University of Illinois

The University of Illinois was a wonderful place years ago when the tuition was low and it was all many of us could afford.
Unfortunately they did not maintain high standards. Now the great professors are retiring. The last ten years have been a nightmare of mismanagement.
Perhaps the University will be turned around by the new President.
But for now, there are many great universities to attend in the US. Some neighboring states offer in state tuition to Illinois residents.
If you want to party hardy, Illinois is the place to go. If you want a good education that leads to professional success, many of the programs should be avoided. Steer clear of the College of Media entirely. Some programs are excellent: engineering, Library Science, and others which can be researched. But some should be avoided completely.

The review is for their catering department serviced out of the I-​Hotel. Sunju was our event planner and did a fantastic job. We were in charge of the rehearsal dinner, but lived in the OC California. We’ve seen pricing and quality at a lot of events in our area, and the UofI catering did an outstanding job. One bridesmaid commented, this is the best rehearsal dinner I’ve been to (and I’ve been to a lot, 8 so far!). We did appetizers and buffet style entrée and the portions were generous. Although we priced out drinks per guest, they only charged us for drinks served. Catering staff were immediately available at all times. Great job Sunju and team!

I’m writing this review as a UIUC graduate. I attended 2008 – 2012 and I received an undergraduate degree in biology.
Positives:
–The campus is really beautiful and generally visually appealing. The architecture is fantastic. As you walk around campus, it feels quintessential. It’s especially college-​looking in the fall. (You know, like all the brochures that get sent out.)
–You are only required to live on campus freshmen year. This means I lived in an apartment off campus for three of my four years. It’s much cheaper than on-​campus housing with a meal plan.
–You’ll meet some of your best friends for life here. It’s the Midwest. People are friendly. If you’re from Illinois, I can guarantee that a chunk of your high school graduating class will end up here. When you meet someone, chances are you have some mutual friends or other connections. It’s a small world for such a big school.
–We host some pretty epic events here. Like Unofficial. I don’t think I need to say anything more about that.
–Your education is whatever you make of it. Some people go to every class, sit in the front row, study like crazy, revise papers, see professors during office hours, do undergrad research, etc. Other people slide by and only go to class when there’s an exam. It is possible to get an A in a class you have never attended (obviously, it’s only true of certain classes in certain disciplines).
–We’re a big school, so we get a lot more resources than smaller schools.
–If you stay in IL after graduating, there are a lot of networking opportunities. Chicago is filled with U of I grads and many of them are keen on hiring other alumni.
–There are tons of clubs, intramurals, and other student-​led organizations to keep you busy here if you’re so inclined.
Negatives:
–This school is expensive. I graduated almost three years ago and I’m still swimming in debt. A lot of people have the impression that you’ll save money by choosing to go to a public state school. It’s really sobering to see the kind of debt I have even as an in-​state student. If I had known this my senior year in high school, I would have done two years at community college and transferred instead to save money.
–Greek life can somewhat overwhelm the social scene at times. To give you an idea, I was labeled as «unaffiliated» or as a «GDI» for not choosing to join a frat. If you want to go Greek, though, this would probably go as a positive.
–Urbana/​Champaign has nothing going for it except for the university. Everything in the area caters to college students. There are perks to this, but sometimes you just want to be near a city to go out and DO things. No wonder drinking is so big here. Sometimes there isn’t much else to do.
–A lot of lab/​research opportunities are for graduate students only.

A beautiful campus with the main quad (preferably viewed on during a May sunset) as the crown jewel. Best know for its top ranked EE/​CS and other engineering departments but it also has a truly amazing school Of animal sciences/​agricultural engineering. It may not be near a big city but, after all, it has its own downtown!

Pros: Great community, good eats, beautiful campus, great transportation, good financial aid system.
Cons: Academically poor, disappointing faculty in the MSW and MEng programs, LOTS of partying that gets out of hand and dangerous, uncaring about the student, racially charged environment.

