Eric West Jr.
Year: Class of 2017
Major: Human Development and Family Studies
Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
Current Occupation: Senior Admissions Counselor, Indiana University Bloomington
Why did you choose IU Bloomington?
"I chose to attend IU because when I first visited in my sophomore year of high school I fell in love with the school and beauty of the campus. Also, upon further research, I discovered that IU has a really good medical and science program which impacted my admission decision on a positive note. Finally, I always wanted to attend a school that was far from home and big—and IU is both."
What advice would you give to a senior that you wish you would have known?
"I wish I had taken more dual credit classes in high school so I would not have had to take them in college. Also, 8 a.m. classes are not the same as in high school. When you are making your schedule to end your day faster, that will not always be the case because you might want to go back to your room and sleep—which could cause you to skip class."
What was an obstacle that you overcame as an undergraduate student?
"I overcame the fact that in college time goes by so fast, so in order to succeed you must have good time management skills. I overcame the challenge of living with a complete stranger. We had different views on many things such as cleanliness and having to share our living space, but we learned to cope with our problems."
How did the 21st Century Scholar services at IU Bloomington benefitted you?
"The 21st Century Scholars Office benefitted me in many ways, such as having an advisory assistant from that office and the amazing scholarship money for school."
How did you remain successful as a 21st Century Scholar?
"I remained successful as a 21st Century Scholar by getting help with any subject even if I feel like I don’t really need the help. It’s useful practice to get other perspectives. Also, I met with my advisor regularly to prepare for the following semesters and years."
What was the best thing about being a 21st Century Scholar?
"I feel the best thing about being a 21st Century Scholar was having accessibility to more resources throughout the campus and people were always willing to assist us."
What were your favorite classes at IU and why?
"My favorite classes at IU were Brazilian Jujitsu and yoga. These two classes were so stress relieving and helped benefit me in studying for other classes."
What activities (including employment) were you involved in?
"I was involved in a couple of activities throughout the campus, such as the IU Alumni Association, and I was a GROUPS Scholar"