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Northwestern Junior Discusses the Benefits of Pursuing the ISEN Certificate
Grace Wade | January 9, 2019
When applying to colleges, Sarrin Chethik understood he wanted to work in the field of energy and sustainability. During his Northwestern application process, he came across the Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern’s (ISEN) undergraduate certificate, and knew he wanted to partake in the program once he was accepted.
The ISEN undergraduate certificate allows students to pursue interdisciplinary instruction in the increasingly relevant areas of sustainability and energy. Requiring seven courses, the certificate mandates participants take three introductory courses offered by ISEN and four elective courses across an assortment of disciplines including, but not limited to, social sciences, engineering, and study abroad opportunities.
“The introductory ISEN courses are structured with a multidisciplinary approach. One had a bit of an engineering lens and was more quantitative, while another focused on philosophy and the actual science behind climate change,” explains Chethik. “The certificate caters to people coming from different majors or with different background knowledge on energy and sustainability.”
For Chethik, the ISEN classes and other departmental courses that count towards the certificate provide a unique academic experience. As an economics major, Chethik finds himself in large lectures with up to 250 students.
“With ISEN classes, even if some of them are larger, there is a much higher level of engagement,” says Chethik, who still keeps in touch with the professors from the six courses he has taken for the certificate. “Those courses are just a fraction of those I have taken at Northwestern, so they really stand out.”
“For all the internships I have done, I think the hiring managers all appreciated that I was doing the [ISEN] certificate... My energy business class went over policy related content and the difference between federal and state regulated energy policy. That is actually the focus of the case we are working on at the energy law firm.” — Sarrin Chethik, Northwestern Junior
Other than the high level of academic engagement, the program has also professionally prepared Chethik for his career. All three of his internships since attending Northwestern pertain to the energy and sustainability fields. Currently an energy law and consulting intern at GEV Corp., Chethik previously worked as an energy and economic development intern for the Kentucky House of Representatives and as a consulting intern for Foresight Design Initiative.
“For all the internships I have done, I think the hiring managers all appreciated that I was doing the certificate,” says Chethik. “What I learned in class definitely helped me while I was working. My energy business class went over policy related content and the difference between federal and state regulated energy policy. That is actually the focus of the case we are working on at the energy law firm.”
While originally intending on going into law, Chethik is rethinking his career trajectory. Through an ISEN course he was introduced to professionals with the role of director of policy at energy companies. Now, he is hoping to do the same.
Outside of academics and internships, Chethik has been involved with the Northwestern Energy and Technology Group (NETG), a graduate-run club, for the past two years. Now, he and fellow undergraduate student Raghavendra Pai are founding the Northwestern Undergraduate Energy Club. The hope is to engage more undergraduate students in the energy field while also co-hosting events with NETG as well as the Kellogg Energy Club. In the initial development stages, Chethik and Pai met with ISEN associate director, Jeff Henderson.
“Jeff is really helpful all of the time,” says Chethik. “He is really engaged with students.”
As for his advice to other undergraduate students seeking a way to become involved in energy and sustainability at Northwestern, Chethik urges students look into clubs on the Northwestern student page.
“Pick which ones fit your interests. You might start with four or five and narrow it down to one or two,” advises Chethik.