Hello,

My name is Zack Haas and I am the freshman admissions counselor for the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) at the University of Minnesota. 

I am from the small town of Hutchinson, Minnesota, which is about sixty miles west of the Twin Cities. Going into my senior year of high school, I knew that I wanted to be on a campus that would provide me with a lot more opportunities, and that is exactly what I found at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Throughout my four years in the College of Liberal Arts, I was able to play intramural volleyball and softball, participate in the University Political Science Student Association, find a great job at the Office of Admissions, and cheer on the Gopher football and men's basketball teams. Being on a campus located just five minutes from downtown Minneapolis also meant that I could take advantage of student discounts at movie theatres and Twins games as well. 

I graduated from the U of M 2008 with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications. When I entered the University, I was really interested in Psychology but enrolled in the Introduction to Mass Communications course during my sophomore year. It was after that class that I realized that the Advertising track in the Journalism major (through the School of Journalism and Mass Communications) was the best fit for me. If you are undecided going into your senior year, don't worry! At the U of M, you have plenty of time to declare your major--until the end of your sophomore year, in fact. This way, you can spend two full years exploring your interests before choosing your major course of study. 

I enjoyed my time at the University so much that I never left. I spent my first year post-graduation working for the Department of Recreational Sports and in 2009, I returned to the Office of Admissions when I was hired as an admissions counselor. The University is a great place to go to college and a great place to work!

I hope that you will find this blog a good resource for you to information about the College of Liberal Arts and life on our campus. I hope you will check back in from time to time and feel free to leave comments or contact me directly at haas0126@umn.edu.

Zack

By Dorothy Cheng

The Minnesota State Fair is my favorite time of year. I usually spend at least a full day walking through all the buildings and barns....and eating, of course. My must-have state fair foods include cheese curds, pronto pups, cookies, and all-you-can-drink milk.

This year the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) has some really neat exhibits planned.  Below are just a sampling of cool features from the schedule of events. (I will definitely be attending the Physics Force exhibit on September 4!)

STEM Day at the Fair

Experience science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a fun and interactive environment. 

Innovative Engineers Student Group

Come and see how Innovative Engineers is extending the reach of renewable energy to the developing world. The exhibit will include an interactive display which invites spectators to spin a 1kW wind turbine and generate electricity. The exhibit will also include informational displays and handouts of the work that the Innovative Engineers student group is currently doing. 

Engineers Without Borders

In this interactive presentation, students from the University's Engineers Without Borders student chapter will talk about their project in rural Guatemala. The group is partnering with the community of Simajuleu to provide a clean, dependable source of water to the village. Students from this group will show slides of their most recent trip, be interviewed on stage, and will answer questions from the audience. 

Center for Distributed Robotics

This entertaining demonstration features a variety of robots developed in the University of Minnesota's Center for Distributed Robotics, including a robot that is currently being used by law enforcement and the military in search and rescue missions and reconnaissance deployments. The robot, called Scout, is only about the size of a soda can, but is durable enough to break through a glass window and land safely and ready to begin its mission. The robot also has impressive technology such as sensors and cameras to help save lives in dangerous situations. 

Department of Chemistry/Alpha Chi Sigma

Chemistry is all around us. Come join the University of Minnesota Chemistry Outreach Program as we explore the everyday chemistry of your home. This exhibit features hands-on experiments to see how chemists have helped shape our lives. With us, you can explore basic polymers, acids/bases, and the chemistry behind some of the foods we eat. 

Physics Force

This group of wild and crazy physicists use highly visual and entertaining demonstrations to teach elements of physics. The Physics Force goes above and beyond (literally) to educate and entertain. Their blend of slapstick, prop comedy, and science is education for audiences of all ages. 

Solar Vehicle Project

A car that can travel on power from the sun may sound like science fiction, but it is a reality at the University of Minnesota. Come see the latest solar car built by U of M undergraduate students, which just recently won the 2009 Formula Sun Grand Prix, a closed-track race at MotorSport Ranch in Cresson, Texas. See the inner workings of the car and talk to members of the solar car team.

For details on these events and more, check out the schedule of events.

Ever wonder what kind of research is currently being done in the biological sciences? Take a look at the College of Biological Sciences Driven to Discover webpage. Here you will be able to read about current research being performed by professors and faculty in the College of Biological Sciences. And yes, these are professors and faculty that you as an undergraduate are able to conduct research with!

Being a history of medicine student myself, I found the current research being conducted by associate professor Mark Borello to be quite interesting. Dr. Borello, a professor in the College of Biological Sciences' Department for Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, just recently published a book on the history of the evolutionary debate. His book looks at a 20th century zoologist who defended the theory of group selection. A heavily debated theory at the time, Dr. Borello's book explores the sometime messy development of scienciftic theory. When studying the history of medicine as an undergraduate, I really enjoyed looking at the timeline of scientific theory. What we once was believed to be fact at sometime could be considered completely unorthodox 10, 15, or ever 20 years later. Very interesting.

If you are interested in reading about more of the current research being conducted by the College of Biological Sciences, take a look at our Driven to Discover webpage.

By Matt Sabongi

Calling all future doctors! Have you ever thought about what it takes to get into medical school?  If not, check out this helpful admissions tutorial created by the University of Minnesota's Medical School. This nine-minute overview explains the admissions requirements and what you can do to prepare yourself as a prospective applicant.

Here at the U of M, students have access to great support resources to help them with the transition between undergraduate and professional school. One of these resources is the University of Minnesota's Health Careers Center. One of several specialized career centers on campus, the Health Careers Center is a unique campus resource, designed to help students gear up for a programs in the health sciences, such as nursing, medical school, dental school, and pharmacy school. The center offers a variety of courses, sessions, online resources, and more to help get started on your future...today.

One of the courses offered by the Health Careers Center that I took as a student was a freshman seminar called Future Physicians. This seminar was a unique course that introduced students to medicine and what it is like to work as a physician. On a weekly basis, physicians came in to talk with us about their journeys to becoming doctors and their current careers. This was one of the most rewarding and interesting courses in my college career. If you are interested in learning more about some other courses offered by the Health Careers Center, check out their course list.

Hi everyone!

My name is Matthew Sabongi and I am the freshman admissions counselor for the College of Biological Sciences (also referred to as "CBS") here at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

I am originally from Woodbury, Minnesota, a suburb just east of the Twin Cities. I moved to Minneapolis after I graduated high school and have lived here ever since. Some of my favorite things include camping, hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, cooking, photography, music, traveling, and all adventure sports.

I graduated from the College of Biological Sciences in May 2010 earning a bachelor of science in Biochemistry and a minor in the History of Medicine. While I was a student, I was involved in a variety of activities. I was member to the CBS Student Board, CBS Student Ambassadors, and a Deans' Scholars mentor. In addition, I volunteered at Hennepin County Medical Center in Downtown Minneapolis as a book buddy where books to children throughout the hospital. I also worked as an assistant scientist in two labs. One of the labs I worked in was in the University's Medical School, where I studied signaling pathways in a little white blood cell called a neutrophil. In the other lab, I studied the structure of a membrane protein in heart and skeletal muscle cells.

For those of you with a passion for biology, the College of Biological Sciences is a great place! While you are a student in CBS, you will have the chance to participate in amazing opportunities on campus, in the Twin Cities, and even around the world. Some of these experiences might include studying abroad, conducting research, volunteering, teaching a class, and much more. Based on my own college career, I believe that being a student in CBS is a one-of-a-kind experience with limitless opportunities!