Dela-WHERE?

UD 2016. Hi, I'm Kristen. I'm currently a junior at the University of Delaware, majoring in environmental engineering, minoring in civil engineering and economics, and also part of the honors program. If you're interested in this school or just have questions about college life, engineering, or anything else, you've come to the right place. So sit back, relax, and join me for my next few years of adventures here at UD! (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-41072341-1', 'tumblr.com'); ga('send', 'pageview');

[kdanek]

October already?

Where has the time gone?

Junior year is in full swing, and for me, that means lots of homework and lots of extracurricular activities. But that's the way I like it. Midterms are next week (wish me luck!) and Sunday starts the first of many HTAC tech weeks. I'll be on assistant lights for the first show, The Wedding Singer, and head lights for the second, Noises Off. 

In addition, I just signed my first apartment lease for senior year and I'm so excited. West campus, here we come! If you want to get off-campus housing here, you have to look REALLY early, but luckily we were on top of things and were able to secure something before everyone else.

Overall, it's been a great semester so far. I can't wait for Australia this winter (AHHHH!) but gotta get through this semester first. I'm just really happy to be back on campus after the summer!

Well, it's almost game time! Let's go Blue Hens!

[kdanek]

So excited to be a senior fellow this year with the UD Honors Program! We help to organize events, mostly for upperclassmen honors students.

Our main project - the halloween dance. Hope to see you then!!

[kdanek]

You know what I love most about UD?

The amount of community. Everyone is just happy to be here.

I just moved in yesterday, and in less than 24 hours, I've already seen about 20 people I know. 

I went to go get my shirt and assignment for helping to move freshmen in tomorrow (8-11 in Redding, see you there!) and on the way back to my dorm, which is a pretty short ride, I just saw so many people I knew. 

I ran into a group of 3 RA's I know, all from different things. One from mutual friends, one from UDAB, and one from HTAC. I ran into someone I worked with over the summer. I ran into some of my friends in band. 

You'll never walk this campus and not get a smile. Whether it be from an acquaintance, a best friend, or even a stranger, the friendliness is never lacking.

I was even able to talk to a prospective engineering student about why she should choose UD, and offer some insider tips on who she should talk to. Because if I can make just one more possible student excited about UD, well, my day is made! 

This semester is going to be amazing. I may be in over my head - 5 engineering classes, TA, Senior Fellow, HTAC, and multiple other commitments - but I'm ready for the challenge and I'm excited to meet even more people I can stop and talk to when I see. 

UD may be a big school, but once you get here, it feels more like a small, tight knit community, and it's a great feeling.

[kdanek]

So long, summer.

It's already August 17th? Time flies. I feel like this summer barely started, and now it's almost over.

It's been a great one, though. Spending a couple months at UD meeting all the incoming honors freshmen was an amazing experience, and I'm so glad I got the opportunity.

This summer was categorized by some amazing weekends, too. A couple weekends out in Jersey to visit my boyfriend, a weekend at the beach with my friends, a weekend at the camp I volunteer at, a weekend where my college friends visited me in PA, and of course, 4th of July weekend. I also just got back from visiting Williamsburg, VA with my parents.

Overall, summer 2014 was a summer I won't forget. 

But the best part of August? I get to go back to UD in only a couple days! I'm looking forward to junior year. I have a lot on my plate this semester. Between five engineering classes, being a senior fellow with the honors program, TA-ing for a class, HTAC, joining debate, and whatever else I decide to get in on, I'll be busy.

Still, I'm excited to get back to my favorite place on earth and to wake up in my little room in Sypherd and look out my window at the Green. To get back to using my brain, and to have my friends just a couple minute's walk away. To attend some football games and cheer on the blue hens and see all of my friends in the band.

I'm excited to go home. Junior year, let's go.

[kdanek]

& that's all, folks!

Well, it's been quite an experience, working NSO. As Honors Peer Assistants (HPAs), we've met every single incoming honors freshmen, ,ade all of their schedules, and bonded ourselves. We've filled math, chem, business, and so many more classes, decided on english classes, and printed so many emails and schedules. And I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my summer.  So, to everyone who came through NSO, whether you're in honors and I had the pleasure of meeting you or whether you spent all day with the orientation leaders, we all hope you're SUPER excited to come to UD in the fall! You'll be having the greatest four years of your life here, and if you aren't excited yet...you need to be!

[kdanek]

NSO is off to a fantastic start!

We're enjoying getting to meet all of the incoming honors freshmen and their families. And making schedules, of course. :)

[kdanek]

HPA Summer Job!

