Frequently Asked Questions About WICS Committees
General Questions
What are coffee chats like and what advice do you have for them?
They are 15-minute casual “interviews”. Some questions include what your hobbies, why are you interested in WICS Committee and other questions based on your application. Coffee chats help us understand who you are. Chairs of the committee that you’ve been selected to interview for will chat with you. Show your personality and genuine enthusiasm, let them see that you’re excited and want to be involved. Doing a bit of prep, like reflecting on your experiences or doing some quick research on the committee to see what events or initiatives resonate with you, could help you feel more confident since that gives you things to talk about and helps you figure out if it’s a good fit. Overall, coffee chats are friendly and low-pressure, just be yourself and show your excitement to be part of WICS!
How many people are you looking for in each committee?
We are not announcing the numbers, instead, we urge you to apply to the committee that you feel most passionate about! Don’t apply to a committee because it has more spots available! Since we have preferences, if you have a strong application/interview you will be able to join a committee outside of your first choice.
How many people are in charge of each committee?
Each committee has two committee chairs who oversee its projects, events, and members, helping everything run smoothly and ensuring everyone feels supported. In addition, we have our two wonderful presidents who guide WICS as a whole, providing leadership, encouragement, and direction for all committees.
Are we able to apply to multiple committees?
Yes. On our application form, we have first preference, second preference, and third preference. Your deliverable will just be for the first preference. No need to make deliverables for second/third preference. When spring rolls around, you have the opportunity to switch committees for the next school year, so you have the chance to experience other committees.
Is it okay to miss committee meetings and general meetings if you have conflicts?
We understand that everyone has their schedules, and there will be accommodations if you can’t attend the meetings. In general, you would let the secretary know, and we will make sure to get notes and support. At the beginning of every quarter, we will schedule our committee meetings at times that work best for most people’s calendars.
How have you seen WICS change over the years?
WICS has been around for over 30 years now, and there’s so much amazing documentation and history behind it. Every new group of members wants to build on that and make things even better. We rotate presidents every year and get to see what changes each one brings. For example, the types of socials or how they run things can be different, and that’s something we embrace. We also take feedback from the committee seriously and try to improve each year.
What do you wish you knew before being on WICS committee?
Being on WICS committee is full of opportunities to grow both personally and professionally, so take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone! The effort you put into WICS truly reflects in what you gain, from expanding your network to gaining skills and confidence. But that means there’s always a lot happening behind the scenes, so don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it, everyone is here to support you!
Committee Questions
Internal Affairs
Answered by Josephine Bhadran & Megan Sun
What was your favorite event that you either planned or attended?
Josephine: My favorite event was WICSino. I helped plan it with a few other members, and we set up different booths with games. I actually learned how to deal blackjack, which was really fun, and overall I just had a great time.
Megan: My favorite WICS event I helped plan was WICSlympics, a competition in which WICS mentorship families compete head-to-head in a series of fun games and races! I really enjoy planning Internal events because we use both creativity and organization to ensure activities are engaging and executed smoothly. Most importantly, seeing WICS mentorship families bond and connect through our events is truly rewarding.
What drew you to the specific committee you are on when you were applying?
Josephine: I was deciding between a few committees at first, but I’ve always liked logistics and event planning. When I thought about what I enjoy most, which is planning fun, social events where everyone can just hang out, I realized Internal was the best fit!
Megan: Through various involvements in clubs and hobbies, I realized that each of them shared something in common, which made them so special to me: a sense of belonging to a community. Internal Affairs is all about creating the type of environment where all members feel welcome, regardless of technical background or experience level. I love being able to create events where we can make a tech-focused club like WICS feel approachable and where members are met with friends and community whenever they attend our meetings.
What is your favorite part of being on WICS committee? What do you value most?
Josephine: The community! During my first year of college, I was really scared and intimidated, so going into my second year I told myself I had to get involved. I’ve met so many amazing people, and I love spending time with everyone, whether it’s chatting or working together on events. I’ve gained so much from this community and really enjoy being able to give back now.
Megan: My favorite part of being on WICS committee is the people! I've been able to foster close relationships with many members, especially those on Internal, with whom I've made many special memories and who encourage me in all of my academic and personal endeavors.
What would you say is the most important skill you would have to develop in your committee?
Megan: Collaboration is one of the most essential skills to develop as an Internal Affairs committee member. Each event is planned as a team, and occasionally, you will work with members from other campus organizations. Learning to communicate and organize tasks among multiple people is essential!
Describe the process of planning an event.
Josephine: For Internal, sometimes the co-chairs will assign us an event, and you’ll work with a few other members to plan and complete it. Other times, it’s more open-ended and we brainstorm ideas together. It’s a lot of communicating with your group, making slides, ordering materials, and organizing everything for the event.
What are examples of the ways different committees collaborate with each other?
Megan: Internal often collaborates with Marketing to ensure that our events are promoted on a reasonable timeline and in a way that entices members to attend our meetings!
What's your favorite annual Internal event?
Megan: Our First General Meeting of the academic year is always a blast! I love getting to know all the new people interested in joining WICS' community, as well as seeing familiar faces in the crowd.