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Honors College Affinity Groups—A Place to Connect
By Bianca Caproni
Class of 2024, School of Arts and Sciences, Member of the Honors College
While working as a Resident Assistant, I walk through the Honors College and often see our lounges full with groups of students casually chatting with each other.
However, for students with underrepresented identities, finding a ‘group’ to be a part of here at Rutgers or knowing where to look for others with shared experiences can be hard.
Over the last few years, I’ve helped to develop this community through the Honors College’s Affinity Groups, where we strive to create diverse and inclusive spaces for students who identify as Asian, Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, and international. Our groups provide affirming communities where students can foster connections and enhance their sense of belonging. You can see the Affinity Group student leaders here in this photo with me!
College can be an especially exciting (and sometimes scary) time for understanding one’s identity.
Luckily, I also found the Organization of Luso-Americans and Gen HC, the Honors College’s first-generation college student support program. Involvement in groups like these has been important for me to connect with other students.
As an affinity lead, I found our meeting space to be a time for crucial conversations and check-ins, both from me to student members and from students to other students. The day-to-day in college can be pretty hectic, and there are some days when you don’t get the chance to have an intentional interaction with your peers. However, the Affinity Group meeting space is meant to offer this opportunity in students’ busy schedules. The Honors College and its Affinity Groups are a home base for students to begin exploring the many opportunities at their fingertips, with peers and mentors in these spaces supporting them along their journeys.
What I’ve found most exciting about being a student leader is to see new students grow from shy, uncertain first-years to confident student leaders. Some of my own mentees, residents, and students have gone on to lead Affinity Groups or other groups around campus, and it is so exciting to see them put in the work of building community here at the Honors College and Rutgers at large.
Learn more about the Honors College Affinity Groups on our website.
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Kickin’ Off My Boots—My Journey from Texas to the Honors College
By Jasmine Tbaba
Class of 2024, School of Arts and Sciences, Member of the Honors College
Through all of the chaos and uncertainty of the college application process, the one thing I was sure of was: I wanted to go out of state.
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and was ready for something completely new. For me, Rutgers was just that! When Move-In Day approached, my family rented a minivan, packed up my life, and set off across the country. As the landscape slowly changed from the prairies of north Texas to the lush mountains of Tennessee, the reality of my decision truly sunk in. Each passing mile was one mile farther away from home.
Though fear was present in the back of my mind, the excitement and enthusiasm of starting a new chapter in my life overpowered it. This excitement grew when Welcome Days festivities began. I was met with friendly faces and began connecting with the community that would prove to be transformative in my life over the next four years. My first month at the Honors College was a whirlwind of events, meeting new people, and exploring new places. As an out-of-state student, I was eager to make the most of my experience and jumped in head first.
My time at Rutgers has been incredible and has surpassed every expectation I had coming into college. However, moving across the country on your own can be hard, and I inevitably faced some challenges. I was in an unfamiliar place that was wildly different from the one I grew up in. There were times I felt lost, alone, and doubted my decision. It was in these moments that the support of the Honors College was most critical. On the holiday weekends when my in-state friends went home and I couldn’t, the Faculty Fellows remained in the building so there were still familiar faces passing by while I was studying or doing laundry. When I needed someone to talk to, my Changemaking Mentor had drop-in hours open for me. When I wanted to explore, my friends in the HC were always down for a day trip to New York City. The HC community was integral to me finding my footing at Rutgers, and continues to be a very important part of my college experience.
Heading into my last semester, I am beginning to reflect on my experience at Rutgers and the HC. Deciding to go to college so far away from home was the biggest decision I’ve made in my life and it has shaped me in unimaginable ways. I have grown immensely as not just an academic and a professional, but as a human. The Honors College has given me a community within the vastness of Rutgers University and the entire Northeast. If I could say anything to the girl looking out of the window in the back of a minivan in the middle of Tennessee: get ready for the wildest, most challenging, yet fulfilling adventure of your life.
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Check Out the Makerspace at the HC!
By Trisha Yu
Class of 2027, School of Arts and Sciences, Member of the Honors College
As someone who always enjoyed the act of creating, I knew that I wanted to continue and expand my artistic hobbies in college.
At home, I spend my free time drawing, creating figurines out of polymer clay, or making stuffed animals. Knowing that it would be difficult to move all of the craft supplies I use into my dorm, much less find an oven to bake clay in, I decided on something different.
Generally, the final pieces I create are not solely made out of clay; painting and sewn parts make up a large part of the finished product. Because of that, I wanted a way to create many copies of something I sculpted, while customizing each piece differently from the same base. This could be done with a design created digitally.
I already had ideas of exploring 3D printing outside the classroom, but I did not want to make the relatively large purchase of an entire machine that had the possibility of only being used once or twice at home. Fortunately, I learned about the HC Makerspace before I moved in last fall and was eager to try using it.
After doing some research, I bought a 3D sculpting app on my iPad and began to create some test designs. Honestly, creating a design I was satisfied with was more difficult than waiting for it to be printed out. After that, I could easily use the sandpaper in the room to refine the prints. The only thing I found lacking was paint to customize my printed bases, but I understand why that would not be regularly available because of the mess it could make. Regardless, I am proud of the animal figurine that was my final product (see picture).
