Why I Chose Illinois

Making decisions can be tough; making decisions that shape your future can be stressful. While this process may be overwhelming, remember that everything you ponder and feel is for a reason. Below are just a few of the many reasons I chose the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Initial Feeling

For me, touring the University of Illinois was love at first sight. It sounds cliché, but that initial feeling of comfort and delight was unparalleled to the emotions I felt on any other campus. 

My parents and I arrived on a Thursday night, exhausted from a long week of traveling to a couple smaller universities. Nose glued to the window, I was shocked to see how many people were walking around, playing soccer on the intramural fields, and sitting on the quad, despite it being a rainy night. 

The tour on Friday consisted of lots of walking. Despite it being a gloomy day, I remember it being quite lively; I was fascinated by everything around me; the campus life and history was charming. 

On the drive home, my parents and I compared the three different universities we had seen over the week. Amidst the conversation, my mom stated I was smiling the entire trip around the University of Illinois.

Location

While college is the place to grow up, being close to home is never a bad idea. After suddenly losing a loved one in high school, I worried that being far from home at any given moment could be troublesome.  Being from Chicagoland, the University is just under two and a half hours away from home, so I knew that I would have the comfort of traveling effortlessly to and from school if need be. 

B1G

Big Ten schools offer very spirited environments; during my visits, it seemed that virtually every student was wearing orange and blue. Furthermore, I wanted a school that had a diverse sports lineup in order to continue attending sports and supporting the school. Outside of campus life, a Big Ten University also offers a wider variety of degrees and programs than smaller colleges. The University of Illinois is no exception. With a bit of uncertainty regarding my career path, I knew that I would receive a solid education pursuing any major from the University of Illinois.

Gies

The Gies College of Business is a top-rated business school. It is also home to one of the best Accounting programs in the nation. Because of this, I knew that a business degree from Gies would provide me with unprecedented knowledge of the business world alongside an exceptional education. 

Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn

Class of 2023
I am studying in the Gies College of Business. Growing up in Naperville, Illinois, I feel that my transitions to and experiences on campus may be familiar to incoming students. Through my blogs, I hope to demonstrate my passions of business, Greek Life, and campus life to serve as a navigation tool to prospective students and incoming freshmen.

Add comment