University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

Academics are rigorous at the University. Not just anybody can get in. Professors challenge you so that you have an idea of what will happen in the real-world as well as give you unique perspectives.

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University of Illinois has an academic life that has a lot of class and subject variety and every single major with professors that care enough to push you.

The academics depends on your major. Some majors have reputations for being harder than others. My majors, Anthropology and History, were full of great professors who got to know me. I had the opportunity to do undergraduate research in a molecular anthropology lab, which led me to my current career path.

Because U of I is such a huge school, classes can be huge. When registering, it is easy to look for smaller classes. Smaller classes are better because you can get to know your professor and won't feel like a faceless ID number. Large classes can be great too though. You are more independent and there may be less work. It is good to make friends in your classes and major, because you will have study buddies and people to call if you have a question. This will also make class more enjoyable and you will probably be able to learn more. Although classes can be large and intimidating, if you put time and effort into figuring out the system, you will make incredible connections with professors and students and walk away having learned so much from your classes.

Academics at UIUC are outstanding. While some programs are better than others, there are always challenging classes and more relaxed classes to choose from. Depending on the school and major you choose, there could be a lot of competition or there could be a more relaxed environment. However, most students take their academics very seriously and work hard to balance a thriving social life with a thriving academic life. In most of my classes, the majority of the class has been participative and engaged in the subjects. I credit my professors for this, too, because the professors try hard to foster class participation. I am a Recreation, Sport, and Tourism major, which is in the Applied Health Sciences school. Every one of my professors knows me by name and is always excited when I come to talk to them (as they are with all of their other students). The professors are lively and my academic advisor is incredibly helpful and caring. The requirements for my major, while challenging, are not at all impossible. I have to focus a lot of my time for schoolwork, but I still have time to play and to work a part-time job. It's not easy, but it's very doable with proper management and determination. I have certain friends who seldom study, but certain friends who are constantly asking me if I would like to go with them to the library to study. The overall academic environment is slightly relaxed, but students buckle down when things need to be done.

You earn your grade. If you put in time and effort, the results will show. Students study a lot, but it is well worth it. If you take the time to go to your professors' office hours they will be glad to help you with any problems you are having in class. Most students are highly involved in their academics and so class participation is common. The coursework can be challenging but you have a lot of free time compared to high school so it is nothing you can't take the time to work on.

The academics are some of the best in the country. Although lectures can have 700 people in them, there are 20-30 people discussion sections that accompany these so participation is required. All the professors and teachers assistants have office hours to help. The classes are challenging, but they will help in the future.

Good academics. Professors make an effort to know students and participation is always appreciated.

Academics are extremely intense. Our school is one of the top public schools in the nation and therefore it is challenging. It's nothing like high school where you can get away with not doing a little assignment. Also classes are pretty big until you start getting into the upper level courses of your major classes. So professors don't typically know your name. My favorite class was definitely my Latino/a Studies 100 class. I feel I learned a lot about my people and their history. The least favorite class I took was Political Science 201. The reading was far too much and it was extremely difficult staying on track. Class participation is key in smaller classes. However, class participation isn't big in the lecture halls because there's hundreds of kids. Most kids continue talking about the material after class if it was extremely controversial or fun. I am double major in political science and communications. I love being a political science because it allows me to see the world with different lens and the different sides to the stories . My education in this school is definitely geared towards going to law school. I would like to become a district attorney.