Maybe my review is a little different than the reviews you have read about UIUC. You see, I was a student there from 1962 to 1966. I graduated when dinosaurs roamed the quadrangle and women had to be in their dorms tucked in by 10:30 pm on weekdays and 1 am on weekends.
When I was at UIUC (and this is NOT a misprint), one semester’s in-​state tuition and fees were $ 135/​semester. It only cost about $ 1000 – 1200 per YEAR if you lived and ate in a university residence hall.
And I remember some of the mouth watering meals they served like SOS (no, not the scouring pads), Salisbury steak with gook on it, many variations of mystery meat, turkey tetrazzini, and so on.
Four semesters of ROTC and Physical Education were mandatory, wasting six hours’ perfectly good time every week — a time better spent sleeping, fooling around, drinking beer, or pursuing other intellectual interests.
The university was less selective in admissions at that time. It would take almost all high school graduates who scored in the top half of their classes, and would take a few from the third quartile too. Of course, then as now, they hired semi-​literates to stock the football and basketball teams. The Daily Illini’s Roger Ebert frequently wrote sarcastic articles about Dick Butkus, painting him as somebody who had no business taking up space there.
In reality, the students who were not in about the top quartile of their high school teams usually left the university by the end of their first year — so UIUC did graduate top-​ranked students as they do today. Indeed I had a roommate who flunked out in his senior year.
I will tell you that UIUC had exceedingly high standards, and I did receive a rigorous and challenging education, which qualified me for admission to another Big Ten university’s graduate school — and a subsequent career in engineering and eventually middle management in marketing. Yes, marketing.
Things do not change over time. Freshmen got drunk at Kam’s and puked all over the sidewalk. Self-​styled activists would try to save the world from all of its injustices — especially if a TV camera were focused on them, guys belched and farted, the passenger trains to/​from Chicago were late, and a major objective of almost all students was to get laid.
All kidding aside, I am very proud of my experience and education at the U of I; and I will always be fond and grateful for my four years there.

Good academically according to Princeton Review. Expensive. Taking a course online where the professor is loathe to contact students. I am in the process of dropping. I loved NIU… but the experience here made me love NIU more.

Getting right to the point …
Pros: academically excellent, should be considered a Public Ivy, competitiveness brings out the best in you, once you scrape past the Greeks there are some intelligent individualistic students, a beautiful Quad, the Student Union, nice «down home» townies, students from rural towns /​St Louis metro /​Indy metro /​out of state /​out of the country are cool, cheap living, and lots of good eats on Green Street … and actually all around «Chambana.»
Cons: middle of nowhere, oppressive location, too far from a major city for road tripping and being able to manage a heavy academic workload, obnoxious Greeks, crappy weather most of the academic year (but the few weeks of peak color are beautiful), many North Shore students, Chicago meat heads, alcohol and sleazy places to drink it are many people’s «raison d’etre,» and occasional faculty members with their heads so far up their tenured asses that they aren’t interested in teaching or making themselves accessible
I am writing this review for the benefit of potential undergraduates from a distant out of state location and potential grad students as well. For the undergrads, one review voiced that if you fall outside of traditional college demographics, this is NOT a fun place to go to school. I could easily see that. For graduate students, it isn’t as diverse as one might expect of such a highly reputed school. The actual diversity is there, but the factions don’t mix. There is a very state-​centric attitude and if you don’t come from Chicagoland and don’t plan to settle in Chicagoland upon finishing, «those people,» the bulk of U of I, can be dismissive. Similarly, the alumni links are more «tailgate worthy» than they are for networking.
Bottom line: U of I can be enticing for its top of the heap rankings in engineering and accounting, among other fields, but it’s not like all the available slots in those fields are only reserved for U of I grads. If you are from Illinois and know «the lay of the land» then, sure, take advantage of this bargain in public education, relatively speaking. However, I’m sure you can find another great public university that has a better overall slate of positive qualities such that you can pass on U of I if from out of the region.

