University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

The college is located in a town where there is no big agency or shopping mall, but pretty much you got everything you need here. Life here without friends or frat could be extremely boring. However, here you can get the best engineering education in the world. UIUC has prestigious engineering departments, especially Electrical and computer engineering and computer science. Also, UIUC's Accounting is top in US. What's more, we have great football team and basketball team 'Fighting Illini'.

The college is located in a town where there is no big agency or shopping mall, but pretty much you got everything you need here. Life here without friends or frat could be extremely boring. However, here you can get the best engineering education in the world. UIUC has prestigious engineering departments, especially Electrical and computer engineering and computer science. Also, UIUC's Accounting is top in US.

The University of Illinois boasts roughly 50,000 students. This number can seem intimidating for students, like myself, who come from a small high school. However, there are many ways to make friends and enjoy your college experience. The University of Illinois has over 1100 RSO's (Registered Student Organizations) which are the equivalent of clubs in high school. These are great opportunities to do service and find other individuals who enjoy the same things as you do. Illinois has many resources that you simply just cannot find at a smaller school. The school is a nest for fostering your academic ability and social growth. Most of your time will be spent on Campus. It is a very large campus, but there is also a town located just off of campus which allows versatility with where you want to hang out and study. A great benefit of Illinois is that the professors are required to teach their lectures. The discussion sections are taught by the TA's which gives a whole view of the material. The buildings on campus are full of history and really gives the old "land grant" school feeling as you walk through the halls.

As a graduate student, my experiences are very different than that of undergraduates (by this I mean I spend quite a bit of time studying and not too much of the social), but overall, I would say that my experiences thus have been positive.

The University of Illinois has pleasantly surprised me. I was unsure whether or not such a large school would be right for me. I've always enjoyed hands on teaching, and I knew that at a school of 40,000 I would probably not experience this same kind of teaching. But what I love about the school is the freedom I have to do what I please and the feeling that I'm not actually in school, but working in a large community, almost a city. Champaign-Urbana is definitely a college town. There are residential neighborhoods close by, but walking down Green Street, which is basically the main street on campus, it seems that all you see are college students. Concentrating 40,000 students to one town truly makes it seem like the town is run by students, and for the most part, it is. It's college students working and communicating with college students in every aspect of life, whether it be at the Rec Center or a restaurant. Another aspect of the school which goes along with the feeling of community is the school spirit. Even for sports like football, where Illinois has never been a powerhouse, there are people getting excited for each and every game and the student section is always filled. There are people wearing orange wherever you go, and this sense of unity is comforting and makes the school seem that much smaller. In addition to the social aspect of the school, the actual intellectual aspect of school is fantastic. While the classes are not as personal as I wish they would be, there are constant opportunities to get involved outside of class and to meet people, whether professors or students, with similar interests. In such instances, the professors don't treat you like a student, but an equal person with common goals. There are constant opportunities to progress in any direction you please. You really have the ability to choose the path you want to, and there are so many directions which you can take. One concern I had, which I am sure I shared with many freshman coming into the school, is the prospect of needing to meet an entirely new group of people. My concerns were soon forgotten, as the dorms serve as the perfect environment to meet new people, and clubs serve as an opportunity to find people with similar interests. My most comforting memory thus far is meeting the two guys across the hall from me who actually went to a high school very close to my hometown. I soon had friends not only at school, but that I would be with even when I was home. The social constructs at University of Illinois make it very easy to meet people. Much of my time at school is spent in the dorms, either doing homework in the lobby or socializing with the guys in my hall. The dining hall where I currently live is unbelievable, although it is only accessible by walking outside, which will prove to be an obstacle come winter. However, this is a small price to pay for the variety of food that I have to choose from at the dining hall. My overall opinion of the school is very positive, and I would recommend coming here to almost anyone.

