Major: Computer and Information Science
Isabella Chou decided to pursue her passion for sustainability through her interest in math and STEM.
“A degree in computer science will help me achieve my goals of providing sustainable options to help both the people and the planet,” she said. “Because computer science is such a versatile skill, with more and more companies implementing AI and becoming digitalized, I am confident that I will learn and develop useful skills that can be applied to the real world in various ways.”
Chou decided to attend College of DuPage through its Engineering Pathways program, which provides qualified students with guaranteed transfer to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Grainger School of Engineering. She previously applied directly to UIUC’s Grainger School but was not accepted.
At COD, she was impressed by the academic opportunities and student support services. She also received the S-STEM Scholarship, which is funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, and worked with Susan Fenwick, the College’s STEM Scholarship success coach.
“She offered me guidance with my academic progress, provided opportunities such as LinkedIn workshops that helped my future career plans, invited guest speakers to share their success stories, and even counseled me with personal goals,” she said. “My STEM Scholarship mentor, Professor Marcelina Rakestraw, counseled me regarding the CS field, and she encouraged me to obtain certificates in Java Programming and C++ Programming. I also joined the CS club, which allowed me to meet new people, learn new CS-related skills and join events such as Hackathons.
STEM Student Success Scholarship at COD
“Having a success coach, a mentor and a variety of events to attend shaped and prepared me for a future in STEM. The one event that I remember most fondly was the STEM Scholars Meeting in Washington, D.C. that Susan Fenwick nominated me to attend. It was my first-ever conference, and I learned so many things just by being there. I am extremely grateful for this eye-opening experience and am proud to have represented COD.”Chou also appreciated the help she received from Tutoring Services, specifically the Math Assistance area in the Learning Commons, where she would stay for hours doing homework and asking for help when needed. She visited professors during their office hours and relied on Career Services for guidance with building a resume and finding internships.
I plan on taking everything that I learned at COD, both inside and outside of the classroom, and applying it everywhere I go from here.
Isabella Chou
She also received the Jeanne Bowen Scholarship through the COD Foundation.
“My scholarships allowed me to confidently pursue my education at COD without needing to worry about my family’s financial needs, and I could use the funds from my grants to pay for textbooks and other lab materials at COD’s Bookstore.”
Chou transferred to UIUC in 2024, grateful that Engineering Pathways helped her reach this goal.
“Even though the program was demanding, with strict semester schedules that required 17 to 19 credit hours to be taken, I am immensely grateful that I managed to persevere through with the help of everyone at COD,” she said. “I plan on taking everything that I learned at COD, both inside and outside of the classroom, and applying it everywhere I go from here. I truly believe participating in the Engineering Pathways program strongly prepared me for more challenging courses at UIUC.”
Her goal is to work as a software developer, a software engineer or another CS-related position for a tech company that emphasizes sustainability or a non-tech company that has sustainability as its core value. As for COD, Chou advises students not to be shy about asking for help, joining clubs, exploring campus or just socializing.
“I remember my friends and I running out of class to grab free food at events held by clubs, which was fun to do in the midst of a busy week. Small events like these bring joy to students, and they reminded me to cherish that time together,” she said. “If a student wants to take part in the Engineering Pathways program, my biggest piece of advice is to plan out their time wisely, because there will be a lot to do.
“I am delighted that I got to attend COD. I wish I could have stayed longer but knew I had to continue my journey elsewhere. COD holds a big place in my heart, and I am thankful to everyone I met there who helped me along my academic journey.”
Learn more about the Computer and Information Science (CIS) program at College of DuPage