Evy JagGuide's Blog

Credit: A. Fujii     My time here at South isn't just to get a degree and move on. I plan to go on to graduate school once I've completed my Bachelor's, and the opportunities that South is providing me are integral to ensuring I continue on with that plan.    Because I'm in the Honors College, I am given the opportunity and the resources to do significant undergraduate research. Not only will that give me real, proper experience, it will also put me in a grade above the competition I have when applying for grad school. Research also provides wonderful networking opportunities, all of which I find especially important.    I am not quite sure what I'd like to do career-wise yet, so I appreciate the opportunities to try new things and discover what I love. I've tossed around the idea of perhaps going into scientific journalism, so I sought a job at The Vanguard, where I've been learning the ins-and-outs of a newspaper operation.   ...

  Howdy everyone!   As the last semester of your high school career begins to wrap up, I'm sure that for many of you, college is never too far from your mind. Here are some things to consider as time marches on... Have you taken your ACT/SAT? If you're interested in bumping up your score or haven't taken one of the tests yet, make sure you get that done ASAP! ACT/SAT scores are vital if you're interested in any sort of academic scholarship, so keep on churning out as many scores as you can! Have you decided on your school yet? It's okay if you haven't, but keep in mind that many universities, including South, have important deadlines for the Fall semester to keep track of. For example, at South, things like Housing and Southbound Orientation are done on a first-come, first-serve basis; the longer you make a decision, the smaller your pool of options shrinks. What about housing? Are you living on or off campus? This is something you should be thinking ab...

  Hey everyone!   I hope everyone's having a lovely Valentine's Day! Today I'm going to be spreading the love and the cheer by talking about my favorite thing about South. I'll be honest-- there's a lot! But this time I'd like to put a special spotlight on our amazing English department and all of the hard work that they do.   South's English department has been nothing but exceptional in its performance and treatment of students. I could rave all day about how incredibly kind all of my professors have been; as I've said before in earlier blogs, I think that South has something very special with its lively faculty. But a lot of this has to do with the English department!   I haven't had one poor experience in the department. I know that I can rely on the professors there to not only hone my abilities but also support me in my endeavors. It's one thing to teach well-- it's quite another to want the best for your students. The chair of...

  Hey everyone! There's a lot that goes into choosing the best college for you, so today I'll be discussing three major points you should focus on when it comes to narrowing down your decision.   1. Tuition, Financial Aid, and Scholarships . How much you'll be spending at a college truly affects your likelihood of attending. If University A is offering you a free ride, it will probably be hard to resist! Look into what kind of financial aid and scholarships you qualify for at each college you're considering. It really helps narrow down your options.     2. Distance . This ties into the costs of college, but it's something you really ought to consider. Do you want to move far, far away from home, or do you want to stay in the area? When I was in high school, I really wanted to move across the country to attend a certain college that specialized in the major I started out as... but now that I'm still living at home and commuting because its the most cost-effec...

    Hey everyone! As your final high school years begin to wrap up, you might be feeling the stress of making your ultimate college decision. I know when I was a senior, I felt like I was going to lose my head! There are so many options out there for just about every kind of student, and it can definitely be overwhelming. So what made me choose South?     I took a campus tour! USA was the first college I toured... and, admittedly, I hadn't even considered it prior to this point. I saw that it was relatively close to where I live (about an hour) and figured, well, why not? I might as well!   And I ended up being blown away by not only the beauty of the campus but also by the downright zeal my South Guide had during the tour. It was obvious that the guide was incredibly knowledgeable and was just in love with the school. It was infectious-- for every other college I toured after South, I found myself comparing them, and I just kept gravitating back to USA....

  Getting involved on campus can seem like a massive undertaking. There are so many communities out there that it can seem pretty overwhelming! But the university makes it relatively simple to find a way to get involved.   There is a list on our website that contains all active student organizations. Every year, there is also a club fair often hosted at the student center. That's how I got involved my freshman year! Pinpoint what you like to do or what you would like to do, and there is surely a club out there for you.   The Honors college is where most of my activity lies. We are always hosting plenty of community service opportunities; for example, during Halloween, we do something called Ghouls for Good, where we collect canned goods for families in need. It's a lot of fun and is a great way to give back to the community.   South has a plethora of community involvement in almost every discipline to choose from. All you have to do is keep your eyes peeled! ...

  It's pretty easy to get into a miserable slump once the end of the semester approaches. All at once you're hit with every major assignment and responsibility, and it can get overwhelming real fast. As much as I like to keep my head above the water, sometimes it doesn't feel possible...   But if there's anything I've learned from struggling with tough times, it's that it's all about endurance. Much like I said in one of my previous entries about tackling the college application, the number one driving force that keeps me trucking is the fact that it's not the end of the world. It sure feels that way sometimes, especially if I've got three exams and two papers due all on the same day-- but it really isn't.   Sitting back and taking a deep breath to remind myself that my academic career does not reflect my self-worth really helps put things in perspective. And to get over a mountain of work? All it takes is some headphones, a good playlist, an...