This year I have had so many opportunities through the ACE Department, where I learned so much more about the world beyond Urbana-Champaign and the Chicago Suburbs, and my career path has definitely changed. I am still unsure about my path or where I will end up one day, but I have a couple of options that I would like to explore. After going to Sierra Leone through the ACES Study Abroad Program, I have a new found passion for Agriculture. I came into U of I, to the College of ACES, and had no interest in Agriculture and had skewed perceptions of it from films like Food, Inc.

I am an ACE student concentrating in Public Policy and Law with minors in Political Science and Geography. I am currently interning for the Illinois State Senator Chapin Rose (of the 51st District) on his Communications Staff, which I hope to springboard to a political or economic internship during the summer. My true interest, however, is in foreign/international affairs and in order to attain the kind of career that I would want in that field I need to maximize my knowledge and skillset in my areas of study.

I feel fortunate to have had so many positive experiences with ACE, especially with experiential learning. In reality, it just goes to show many amazing opportunities ACE students have at their fingertips. In May, I began my summer with a trip to China with the International Business Immersion Program (IBIP)!

As a junior in Financial Planning, I have been becoming more invested and involved in my area of study. One of the best things I have done to achieve this is to become more involved in activities on campus. 

They always say your college years fly by, which I could not agree more sitting here as a senior. It’s amazing to look back at all of the opportunities that I’ve had here in the ACE department and how much I’ve grown because of my experiences here. 

My name is Rachel Ruiting Liang, and I am now a sophomore in Agricultural, Consumer Economics with concentration in Policy，International Trade and Development，and also double major in Food Science and Human Nutrition and minor in business.

Hey, guys! I am Mingye Chi, or Ming, the ambassador of ACES for this week. I am a senior student and my major is Agricultural-Accounting. As a student who has studied in ACES for almost 4 years, I highly recommend any new students or potential students to study in our college. In our college, we have so many options can choose. If you feel interested in business, you can study agr-finance or financial planning, and even study agr-accounting like me. Or you can study biological engineering if you want!

Hi everyone!  My name is Sarah Maurer and I am a sophomore in ACE with a concentration in Agricultural Accounting.  Being in ACE has taken me international two times in the past year.  I was first encouraged by my advisor, Ann Finnegan, to travel internationally with the discovery course, ACES 298, after she realized my passion for traveling.  ACES 298 is an 8 week course available to first semester freshman, which travels to the Dominican Republic for 10 days over winter break!  This was such an incredible experience for me!  Not only was I able to see differe

Aside from all the wonderful opportunities the Department of ACE has to offer, I think one of the most important assets it possesses is its advisors and guidance. Here in the Department of ACE you have the opportunity to maintain a closer relationship with your advisors. Many times students come to larger universities with the fright of being “just a number.” As an ACE student this is not the case. Our advisors work one on one with each and every student to guide them and help them pick the best classes for their specific goals.

The summer of 2012 was the BEST Summer yet!! Let me tell you why. In the fall of 2012 I received an email about the Business and Economics Summer Term a summer study abroad opportunity. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but reading the program agenda sold me. I applied and do you know what? I got in. I was accepted to study abroad at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Duisburg, Germany. Let me tell you if you have never gone out of the country you most definitely should. This is an experience that you can’t get in the classroom.