A Top-Tier Education Tailored to You with Chase

Transcript

Let’s head over to the Funk Aces Library on the South Quad now to meet Chase. A senior majoring in agricultural and consumer economics. U of I students can choose from over 150 majors. And they’re encouraged to carve out their own academic path based on their interests and goals. So you get the benefits of a really big school, with lots of options and with individualized attention from professors who know you. Another cool thing about the U of I is that it’s a land-grant university. Which essentially means that it was founded with the goals of serving society and having true impact. It’s in their charter and woven into the academics and research across campus. Chase, please take it away.

Thanks Alex. What’s up guys? So 40 days – that’s the number of excused absences I had in my senior year in high school. It was largely due to my involvement in extracurricular activities. But other days, I spent working on my family’s farm. And honestly, if I could choose between sitting in a classroom all day or being outside working with my hands, I would choose work each and every time. That’s why, when I decided to go to college, I wanted to go somewhere that had a good mixture of being classroom and then application-based learning. U of I has always been known for having a first-class education right here in the state of Illinois. And so I knew that it would challenge me. And allow me to find things that I was passionate about to run with it.

I’m an agricultural and consumer economics major concentrating in agribusiness markets and management. And I chose ACE because I grew up on a family farm raising hogs, cattle, and row crop and has always been involved with the business side of the industry. ACE has greatly expanded my basic knowledge of economics and has allowed me to apply it in so many different ways. Plenty of classes in ACE provide that bridge that I was seeking between classroom and real world situations.

U of I’s college of ACE is also known for having one of the best career fairs and some of the greatest internship opportunities in the state. Some recruiters visit the U of I and nowhere else due to the amazing pool of qualified individuals that they’ll find right here on campus. Obviously, the more hands-on experiences I could get the better. So the first chance I got, I got my full suit, grabbed my resumes and hit the career fair. I talked to dozens of recruiters that day and ended up landing a marketing internship with John Deere at their global headquarters in Moline, Illinois.

My internship started the summer after my sophomore year. And it felt great, putting those hours of learning into use with a fortune 100 company. It was hard to leave after that summer. But I was lucky enough to come back the next summer with another marketing internship. This ended up landing me a full-time offer with Deere that I accepted in my senior year. After graduation, I’ll be working for John Deere in their Marketing Rep Development Program.

I give credit to the U of I. They took a student who wasn’t a big fan of the classroom and gave me opportunities to learn the best way that I can through real world experiences and hands-on lessons. If you’re like I was my senior year, you might think that college has isn’t right for you. But you just got to find the college that fits you and your learning style. And then from there, you can really go achieve your goals. Back to you, Alex.

Chase, great job. Your story really points to both the fantastic academic possibilities here and the hands-on, real-world opportunities that prepare you to have an impact on the world. Good luck on that great job you landed. Cheers Chase.