Additionally, the Makerspace gave me the ability to continue creating plushies. I actually brought some sewing materials from home and began hand sewing a few new projects, including the cube and pyramid plushies (see picture), but realized that I completely forgot to bring stuffing. Thankfully, there was plenty of stuffing in the Makerspace, as well as other sewing materials. Although I have not used the sewing machine yet, I have future project ideas in mind which could benefit from my use of it.
Having come from a school district that taught us the basics of 3D printing in middle school, I already had some idea of how I would use the Makerspace. Not everyone may have had an opportunity to use a 3D printer or sewing machine before, but there are students there to teach you how to use the equipment.
HC students have the opportunity to make ideas come to life. Even if you don’t consider yourself a creative person, finding a free 3D print file or sticker design online and seeing it become a reality in a few hours is a unique feeling hard to find elsewhere.
The next time you find yourself with some spare time on the weekdays, why not explore a new form of creativity at the HC Makerspace?
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Ciao, Italia! – Culture, Language, and Learning through Study Abroad
By Matthew Esaia
Class of 2026, School of Arts and Sciences, Member of the Honors College
Looking up at one of the steepest inclines I have ever encountered, I wondered if my legs were up to the climb ahead.
Reaching the top, I looked down at one of the most beautiful sights: the bluest water, surrounded by shallow beaches, full of happy visitors. Breathing in the crisp mountain air, I looked around and wondered how I was so lucky to be in this place…Italy! Ever since I can remember, I have dreamed of going to the country of my ancestors. Making that dream come true while a part of the Honors College was something I will never forget.
Through the RU in Rome study abroad program, I spent the entire month of July studying in Rome and exploring the Italian countryside. Some of the most memorable moments include spending five frenzied hours competing Master-Chef-style to prepare an authentic Italian feast, discovering Italy’s best gelato, watching the parade to celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, taking in a Formula E race at Rome's Circuito Cittadino dell'EUR, and interviewing a local bar owner about the Italian aperitivo.
This study abroad experience gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in the language and culture of Italy, living among the locals and learning how to prepare some delicious Italian foods, while growing stronger in my use and understanding of the Italian language. It was interesting to see how different the transportation in Italy is compared to the suburb where I live. A majority of travel is walking or catching the train. Their train system is so sophisticated and runs seamlessly, making it easy to get where you need to go with little effort.
One of my favorite things to do while on this trip was converse with the locals. I put my language skills to the test (as best I could) and heard some pretty cool stories in the process. It can be intimidating to practice a foreign language in its native country, but I was so pleased to find that the Italian locals were extremely welcoming and supportive as we improved our skills.
I highly recommend participating in a study abroad program at Rutgers. It is a chance to learn a lot, meet new people, and have some unforgettable experiences. Fai buon viaggio!
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Navigating the HC as a Pharmacy Student
By Danielle Murat
Class of 2028, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Member of the Honors College
Transitioning to college life as a first-year student, I found myself unsure of how to balance both the requirements of the Honors College and the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy.
Now, as a sophomore, I am happy to report that not only are balancing the requirements feasible, but they also have allowed me to enhance my education and explore my interests outside the world of pharmacy and STEM.
To fulfill my Honors College credit requirement, I took Honors sections of general education classes, such as chemistry, biology, and college writing; in doing so, I was able to simultaneously complete requirements for both schools.
Aside from fulfilling the requirements, taking the Honors sections of prerequisite pharmacy courses helped to enhance my college education. Coming from a small high school, I truly appreciate the intimate learning environment provided through Honors courses. Because of the smaller classroom size, I was able to develop personal relationships with my professors, receive 1:1 assistance, and participate in hands-on learning with other Honors College students. The unique learning environment provided by these courses ultimately contributed to my success.
Many Honors College courses count as pharmacy electives, fulfilling requirements for both a pharmacy and Honors College student. In the fall, I took an Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar called “Reading in Slow Motion,” which was one of my favorite courses to date. In this class, I was able to take a break from my rigorous STEM work and closely analyze literature, allowing me to pursue my passion for fictional reading. I immersed myself in engaging discussions and worked collaboratively with other Honors College students to understand the meaning of the novel on a deeper level and apply that understanding to the world around us. By taking an Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar, not only was I completing stepping stones on my way to my PharmD, but I was also exploring my interests across disciplines with students from many different academic backgrounds.
Being an Honors College student enhances my pharmacy education. Honors coursework has helped me engage in a unique, intimate learning environment while expanding my passions beyond pharmacy requirements. These experiences have allowed for a seamless interdisciplinary experience that has been vital to my education and success at Rutgers University.
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Experiencing the Magic of Ireland
By Smruthi Sathya
Class of 2025, Rutgers Business School, Member of the Honors College
Last spring, I had the opportunity to take the embedded study abroad "To Be a Pilgrim" Interdisciplinary Honors Seminar and travel to Ireland alongside Honors College and SAS Honors Program students.
In this course, we immersed ourselves in Irish traditions and walked historic pilgrim paths. While I had always planned to study abroad in college, I did not expect that a ten day trip would change so much about the way I viewed the world.
During the semester, we learned about the importance of setting a goal or intention prior to embarking on a pilgrimage. I often feel like my brain is running a marathon, so I decided to set my intention to live more in the present. On our first walk in Glendalough, my new perspective helped me discover new shades of green. With sheep running in the distance and tall trees soaring above, my first glimpse of Ireland was a chapter out of a fairytale. Leaving the past behind and forgetting the future to come, I stayed with the sheep in that moment and etched the new shade of green into my memory.
