For most students, whether you’re on campus or at home this year, the majority of classes are online. The same goes for RSOs, clubs, events, and other activities, so if you’re freshman this year, like me, or...
Category - Campus Life
College is more than a degree. It’s your life for 4 years, and a lot can happen in that time! That’s why our students so often talk about their everyday lives. We hope you enjoy their stories, both big and small.
Importance of Self-Care
When most of our classes are online and our social interactions are limited, it is easy to fall into the trap of wanting to stay in our pajamas all day, go to class in bed, and finding yourself desiring to turn on...
What I Looked For on a Campus Tour
It can be hard to make an informed decision about where to grow, learn, and study. The process can be exhausting, as there are various factors to explore when visiting universities to make an informed decision...
Mental Health and Quarantine
Quarantine and self-isolation is definitely hard. You’re stuck in your room, with nothing to do but go on your laptop or watch TV. Don’t get me wrong – binge watching Netflix shows is a great way to...
Staying Active on Campus During COVID-19
As our world was turned upside down nearly six months ago, exercise was something that seemed inconceivable. In light of these events, I would need to establish a new routine. With governors declaring stay-at home...
Handling the Constant Change of COVID-19
We’re living in a world right now where something changes every hour, quite literally. There are more unknowns than there are knowns, and we are being challenged, as college students, to somehow navigate these rocky...
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...
Safely Connecting With Friends This Semester
With the start of the fall semester, it’s understandable that a lot of college students returning to campus are excited for a change of scenery and seeing their friends. However, with COVID-19 policies still in...
The Secrets of Presby Hall
March 13th, 2020 Today is the day I returned home from college, the day I realized my freshman year had been severed. Today is the day I returned home from college, the day I yearned would never arrive. Today is the day...
Becoming a Student-Manager
When speaking to prospective students about the university, they will often ask what the best part my Illinois college experience has been. For me, the most rewarding and exciting aspect of attending UIUC has been...
Early Bird Gets the Worm
August 20th, 2019 Today is the day I moved to college, the day I started a new chapter of my life. Today is the day I moved to college, the day I left my hometown for a fresh start. Today is the day I grew up a bit...
Move-In Day Survival Guide
The day you have been counting down towards for eighteen years is finally here: Move-In Day. Whether it is into a University-owned Residence Hall or a Private-Certified Residence Hall, today is filled with lots of...
Why Weston Hall is the Best Hall
Before starting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), I was most fearful about one thing: making friends. While this fear is probably the most common among new students, living in Weston’s Living...
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...
What I Loved About Living In An All-Girls Dorm
During my freshman and sophomore years, I lived in Busey-Evans Residence Hall with my still-current roommate. We decided on Busey (one side of the residence hall) on kind of a whim. If I’m being honest, I didn’t...
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...
Don’t Forget to Live During College
College is an amazing time for so many students for a variety of reasons. The environment and structure of college often create an abundance of new experiences and opportunities all year long while also connecting...
Making a Dorm Feel Like Home
Anyone else have parents that never let them redecorate their room? I did! When I moved into campus housing, I had my first opportunity to decorate my room from the ground up. As a veteran reader of the Magnolia...
Creating College Playlists
Before arriving on campus as a freshman, I was thinking of methods that could help me remember my journey at the university. I thought of getting a box and putting items that represent small memories that I would be...
Welcome to My Book Club Part II
To follow up on a post from October, Welcome to My Book Club, I have two more exceptional books that every incoming freshman should read. These page turners will keep you captivated, keep you on your toes, and keep you...
