Illinois State University Top Questions

What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

Madeline

I wish I would have known just how many opporunities were avialable at ISU. I started college with an idea of what I wanted to do unaware that I could do so much more at Illinois State.

Ethan

I wish I had known that applying myself in high school would lead to life being easier in college. My problem in high school was I never fully applied myself in areas where I should have. I could have earned the grades that would earn me scholarships and lessen the finanicial burden when the time came to attend college but I just waltzed through high school without a care in the world. Now I have to work even harder today to undo my mistakes from yesterday.

Stephen

I wish I would have known how great this school was. I never knew it could be such a great school with such a friendly student body. It was very unexpected

Abaigeal

Before attending Illinois State University, I wish I had known how much studying obtaining a good GPA would entail. In high school, I was typically able to maintain straight A's with minimal studying. However at ISU, I had to study at least three hours each day in order to earn my 4.0 GPA. Although I am willing to put in the amount of work necessary for my academic success, I wish I had developed the study ethic required for college success in high school.

Kelly

I wish that I knew that it is okay to ask people for help, no matter how small, because everyone has been in my shoes and know that people need help sometimes.

William

I wish I would have known the amount of foreign speaking teachers in the Mathematics Department.

jessica

I wish I had known about the cost and about how important it is to get involved in something you're interested in to meet friends

Angela

I really wish somebody would have emphasized to me that life is a roller coaster and that not everybody settles with a career. I came in to college have a pretty set plan as to what I wanted to do with my life. However, with certain life events, I am now not sure what I even WANT to do. I don't have the money for grad school- which is what I've been working towards for a long time- and I am feeling more confident with just finding a job (not a career).

Moriah

Get involved with things quickly. You make a lot more friends that way. It took me until second semester to figure that one out!

Erika

I wish I had known the extent to which I would need to manage my finances before attending ISU. I didn't know that the clubs and activities here would require a substantial amount of my money, nor did I grasp that living in a suit would cost an extra $600. Because I applied late to the school, I did not have much of a say as to where I'd be residing. I was placed in a suite and have to pay an extra $600, which I did not know about until a month into the school year.

Lindsey

One thing that I wish I had know before i went to school was how to manage my time better. There is so much free time because unlike high school your classes are spaced out, and sometimes you will only have one class in a day. You will feel the urge to nap or watch tv, or even talk to friends but you need to realize homework and studying is your first priority.

Melinda

If you are not sure on your major, start out taking your gen-eds until you have a better feel for what you want to major in.

Bridget

I wish I would have have known where to live my first year on campus.

Jourdan

I wish I knew more study skills before attending college.

Emily

It is difficult to be an undeclared student and enter a major in the School of Music. The classes in the School of Music are sequenced, putting late major declarers one year behind. Although it is possibly to still finish the degree in four years, some opportunities are not as accessible as they would have been if a student was declared from the start.

Yelyse

I wish I would have known more people before I started school. In the begining, I didn't know that many people so I didn't participate in the activites the school was offering. I became more open as the school year progressed and now I attened various school functions and I can spot out the familiar faces

daniel

I wish that I had known where the good places to live were!

Nicholas

how expensive 4 years are.

Marissa

I wish I knew that right when college starts get to know people right way because sooner or later you'll be left out of groups and be left in your dorm alone. And make sure to get close with your roommate.

Manuel

I wish I would have known the importance of obtaining scholarships before entering college. I am currently financing my college with my bank loan, my financial aid, and my own income. This is still not enough to pay for college, and I am trying to apply for as many scholarships possible at the moment.

Jeff

I visited and researched my university choice before applying and enrolling, so I felt I made an educated choice. However, I wish I was a lot more self-sufficient and independent before I arrived on campus. Being more educated on little things like like knowing how to do my laundry, plan my budget, research my major qualifications, look into job opportunities, how much ATM fees would cut into my budget, etc. would have made my transition much easier.

Ashley

Before coming to this school, I wish that I would have known how much of a time committment homework and school work in general is once you get to college. In high school you are able to not study for tests, or your homework takes you 15 minutes. In college there are classes where your going to need to study for hours for a test or do homework for hours. I wish I knew htat before coming to school, so I could of prepared myself for what was ahead of me.

