<p>Thanks alot for your advice Taffy!</p>
<p>and @aj16, go on facebook and drop random msgs on all the fall 2008 students walls? :P</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>Although I can't speak from experience about Illinois, I can tell you that we're from Connecticut and my daughter attends a large state university in Kansas. She had some of the same concerns that you expressed and was happy to discover that they were unfounded. She received a very warm welcome from her suitemates and fellow students, most of whom are Kansans, and she also found that the "resident" students take great pride in their state public universities. In short, it's been a very positive experience for her. I think you'll be just fine.</p>
<p>Black Hulker - Add random people on the group as your friends and start getting to know them, what their major is, where their living, n stuff like that. Post on the walls of the group too, add in to the ongoing conversations there. It'll seem odd at first, but its all good.</p>
<p>you can start with me - private message me your name...I'll add you</p>
<p>One thing I have noticed about the U of I compared to California is that people are obsessed with the word "creepy." If you come across as at all creepy you will be quarantined. I remember one of the awkward things of moving into the dorms was meeting all these kids that you had already known through facebook, and I wished I had just met them for real first and then added them afterwards. I wouldn't add random people and post on people's walls randomly... it is desperate and... creepy.</p>
<p>well I'm not really the one starting it...they are adding me...so i just join along...theres a whole huge thread in the group about people wanting to add people as friends....</p>
<p>Maybe we need to be more specific about what creepy is? We could probably first msg them and ask them if their interested and save ourselves from the embarssment? :|</p>
<p>Or we all could just keep on posting and find willing people around? :p</p>
<p>and thank you for your response gbesq. What major did your daughter go for?</p>
<p>^Animal Science. She's an early admit scholar in the College of Veterinary Medicine.</p>
<p>taffy, yeah creepy is big around here. esp if you're labeled a creeper</p>
<p>as for pride, one thing i've noticed from visiting east and west coast schools is that the midwest has the nicest and most school spirited schools. east coast, the school pride was ok as well as west coast, but people didn't seem that enthusiastic to me on college visits (and i know a lot of people will probably balk at that statement, but it's my opinion)</p>
<p>my mom went to u of i and i'm going there as well. i love the vibe. everyone's really happy and welcoming. not to mention the very low amount of drama present. </p>
<p>i think oos and internationals will have no problem fitting in, esp engineering (yay for bioengineering!)</p>