5 October 2017
Choosing a college to attend is a very important decision that will shape the rest of a student’s life. There are many things I had to consider while deciding where the best place would be to spend my next four years. As I visited the different universities I thought about which college campus felt the most comfortable, where I would be the most successful with my major, and what the student life is like there. When I visited the University of Illinois, there was no doubt in my mind that that was where I wanted to be. The campus is stunning all year round and has so much to offer each student. Anyone can find a major or club that fits their unique interests since there are so many to choose from. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a one of a kind school for its incredible campus, academics, and the many different student organizations offered.
The campus at the University of Illinois is located in both cities, Urbana and Champaign, and is very large at 1,783 acres. There are 15 undergraduate residence halls to choose from and a couple of on-campus private housing options, including Bromley Hall. Each dorm has its benefits but I chose to stay in Bromley Hall for my freshman year because it felt the most like home during the tours. It offered your own private bathroom, housekeeping once a week, a fitness center, and a dining hall in the building. All of the dormitories are located on different parts of campus so students could choose which location is the most convenient for them based on what college they were accepted into. There are many different colleges to choose from and the buildings for each college are nearby each other so it isn’t at all difficult to get from one class to the other. A lot of the undergraduate courses are located in the quad so it would be pretty hard for freshman to get lost while finding their classes. Since the campus is reasonably big, there are buses running all day that come to every stop within 10 minutes so it is easy to get one place to another on time. In the center of everything is Green Street which has a wide array of restaurants and clothing stores to go to. The University of Illinois campus offers everything a student needs and more but is also successful in providing the best academics possible.
The University of Illinois website states that they have 16 colleges that provide over 150 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. Many of these are ranked among the best programs in the United States and give students a chance to study whatever their interests may be. If someone wasn’t exactly sure of what they wanted to study right away, there are countless options so a decision can be made without worrying if the major is offered or not. The university also does an incredible job with guiding their students to success by providing them with a massive library system. It is the second largest university library in the country just following Harvard University. The school not only has extraordinary academics but it also offers a wide variety of activities, including competitive athletics.
The University of Illinois is a Big Ten school which means their sports teams compete with all of the other 13 Big Ten schools in the country. The sports teams are known as Fighting Illini with 10 men’s varsity sports and 11 women’s varsity sports as shown on the Fighting Illini website. It also states that “the alumni include several Olympians, Paralympians, and other professional athletes.” There are also club sports for students who view it more of a hobby than a profession. Every year, after move-in week, people from all clubs go to the Quad to showcase themselves. This is a huge event at the university and it gives new students a glimpse of everything the clubs have to offer. There are over 1,400 clubs so everyone can find a student organization that they’re passionate about. Although athletics and clubs are a huge part of being a student at the University of Illinois, Greek life is also very prominent with 59 fraternities and 39 sororities on campus. Almost 8,000 students are a part of Greek society which means around a quarter of students are participating. I joined Alpha Chi Omega my freshman year of college and I can honestly say that all of my best memories from that year were with my sisters. There are many opportunities for philanthropy and leadership development which can be very rewarding. Most students love being involved with the community whether it be in athletics, clubs, or Greek life. These extracurricular activities allow students to have a well-rounded, immersive college experience.
While I have enjoyed my time here at College of DuPage, I am excited to get back to University of Illinois. There is so much to do there and it is impossible to feel anything less than happy while walking through the campus. Students who attend are able to make great connections and friendships that last a lifetime. The incredible campus, wide array of academics, and variety of clubs and activities makes University of Illinois a great pick for any student.