Ignore the haters.
I loved this school from the minute I stepped onto the campus for my college visit. It was the only college I applied to, and I miss my undergrad years there immensely. It was a time of great growth and experience, and it really is what you make of it. If you apply yourself and make an effort to reach out, have new experiences, and make new friends, you’re going to have a great time.
Join a student organization, or better yet, start one. Find some ethnic cuisine you’ve never tried before. Skip the campus bars every now and then and try out downtown Champaign. Pull an all-​nighter in the UGL. Go to your professor’s office hours for a change. Pick up some B movies at That’s Rentertainment. Play intramural sports. Get a job at a dorm dining hall and make lifelong friends. Watch some kids play Dance Dance Revolution extremely well in the Illini Union. Read a book of poems on the Quad.
I’m not a frat bro. Nothing like one. And, though Illinois has more than its fair share of them, you definitely don’t have to go Greek to love UIUC.

I never really considered writing a Unilocal review for UIUC, but after seeing some of the ludicrous negative reviews, I’d like to voice my opinion.
Most importantly, for those individuals who may be considering the University for their higher education needs, know that it is an excellent place of learning, especially for engineering and the sciences.
I don’t think it’s fair or accurate to claim that there is nothing to do in Champaign or that it is devoid of the cultural richness of cities like Chicago. If you asked many of my college friends, they may take the position that the best thing about the C U is the drinking, but I would contend that people who take that position have never left campus or spent time trying to find something to do with their time. There are lots of things to do and places to spend time that don’t involve drunk undergrads. And, you’ll get a quality education at a good price (even though tuition keeps going up).

I bleed orange and blue and there is nowhere on earth that I adore more than the University of Illinois. Nowhere.
We have had season football tickets for six years now and today was the first one we were able to attend this season. It was fabulous to be back on campus where the students never really age and something fun just always seems to be happening.
I had a great time here, majored in Spanish and minored in French. I retired from full time teaching two years ago after teaching Spanish and French for 35 years. I supported myself and my family all because of my degree from here. I got to spend my Junior year in Spain and met women who are in my daily life to this day. When I applied to colleges this was the only state school for which I applied. I figured, if you can’t go to the best, why go at all?
I grew up on this U of I line of thinking, my father also graduated from here. Then I did and then my younger sister did. I, in turn, indoctrinated my children and my oldest daughter graduated from here 9 years ago and my youngest 2 years ago. For us, there aren’t any other colleges.
They are updating the dorms, the quad is still magical and one of these days, the football team will play up to its potential. But I don’t care, even when they lose, I just love the U of I.
I L L
I N I

Need a permit or a document? Go to office A. Office A tells you to go to office B. Office B tells you to go to Office A. Email Director of Office A and Office B and tell them to get their act together.
Seriously, though. I sometimes feel like I’m in the movie Brazil —
— when I’m on campus. Since it’s a state institution, it’s inherent that there are multiple layers of bureaucracy. But the U of I takes it to the extreme, and will often make your four years on campus feel like a bad trip to the DMV. I feel like some of the bureaucrats on campus don’t have enough to do, and make up stupid rules and policies to give themselves something to do.
I’ve enjoyed much of my experience on campus– especially the opportunities to interact with Professors in small group settings. If you want to succeed on this campus, you need to know how to fight for yourself. After you finish registration your freshman year, you won’t have anyone advocating for you.

