Grace is a 2023 UIUC graduate with degrees in East Asian studies and political science. Although her undergraduate journey ended with a blue cap and gown at Memorial Stadium, it actually began at a different school. Grace was a transfer student, and we sat down with her to hear all about the transfer experience. Why did you decide to transfer to UIUC? When I was looking to transfer, I was looking for a place I felt more at home, because [my old school] was just so small. There weren’t a lot of people or a lot of opportunities to get to know other people. [I was also looking for] a place where ..read more

We know money is a big concern when applying to college. You have to consider the cost of each institution you’re interested in attending, fill out applications for financial aid, and try to find a way to begin setting aside money for life during college. We get that this process isn’t easy, and we want to put the best possible resources in your hands so you can make your way through it with as little pain as possible. With that, we’re here to give you a brief introduction to an extremely helpful tool: net price calculators (also sometimes called financial aid calculators). What is a net price ..read more

If you’ve made it here, chances are you’ve reached one of the more daunting parts of college applications: the written questions. There are two ways you can apply to UIUC: the Common App and UIUC’s own application, myIllini. In this blog, we’ll instead focus on something they both have in common: the major-specific questions. As part of your application, you’ll have to respond to two to three major-specific prompts about why you picked your intended major(s), each with a word limit of 150. Sound difficult? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Disclaimer: Does something seem funny about the “maj ..read more

Ah, success. Something you’ve probably heard about before, and something everybody talks about. Maybe the idea of it motivates you. Maybe you already have a goal you’re working towards. Or maybe trying to figure out what exactly it looks like and how to achieve it stresses you out. Here’s the thing about success: There’s no universal definition. How you measure it depends on your personal goals, values, and priorities. With endless possibilities, we’re here to share just some of the ways success can come from a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experience. Let’s go! Current Student Succe ..read more

“Reputation” is a word with many layers; while not quite the mouthful that the “University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign” is, it carries a similar feeling of importance, a sense of permanence, and maybe even a tinge of gravity. It conveys a history, a background, or even predictions about the future.  But here’s the thing about reputation: it’s a constant process. You don’t acquire a reputation by being stagnant and unremarkable over time, nor do you maintain a reputation by resisting change once you feel you’ve done enough – and UIUC is no different! We are always adapting to new eras to ..read more

Making the jump from high school to college can be a difficult transition. While you’re figuring out where to find your classes, how to work the laundry system, and how to live on your own for maybe the first time ever, we want to make sure you have the resources you need to be successful.  As a student, you have access to many different support resources at UIUC, all of which are here to help you live your best college life. And, lucky for you, we’ve put them all in one place—right here! Academic Resources Office of Minority Student Affairs The Office of Minority Student Affairs offers t ..read more

Higher education plays a huge part in our world today, but is college worth it? It depends. Here are some things to consider as you decide if going to college is a good plan for you. What can college do for you? Professional Value of a Degree A college degree has always been a resume-booster, and it has now become an expectation for many in the professional world. Some career paths are very hard to pursue without a college degree. If you know your dream job requires this kind of degree, that would be a strong pull toward going to college. While evaluating your career goals, make sure to consid ..read more

Going to college as an introverted person can be scary, especially when the college stories you hear are all about how your older brother made his best friends for life and your third cousin met all 15 of her future bridesmaids her first week on campus. If you’re curious about where you might fall on the intro- or extroversion scale, try this easy quiz to find out. However, no matter which type of ‘vert you are, if you’re someone who values time alone or has never found it easy to meet new people, you may be feeling anxious about how you’ll get involved on campus. Here’s the thing: Being “invo ..read more

Whether you’re an avid purveyor of all that Urbana-Champaign has to offer or an eager new arrival looking to ensure you get the most out of your time at the university, we’ve got plenty of options for you. Check out the following list for our best suggestions on things to do before you graduate UIUC! Join a registered student organization. Take a photo with Alma Mater (it’s tradition to do so both on your very first day of class and graduation day!). Feed a squirrel. Take a class in Foellinger Auditorium. Visit the Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Go to Quad Day. Introduce yourself to someo ..read more

If you’ve read our last engineering blog post, you already know that there are all kinds of engineering majors. But here’s the thing: We haven’t covered them all yet. That’s right—you have even more engineering opportunities! In this post, we’re going to compare and contrast a few of the more mechanically minded engineering options. Specifically, we’re going to dive into mechanical engineering, engineering mechanics, aerospace engineering, and systems engineering and design. What will you study in these majors? What kinds of careers do they lead to? Which one is right for you? Read on to find ..read more