While walking these pilgrimages, I helped forge blossoming friendships into a newfound family. On our 25 mile pilgrim walk to Croagh Patrick, our group sang classic 2010 throwbacks one after another, shared our favorite college memories, and laughed until our laughter echoed off of the mountains that surrounded us. Constant curiosity to learn more about the significance of the various pilgrim paths, coupled with a revived purpose, made this trip a turning point in my life.
More than anything else, the people I met on this trip truly made it an unforgettable experience. From waiters at restaurants to our host’s grandmotherly love, my classmates and I shared stories, customs, and traditions with everyone we met. During our stay in Galway, we learned an Irish step dance snippet from a professional Riverdancer and even learned a traditional broom dance! And I will never forget my first conversation with an Irish native on the train to Wicklow who said that the weather cleared up because we brought the sunshine with us.
By the end of the trip, I had never felt more at peace. With the lessons I learned from the people I met and the reflections I made during our pilgrimages, I was able to view my life through a new lens and envision a future that stretched outside of the confines I had previously set for myself. I will always be grateful to the Honors College for allowing me to embark on this physical and mental journey and for giving me some of my favorite college memories.
There was something about this trip that felt fantastical—in the way the trees breathed and the sunsets sang. Maybe it was a result of the tired haze from all our pilgrimages, or maybe it was the magic of Ireland.
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International Students: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving in Your Freshman Year
By Tanvi Dinesh
Class of 2023, Rutgers Business School, Member of the Honors College
Moving to college was a very big step for me, as I imagine it is for anyone.
However, being an international student from India definitely added another layer of uncertainty and confusion. I was really excited to start college but I was quite oblivious to the cultural differences and academic expectations at Rutgers. My first semester I had to navigate a college course schedule, new friendships, and being away from home for the first time. It was a whirlwind of excitement and apprehension. But I survived, with a little help from some amazing people at the Honors College and beyond. Here are some ways I made Rutgers feel like my home away from home!
1. International Student Community
As an international student it is important to create a strong support system at college. Thankfully, Rutgers has tons of resources that can help. My freshman year I was extremely lucky to have the support of my mentor in residence and friends at the HC. I also found that it was extremely helpful to talk to other international students, as they were going through a similar transition. I made sure to go to events such as Friendship Fridays with Rutgers Global and chose to become an international student orientation leader to continue to meet and help other international students. Finally, whether you need help with immigration forms, on/off- campus jobs, or even just questions about your taxes, Rutgers Global-International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is always there to help.
2. Honors College Community
My freshman year at the Honors College allowed me to meet some exceptional people and exposed me to an array of opportunities. Take advantage of the amazing and diverse community around you and the amazing resources you have access to. The Honors College Advisors helped me decide on a minor and create a four year plan that has helped me through my time at Rutgers. Furthermore, my favorite HC experience was participating in the HC Ally mentoring program, and I would recommend you apply to be a mentee your freshman year. I also really enjoyed working on the residence hall association team and creating fun events throughout the year.
3. Exploring Clubs on Campus
Whether you’re a freshman or a senior it is never too late to join a club. Just go on the getINVOLVED website for Rutgers and explore numerous clubs and events happening on campus every day! Personally, I love to attend observing nights at the Rutgers Astronomical Society and meet fellow students in my major at the Business Information Technology Society.
4. Getting in the School Spirit
After having my freshman and sophomore years cut short by the pandemic, I was set on making the most of my junior and senior years. Rutgers sports games have really helped me find my school spirit. Since returning to campus, I have gone to every football and basketball game, and I cannot recommend it enough! Coming from India, I didn’t even know how American football was played but over the years I have gotten to learn more about it and I love watching football now. Doesn't matter if we win or lose; I have a great time cheering for Rutgers and watching our teams face off against other universities.
5. Staying Active on Campus
While staying on top of your school work is extremely important, I hope you will take the time to go outdoors and stay active during the semester! I personally believe that exercising helps me reflect and stay motivated to continue working hard in my classes. I recommend rock climbing at the College Avenue gym and swimming at Sonny Werblin Recreation Center. When the weather is nice, I also really enjoy hiking at the Livingston Preserve to get some fresh air and see some wildlife. If you’re more interested in team sports you can always join an Intramural Sports team and make new friends who enjoy playing the same sport as you!
6. Finding an On-Campus Job
A campus job allows you to learn new skills and get real world job experience. Most student jobs are quite flexible and you get to decide which shifts align with your class schedule. Through my campus job, I have improved my communication skills and become a better team player. This job gave me insight into the culture at American workplaces and gave me the confidence to interview for internships my junior year. I would recommend searching for student jobs on Handshake and the Rutgers Job Board.
7. Finding an Internship
Internships are a great way to get work experience and explore industries you might be interested in. Many companies recruit for summer internships starting as early as September of the previous year. So depending on which industry you want to work in, start exploring companies and programs early. I would suggest you focus your search on roles that would be a good fit for your skills and tailor your resume to showcase all your knowledge and experiences. Finally, it is important to network with others in your industry. Do not be afraid to talk to your professors or join clubs to get assistance. You can also reach out to our Dean of Professional Development at the HC, as well as Rutgers Career Services, which has numerous resources and a dedicated team of advisors to help students put their best foot forward in the job market.
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So You Want to be a Pre-Med
By Jacqueline Mehr
Class of 2022, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Member of the Honors College and Douglass Residential College
I entered Rutgers convinced I was not pre-med.
