Many considerations go into a college choice: Does this school have the major I want? Can I afford it? Do I like its location? What about size? Unfortunately, COVID-19 has added one more question to an already...
Author - Illinois Admissions
Search Not-Quite-Party: How to Navigate the COVID-19 Pandemic as a Future College Student
Life as we know it is fundamentally different from how it was last year. What’s happening right now is. not. normal. No matter what we say, all of you know that’s true, and to brush past what’s going on does a...
What’s College Life Really Like?
What a question! Ultimately, everyone you ask will probably give you a different answer. Our answer? “College life is what you make of it.” Hold up. That’s just another vague answer to a HUGE question, and not very...
Packing for Your Campus Experience
We know. Packing is already hard enough as it is when going on a short trip or week-long vacation, let alone heading off to college for nine months. Not only do you have to pack room essentials and added décor to...
Illini Advice: Living Away From Home
It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for: You finally get to live on your own! But on the inside, you’re secretly panicking, and questions are racing through your head. How do I choose which residence hall to live in...
5 Ways to Prepare for Illinois as an International Student
Making sure you’re ready for the college of your choice is always a challenge—especially when that college is in a different country! Today we’re giving you 5 things you can do right now to prepare for the University of...
How to Navigate Your College Decision During COVID-19
It might be hard to think about college when much of our country and others are on a stay-at-home order. Whether it’s because you aren’t able to visit all of the schools on your list or because your financial situation...
How to Help Your Child Choose a College: A Parent’s Guide to College Decisions
You’ve guided your child through so many of life’s turns. Now it looks like they’re heading toward the biggest one so far—deciding where to go to college. Should you race up to them and take the wheel? Should you close...
“I can’t decide. Help!” Here’s how to choose a college when you’re torn between offers.
You’ve filled out the applications, waited months to hear back, and now you’ve been admitted to all of your top-choice colleges. So which offer should you accept? Deciding which college to attend might be the biggest...
You’re Admitted, Now What? Preparing for College at Illinois
Was it all those volunteer hours you put in? Your sharp grades? That little horseshoe anecdote in your essay that made the admissions counselors LOL all the way home? You don’t know, but what you do know is...
10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Illinois
You want the quick answer? The first 8 are the letters I-L-L-I-N-O-I-S, and the other 2 are those squirrels playing tag around the southeast tree on the Quad. If you’re still not convinced, then by all means, read on...
Waiting on college decisions? Here’s why you shouldn’t stress.
You’ve spent months sending out transcripts, securing letters of recommendation, paying random fees, writing about who you are in 400 words or less, filling out personal information in annoying online forms, and...
Your Next Steps as an Admitted Illinois Transfer
Congratulations on your admission to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign! Being admitted as a Illinois transfer student is a huge accomplishment. Give yourself a round of applause, a pat on the back, or a...
5 Ways to Help Your Child Apply to College
Senior year is a stressful time for the vast majority of high school students. As your child prepares to dive full force into college application mode, you may wonder how to best support them throughout the process...
College Planning Checklist for Parents
It’s tough. Your kid—the one who still looks a lot like that middle schooler they were a few years ago—is going to be applying to college soon. If you’re wondering how in the world the two of you will make it to move-in...
How to Help Your Child Start the College Search
No matter how far along your child is in their high school experience, it’s not too soon (or too late!) to start thinking about college. Here’s why: Although the search process is complicated, it becomes...
How to Choose a College: 5 Ways to Narrow Your Search
You might be thinking, “There are a thousand schools I could go to. How in the world am I going to choose just one?” It’s tough! A lot of great colleges and universities across the globe excel in their...
What to Do During College Visits
Choosing a college is a huge decision, which is why schools offer college visits. A college visit is a way for students to take a small tour of a school they’re thinking of attending. With standardized tests...
How to Talk to Your Teenager About College
Talking to your child isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to talking about college. Here’s some advice to help you and your family better communicate throughout your child’s college search process. Start the...
4 Reasons Why You Should Schedule Your College Tour Early
When it comes to college, one size does not fit all. Why? Because everyone has a different vision of what the perfect college experience actually looks like. Before committing four years of your life to a particular...