Well, I'm back on campus until July 18th, and I couldn't be happier!

What am I doing? I'm working for the honors program as an Honors Peer Assistant, or HPA.

What's an HPA? We help out with NSO. So basically we're the ones who you'll meet if you're incoming honors freshmen. We'll give you a rundown of the honors program, help you to decide what classes to register, and eventually we'll be the ones to make your fall schedule!

There's nine of us working the position this summer, and I'm so excited to work with all of them!

And another cool thing? Living in the towers. On the top (16th) floor. So check out this view I get to look at.

Yeah, it's amazing.

Well, that's all. I'm looking forward to the opportunities this summer will bring, and I can't wait to meet everyone!

[kdanek]

Well. Another year down! Sophomore year, goodbye. Junior year, here I come!

It's so mindblowing that I'm already halfway done with college. It's also extremely terrifying. I don't think I'll ever want to leave.

This picture just highlights some of my favorite moments and people of the year. From studying, and to my trip to New Orleans with UDaB, HTAC, carnivals on the green, adventures with the boyfriend to DC, concerts, and just hanging out, it's been an unforgettable year. 

I can't wait for junior year!

Now - summer, bring it on! Home for a week and then I move back to UD for about five weeks. Can't wait to meet those of you who are coming into the honors program!

[kdanek]

Super exciting news!

1) Accepted to the 2015 winter study abroad trip to AUSTRALIA! So ridiculously excited. I get to spend a month in a place I've always wanted to go. It's six credits of engineering (fluid mechanics and transportation engineering), so it'll be a decent amount of work, but hey. IT'S AUSTRALIA! The coolest part is that a ton of my friends are going with me! :D

2) I'm staying here in Newark for the summer! I accepted a position with the Honors Department as an Honors Peer Adviser. You know what that means? If you're an incoming honors freshman...I may be making your schedule. xD Come say hi if you see me at NSO!

[kdanek]

UD Admissions Tumblr

Meet some of our favorite students and read about their experiences at the University of Delaware

We revamped the UD Admissions Tumblr! Looks all shiny and new :)

Had a great time today with Shelby  at Decision Days talking to some prospective students and handing out pins and papers with our URL on them!

Like we said, if you have any questions or want to read about our experiences here, check out all of our blogs at the link above. We all do this just to do it, all volunteer, so we're more than happy to answer your questions honestly and we love to talk about UD. There's a bunch of us, and we cover all different majors, activities, years, and hometowns, so check out all of our blogs!

[kdanek]

Decision Day Tomorrow!

Hey class of 2018! If you got your acceptance to UD (hooray!), come to campus tomorrow for the second and final decision day! Meet some classmates, enjoy the weather, and see our beautiful campus.

But most importantly, meet us!

We'll be having a "Meet the Bloggers" table from 12-2ish on the South Green! Come over, say hi, ask us questions, and get a free pin!

Can't wait to see you all :)

[kdanek]

Washington, DC!

So, on Sunday, I took a day off of work and stress and took a day trip to DC. Cool thing about UD? Really close to a ton of major cities - New York, Philly, and of course DC. 

I had this trip planned for a couple months. Why? It was the Cherry Blossom Festival! I've been to DC many times in my life, since I have relatives in the area, but I never got to see the Cherry Blossoms in bloom. Let me tell you - it was worth it. If you ever get the chance, take it, because they're beautiful. 

My boyfriend and I went, and we basically explored the city for the day. Walked around, saw the tidal basin with all the cherry blossom trees, visited the monuments, popped into a museum, and took in the scenery. If you're ever looking for a way to de-stress, day trips really are the answer.

[kdanek]

HI! I am a junior in high school and I actually just visited UD yesterday and I loved it! I am interested in environmental engineering and I just kind of want to know more about it. I've looked at sample courses and such but what kind of jobs could you get with a degree like that? I'm trying to get ideas as to what to study because all I really know is that I want to do something with environmental, id love to hear your input, thanks!

Environmental Engineering! You've come to the right place! 

Well, first of all, I'm so glad to hear you liked UD. It's truly a wonderful place.

Secondly. So. I actually just switched into environmental engineering. I was a mechanical engineering major for my first three semesters until I realized I cared way more about the environment than I did about inanimate machines. That being said, I'm going to be completely honest here and tell you I am not sure what I want to do with my life exactly. I just know that I love math, science, and the like, and I love the environment. I think the engineering school here is amazing, so I wanted to stay in it, so therefore, environmental engineering was the major I chose to switch into. There are three concentrations you can choose from - water resources, chemical and biological processes, and facilities design and construction. The chemical/bio one is obviously more natural science based, the facilities design is much more civil engineering like, and water is more in the middle with, obviously, a concentration on water. I'm personally a facilities design concentration, so I take a lot of civil classes, and I'm also a civil minor.

