With 40-degree weather, wind and a previous cancellation, everything pointed to the annual Academic Resource Fair being canceled again. However, students pushed through the late fall weather and populated the event.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, University of Idaho Housing and Residence Life hosted the annual Academic Resource Fair, located near the Tower Lawn from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. This event, according to the Instagram page @uidahohousing, was for students to “access any and every academic resource you could need.”
Melody McHan, 19, is a senior pre-vet student from Gooding, Idaho. This is her second year at UI and her second time attending the Academic Fair.
“I like it. I came a little early, so I haven’t hit everything yet, but I really like it. I know a lot of these people; I work with them,” said McHan.
McHan, a Resident Assistant, came to UI with her associate’s degree, following in her dad’s footsteps. When asked what she liked about being a student at UI, McHan said, “I like how the professors are always willing to talk and that there are so many resources on campus that you can use.”
McHan also commented on the weather as a downside when asked if this Academic Fair was better or worse than last year.
“Honestly, I feel like it’s about the same. I think weather-wise this one’s worse because it’s colder, but that’s about it.”
The chilly weather didn’t stop multiple departments from attending the event and setting up booths with games, pamphlets, pens and candy. One of these booths was run by Natalie Burden, a program coordinator for the Pre-Health Professions Program. Burden, a Moscow resident, has been in this position for more than four years. She started in Utah as a pre-health program coordinator before coming to UI.
“Part of it included advising, teaching enhancement classes, helping them keep on track and be strong candidates for graduate school, medical school, dental school, physical therapy school, et cetera.”
When asked why the program wanted to have a booth at this event, Burden said, “To bring awareness, so pre-health professions program provides resources and services to help students be strong candidates into the healthcare programs.”
Burden also explained more about the Pre-Health Program and how anyone can go to medical school, even if you aren’t a pre-med major.
“The cool thing about pre-health students is that they can major in anything. You can have a marketing degree and go to medical school as long as you meet the prerequisites,” Burden said.
Although there were many returning students that attended the fair, there were also some new students as well, learning what resources are available to them. Elijiah Wisher, 18, a freshman broadcasting and digital media major from Lewiston, Idaho, came to his first Academic Fair and enjoyed his experience.
“I think it’s pretty useful, reminds me of the resources I have. I know not everyone is really motivated to go check the website always,” Wisher said.
Hannah Hale can be reached at [email protected]