Illinois State University Top Questions

I visited and researched my university choice before applying and enrolling, so I felt I made an educated choice. However, I wish I was a lot more self-sufficient and independent before I arrived on campus. Being more educated on little things like like knowing how to do my laundry, plan my budget, research my major qualifications, look into job opportunities, how much ATM fees would cut into my budget, etc. would have made my transition much easier.

Before coming to this school, I wish that I would have known how much of a time committment homework and school work in general is once you get to college. In high school you are able to not study for tests, or your homework takes you 15 minutes. In college there are classes where your going to need to study for hours for a test or do homework for hours. I wish I knew htat before coming to school, so I could of prepared myself for what was ahead of me.

Before coming here, I wish I would have known how competitive the Nursing school was. I am not necessarily sure if I can say I regret my decision because I love my school and all of the friend I have met. Also, this school has one of the best nursing schools in comparison to others around my vicinity.

Before I came to school I would wish to known that the university has Family weekends, in which they have activities for your family members to be apart of your college life.

I knew that college was expensive but I save money over the Summer, thinking that would get me pretty far into the year but unfoortunately it only got me through 1st semester. I wish I would have lookf futher into scholarships and loans.

Before coming to this school I would have liked to known the average prices for the different off campus apartments close to the school.

I wish I would have known how to manage my time with making sure I recieved enough physical activity. In high school I was so involved that managing my time was much easier. In college, I only went to class and studied. It was easy to neglect my health.

How important it would be to look for internships early on.

The fact that some of the courses do not transfer to UoI for my major. There is no macroeconomics or microeconomics as an individual class, so I have to take those during the summer in order to transfer schools.

When I first moved into the dorm rooms, everyone was telling me but this/ buy that. After a semester living in the doorm rooms 1/2 of the items people were telling me to buy I did not need. If a student is not going to use somthing at school. Don't bring it. Items take up space in a small room for two people. In addition, students don't need to bring everything they have ever owned. I had neighbors who brought like ten stuffed animals or 30 purses. Bring what you need. You will be home for thanksgiving!

I wish that I would have know the competition that my fellow students would have. In the beginning I struggled in staying focused and that really brought my GPA down. But all of my friends are all still doing well, so I feel like I'm a little behind.

Before coming to this school, I wish I would have had a mentor. Many stress the importance of doing well in college, especially starting on the right foot in the first semester. If I would have had closer, more personal contact with someone on a daily basis closer to my age, I think I would have done a lot better in my first year, more specifically my first semester.

I wish that I had known how important it was to get involved with different organizations on campus. Throughout my first two years on campus I was able to become greatly involved with a variety of organizations; but if I had known in advance I would have been able to be involved starting my freshman year.

I wish I had known about all the construction projects they were going to start, and I wish I knew buses don't run on Sundays. It made me wish I had my car sometimes, as much as they say you don't need one.

The emphasis sudents place on going out and getting drunk.

One thing I wish I would have known before attending Illinois State is when and how to apply for scholarships. Unlike highschool, there was no one to guide my scholarship search and I was very lost. Due to my difficulties I found myself having to pay a lot more out of pocket, via loans, then I would have liked. Even today, I wish I better understood Illinois State's scholarship system.

More about the program I was interested in

I got a lot of information at "preview". This helped me as an incoming freshman.

The large amounts of soriorities and franternities

Before I came to this school I wish I would have known that it is not very culturally diverse. I like to experience different cultures and there is not much of an opportunity to do that at Illinois State University.