After all, research captivated my daydreams long before thoughts of white coats and hospital shifts even entered my mind, and the infamously cutthroat and highly competitive culture among pre-meds went directly against my own beliefs on how students should interact and work together.
A few months into college, I was not so sure. Most of the pre-med students I interacted with in my classes and at the HC were infinitely more concerned with helping others than ensuring that they personally appear successful. This kindled a curiosity in me about working in medicine which I resolved to explore in the coming summer. Over winter break, I scoured the internet for pre-medical summer programs and applied to as many as I could.
Following a steady stream of rejection letters, I sought out new ways to gain experience in the healthcare sector. When a Rutgers alumnus mentioned an opening in his pediatric practice for the summer, I quickly applied and secured the spot of a patient care assistant, and I found the job to be even more fun than I had anticipated. Just as I was starting to get the hang of taking babies’ measurements before they begin fussing, though, I received a call from one of the programs I had applied to—a student was no longer able to partake and I was the next person on the waitlist.
The program, New York University’s Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP for short), was a one month long immersive shadowing experience in Rusk Rehabilitation, nestled in the larger network of Langone Health. Although also open to undergraduates hoping to pursue physical therapy, occupational therapy, or social work, among other fields, I had applied as a pre-med student interested in shadowing a doctor. The slot that I was contacted about was in rehabilitation medicine under a physiatrist. Ecstatic about the news, I contacted my boss at the pediatrician’s office to rearrange my shifts and ensure that I could take off the four weeks of the program.
For everything that working in a pediatricians office taught me about how to work in healthcare, the HCOP taught me even more about what it means to be a doctor. Whether working with the sickest transplant recipient, talking to a chain-smoker about how to quit, or simply ensuring that those with heart disease were continuing to exercise and grow stronger, the doctor I shadowed ensured that he was connecting with all patients and helping them in every way possible. He explained how, as a healer, you see people at their most vulnerable and it is your job to listen to, connect with, and help them.
This set off a lightbulb in my mind about what it means to be pre-med, and the collaboration of my pre-med friends at Rutgers finally made sense. For budding potential doctors, undergraduate schooling is not about standing above everyone else, showing off intellectual superiority, and eventually being accepted into top-ranked medical schools. Rather, undergraduate years are a time to hone in on a passion for medicine through volunteering, shadowing, and research, with the drive to help people pushing you to work hard. Downstream academic successes serves as merely a byproduct of passion, not the ultimate goal. And with the hundreds of diverse opportunities and connections to alumni involved in medicine at Rutgers, what better place to kindle that passion than in the HC?
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50 Things I Learned in My First 50 Days at the RU Honors College
By Jacqueline Mehr
Class of 2022, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Member of the Honors College and Douglass Residential College
1. Don’t procrastinate packing your dorm stuff. Trust me, having to make frantic Target runs a few hours before you move in isn’t the best idea.
2. Bring food. The dorms have fridges, freezers, and microwaves, all waiting to be stocked with and used for midnight snacks.
3. Buy a mattress topper, even if you don’t think you’ll need one. It makes your bed so much more comfy.
4. BRING A GOOD LIGHT. The dorms only have one light over the doors, so it can get pretty dark at night.
5. You can draw on your dorm door with chalk, so if you’re artsy, definitely pack a box of chalk!
6. It’s okay to be a little nervous on move-in day! I live super close to Rutgers, I had been to the campus at least fifty times before, and I could go home whenever I wanted, yet I still had some butterflies in my stomach. College is a big change. It’ll be fun though, I promise!
7.All of the upperclassmen HC students are super friendly and here to help, don’t be afraid to talk to them or pester them with questions!
8. Get to know your RA and Mentor in Residence, chances are they’re both really cool people! They’ll also put on events throughout the year (probably involving free food!) so be on the lookout for those.
9. There’s a chance that you won’t be happy with the first semester schedule that Rutgers makes for you. Don’t stress, it’s super easy to change your classes during add-drop period the first week of the semester.
10. Make sure to take your tests seriously and study for them.
11. With that being said, try to form study groups. It makes everything a lot more fun!
12. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You can go to your professor’s office hours, a tutoring center, or a TA, all for free!
13. Get to know your professors, especially in classes you enjoy. You never know what kinds of connections they have, or what kind of amazing things they know.
14. Try to go to and pay attention in lectures. Because you spend a lot less time in the classroom in college as compared to high school, the time you do spend in lectures is chock full of information that’ll probably be on a test at some point.
15. Try to take a Byrne Seminar in something random. The classes are pass/fail, super chill, and a nice break from huge lecture hall intro courses.
16. Either wait to buy textbooks for a class until a week in, in case the professor says the textbook is not important, or ask people who previously took the class if the textbook is really necessary.
17. Don’t be afraid to take a class outside of your intended major. College is probably one of the last times in your life that you can study completely random and irrelevant topics, so take advantage of that!
18. It’s good to plan ahead on what classes you want to take and what activities you want to do, but make sure you are also flexible and open to things that you hadn’t initially planned to take part in.
19. Don’t do things for med school/law school/dental school/vet school/graduate school/future employers/anyone except yourself. You’re only in college once, make sure to find things that you seriously love and pursue them.
20. If you have AP or IB credit for any classes, use it. Especially for classes that check off core curriculum requirements.