Amanda

Before coming here, I wish I would have known how competitive the Nursing school was. I am not necessarily sure if I can say I regret my decision because I love my school and all of the friend I have met. Also, this school has one of the best nursing schools in comparison to others around my vicinity.

Yarelie

Before I came to school I would wish to known that the university has Family weekends, in which they have activities for your family members to be apart of your college life.

Kelsey

I knew that college was expensive but I save money over the Summer, thinking that would get me pretty far into the year but unfoortunately it only got me through 1st semester. I wish I would have lookf futher into scholarships and loans.

Everette

Before coming to this school I would have liked to known the average prices for the different off campus apartments close to the school.

Rachel

I wish I would have known how to manage my time with making sure I recieved enough physical activity. In high school I was so involved that managing my time was much easier. In college, I only went to class and studied. It was easy to neglect my health.

Travis

How important it would be to look for internships early on.

Tawni

The fact that some of the courses do not transfer to UoI for my major. There is no macroeconomics or microeconomics as an individual class, so I have to take those during the summer in order to transfer schools.

Danielle

When I first moved into the dorm rooms, everyone was telling me but this/ buy that. After a semester living in the doorm rooms 1/2 of the items people were telling me to buy I did not need. If a student is not going to use somthing at school. Don't bring it. Items take up space in a small room for two people. In addition, students don't need to bring everything they have ever owned. I had neighbors who brought like ten stuffed animals or 30 purses. Bring what you need. You will be home for thanksgiving!

Kathryn

I wish that I would have know the competition that my fellow students would have. In the beginning I struggled in staying focused and that really brought my GPA down. But all of my friends are all still doing well, so I feel like I'm a little behind.

O'Cephus

Before coming to this school, I wish I would have had a mentor. Many stress the importance of doing well in college, especially starting on the right foot in the first semester. If I would have had closer, more personal contact with someone on a daily basis closer to my age, I think I would have done a lot better in my first year, more specifically my first semester.

Caitlin

I wish that I had known how important it was to get involved with different organizations on campus. Throughout my first two years on campus I was able to become greatly involved with a variety of organizations; but if I had known in advance I would have been able to be involved starting my freshman year.

Annelise

I wish I had known about all the construction projects they were going to start, and I wish I knew buses don't run on Sundays. It made me wish I had my car sometimes, as much as they say you don't need one.

Zach

The emphasis sudents place on going out and getting drunk.

Nicole

One thing I wish I would have known before attending Illinois State is when and how to apply for scholarships. Unlike highschool, there was no one to guide my scholarship search and I was very lost. Due to my difficulties I found myself having to pay a lot more out of pocket, via loans, then I would have liked. Even today, I wish I better understood Illinois State's scholarship system.

Bailey

More about the program I was interested in

Jenna

I got a lot of information at "preview". This helped me as an incoming freshman.

Andrea

The large amounts of soriorities and franternities

Emily

Before I came to this school I wish I would have known that it is not very culturally diverse. I like to experience different cultures and there is not much of an opportunity to do that at Illinois State University.

Michelle

I wish I had known about all the help I could have been getting between the tutoring center, counseling center, the career center. They are all so helpful and happy to be of assistance. If I had of known about all these helpful areas of campus, I would have done much better my sophmore year. I am not even kidding on how amazing these facilities are.

allie

I wish I knew that the special education major was so crammed. I had no idea that finishing in 4 years was really hard to do.

Everette

The different on campus jobs that were available.

Patrick

That ROTC is stupid, I wish I never would have done it. The program is a huge stress and it takes up so much time, its worse than playing a varsity sport. If I had to do it all over again I never would have done ROTC.

Mary

that there was nothing to do in this town.

Kari

Registering for classes at ISU is terrible and stressful unless you are in the honors program or an athlete.

Jacilyn

I transferred from a junior college and I wish I had known more about the school before I transferred.

Taleigha

there isnt anything i wish i had known beore. i think if i had known somethings about this school i wouldnt have gone here. Coming into this not knowing was the best thing for me, it pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Leena

it very great