Last Friday’s workshop for Digital Scholars centered around college and career readiness, with each session packed with valuable information. In the first half, participants split into two groups: incoming college students and future college applicants. Moises Orozco Villicana, Ph.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago and Kyle Williams, M.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign led the discussion for scholars preparing to apply to universities. They emphasized the importance of students taking charge of their college exploration journey, discussing majors of interest and providing tips for writing compelling college essays. Karthik, a rising senior whose top choice is UIUC, shared his thoughts: “It was really interesting to hear from the admissions officers, to see what they review in the application and to learn how to set yourself apart.” He particularly appreciated the opportunity to connect with Kyle afterwards. For students soon heading to college, Kay Monelle, Sonia Pulido, M.Ed, and Tony Torres provided a comprehensive overview of what to expect and how to best prepare. There was a range of topics discussed, including campus involvement, tutoring resources and studying tips. Ishba Aftab, a rising freshman, gained significant insights from the presentation. She noted, “It’s really important when you get to campus that you find your own community. A lot of people join sororities and fraternities, and those connections last a lifetime.” She also underlined the criticality of reaching out for support: “If you are dealing with mental health issues or depression, which is really common when you get to college, you need to reach out.” The second part of the workshop focused on a critical lesson about LinkedIn. Ansam B. from COOP underscored the value of thoroughly researching potential employers and building a strong network. She provided a practical demonstration of how connections (e.g., 2nd, 3rd+) work, using audience volunteers to illustrate the concept. The session included an engaging challenge to create a post about the event and tag Discovery Partners Institute. Karthik stated, “It was cool to see how you can filter by your specific interests and an easier way to find internships.” He also learned “how much recruiters actually care about your LinkedIn profile so you need to make sure it’s as professional as possible.” Ishba reflected, “I learned that you need to increase your network on LinkedIn because a lot of recruiters would not be able to access your profile unless you have a mutual connection.” She also highlighted the importance of listing specific skills, work experiences, and volunteer activities, ensuring they are kept up to date. The workshop concluded with a vital discussion by Tony on interviewing in general, technical interviews, and resume tips. Friday undoubtedly provided essential, relevant and timely information to all participants! #DiscoverDPI #CareerInsights #CollegeInsights #StudentSuccess
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Thank you for the opportunity!
Partnership Marketing Associate | Empowering the Tech Community through Insights
2moThank you for having me!