I think it's fair to say that I "bleed orange and blue." Though cliche', I believe that's and accurate way of putting my feelings for this university into words. I get excited every time I see someone else with a big orange "I" t-shirt walking around the world. I just want to shout "I-L-L" in hopes that faintly in the distance, I'll get an "I-N-I." Now that I've thoroughly expressed my love for this school, there's something to be said about life here. I love that we're so diverse, that is, we have more than 1000 student organizations catering to different interests and a array of represented ethnic groups. There's always something to do here, and something to learn as well. For anyone stuck in their comfort zone, they'll learn to break out of it and experience something new once they step on campus grounds. Encountering people of different races every day is something I'm sure to take for granted out in the real world, because we're a melting pot, the the corporate world can't really compare. People need that exposure to people who don't look like them or do the same things they do, and U of I gives that to them. Our school is very large, but there's a home for everyone. Like I previously mentioned, the many organizations available to join make it easier to find friends and venture into the unknown to find something else you like. I feel like I'm an individual even amongst 39,900 students. Going off of that, there's so many opportunities to become a leader on campus. I love U of I because it' prepares you for the real world, and prepares you to stand tall in all that you do in the future by giving you the chance to practice it everyday. No campus is golden, and we've had our share of controversies, however. Most recently, our mascot was removed from campus. Every shred of "Chief Illiniwek's" existence has been taken down, painted over or tucked in the memories of those who actually got the see him dance at halftime. Native American interest groups viewed the mascot as a modern-day minstrel show, mocking the rich Native American culture they cling to. There were protests and boycotts by the small group represented by about 100 students and community leaders. Their small voice was heard, and the mascot was taken away. Of course, many people hated the idea of not having a mascot, I actually came here once it was taken out. So I never got to see this amazing dance in person. However, I've learned so much about the culture from the controversy. I think others did too even though their feelings are on the fence. One of my favorite memories here is the moment I read my Resident Advisor job offer. They offered to pay my room and board, which has ballooned to almost $1000 more than tuition, and a monthly stipend. I can honestly say that I wouldn't be a student here if I hadn't gotten that job. Financially, my family struggles, and I needed every scholarship and grant I could get. Upon opening the letter, I jumped up and down, spun around an yelled at the top of my lungs. It was such a joyous moment for me because I had worked so hard for it. My experiences as an RA have been beneficial to my professional goals and personal growth in more ways than I can write on paper. i loved ever minute I spent with my residents, helping them to grow into young leaders making them feel at home here. If I could touch the lives of more people before I graduate, I would. It's the greatest feeling in the world.

I hated the U of I during my first year. It felt like such a huge place with a focus on partying and drinking. Until you own your experience (like I did by joining the honors program) you won't have a place here.

I absolutely love the University of Illinois. Being on such a large campus, there are always things to do, places to see, and people to meet. Some people may find the size daunting, and sometimes it is difficult to reach professors but I have not had any problems yet. The large size can have its benefits; I really enjoy the large-scale size and always meeting new people in classes and student organizations. The town of Champaign-Urbana is amazing for a college. Green Street is the heart of the campus, providing students with great food and entertainment. Probably one of my fondest memories of college so far is walking up and down Green Street after a big football win; there were so many people lining the streets with orange and blue and cheering on the Illini, it was a great environment. Speaking of football, we have some of the best school spirit around for all of our sports. Going to a football, volleyball, or basketball game is bound to have some fun with all the crazy cheers, especially in the student sections. There really isn't a lot of negative things to say about U of I!

I absolutely love the University of Illinois. Being on such a large campus, there are always things to do, places to see, and people to meet. Some people may find the size daunting, and sometimes it is difficult to reach professors but I have not had any problems yet. The large size can have its benefits; I really enjoy the large-scale size and always meeting new people in classes and student organizations. The town of Champaign-Urbana is amazing for a college. Green Street is the heart of the campus, providing students with great food and entertainment. Probably one of my fondest memories of college so far is walking up and down Green Street after a big football win; there were so many people lining the streets with orange and blue and cheering on the Illini, it was a great environment. Speaking of football, we have some of the best school spirit around for all of our sports. Going to a football, volleyball, or basketball game is bound to have some fun with all the crazy cheers, especially in the student sections. There really isn't a lot of negative things to say about U of I!

I believe that the best thing about U of I is its ability to give students something to do no matter what the time or his or her interests. It caters to several different needs, hobbies, and interests. The environment is micro-urban, so it makes the town feel that much more homey, including the surrounding area in Savoy. Personally, I would change the efficiency of the wi-fi across the campus because, at times, I feel a little in the dark. At first, I thought this university would be too big, but it is just right. People seem fairly impressed when I tell them that I am at a prestigious college like U of I. I spend most of my time in my dorm, my friends' dorms, at the gym, or just out roaming campus. Champaign-Urbana truly is a college town. Concerning the administration, I have no complaints, but at one point, there was some controversy over GPAs dealing with the 2014 class. Honestly, you will never find a school with more pride than UIUC. Coming from a school that was lacking in pride, I feel so proud and at home here, that I find myself cheering just as crazy as everyone else. On game days, campus is a sea of orange and blue. One of the most unusual things about this school is its unique architecture and graffiti. Most student complaints either come from the overcrowded buses in the winter or their frequent inability to show up on time when one really needs to get somewhere.