21. Do not stress about finding research. There are so many different opportunities (Aresty, HC research mixers, project super, etc,), that as long as you take the initiative to look for a lab, you’ll be doing research!
22. Rutgers and the Honors College offer a ton of internship and service opportunities during winter and spring break. Take advantage of those, especially if you don’t have any break plans yet.
23. Go to the involvement fair. It’s going to be crowded, it’s going to be hot, and chances are you’re going to be tired. But the involvement fair is your one chance to see all of the clubs and groups at Rutgers. And you can get a ton of free stuff!
24. Sign up for any club that seems even remotely interesting— it’s the best way to meet new people doing something that interests you.
25. Go to at least one football game. The energy in the student section is incredible, and if Rutgers scores, then they’ll bring out a knight on a live horse!
26. Go to club meetings. You’ll make friends, you’ll be forced to take a break from school work, and you’ll have fun.
27. Go to free events (especially if food is promised!). Rutgers brings in impactful speakers who have graced the TED stage, hosts puppies for puppy yoga, offers free fitness classes every week, and a whole lot more!
28. Go to events hosted by the faculty fellows in residence. Dr. Mazzeo, Dr. Chayko, and Dean Matsuda are all awesome people, and there’s usually free food involved!
29. Give yourself plenty of time to get to classes in the first weeks of the semester, the busses will be packed.
30. Don’t stress about the bus system, it’s not as complicated as it seems. Plus, the bus will say which campuses it is going to (i.e. the A bus will say “Busch/College Ave”)
31. Weekend busses are less frequent than normal busses, so be sure to check the Rutgers app for the schedule on weekends.
32. During the warmer months, always check the seats on the bus before sitting. Sometimes the condensation on the air conditioners drips.
33. If you’re ever on Cook, check out Harvest Cafe. They have a smoothie bar, farm-to-table style food, and they take meal swipes!
34. The cook-to-order food at Brower is really good! It might take a few minutes longer, but if you have the time, it is definitely worth the wait.
35. A lot of restaurants in New Brunswick have student discounts, so always bring your RUID and ask if the restaurant is running any deals.
36. Try the smoothies at Neilson. My personal favorite is the blueberry one, but they’re all super delicious.
37. If you like coffee, check out the Starbucks Truck. They take meal swipes!
38. Find a place where you can study well. For me, that’s the Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health on Cook because of all of the natural lighting!
39. You’ll probably get a free water bottle at some point while you are at Rutgers. Use it. Most buildings here have water bottle filling stations at the water fountains.
40. Don’t worry about comparing yourself to everyone else. The Honors College is unique in that people are very collaborative, so there is no need to stress about cutthroat pre-meds or overzealous business majors aiming for Wall Street.
41. Try to get out of your dorm as much as possible, or at least leave your door open so that you can meet new people!
42. Some people enter the Honors College with a set group of friends from high school, some people enter the Honors College as the only person at Rutgers from their high school, and some people fit somewhere between the two groups. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, don’t stress too much about making friends. There are so many events and opportunities to socialize, and Rutgers has such a diverse student body, that it’s almost impossible to not have friends!
43. If you have an idea about something you want to create or pursue at the Honors College, tell someone! The HC is still relatively young and open to new ideas, and the deans are super friendly and they would love to hear your ideas.
44. The HC academic advisers are all awesome and super helpful, so don’t be afraid to ask them questions that may seem silly (they respond to emails pretty quickly!).
45. The service requirement is super easy to complete, and it’s actually a lot of fun. For example, I’m tutoring at a local elementary school once a week!
46. If you’re a woman and you are interested in STEAM (STEM plus art), there’s an all-expenses-paid week-long trip to New York City that you can take part in as a Douglass Honors College woman over your freshman year winter break where you learn all about art studios using science, and scientists using art!
47. Check the Honors College calendar of events on the website or in the email newsletter. There’s always neat things to do and cool opportunities out there!
48. The Honors College has a beautiful view of the Raritan, whether you’re on the patio, or in one of the east lounges. Take advantage of that!
49. You’re going to get a great education and have access to incredible experiences. Take advantage of these opportunities, work hard, and enjoy your college years!
50. The Rutgers Honors College is an amazing home, and I hands down made the right choice coming to Rutgers.
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You Are Here for a Reason
By Gabriella Cano
Class of 2022, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Member of the Honors College
The Honors College at Rutgers: after a trip to see this very impressive program, I decided to accept my invitation to join.
It seemed like a good place for me to be. After all, I was used to being in honors programs in high school and figured it would be beneficial to continue this trend into my college career. I wanted to be surrounded by people who shared the same motivation for academic success and who would be a good influence on me. Luckily, I made the right choice.
However, nothing could have prepared me for the intimidation that comes from meeting hundreds of people who are just as successful, if not more. Honestly, it was scary going from being one of the top students in my high school to being in a community of people who had all done the same. It seemed like every day I was meeting with someone who had more credits than me, had a significantly better test score, or was already placed in much higher-level classes. This was a hard pill to swallow. In a place full of individuals who are high achievers, it’s easy to see yourself as an underachiever.
My mindset didn’t change until I began to interact with people outside the HC. Whenever I would mention being a part of the Honors College, people would give me some congratulations or praise. Comments like, “Wow, that’s impressive!” or “You must be a good student!” shifted my perspective, and they kept bringing me back to the same conclusion: You are here for a reason. I went through the same application process as everyone else here, I took the same tests, and I got in. This has served as a reminder that I am good enough. I have the intelligence and the talent to call myself an Honors College student, just like everyone else here. My first semester in the HC taught me to trust in my own abilities and be confident in myself because just like everyone else, I deserve to be here.
