinerary our chaperone, John, gave many details as to what we can expect. This brought much comfort to my mother because she saw just how experienced and knowledgeable John was about the entire process.

While discussing the itinerary, our cohort was joined by three members of last year’s UChicago cohort Raqeeb, Cecilia, and Jahnvi. They gave us tips about everything from signing up for the activities that take place on campus to having a Target nearby that we could go to if we forget to pack something (which I inevitably will). I was glad to have the UChicago cohort from last year present at the orientation. They were able to give us an exclusive insight into life on campus that even Don with all of his knowledge could not give us. Because of their unique perspective, I wish we could have had more time to talk to them, but the time to regroup came pretty fast.

The UChicago cohort of 2017 and 2018 

When we regrouped, Don went over everything we needed to pack for our trip (the list goes on and on). Although there are many items we need to get and pack, it is comforting to know I don’t need to worry about some of them because Don had many items he can loan us.

After going over all of the loaner items Don has to offer, we stepped outside to take a picture of all of the ILCers along with Don and the chaperones. This picture brought an end to the orientation.

I thought that last night’s orientation was very productive. Not only did I get a more concrete idea of what the trip will look like, but so did my mother. I try to keep her updated on as much as I can, in regards to the ILC, but nothing can make up for the direct exposure she had last night. She got to meet both Don and John, which brought her comfort knowing they are both so efficient and experienced.

Although much of the information was a review, I also gained new insights during the orientation. Getting to see a detailed itinerary, helped me build a better picture of the time we will spend in Chicago. I am looking forward to all of the memories we will create there. It’s crazy to think it is only one month away!

The Tutorial, Vol. 2

As I pulled up to Lavonya Dejean Middle School on Monday night, I was wondering what new things we would cover that we hadn't discussed at the tutorial. I knew that the orientation was primarily for the parents, but I was curious to know if we would get more details on the itinerary.

The Admiral explaining to the parents why they should
trust him with their kids

The orientation took place in the multi-purpose room. Don had set up some loaner items on a table in front of the stage, and part of the cohorts had already arrived. My dad and I sat down and after the last people arrived Don started explaining the agenda for the evening. We started with some basic information about the trip for the parents, then the chaperones introduced themselves to the parents.

The Chicago cohort listening attentively

Next, we split into two groups, Chicago and Vanderbilt, to cover the draft itinerary. While we covered the day by day, we received advice from U Chicago ILCers from last year, Raqeeb, Cecilia, and Jahnvi. I learned vital information about the location of a nearby Target, the importance of warm blankets and a comforter, and meal times.

After covering the itinerary, we came back together as a whole group to talk about packing, lists, and other logistics. Much of this part was a review for me, but now my dad had a much more detailed understanding of my trip. The last thing to cover was the loaner items, but before letting us look at them up close Don wanted to take a group picture before the sunset.

Stylin'

Some of the loaner items

All in all, I thought it was a very productive Monday evening, and seeing the itinerary makes the trip seem all the more real.

Itinerary Review and Alumni Interview

This afternoon, I met with Don, past and present ILCers, chaperones, and parents to learn more about the specific plans for our days before and after classes. We also went over various items that I might need to bring. Sadly, I was an hour late to this event, as I had dinner plans with my family to celebrate my sister's birthday (It was fantastic, I might add). 

As I was late, I'm not entirely sure what happened during the first hour of the Orientation, but I presume that it involved going over the first half of the itinerary and explaining any relevant details. I would guess that this included information such as what to bring on a specific excursion or how to prepare for an event, as well as anything extra about it that Raqeeb and Cecilia remembered. After I arrived at about seven o'clock, we finished going over the itinerary and spent a few minutes learning from the alumni what and what not to bring, in addition to where to get what we need. 

As soon as we were done asking questions, Don brought us over to sit with the Vanderbilt group so he could explain more efficiently the loaner items he was offering. I must admit, I was not expecting the wide selection and vast stores that he had of everything ranging from personal fans to laptop security cables. I will likely need little more than a laptop to borrow, but it is good to know that I may rest assured if a need for traveling items appears.

When Don finished going over the traveling goods he had brought, we all stepped outside for a bit of fresh air and a photograph of both ILC cohorts along with the chaperones and Don. The camera that Don uses is a monstrous tool, with buttons and dials covering every side, but Maxime's father managed to figure it out and snap a great photo of us all together.

I think that I am now finally ready to go to Chicago. I know what I need to bring, I know what I want to do while I am there, I know what to be prepared for, and for once, I don't feel like I'm going to forget anything.