That being said, in the long run, concentration probably won't matter that much. I just know that I want to help the earth in some way, and for right now, doing that through engineering sounds like the best bet for me, simply because I think my strong points are math/science type things.

We also offer so many other environmental majors here. You can always check the list of majors on the UD website.

As far as possible jobs? There's so many out there. A lot of times, environmental engineers are hired as consultants for bigger companies, to make sure what they're building, or excavating, or whatever they're doing complies with environmental standards, and if it doesn't, how you can make it better. 

I hope that answered some of your questions! If you have any more, especially through the application and acceptance process next year, let me know!!

[kdanek]

Well, I'm back in Delaware after spending the past week in New Orleans on a service trip run through UDaB.

One of the best experiences of my life, hands down.

We gutted houses, cleaned yards, and took apart foundations. We met homeowners who lived through Katrina and Isaac and had their homes and lives torn apart. We spent 45 hours on a bus. We used sledgehammers and crowbars. We worked hard, sweated, and got really dirty. But you know what? It was worth it, just to know that we were making a difference. And it was worth it every single time someone said thank you, because they're so appreciative of the work we do.

And now I have 40 new best friends, and I couldn't love my UDaB family more.

If you ever get a chance to go on a service trip, and more specifically UDaB, DO IT. It's a life-changing event.

[kdanek]

Well, it's Thursday, and after my last class ended today...my spring break has officially begun!

And spring break for me? UDaB! It stands for University of Delaware alternative Breaks. Aka, service trips over spring break.

UDaB is sending out eight trips this year, and over 200 students are participating! My trip to New Orleans has 36 participants. We'll be continuing the disaster relief that's still happening down there from Katrina and other hurricanes since.

I'm really excited to make a difference in the community we'll be working in! We'll mostly be helping to tear down homes that were destroyed so that they can be rebuilt in the future.

[kdanek]

Could you tell me a little bit about the honors program? I was accepted into it but don't know a whole lot about what that entails.

Basically, the honors program consists of about 10% of each class. All of the honors freshmen will live together in Redding, the brand new building on campus, with the option to live with honors housing once you are an upperclassman if you prefer. You'll take honors english and an honors colloquia class your freshman year, as well as some of your other classes honors. Typically, there are two types of honors classes - entire courses that are honors, where the class size is normally smaller and everyone in the class is in the honors program, and regular classes with special honors sections that may do extra projects or have separate discussion sections. If you finish 18 credits of honors and have a 3.2 GPA after your sophomore year, you;ll receive the general honors award. Upon graduation, you cn graduate with either an honors degree or an honors degree with distinction, depending on honors credits and GPA. The honors program also offers events, programs, and other opportunities!

[kdanek]

Since I haven't posted in a while...

The assumption you guys have probably been making is that I'm really really busy.

Which is incredibly accurate.

This semester has been my favorite so far. Why? I really like my classes and I feel like I'm finally on the right track.

I haven't really gotten to take any REAL environmental engineering classes, but the ones I do have, I'm liking a lot better.

The cool thing right now is that I only have 14 credits, so I can really focus on the four classes I have.

CHEM104 is honors with my favorite professor here, Dr. Wes. She taught honors chem 103 when I took it my freshman fall, and she was so excited to have me back since I had to make up chem 104 once I switched majors. It's normally a freshman spring class, so I don't really know anyone, but it's been going well!

Dynamics is awesome. Normally I'm not that great at physics but my professor makes it seem like cake.

Probability and Stats for engineers is one of those classes that is just kind of there. Not much homework and fairly simple.

And then there's my favorite class, GIS (geographic information systems). We use a program called ArcMap and only meet once per week at night. Basically, we use this program to fool around with maps in different ways on the computer. I really like it. A lot.

And once again, it's HTAC time! I've been spending the last couple weeks in Pearson Hall. This semester, the show is Bye Bye Birdie. Last weekend was opening night, and we have three more shows Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 PM in Pearson. COme out and see it! The actors are fantastic, the songs are catchy, and us on stage crew? We own those set changes. :P

To all those people already here at UD, I hope your semester is going well.

To all those deciding where to go who were admitted here? Congrats, and we hope to see you in the class of 2018! Send any and all questions my way!!!!