Mei Lin McDermott

Mei Lin McDermott is a music major with an emphasis in music education from Moline, IL

Hometown: Moline, IL

High School: Moline Senior High School

Year: Expected graduation: spring 2028

Minor: German

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I received the Presidential Scholarship due to my high academic success and involvement outside of the classroom through volunteer work and extracurricular activities. The financial support from the Presidential Scholarship has lifted a weight off of my shoulders. I'm able to focus all of my energy on school without having to worry about how I'm going to pay the tuition rate.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
I wasn't sure what I wanted to be. I didn't fully make that decision until the fall of my senior year of high school. And now I'm at NIU, pursuing my passion for passing music to the next generation through education.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am a music major with an emphasis in music education and have declared a minor in German. I chose music because it has been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember. Some of the best memories I have are from music events I attended or jamming out with my string quartet. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Germany and perform in Berlin and Leipzig with my local youth symphony. I took a few months of German online to prepare for my trip and fell in love with the language. Now I'm at a school that offers it as a class, so I decided to pursue a minor in the language.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
The living situation. I live on the Honors House in Patterson, and it's been great. People have told me horrible stories about college dorm life, but I'm greatly enjoying it.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
The honors program and music program have both helped a lot. I've also been able to get involved in a church and two different Bible studies and have gotten to meet so many more people through those opportunities.

Are you involved in any student organizations, mentoring programs or extra-curricular activities? If so, which ones? How have they added to your experience as a Huskie?
I'm involved in the University Honors Program, the NIU Philharmonic Orchestra and Cru. These have all helped make my adjustment to college life much easier. Finding friends who value the same things you do makes it so much easier to get involved with people. And if I want to try something new, I have friends in each of these groups who would try it with me, so I don't have to go by myself.

What NIU offices, departments or resources have helped you feel safe, supported and successful? And how?
My advisor has helped a lot. She helped me work through my schedule and answered all of my questions. The Department of World Languages and Cultures has also been great; when I went to inquire about adding a minor, they were so excited to welcome me into their program.

What Honors Program opportunities or support have helped you get closer to your academic or career goals so far?
The Honors Engaged experiences have been really helpful. The engaged experiences seem like a lot when they tell you all the requirements for the program, but they aren't so bad if you take them one step at a time. They've helped with my goal of trying to get involved in things on campus.

What do you enjoy the most about the Honors Program?
I've enjoyed (mostly) that it gets me out of my shell. I've been the type of person who eats, drinks insane amounts of coffee, studies, practices, sleeps and repeats. So, the honors events have helped me get out of my room and get involved.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
My favorite teacher so far is Dr. Lucia Matos. I have her for music theory. She is super funny and really good at explaining the fundamentals of music theory.

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
I have 100% benefitted from attending class regularly. I cannot imagine how far behind I would be if I missed too many classes. The teachers also make class so enjoyable, they make me want to attend just to see what's going to happen next.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
Einstein Bros. Bagels on the lower level of the library. I love their coffee and their breakfast bagels. A friend and I went after class one day, and now we go there whenever we have time. It's a good study spot as well.

What advice would you give to a student who is researching colleges to apply to?
I would tell them that it's OK to not know where you want to go. And it's OK to go in as an undecided major. Take advantage of college prep courses your high school offers. And apply for as many scholarships as possible, through your high school, community, the state and colleges. You may not get them all, and that's OK. Even if it's only a small scholarship, that is still less money you will have to pay in the long run. And small scholarships add up quickly. And always ask questions. Take advantage of college fairs and ask all the questions you can think of to make an informed decision when you choose your school.

Why is a college education important to you?
A college education was important to me because I knew I would need higher education to teach. But also, it would allow me to get a stable job that would allow me the time to remain involved in community music groups such as the theater.

What strategies do you use to manage your time between the responsibilities of school, work, friends and family?
I have a very detailed planner. I block off time for homework, plan what time I want to eat, when I want to go to the gym, etc. And I stay in contact with my family about weekends, when I'll go home. But my planner is my best tool for staying on track.

How do you stay informed about events and services that are available on campus?
I look on the Suitable app for honors events. I also have friends who are much more involved than I am, so they tell me about things they think I should join them for.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I make coffee in my dorm. Or I go to a coffee shop. Listening to music is also a good one. And finding a friend who can just exist with you. You don't always have to be doing something with friends, some of the best times I've had with my friends have been when we were sitting in one of our dorms doing absolutely nothing, just relaxing.

Please tell us about your job and hobbies.
I don't currently have a job (aside from focusing on school). My hobbies include music (listening and performing), making coffee, crocheting, reading and walking around stores. Sometimes I end up buying stuff, but I also just like to look around for the fun of it.