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Getting Involved at the Honors College and Rutgers
By Anna Masciandaro
Class of 2022, School of Arts and Sciences, Member of the Honors College and Douglass Residential College
When you first start college, it can be overwhelming.
You may be moving across the country or even to a different country. The hardest thing to do when you first get to college is find your niche.
I know that when I first started at Rutgers, I wasn’t really sure what to do with myself. I knew that I wanted to get involved in clubs, but I wasn’t sure which ones and I didn’t even know what clubs there were at Rutgers. Rutgers is a big school and there are hundreds of clubs. It can be overwhelming just looking at all the clubs that are listed and trying to figure out which ones you want to join.
Luckily, College Avenue is closed down for one afternoon for a huge Involvement Fair at the beginning of the fall semester where all of the clubs show up. They give you a map of where all the clubs are so that you can just go straight there instead of wandering around like a lost soul. A lot of the clubs do not require experience and most of them allow you to show up and check out what the club is all about before making a full commitment. The fair is also a great opportunity to get free Rutgers stuff like phone pockets, buttons, key chains, and water bottles. Sometimes there are even companies that will come to the fair like HBO—they even brought a replica of the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones.
In addition to that, the Honors College hosts a mini-fair that has all the clubs that are just for Honors College students. That’s how I found out about the Honors College Media Team. It’s also less overwhelming than the College Ave fair because there’s not as many people and not as many organizations.
For me, the biggest resource I had club-wise, was getINVOLVED—a website that lists the clubs and organizations that Rutgers has, which I found out about through my orientation. It’s a really useful resource to have because before going to the fair, you can go onto getINVOLVED and see if there are any clubs or organizations that might interest you.
In addition to the fairs and getINVOLVED, you can also join communities. Rutgers has three types of communities: living-learning, thematic, and residential colleges. Because I’m in the Honors College I live in the Honors College building, but because I’m also part of the Douglass Residential College (DRC), I live in the DRC hall of the Honors College. Being in a community not only allows you to fully immerse yourself in that interest, but it also comes with more opportunities and the chance to meet people who have similar interests as you. I get weekly HC and DRC emails about different opportunities like upcoming events, resume workshops, or research and internship opportunities.
My advice is to get involved because it’s really easy to do, it’ll make it easier to make friends, and there are so many opportunities that come with it.
Right now, I’m involved in multiple clubs and organizations: CHAARG, Rutgers Women’s Ultimate Frisbee (RWUF), Honors College Media Team, Odyssey, and partially the Daily Targum. CHAARG is a workout group that I joined because I wanted to help motivate myself to work out and stay in shape. It was definitely a good decision because I got to meet girls in all the years who also wanted to get fit and meet other people. Media Team, Odyssey, and the Daily Targum allow me to expand on my writing interests and meet other people who also enjoy writing and reporting, and those organizations also allow me to expand my writing portfolio for internships or jobs. The Media Team also enables me to explore other subjects like social media management, photography, and new technological advancements like VR and AR. As for RWUF, well, RWUF feels like my second family. Not only do I get to play a sport that I love, but I also get to play it with an amazing group of girls who have similar interests as me. Being on the team also allows me to travel up and down the coast for tournaments or scrimmages.
If you do have trouble finding out what organizations you want to get involved with, just ask around. You can ask your friends, professors, RA, or Mentor in Residence. Getting involved and putting yourself out there may be a little nerve-racking at first, but you won’t regret it. It really is worth it.
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Making Beats in My Dorm Room
By Jessica Birk
Class of 2022, Rutgers Business School, Member of the Honors College
Hi! My name is Jessica and I make beats in my dorm room here in the HC.
Nowadays, the tools to make music are incredibly easy to access. You no longer need a complicated or expensive studio setup, equipped with thousand dollar mics and mixing consoles. To make music, all you need is a computer, an online recording studio setup called a DAW (I use Logic Pro X), and a keyboard. And oh yeah, most importantly, persistence and creativity.
Every day, I go back to my dorm room and write songs. The process is different for everyone, but I like to start with some chords. I’ll choose a nice flowery piano and play a chord progression. From there, I start singing various melodies over the top of it. For a pop song, you normally need four melodies: one for the verse, pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge. Then I’ll add a base line and some 808s. 808s are really fun because they’re super low, growling drums. You can hear them really well in Beyonce’s “YONCE”.
Next comes the beat. The beat is normally a combination of kicks, snares, snaps, claps, toms, and hi hats (including any other percussive instruments you want to add). Here is where I get really creative. In one of the songs I wrote, the beat was made up only of a kick and a cowbell. It sounded really awesome.
Then comes mixing and mastering. I add effects like EQ and Compression to the songs (basically fancy terms for getting the sound to be more crisp or more warm). Then I’ll play with the audio levels and export it. So far, I’ve created three finished songs but I’ve got boatloads of half finished ones!
I love making music here at the HC, and I’m glad that the rooms are big enough to fit my keyboard. Making music gives me a creative outlet to express myself. When I feel down after a difficult Calc quiz, I can come back and write a slow song (violin, piano, and all!). After a fun night out hanging with friends, I can retreat to my dorm room and write a grooving pop tune. Here at the HC, nobody is afraid to do and share what they love! This is my passion and I’m glad that the HC allows me to explore it.
