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Quotes
from program alumni
At the end of the seminar each year, we ask students about their
experience. Here's what they say.
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Above:
Students in the "Landscape and Culture" seminar on a
field trip to the Indiana Dunes State Park.
Acquiring
analytical skills
- I have
learned as much (or more) about research/skills in this one semester
than my entire college experience.
- The seminar
helped me think more critically.
- I definitely
am a better researcher and my analytical skills are greatly improved.
Resources at the Newberry Library
- In only
a three-month period of time, the seminar really was a great vehicle
for learning the resources. I feel that I've only scratched the
surface but that is because the resources are immense.
- The first
few weeks of orientation to the library were really useful. While
we did not cover all the library's resources in class, we were
shown how to find them and told who to talk to for additional
help.
- I feel
like I can tackle any library now I know how the Newberry works.
This is a beautiful library and I'm sorry to be leaving it.
The
writing experience
- Doing research
with mostly primary sources was new, wonderful and liberating.
For probably the first time, I felt that I was producing new ideas
and scholarship, not reading and rehashing someone else's ideas.
The whole process of research, writing and criticism helped me
to fine tune my own ideas and constructively criticize others'
writings.
- One thing
I was forced to think about ... was what my research would contribute
to a greater understanding of the subject. It was intriguing and
exciting to be with a group of people all looking at things in
new ways.
- I learned
how important budgeting one's time is. The most beneficial aspect
of this writing experience was being able to delve into one topic.
It was very satisfying to become knowledgeable on a particular
topic -- least satisfying was the enormous time constraints.
- I've learned
that scholarly research is very time demanding, and not what I
want to do forever.
- Turning
in a huge work that I created myself was extremely satisfying.
The least satisfying part of writing the essay was trying to incorporate
tons of ideas into one coherent essay.
- The most
valuable thing I learned about research was how to adapt to a
"research" mentality. I have previously been accustomed
to working with people who know virtually everything about what
I am working on. This seminar encouraged work in vastly different
fields and fostered more self-reliance than I am used to.
- I learned
the enormous importance of revision, the benefits of a slow writing
process with an ongoing opportunity for revision.
- I did learn
quite a lot about scholarly writing, especially that I think it's
not for me. In that way, the seminar helped me to re-direct my
career goal.
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Interactions
with instructors, Newberry staff, and fellow students
- I felt
and was treated as a scholar, as someone with important ideas
and contributions.
- I appreciated
the flexibility of hours, availability and personal interest from
the professors.
- I found
the individual conferences invaluable.
- My fellow
seminar scholars ... helped me clarify thoughts, improve my writing,
they made me think in different ways.
- Many of
the Newberry staff gave me invaluable advice, lent me books, paged
books to my shelf, and provided any assistance they could.
- Having student
working groups was an excellent idea -- forced us to share ideas,
receive (and give) constructive criticism, think very critically.
Weekly conferences with professors were invaluable.
Orientation
to the Library
- The early
orientation was fairly overwhelming, but necessary and very effective.
- The reference
librarians provided crucial guidance in orienting myself to the
library.
- We got
lots of presentation and explanation, but not a lot of actually
going places in the library and seeing where materials are located.
After orientation, I basically knew how the library was set up,
but I didn't know many details that I learned later by making
mistakes.
Resources
used
Resources at the Newberry which students have used include: General
Collections, Special Collections, modern manuscripts collections,
census, Pullman Archives, literature and stories of Southern women,
early Elizabethan plays and criticisms, special collection on Willa
Cather, Ayer Collection, slave narratives, travel documents, Hawaiian
holdings, and music collections.
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Jobs
- My job
broadened my experience by giving me a behind-the-scenes peek
at the Library.
- I met a
lot of people that I can use as contacts later.
- My jobs
were very enjoyable and gave me a break from research.
- I got to
know the Library intimately, to glimpse how it works ... there
is no better way to discover what treasures are back in those
stacks.
- My job
allowed me to spend a lot of time in Special Collections, which
is something I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to
do because of the nature of my project.
 Living
conditions
Good
ways to get to know Chicago
- The field
trips, buy a guide book, be very active on your own.
- Walk around.
Go on tours. Ride the "el." Buy a guidebook.
- Buy a guidebook
and take some tours -- and go on lots of WALKS!
- Live in
the city. Don't come with the attitude that you'll get to know
the city as a tourist.
- Walk, walk,
walk. Take the train somewhere and challenge yourself to find
your way back. Read the Newberry handbook.
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How
the Newberry seminar changed/solidified educational or occupational
goals
- I feel
this program helped me in that it showed me what scholarly research
really is. I've decided it's not for me.
- I realized
my potential as a scholar and solidified my interest in the Renaissance.
Because of this seminar, I feel I would be more prepared for grad
school.
- I discovered
I really like fundraising through my experience at the Development
Office.
- I have
decided I do not want to be a scholar of literature all my life,
and have verified my desire to go on to law school.
- I was able
to see what life in grad school would be like. I feel like I will
be making a more informed decision about the future.
Comments
for those thinking about the program
- This is
a very serious, scholarly endeavor, not to be considered lightly.
The program has been one of the best experiences of my life but
it's not for everyone.
- It's intense.
It's incredibly enriching. It's serious. It will change your perspective.
- It's not
for everyone -- I'd suggest talking to the professor first and
foremost.
- It is only
right for some people but the Newberry is really a great place
to learn and research. This isn't a semester of drinking.
- It is an
intense academic experience.
- I encourage
those who have good writing skills and are responsible. I think
that it is a great program which allows even the most mature person
to grow.
- The city
is a blast, the Library is a treasure.
- This program
is the closest one can get to grad school in the humanities as
an undergrad.
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Short-term
seminar comments
- I liked
the freedom to explore in an area I'm interested in.
- The Newberry
encouraged me to work at my own pace and set my own goals.
- I learned
many things about the scholarly life: discomfort, discipline --
and the joy of original research.
- I felt
like a "valid" scholar. The staff treated us as real
fellows who had the right to have access to this wealth of information.
- It was
a valuable learning experience because working here was very different
than at campus. I felt more independent and the environment was
more serious.
- The Library
did a great job helping us connect ... The librarians were very
helpful and resourceful.
- I was so
impressed. My past experiences as a student have always been supportive
of my talents, but I still felt like a student. Here, I felt like
an equal partner in the academic conversation. It was wonderful!
- The Library
was great for exploring historical case studies of religious sentiments
that we discovered in the city.
- It made
me realize the amount of information you can obtain in a short
time.
- I love
the staff ... I really like the atmosphere of fellow friendly
researchers -- very comfortable.
- Being in
Chicago, not to mention the great location of the Newberry, was
the greatest part of this program.
- Good balance
between using the city of Chicago and the Newberry as resources.
- Primary
sources are wonderful to work with.
- It was
rewarding, but stressful at times.
- Use of
Chicago as a text was very interesting.
- Hard to
do so much on the Block Plan -- as always.
- My only
complaint about the course is the lack of time.
- Please
keep offering Chicago classes -- the city is one of the best in
the world.
- I especially
liked utilizing the various resources that the city itself offers
...
- Need more
class involvement with Chicago as a resource.
- The city
made the materials come to life in a lot of instances -- the trips
to local attractions, i.e. Pullman, were great.
- Great research
location. Lots of options. It's in Chicago. What more could you
want?
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