As a senior, I now feel it is appropriate to compose a brief summary of my soon to be alma mater. I really don’t know where to start, so I’ll begin with reviewing U of I’s pretentious academia. Sure you get a great education here if you can get in by merit, but it is increasingly angering to hear stories of minorities with 16s on their ACTs getting accepted. Yes, you heard that right. 16. Sixteen. One six. The middle fifty percent of students at the U of I typically score between 25 and 30, depending on the college and program of choice. I’m definitely a proponent of getting into college based on merit, especially one that is apparently one of the top ten public universities in the United States. But stories like these put a bad taste in my mouth and wonder where the university’s true intentions lie.
However, overall I enjoyed my small program nestled inside the tiny college of ACES. Majoring in human development and family studies provided me with a well-​rounded education (sans pointless gen-​eds) and I feel prepared to extend my education next year when I attend Loyola University in Chicago to obtain my MSW. Maybe because my program is so small, it was easier for me to feel more comfortable in my classes. There are plenty of quirks in the academic department though, as I have heard countless stories of the deans not helping students when they need it most. The deans, especially in the college of ACES, appear unwilling to negotiate or understand students’ concerns, especially when it comes to registration, which is always a hassle. Because of this, I am positive that U of I’s motives are to get the most money out of each and every student. If I knew this earlier, perhaps I would have given more merit to smaller universities with half the tuition.
Socially, this place is a mess. I’m by no means a pretentious snob, but I have never stepped foot in a bar while attending U of I. I have never had a sip of alcohol either. And because of U of I’s horrendous party school reputation, there is virtually nothing to do on campus for those who choose to partake in an alternative lifestyle. Once upon a time, I heard that the university used to sponsor movies shown in Foellinger on the weekends. The rec room in the basement of the Illini Union is a perk though as they offer affordable bowling and billiards, and is a great option if you want to see some international Asian students. One more thing– U of I prides itself on «Unofficial», a senseless «celebration» of St. Patrick’s day which glorifies the misuse and abuse of alcohol. And although the president of the university says otherwise and talks in circles about refusing to condone this event, I have seen no improvements in maintaining public safety throughout my four years here.
As for the dorms, I am proud to say that I survived my two year sentence locked up in university housing. I spent my freshman year at FAR (Trelease Hall) and my sophomore year at ISR (Wardall Hall). If you enjoy a condescending attitude and inattentive and unresponsive residence hall staff, especially when a roommate issue arises, university housing is the place for you! I can’t believe I wasted ten grand a year on the two worst years I experienced at this school. Apartment life was much better as a whole and the university is home to some great realtors who actually take care of you. I highly recommend Roland Realty.
Other than that, there are some aspects I will miss. I will miss the squirrels on the quad, the squirrels north of the union, and the squirrels that will jump up on you anticipating receiving some bread. They are that friendly.

I am so proud to call this place my Alma Mater. I spent 4 wonderful years there and even if I am currently in a career that had absolutely nothing to do with my major (i’m a techie and BA was in Sociology), I would not trade my degree and my experience there for the world.
I do sigh from time to time when I remember walking across the quad to get to my classes. I was in awe at how beautiful the old buildings were.
Like others, I could write on and on about how great this school is. The academics were top notch, the people where all so open-minded.and of course of the THE largest Greek systems in the nation did not disappoint this grad.

One of the best research institutions in the world with many high ranking programs.

Disclaimer: This review is biased by extreme nostalgia.
Illinois is a stellar university, with top-​ranked programs in engineering, chemistry, accountancy, and physics. Despite its high scholarship, the campus, overall, has a refreshingly unassuming tone. No pretension here.
The student body at this public university is massive, and as such you’ll find a range of kids. At the time of this writing, the running count of registered student organizations (RSOs) topped 800! The Urbana-​Champaign Hip Hop Congress may be one of my favorites. Each year they put on Hip Hop Awareness Week, which introduces the campus to the origins and history of the hip hop movement.
It would be difficult to capture the world that is Illinois in a Unilocal review. But if you’re ever in town during the semester, spend some time in the Illini (Student) Union to get an idea of what this place is all about.

As a U of I grad, I can’t stress enough the amazing experiences I have had from Illinois. From social, academic, and personal points of view, my time at Illinois has influenced every aspect of my being. From a social standpoint, the school has over 40,000 students and one of the biggest Greek communities in the nation. The study abroad program is amazing and provides the opportunity to see the world and get your education. I was lucky enough to study abroad in Spain and travel over Europe while I was there.
From an academic standpoint the quality of education you get for the money is well worth it, and probably one of the cheaper colleges in Illinois unless you are going to a community college. When I attended the university, my tuition was about $ 8000 a semester which included tuition plus room and board. Off the top of my head, Illinois has some of the best agriculture, engineering, and veterinary programs in the country. The school offers a variety of classes to produce well rounded and worldly graduates. There are resources to help with interviewing skills, resumes, and job connection.
The athletics at U of I is also something to get excited about and have pride in. While I went there the basketball team went to the national championship and after I left the football team went to the rose bowl. There is nothing like supporting your school and bleeding orange and blue.
On a personal note, I lived in both the dorms and in an apartment, two experiences I would suggest for anyone. Though I never joined a sorority, my now husband was in a fraternity and had the time of his life. The towns are small but more industry is slowly creeping its way down to Champaign/​Urbana. The main drag at U of I is Green Street and all the bars and shops near school with the cheap prices made my time at U of I one of the best times in my life. If I could go back in time to relive it all, I would! It is the quintessential college experience!