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Why I Serve at Rutgers
By Ava Feldman
Class of 2024, School of Arts and Sciences, Member of the Honors College
When I was deciding which college to attend, I knew I wanted a school that was devoted to service and social justice because that has always been an important part of who I am.
After attending a tour of the Honors College and doing my research, I realized that the HC’s mission was centered around serving the Rutgers and New Brunswick communities, as well as educating its students about the importance of serving others. Being the HC Serves Philanthropy and Outreach Lead has allowed me to further that mission through a variety of ways. We held a school supply packaging event during Welcome Week 2021, which supported students at Lincoln Elementary School in New Brunswick. We ran an RU Thankful event with our (awesome!) partners, RHA and the Changemaking Mentors, during which we packed utensils for Elijah’s Promise, made cards for the HC custodial staff, and made turkeygrams for fellow residents in the HC. And we even raised over $350 for the Embrace Kids Foundation through a pie-in-the-face fundraiser for RUDM! Whether it's supporting a NB school, a local hospital, food pantry, or someone down the hall, the Honors College has so many great ways for you to get involved in service and I hope everyone will join us at more events!
Want to learn more? Listen to the Curiosity. Knowledge. Purpose. Podcast, featuring Ava Feldman and produced by Claire Donahue (‘22, RBS/HC/DRC), an HC Media Team Lead.
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It’s Never Too Late to Chase Your Dreams—How One Student Is Melding Her Engineering Path with Her Love for Conservation
by Morgan Mark
Class of 2022, School of Engineering, Member of the Honors College
Fluid Mechanics may have taught me how to manipulate Bernoulli’s Equation in one hundred different ways, but it did not prepare me for mano a mano (teeth?) with this disgruntled snake.
My first solo day on the job too… just my luck.
Fun fact: snakes do not have eyelids, so I am about to lose this staring contest with the biggest eastern racer I have ever seen. Over four feet of pure muscle, teeth, and the ability to bite me to bits. Just a typical day in the life of a reptile researcher.
My time catching cantankerous constrictors felt reminiscent of the obstacles spurred by the global pandemic, from studying for exams remotely to trying to stay safe. When the entire planet went into lockdown in spring 2020, I had to remind myself to stay calm more than ever. Taking deep breaths as I waited for test results to come back and fighting anxiety as my parents left for work each morning. Despite these fears, I am extremely fortunate to have been in a safe, supportive environment where getting through a day of virtual learning and losing a dream internship were my greatest challenges.
Although normal life was turned upside down, staying calm helped me remember that there is always a silver lining. Attending asynchronous classes gave me more time to revisit old hobbies and having a free summer let me explore other exciting opportunities. Thanks to a career mentor, I got in touch with the Executive Director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF), a nonprofit dedicated to protecting our state’s imperiled species, and applied for a position despite there being no connection to engineering. The day after I was hired, I was up to my hips in a marsh cataloging plant communities and looking for state endangered bog turtles. Every day after that was like realizing my childhood dream of becoming a naturalist: I roamed the Pinelands filming carnivorous plants catching unsuspecting insects, ran through the rain helping amphibians cross busy roads, and traversed moonlit beaches tracking foxes emerging from their dens. Interning with CWF was a pivotal experience because it rekindled my passion for conservation and set me down a path I knew I wanted to explore.
Step two: get a firm grip on the part you can see.
Back to my scaly friend: another fun fact about racers is that while they are nonvenomous, they mimic the tail-shaking behavior of poisonous rattlesnakes to intimidate potential threats. And this snake definitely thinks it is a viper. As I get distracted by its tail, the racer sees its window of opportunity, opens its mouth wide, and lunges for my hand.
The near miss is enough to catch me off guard and I take it back to step one. I exhale and reassert my need to catch this snake. In an instant, I put my hand on the racer’s back about a third of the way from the tail. You do not want to grab too near the head and be too slow to avoid the teeth, nor too close to the tail and have the snake escape your grasp. Do not bite off more than you can chew. Pun intended.
Whether it be work, school, or life more generally, you will not always have someone holding your hand—or the biting end of a snake. Now that I realized I wanted to focus on wildlife conservation, I did not want to let this go and have the experiences I had with CWF be a one-time thing. Although still interested in engineering, I wanted to find more ways to get involved in ecological activities. I had been involved with the Rutgers Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society (RUTWS) since freshman year, but I returned with a renewed interest in learning about potential careers and projects. I asked my engineering major advisor about wildlife-related opportunities, and he suggested I reach out to Dr. Brooke Maslo, who was, in fact, an engineer turned ecologist. Chatting with her was surreal because I saw my future self exactly as she had been in front of me. After graduating with an engineering degree, she realized she actually wanted to be an ecologist. We immediately clicked, and she offered me the lead field technician position to catch—you guessed it— snakes.
Step three: go for the head.
It is my first solo day on the job and I am up against a four-foot racer. I have one hand securely on the snake’s body and the other contending with its head. It lunges again and again, but I am not letting go of this racer.
Switching tactics, the snake turns the other way and attempts to slither to safety. Now I see my window of opportunity, and get my other hand on the racer’s neck.
