University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

a lot of illinois social life includes partying and drinking however there are plenty of other activities to take part in for non drinkers like me. twice a month on friday nights the school hosts illinites where the illini union board puts on activities for students in the union student center. the union is also host to numerous comedians and musicians as well as improv comedy on monday nights. this past April the union brought BJ Novak from NBC's The Office to put on a comedy show. They were also able to bring in Second City for an improv show as well as one of my favorite bands, Mustard Plug.

There is a Registered Student Organization (RSO) for EVERYONE. Whether it me a club sport, dance troupe, checkers club, or Dungeons and Dragons club, Illinois has got it. The Greek system is very popular as Illinois has the largest one in the nation. Many freshmen decide to go Greek during the first months on campus. On of the hard things about this is that rush is held within the first month or so of being at school. This is a huge decision that is expected to be made in a short time by freshmen who have only been on campus for a few days. Dorms are a great place to meet people and my four best friends now all lived on my floor my freshman year. While everyone is generally friendly, the dorms are different. In Allen Hall, you have the hippie "nuts and berries" type folk and most engineers live in Illinois Street Residences (ISR). The dorms nicknamed the six pack is the most social by far as people's doors are usually open and everyone is outgoing. The six pack contains six dorms grouped into the Gregory Street and Peabody Drive Residences. Florida Avenuve Residence (FAR) and Pennsylvania Avenue Residence (PAR) are far from the quad and consequently removed from most things. PAR is a "Global Crossroads" dorm for many international students. There is also private housing available like Bromley Hall and Illini Towers (IT). Bromely is more dorm-like but you don't meet as many people there because people usually move in with a roommate they know from home and keep to themselves. IT is great as you are basically living in an apartment but it is very expensive and, once again, you don't meet as many people and usually stick with the kids from back home. If I am up at 2am on any night of the week, I am either studying, drinking or walking home from the bars. Bars close at 2am every night and people go out every night of the week although some nights more than others. There is something going on each night at bars so some people see a reason to go out for "Corona Night on Tuesday at The Clybourne", "Bomb Night at CO Daniel's" on Wednesday's, or "Thursday Night Shacker Night at Station 211". Illinois has a big drinking scene as the age to enter campus bars is 19.

Obviously being a BIG 10 school sports are huge here. I love that. There is an organization for absolutely anything you can think of. And if there isn't you can make one and its quite simple. This is a wonderful place for clubs and organizations. Most students leave their dorm doors open. Most people are very welcoming. The dating scene, well it all depends, there are a lot of people here to choose from. I, personally, haven't found someone yet. But, I'm okay with that. I met my closet friends from the dorm I lived in freshman year and the sorority I'm in. If its Tuesday night at 2am I am walking home from Kam's. Tuesday night is country night! There are people out partying every night, but remember you still have school work. A balance would be ideal. I didn't do that so much my freshman year. I went out too much. We do have the biggest greek system in the nation here at U of I, but I have friends in other houses, I have friends that aren't in houses at all. So, its what you make it to be. Last weekend I went home. Not a good answer, but usually I would be with friends. Off campus, I actually dont go off campus that much, there really isn't a need too. I do go to the mall though (which is off campus)

Join Illini Pride! And go to Football and Basketball games!

The most popular organization on campus would have to be the Greek community I am involved in many groups... Students leaving their dorm doors open is dependent upon the dorm they're in, Six pack= Yes all the time (party dorms), FAR=Not so much (Minority dorms) Athletic events are very popular and always sold out Dating scene is not so much a dating scene as it is a 'hooking up' scene, guys in college don't want to date they want to mate I met my closest friends through social events on campus If I'm awake at 2am on a Tuesday I am studying... Some people party everyday, most start their weekends on Thursdays and party Thursday through Saturday. Greek life is very important to people, they consider it a huge part of their college life I'm not currently in school (I'm on my summer vacation) but on a typical weekend I go out on Thursdays and Fridays to the local bars. Saturday night you can go to the movies, go downtown to eat at a chic restaurant, go bowling, pretty much anything you can do at home on the weekends you can do at U of I, it's made up of two towns. Off campus I often go to the movies, go eat at a nic restaurant, shopping, etc.

greek life is a great way to expand your social circle. At the same time, it also makes things into cliques. There are numerous bars. Bars make up most of the night life. They are only 19 to get in, so students start going there their freshman year. Some bars are where most often greeks go, and others non-greeks. Some have a younger crowd, while others usually host an older crowd. During football season, those saturdays are just crowded with masses of people all over, especially on Green street and at the bars and tailgating. Close friends are often met in the dorms freshman year and through clubs/organizations or greek life.

Greek life is huge here, and if you're not in a frat or sorority, you will learn to hate it because those kids get drunk and pregnant the first year. They cheat to pass. Although I've met some intelligent frat boys, I have honestly never met a sorority girl who earned very high grades. Of course, this is the U of I, and I'm sure they exist... I just personally have never met any. I'm involved in Orthodox Christian Fellowship, which is a fantastic group for Orthodox students. We welcome everyone, though, so while most students are Orthodox, there are also students that come who are just interested in Orthodoxy. This is how many organizations are on campus - most of the members are who the organization was designed for (Asians, engineers, pre-meds, Muslims, etc.) and there are almost always some members who are just curious. I'm almost involved with Marching Illini, which is indescribable. It's the best group on this campus. I would recommend to ALL students to join at least a few organizations right away. This is how I met my best friends now. I would not survive in this school if it weren't for their constant support. It's easy to get lost here and to feel isolated, even though there are thousands and thousands of students around you. It's important to figure out who you are, what you're doing here, and who loves you. If you can answer those questions within the first year, you will have a pretty good experience at this school.

There are a lot of groups. I am most involved in Epsilon Delta (the organization for future teachers). It is a great organizations because it offers a lot of philanthropy opportunities as well as interactions with other educaters (of all kinds) and students from the Chicagoland area. Students left there dorm doors open until it was assumed that you can come in whenever you would like. Students were very welcoming to meet others and respecting others as far as bringing home dates. Atheletic events are very popular, much more so then theather productions. I met mty closest friends from my dorm floor and my sorority. If I am awake at 2 am on Tue I am writing a last minute paper due Wed morning. People party at least twice a week. On sat night you can go ice skating, bowling, see a movie, rent movies from the dorm, play pool, go swimming, work out, etc.

Illinois Athletics are very popular, and so some of the most popular groups on campus revolve around these teams. For instance, Orange Krush is one of the student groups which attends Illini basketball games. Also, we have the Block I cheering section at football games. We also have some unique groups on campus, such as the October Lovers, the Falling Illini Skydiving Club, the Harrassing Illini, who frequent the Illini hockey games, and the Positive Event Chain, which can often be seen giving out hugs on the quad. I am involved with the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. We participate in a variety of events, including Relay for Life, blood drives, helping out at soup kitchens, and selling beads before football games. We also hold events related to Psychology, such as Career Info Nights, Grad School question sessions, meetings about which courses to take, etc. I met most of my friends through Psi Chi and my Psychology courses.

SOOOO many groups and organizations. If you can't find a club to be a part of there is a big problem. If I'm awake late at night I'm probably studying but if I'm not then there are plenty of people around to hang out with. Campustown is big and full of things to do, many within walking distance.