University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

The campus. It is absolutely beautiful. The people are friendly, we have a building modeled off of a German castle so it feels like Hogwarts, we're pretty close to the best in everything we do and there are SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES!!! One of the best parts of going to such a large University is the number of opportunities available to you. If you can't find something that fits your needs or desires (which is hard to do) they will find a way to let you create something for you. It allows you to really make your education mold to your own needs.

I really really really want to be a librarian. U of I is one of the best library schools, so I figured I would get in as soon as possible in undergrad even though I need a masters in Library Science. I also visited my freshman year of high school on a band trip. I really loved the campus, and it just clicked. There was never really a second option, because it had the best program I want while it's close to home. I never wanted to wander out of state, but I didn't want to live at home. 2 hours from home is the perfect distance for me, because I can go home for a weekend, but my parents can't drop in for a surprise visit.

From the time I was a sophomore in high school, U of I was my top choice for college. The prestige of the university, college-town atmosphere, and proximity to home all drew me in. After high school, I was disappointed to see that I had been declined. I attended another school for a year and transferred to Illinois as a sophomore, and have been happy here ever since.

I grew up in Illinois and have always heard about U of I's great reputation. It was the best affordable option for a great education in my chosen field of Biological Anthropology.

I am from the state of Illinois, and after researching many different schools, I realized my state had the best one!

I attended a community college first semester of my freshman year, giving me ample time to decide and weigh all the options between schools. However, after visiting UIUC, I fell in love. In addition to it's proximity to my home (as an Illinois resident), its large campus, its huge sports scene, and the amazing reviews from all of my friends at UIUC, I couldn't say no! Also, they have a great Recreation, Sport and Tourism program- one of the few programs in the country.

Its impressive reputation and the historical aspect of the architecture and the beauty of the buildings.

Its impressive reputation and the historical aspect of the architecture and the beauty of the buildings.

I wanted to go somewhere I've never been before. I heard that the U of I has a very "University" feel, and it's true! I also wanted flexibility to change my major or college if I needed to. The U of I has all types of majors.

I decided to go to U of I because of it's central location (in Illinois), the fact that it's the premier public university in the state, and the good things I heard about it from friends, like that it has a big Asian community and has the nicest campus and best classes out of the state schools. Also I've always been an Illini fan. Go orange and blue!

Honestly, the best bang for my family's buck....and I got in!

Honestly, the best bang for my family's buck....and I got in!

The reputation for Illinois is uncanny. The large student body and reputation were why I chose Illinois.

My story isn't typical. U of I wasn't even on my list. During that stressful college application period, I selected a number of in-state, out-of-state and safety net schools with my first choice being University of Missouri- Mizzou. I adored their journalism program and was thrilled when I got in! However, my father left around the time I was accepted, and this threw family finances for a loop to say the least. My safety net was Western Illinois University, it wasn't too long after I went to register there that I received a notification from U of I: "congratulations, you can be an Illini if you so choose." I was confused, did I even apply there? Yes, I did, but I completely forgot given the circumstances I was under. So seeing as this was a better school academically and wasn't too much more expensive than Western, I changed my mind and headed down to Champaign the very next week. Now that I'm here, I realize it was the best decision I could make. The J-program here is outstanding, the professors take time to listen to students and the relationships I've built with community leaders goes beyond what I could hope for. The huge amount of student organizations here meant numerous opportunities for leadership development, and that's something you have to take advantage of at the U of I. Besides all that, my favorite color has always been orange, so it seemed to fit perfectly.

I knew going into the application process I wanted to major in something related to business. I applied to Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas, and Illinois. I got into all of the business schools at the respective colleges except Wisconsin, which doesn't have direct admission. Each of the business schools are top in the country. When it came down to it, I was deciding between Texas and Illinois. I grew up with Illinois. My grandfather, dad, brother, and uncles all went there, so I grew up visiting and cheering for Illinois in sporting events. Besides the familiarity I had with Illinois, the university had something Texas didn't. Top employers love students coming out of the Illinois business school. I wanted to set myself up for future success, so I chose Illinois.

I knew going into the application process I wanted to major in something related to business. I applied to Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas, and Illinois. I got into all of the business schools at the respective colleges except Wisconsin, which doesn't have direct admission. Each of the business schools are top in the country. When it came down to it, I was deciding between Texas and Illinois. I grew up with Illinois. My grandfather, dad, brother, and uncles all went there, so I grew up visiting and cheering for Illinois in sporting events. Besides the familiarity I had with Illinois, the university had something Texas didn't. Top employers love students coming out of the Illinois business school. I wanted to set myself up for future success, so I chose Illinois.

The value, the prestige, the people, the professors, the research, the opportunities, the internships, and the list goes on. The tuition is manageable if you live in the state of Illinois, and I promise you this will be the best 4 or 5 years of your life. There are so many people that I met that it went way above and beyond my expectations. Every night there is someone to go out with, talk to, study with, or just have dinner with. People are very nice and social!

I choos attend the U of I for several reasons: 1. Close to my hometown, Chicago, Illinois. 2. Very Diverse 3. U of I is one of the top universities in the state of Illinois. 4. Alumni network and distinguished professors.

