Management Major Gains Experience in Chicago and Paris
Management Major Gains Experience in Chicago and Paris Heading link
“Being able to assimilate into a foreign culture helped me see that the possibilities are endless!”
Management major Pearl Patel of Streamwood, Ill., talks about her experience at UIC and the opportunity to study abroad in Paris.
Organizations: Alternative Spring Break, UIC Service Corps, Management Leadership Association, UIC Alumni Mentor Program, UIC Dangeraas , UIC Intramural Soccer
Awards and Achievements: Chancellor’s Student Service & Leadership Award, Deans List, Michael N. Bitsas Memorial Scholarship
Employment or internships: Wealth Management Intern at UBS Financial Services Inc., Executive Intern at Target, Tutor at the Writing Center, Resident Assistant for UIC Campus Housing, Research Assistant at the UIC Department of Psychology, IES Abroad Ambassador for IES Abroad
Career Goal: Human Resource Director for a company in the creative industries
What have you enjoyed most about UIC and your undergraduate major?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed taking advantage of the numerous professional organizations and collegiate clubs offered at UIC, living on campus, and networking with the business professors I’ve had. They are a FABULOUS resource into the real world and have shown genuine interest in my development as a professional. I’ve met so many great friends, acquaintances, and potential references for the future through my association with various organizations on campus.
What advice would you give a student thinking about attending UIC and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marketing, management, or entrepreneurship?
Really think about what’s important to you when choosing schools. If you’re looking for a world-class university that offers exclusive invites to professional events in the heart of the city, hundreds of different internships for real-world experience, and faculty who want to see you succeed, UIC is the place for you! Aside from the educational aspect, they have a phenomenal recreation facility and two business housing specialty floors that enable you to meet new people for life-long friendships.
What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago?
Honestly, I love wandering and getting lost in the different (well-researched) neighborhoods of Chicago, but I mostly enjoy taking a bus straight down to Museum Campus in the summer to view the entire skyline. It’s also pretty great to visit Millennium Park at any time of the year as various events are going on nearly any time you visit.
Hands down, studying abroad in Paris! During my junior year, when I went to my adviser wondering if my very specific class requirements could be satisfied in another country, he found a program in Paris that would work. I learned more about myself in those four months abroad than in all my previous three years combined. Being able to assimilate into a foreign culture helped me see that the possibilities are endless!
Where’s your favorite place to eat off-campus?
There’s this awesome French coffee shop straight down Halsted St. in Lincoln Park called the Bourgeois Pig Cafe. It has an Eiffel tower replica over its entrance and has the quaintest decorations and sofas inside. They not only serve great coffee, but very delicious sandwiches and pastas as well.