An ISU student recently got the chance to buy vowels and solve puzzles on one of the most popular game shows in television history.

Jill Lansing, junior in civil engineering, was a contestant on an episode of “Wheel of Fortune” that will air Jan. 10.

Lansing saw an ad in the Daily last year for the show’s “Big 12 Week” and went online to apply. The audition consisted of a mock episode of the show and a paper test.

“The paper test was different puzzles with some of the letters filled in and you had to solve as many as you could,” Lansing said. “The mock trial let them see your personality and attitude. I think that was a big part- in choosing the contestants.”

Lansing didn’t make the cut last year, but was added to a waiting list, and, a year later, out of the blue, she got the call.

“I was shocked,” she said. “I think I just sat there and didn’t say anything because I wasn’t expecting them to call.”

On Nov. 17, Lansing went to Los Angeles for the taping of the show.

Her mom, sister and uncle traveled with her and attended the taping.

“The set was a lot smaller than I thought it would be,” Lansing said. “But when you got behind the wheel, it was still pretty big and heavy to spin.”

Lansing said it was much harder to play in person than from her living room.

“I think you really do get a little bit dumber when you’re on television,” Lansing said.

She also said hitting the bankrupt space and waiting for another turn was really frustrating.

“Sometimes I’d know the answer but the wheel would be past me,” Lansing said. “I just had to wait and watch the other contestants guess letters until they finally caught on.”

Although it could be frustrating, Lansing said she had a good time. She said much of the time it was just her and the other contestants hanging out.

“Vanna White even came in and talked to us without her make-up or anything,” Lansing said.

Even after meeting White, Lansing said she was never really starstruck and didn’t ask for any autographs.

“I enjoyed seeing how a whole program was done, taped and put together,” she said.

Lansing came in third place on the show, and although she didn’t get to go to the bonus round, she said she wasn’t disappointed and had a lot of fun.

“I used to watch the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ all the time when I was a kid,” Lansing said.

“I think it’s still one of my favorite game shows.”