If I'm perfectly honest, I chose the University of Illinois because it was the most economic choice. It was close to home and at that nice in-state tuition rate, plus I got a good scholarship. At first, I wanted to go someplace far away. I knew I wanted to study food science, so I was looking at schools like Cornell and UC-Davis, but I knew that Illinois had a great program as well. Then I started thinking about things more rationally. I was passing up the chance to go to a great school only 30 minutes from my home in the name of some misguided idea about "distancing myself" or "moving on." In the end, I actually only applied to Purdue and Illinois, got into both, and decided without hesitation to accept my offer here. After all, I had visited campus, met with my future advisor, talked to a current student, been to 2 summer camps (one food science) where I got to live in the residence halls, and basically been completely immersed in U of I life while still in high school. I loved it then, and I still love it now. I don't regret my decision for a minute! And if I still want to go far away to college, there is always grad school ;) Basically, what I'm saying to all of you is: go with your gut, but don't forget to think about the practical things. Money is a consideration, but it is not the whole story. Same with academics, or social life, or size, or whatever it is you're putting so much weight on in your college decision. They are ALL important, but it is most important to visit a school and ask yourself, "Does this feel right to me?" That's how you decide, and all the rankings or prestige in the world can't make up for a loss in personal connection.

I decided to go to this school because it was just close enough to keep contact with home but far enough away to have all the freedom of moving out of the house. Also, a degree from UIUC can get you very far in the job finding process, and I love to say that I'm actually having fun getting an education.

Honestly, I first started considering University of Illinois because I was a huge fan of the basketball team growing up and I wanted a chance to be a part of the Orange Krush. As I started looking at schools more seriously, I realized U of I had much more to offer. For starters, U of I is very cost-friendly, especially for in-state students. It's hard to find this great of an education for a lower price. Also, since it is a state school, it is easier to get financial assistance. I was also impressed with how highly ranked U of I was in many categories. I knew if I went to the University of Illinois, I would be getting the best there is to offer both in terms of professors and resources. I also know that my education at U of I will be attractive to future employers and the connections I build here will help me in the future.

I have to constantly be meeting new people, and with a school as big as Illinois, that was an awesome pro for me! I wanted to go to a school that was academically challenging and would always have another opportunity for me to take and Illinois fit the bill. You can never be bored here, you can always meet someone else, grow in your leadership and know that you have an awesome foundation of education and preparation for the workforce...and that is why I chose Illinois

I decided to go to UofI for its academic reputation and because tuition was cheaper there than the other schools I applied to. These are pretty practical reasons but UofI is a really academically strong university and I figured I'd get the best education for the best price.

As a high school senior all I wanted was to get away from everyone in my hometown, a suburb of Chicago. I began visiting colleges with the hope of branching out and trying something new. However, after visiting a few out-of-state schools I quickly realized how uncomfortable I felt there. My visit to the University of Illinois was much more relaxing. I knew if I came here I would fit in. Four years later I know I was right. There are so many different organizations and groups of friends who I fit in with on campus that I can't imagine going anywhere else. Another reason why I felt so comfortable at the University of Illinois is because I am Jewish and from a very Jewish area. I knew the Jewish population here was substantial and wanted my college friends to understand my religion and anyone I dated in college to be of the same religion. The tolerance of my religion and other religions on this campus was definitely an important factor in my decision to attend this University.

As a high school senior all I wanted was to get away from everyone in my hometown, a suburb of Chicago. I began visiting colleges with the hope of branching out and trying something new. However, after visiting a few out-of-state schools I quickly realized how uncomfortable I felt there. My visit to the University of Illinois was much more relaxing. I knew if I came here I would fit in. Four years later I know I was right. There are so many different organizations and groups of friends who I fit in with on campus that I can't imagine going anywhere else. Another reason why I felt so comfortable at the University of Illinois is because I am Jewish and from a very Jewish area. I knew the Jewish population here was substantial and wanted my friends to understand my religion and anyone I dated to be of the same religion. The tolerance of my religion and other religions on this campus was definitely an important factor in my decision to attend this University.

As a senior in high school, I had no idea where I wanted to go or what I wanted to study. I visited most of the schools I applied to, but I never really got that "feeling" that everyone says they get. I didn't know where I was supposed to be. I honestly chose Illinois because it's a great school and it wasn't too far from home, but if I could do it all over again, I would still have chosen Illinois. I visited Illinois right before I accepted my offer of admission, and I wish I had gone sooner. It's such a beautiful and lively place, people are always out, and there's always something to do. My favorite part of campus back then and now is the quad--it's a buzzing yet tranquil place and a central part of what goes on here. It felt comfortable to me. You will spend the next 4 years of your life at college, so it's important to feel comfortable on the campus you choose. This is why it's so important to visit the campuses you're debating between so that you can get a good idea of how it will feel for you to go to class, live in your dorm, and make friends. If you're interested in Illinois, I highly suggest that you register for a visit very soon by visiting http://admissions.illinois.edu/visit/index.html.