Blog Posts

Hello Everyone, It is the beginning of the school year and high school seniors are not only thinking about which college they want to attend, they are thinking about college applications.  At the University of Illinois, we make the application process…

Well, It's that time again! It's the beginning of another school year and I couldn't be more excited. Every year is filled with a unique kind of excitement and anticipation that can only be caused by the start of something new. For me, this new beginning …

Each year, roughly 600 of our 1400+ registered student organizations (RSOs) gather on the Quad on the Sunday before classes start in order to recruit new members. As a student looking for a new organization (or five) to join, it can be a lot to take in. O…

Good evening, future Illini! As the school year kicks up into full swing, it's time for me to get back into blogging mode. I couldn't be more excited for this upcoming school year, and all of the advice I have to give you. [caption id="attachment_25…

Did you know that the University of Illinois offers several tour options outside of our general campus tours? While on campus, you can try additional or alternative tours such as the Krannert Tour, I-Dash Running Tours, Myths and Lore Tours, or the Engine…

Hi there! Another new school year is about to start. There is so much to plan for and think about as you are about to embark on a new adventure at a new institution. One question you may have is: How can I get involved on campus at Illinois? I want to …

Hello #FutureILLINI! I'm here to hopefully provide some useful tips for starting your college search. Whether you are a freshman or senior in high school, searching for the perfect college can be VERY overwhelming. There are literally thousands of college…

As Summer comes to a close and the bleakness of parting with the town that built you begins to settle, one can't help but realize how important 18 years is. 18 years of the same friends surrounding you, teachers developing you, and parents nagging you. 18…

Hello, family members! Are you ready for a busy application season of reminding your child about application deadlines, driving him or her to campus visits, and editing essays?! Have no fear! I will give you all the information you need so you can support…

Two of my favorite quotes in life are “The early bird gets the worm” and “The first to arrive has the best chance of success.” These sayings are very accurate, especially when it comes to the Illinois admissions process. Early Action is our pre…

I grew up in the Chicago land area and graduated from the University of Illinois.  Before I visited the campus, I thought it was very, very far away.  Words like downstate, overnight trip, and over 4 hours were commonplace.   I was wrong.  Champaign-…

Do you have questions about submitting your application to Illinois? Perfect! I’m here to address all of your concerns. Let’s start with the basics. How do I apply? There are two ways to apply to Illinois: myIllini and Coalition applications. my…

Let’s begin by talking a little bit about the types of financial aid that are available to you. There are generally four types of financial aid: scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. A scholarship is money that doesn’t require repayment. Whi…

As a previous Illinois student and beneficiary of the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS), I thought it would be helpful to tell all of you future students more about the program. FWS is a need-based program that provides opportunities for students to wor…

Greetings, everyone! Happy textbook season. As the school year quickly approaches, many of you might be wondering how the textbook process at Illinois works. When I was a freshman, I had no idea where to start looking. Professors don't always have their o…

Sports can sometimes get a bad rap. I get it, I really do. It’s an industry with oversized egos, bloated paychecks, and doesn’t necessarily provide the same kind of net societal benefit as say education or healthcare or, frankly, a lot of other things…

The summer between sophomore and junior year is really the first time when “things” (meaning a career of some sort) start to become more and more “real” (meaning I really thought I would have some semblance of an idea by now). Because of this, stu…

Uh-oh. It’s that time of year every high school senior dreads: application essay season. Hopefully, I can provide some helpful tips and tricks so you can hammer out your essays with ease. Now remember, the essay is only one factor of the review process.…

College is all about trying new things, right? There are the fads that various groups of college students sludge through, enjoying a few good ones but mostly tripping over themselves in these exploratory years, cringing as they look through the old photos…

According to Google, entrepreneurship is defined as “the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit." Many students who come to Illinois are interested in starting their own businesses, or becoming a…