As an electrical engineering graduate, I’ve been in full agreement with the reviews; our program, and engineering college as a whole is stellar. The professors are amazing, student body motivated, and the programs are very well funded.
But of course, nothing’s perfect, and I have a few qualms with the engineering programs (elitist to an annoying degree), the overall university administration (some corruption, some nepotism, too much red tape!), parts of the student body (way too segregated, by class, race, interest group), but as a whole, it was a very fulfilling experience, and I’m glad for what it taught me. Perhaps more importantly, it did prepare me for the world that came after.
It’s a great school; there might not be too much to do around town, but I’ve found that it brings people closer together, and I’ve never complained about that. I miss U of I, and the people I loved a great deal, and will continue to rep it’s name out in Seattle!

Great school for engineering, certainly strong in electrical engineering and food science/​chemical engineering.
Campus is very spread out. If you don’t drive around (few do due to the lack of parking, surprisingly), you usually will jog from point to point or rollerblade, bike or try to keep classes close together. Like most of the Midwest schools, there’s plenty of grass and few trees… but that’s okay, you don’t expect anything other than fields of corn when you come to Illinois, right? Not forests.
Students and staff are generally friendly to visitors, but few people like the very cold, very snowy/​icy winters.
*edit: As I was asked: I was only a visitor here, not a student.

For my 600^th review, it seemed appropriate to write about the place that brought me to the scenic wonderland of the Midwest, The University of Illinois here in delightful Urbana-​Champaign.
For a Southern California pseudo-​hipster and person of color raised in Los Angeles and educated in San Diego, the U of I is a bit of a disorienting shock. It’s gigantic, yet full of personality and character. It’s also on some levels every stock stereotype about the ‘college experience’, from the pretentious architecture (that screams «we look like an East Coast college!!! Bricks! Yay!!!») to the terrifying/​amazing/​astounding/​bizarrely huge percentage of students involved in a Greek life that resembles in almost creepy detail the stereotypical movie depictions of said groups, to the absolute obsession Illini sports engenders.
I love a lot of it, with the fantastic resources, first class scholarship and immense potential. I turned down Stanford and a few other ‘name’ schools as I was amazed and remain constantly impressed by their history doctoral program, and I’m thankful to be here for the education. However, the location is a bit remote (although sometimes corn can be charming, I swear!), and there are some considerable issues here at U of I that have to be mentioned.
While the U of I is definitely a brilliant academic institution and a great place for meaningful exchanges of ideas, diversity is weak here, and cultural understanding/​communication is particularly weak. The issues surrounding the infamous mascot linger on years after its supposed resolution, and to be a person of color in central Illinois is occasionally a difficult and daunting prospect indeed. I’ve been called the ‘n’ word already, and it’s a hard place to process when there are screaming groups of students that have been known to have ‘tacos and tequila’ parties and still openly ask for the return of a racial caricature as a mascot. It’s daunting, but not insurmountable.
Most of the students I’ve met here are friendly, engaging, and generally cheerful. They mean well, although it is *hard* to sometimes deal with racism either explicit or less intentional, honestly, and incidences like this year’s vandalism of the Native American art exhibit outside the culture houses are emblematic of that.
That said, the school’s trying. The people of color are vibrant that are here, there is a good community, and it’s growing. I’m thankful for that. There’s a strong organizing tradition here. People *care* about things, and it’s nice to see.
A year after accepting their decision to come here, I don’t regret it one bit, but Illinois is far from perfect or ideal. It’s a fantastic and wonderfully intellectually rigorous place, but it’s also a daily challenge, particularly for us people of color who often have to fight to make our own spaces. But I love it enough here to keep trying, and I certainly won’t stop any time soon.
Besides, I’ve got at least another four years to go ’til I get to be Dr. Teej.