Over the past two years, I have literally been knee-deep in ecological experiences. Last fall, CWF promoted me to Senior Wildlife Intern, I was elected RUTWS president, I applied for Rutgers PhD program in Ecology and Evolution, and I was awarded a Russell A. Cookingham Scholarship for my commitment to conservation. I have traveled across the state working with everything from songbirds to salamanders. And even though people get confused by a student who likes snakes, a girl who enjoys field work, and an engineering major who wants to be an ecologist, I smile because I know I can overcome any obstacle, even angry, biting reptiles.
I pick up the racer and remember how far I have come. I learned that you cannot just chase your dreams; you have to hold onto them fast and not let go until you achieve them. I am not letting my dream to become an ecologist get away.
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Take It With You
By Lauren Krasnoff
Class of 2022, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Member of the Honors College
I first became fascinated by zines while taking a workshop at the Art Library.
Zines, short for 'magazine,' are non-commercial, handmade, self-published booklets that are usually easy to reproduce as they can be made with a single sheet of folded paper. As a painter, I love how unpretentious they are as an art form. I think painting has a certain level of inaccessibility since there is only one original work, but pairing painting with zines creates a really interesting juxtaposition.
My fellow painter and co-curator, Serafina Kennedy, and I were inspired to put together a show, and the Art Library felt like the perfect venue to house such an exhibit. We issued a call asking for artwork and an accompanying zine, which was left open to interpretation. Some artists treated the zine like a portfolio, while others, such as myself, used the zine to forefront the research, thought processes, and supplementary media that make their way into our artistic practices.
The title of the show, Take It With You, encourages visitors of the Art Library to not only observe the artwork but to take the zines as a keepsake. We hope to give the viewer insight and a tangible piece of our work that encapsulates the spirit of “take it with you.”
When talking to David Yang, one of the participating artists and an Honors College peer, he noted the importance of public exhibitions. “I feel like first and foremost it’s really important for artists to be curating and showing their own work. Even beyond the fact that galleries and museums have historically taken advantage of artists, there is incredible value in having a self-sufficient community.”
Maintaining an artist community has been one of the driving factors behind many of my endeavors throughout college and is the reason I love curating. I am really proud of this show and grateful for the opportunity to share the work of my peers with the Rutgers community at large.
Take It With You features the work of nine artists and will be on view at The Art Library (71 Hamilton St, New Brunswick, NJ, outside entrance on Voorhees Mall and connected to the Zimmerli Museum) from February 1 - March 31. For more information and the press release visit: https://libguides.rutgers.edu/eventsandexhibits/takeitwithyou
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Driven by Purpose at the Innovation Lab
By Rehan Yadav
Class of 2024, Rutgers Business School, Member of the Honors College
As a member of the Innovation Lab at the Honors College, I have learned so much about what it takes to start up your own business and the evolution process of an idea before it can start its impact on the world.
My interest in participating in social impact projects was initially developed in the HC Forum. By combining entrepreneurship with social impact ideas, I learned, I can create positive change in society. Participating in social impact solutions drives a sense of purpose in the work I do.
In the Innovation Lab, I have joined Smart MS3 as a media management intern. The typical format of the Innovation Lab involves you and a small group of peers starting your own company from scratch. However, since there have been many teams from prior years that need additional help, it is possible to join an existing team and implement those projects during the class.
Smart MS3 is a health tech company that is creating a wearable device to track physical therapy progress, an evidence-based physical therapy solution. Eventually, Smart MS3 will be selling to physical therapy clinics and end-users who are physical therapy patients. The idea for this device originated after one team member’s grandmother suffered from a stroke, causing partial paralysis. Because she could not see herself getting better, she wanted to quit physical therapy within a week. Her grandson built this tech, which engages her in her own physical therapy data, with the intention to directly involve her in her rehabilitation process.
The team’s work is founded in research about physical therapy experiences. Seventy percent of patients leave physical therapy because subjective data does not track progress. The team has built a biofeedback solution that provides objective data on how muscles recover over time. They provide actionable insights from daily muscle fatigue indication to long-term growth progress and are using Electromyography (EMG) sensors to monitor muscle activation while patients exercise. At the Innovation Lab, they built their own companion app to reflect progress and run data analytics on how patients can view their own information.
Smart MS3 is composed of eight members, four being Honors College students. There are three juniors, two sophomores, one senior, and two graduates who continue to work on the project. The team consists of members from SAS, RBS, and SOE.
In my time working with Smart MS3 I have connected with interesting people in the media industry who have given me advice on how to approach promoting a new business on a professional level. I have learned about cold calling and cold emailing editors, and about different ways to contact media outlets to have them feature Smart MS3 to generate some public traction for the company.
The Innovation Lab experience is the highlight of my time at Rutgers so far, as the most hands-on experience I have had working in a professional setting. Professors Kristy Fall and Mukesh Patel have been an incredible help and have successfully taught the class what’s necessary to be successful in any endeavor we go on, whether or not it is related to business. They manage to not only lecture the class but also frequently work with us one-on-one so we can improve our individual work in the class as well. I highly recommend joining the Innovation Lab as part of your time at the Honors College, and am very excited to see where Smart MS3 will take me in the future!
Learn more about Innovation Lab: https://honorscollege.rutgers.edu/Academics/InnovationLab
Want to learn more? Listen to Episode 1 of the Curiosity. Knowledge. Purpose. Podcast, featuring Rehan Yadav and produced by Claire Donahue ('22, RBS/HC/DRC), an HC Media Team Lead.
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