“The Odyssey Scholarship Program provides so many opportunities for career advancement, network building, and general support, and I look forward to taking advantage of them.”
How did you learn about UChicago? When did you first know that UChicago was the right school for you?
My maternal grandparents met at UChicago, so the school was always on my radar. I became more sure I wanted to apply as I saw it checked all of my boxes: college campus feel in a major city, strong academics in areas I was interested in, medium size, liberal arts education with an emphasis on research, and a vibrant house culture. After I visited and saw all that for myself, I was convinced I would probably apply. That became certain upon attending the information session presentation by the admission counselor at my high school. She began the presentation with the sentence "At UChicago, our classes are conversations." Having attended a high school that prioritized discussion-style learning through the use of Socratic seminars, I knew I wanted to attend a college with the same philosophy of learning. Please describe the moment you received your admission to the College.
What was your reaction?
I received my admission to UChicago on the evening before the last day of school before winter break. The feeling was one of shock and joy. Naturally, I hugged my mom, called my dad, and texted my family friends and college counselor. At that point I had already received admission to two other schools both of which were second choice schools for me, so admission to my first choice was quite exciting. Upon seeing the financial aid package, I felt a sense of relief in knowing that there were no barriers to attending my top choice and that the college application process could be over for me if I chose to end it. The next day was one of the best school days of the year; I distinctly remember the mix of pride, gratitude, and joy I felt as I told my teachers whom I had strong relationships with about the acceptance and watched their reactions mirror my own.
What are you most looking forward to at UChicago? Are there classes, subjects, or activities you’re excited to explore?
I'm very glad to be taking "Mind" right now, a social science Core sequence class that is allowing me to explore my potential majors of psychology and philosophy. I'm also excited to be taking "Reading Cultures," a humanities Core sequence that allows me to engage with texts from around the world, something absent from my high school education, which focused primarily on texts from Europe and the U.S. I look forward to taking more psych and
philosophy classes in the future and participating in extracurriculars relating to those fields. Outside of class I'm excited to explore the music ensembles, including Jazz Combo, University Symphony Orchestra, and Percussion Ensemble. I also look forward to engaging with the city of Chicago through community service, which I'm hoping to do through one of the work-study jobs in community service the university connects students with. Last but not least, once I narrow down my career goals, I hope to do a Metcalf internship.
If you could speak directly to the person whose gift supported your scholarship, what would you say?
Thank you so much for increasing my access to an education and making my attendance here possible. Having received varying financial aid packages to several different colleges, it was such a great feeling when my highest preference and my most affordable option were one and the same. It was amazing to see my dream school become a reality. In addition to the clear financial benefit, the Odyssey Scholarship Program provides so many opportunities for career advancement, network building, and general support, and I look forward to taking advantage of them. I'm certain that my time here will be improved by the many benefits of this program.
