<p>Hi - I am trying to decide between UIUC, Michigan, & Rensselaer for electrical engineering and maybe Carnegie Mellon if I get in. I am drawn to UIUC but am hearing about UIUC's rep as a big party school. I have been reading that lots of kids at UIUC go out to bars every night. Is that true ? What is it like in the dorms for engineering students or others that need to work during the week and otherwise are not into a big party scene? Not interested in Greek life either. Should I be looking at a different school ?</p>
<p>Well if you are anti-partying at any level you should not be looking at a state school.</p>
<p>UIUC is definitely not “known” as a party school, nor are most state schools. The students are top notch throughout, and especially so in Engineering and Business. It has a large Greek presence, but you can take it or leave it. You’re not ostracized if you’re not in a frat or sorority. I’m not sure what you’ve been reading, nor am I sure what lots exactly means, but I feel fairly safe in saying that the vast majority of students don’t do “go out to bars every night”. You don’t last very long in a rigorous academic atmosphere if you’re doing that, but for those that do, take advantage of their abilty to bring down the grading curve, if they happen to be in any of your classes. As for the ability to successfully work towards an engineering degree, UIUC graduates hundreds, if not thousands of engineers annually who are very sought after by both grad schools and business.</p>
<p>You can look at whatever schools you’d like, but if you’re tempted to discount an engineering degree from UIUC, you’d be doing yourself a great disservice.</p>
<p>Party School? Probably not. A careful study of “C.C.'s” admission thread for UIUC reveals several things, viz., admitted UIUC students are typically very busy kids. Standardized test scores and GPAs, although upper level, are not the sole deciding factor(s) when presenting offers of admission. Extra curriculars weigh into the admission formula as well. It would appear UIUC (generally) attracts a high energy student with multiple interests and accomplishments in addition to their classroom work. UIUC kids tend to be very well organized with their time management skills, and, as a result, give the misleading impression that when they are not studying, they are out at the bars. In some cases, maybe so. This type of student adds immensely to the vibrancy of the campus as a whole as demonstrated by the countless # of RSOs (registered student organizations).</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the replies. UIUC is on all the lists of top party schools. I also saw some reviews on ***** where kids were saying there was lots of partying during the week. Balthezar, sounds like you go there and it is not like I thought though, which is good to hear. The school has a good rep for engineering. The social scene is the only part that is concerning me - would like to be around people with similar interests.</p>
<p>There’s over 30,000 students at UIUC. Finding people with similar interests should be the least of your worries… That’s a very wide range of people.</p>
<p>UIUC is definitely known as a party school. I’m not sure why people here are saying it isn’t. </p>
<p>If you are an engineer, you can party and still do well (the “party, study, sleep” applies here, pick 2). However you can still attend UIUC and never attend any parties or be bothered by partiers .</p>
<p>[Top</a> Party Colleges By Salary Potential](<a href=“http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/top-party-colleges.asp]Top”>Top Party Schools | Payscale)</p>
<p>OK Radiums, I’ll bite. Please explain why you think UIUC is a party school. The “study” you link to refers to The Princeton Review’s Top Party Schools, and is based on indirect student responses to questions regarding social life at their school. The students are not selected at random. They go to a website, where, if they fill out a questionaire, their responses are included. I’d say it doesn’t get more subjective, or prone to unsubstantiated opinion than that.</p>
<p>So, please, tell us why students, who in another thread you refer to as “hardworking” are also partiers?</p>
<p>It depends on how you define party school. If by party school you mean a school where many of the students prioritize partying over academics, no. If you mean a school that has parties available to attend, yes.</p>
<p>One thing I like about U of I is there is always an academic feel. People study all around campus, day and night, weekends an weekdays. You will not be an outcast if you study on a Friday night. Also, you can select dorms based on how much socializing you prefer. You can make U of I what you want it to be, and it offers great academics, particularly in engineering, and I can assure you that the average engineering student is not a hard party person.</p>
<p>If you pick another school over U of I, being a supposed party school should not be a factor at all.</p>
<ul>
<li>1/4 of the student population is involved in the Greek system (one of the largest greek system in the US)</li>
<li>Unofficial</li>
<li>Frat / Sorority party throughout the week</li>
<li>…</li>
</ul>
<p>I’m not saying all students party, I’m saying that you can party and still do well. I know couple of people (engineering majors) who go out 4 out of the 7 days in a week and maintain a 4.0. UIUC is reputable for its parties, go ask any students who go to another school in illinois. They will most likely say that UIUC is known for the parties.</p>
<p>
It’s closer to 20%, which means 4 out of 5 students are not involved in the greek system. And, you’re implying the greek system is nothing more than a bunch of drinking opportunities, which does them a great disservice, and is more than a little misleading.
2/3 of arrests on that single day are non-uiuc students…I guess from those non-party Illinois/Indiana Schools.
Pluralizing your noun would help you attempt to make your point. However, I’m thinking you can find a party almost any night at any school. Besides, you mentioned the greek system in your first point. Try not to repeat yourself.</p>
<p>If you really think UIUC is a non-party school, you really haven’t been to other undergrads.</p>
<p>To anyone that is reading here is a reddit post I found:
[UIUC</a> a party school? : UIUC](<a href=“http://www.reddit.com/r/UIUC/comments/ruamy/uiuc_a_party_school/]UIUC”>Reddit - Dive into anything)</p>
<p>However, as I previously stated, and I think we’re saying the same thing. If you want to go to a party, UIUC is no better or worse than any other school except maybe Wheaton College.</p>
<p>Would you say Northwestern isn’t a “Party” School? Since Radiums likes links, here you go:</p>
<p>[Northwestern</a> University: Party School? | Smogger](<a href=“http://www.thesmogger.com/2010/10/14/northwestern-university-party-school/]Northwestern”>http://www.thesmogger.com/2010/10/14/northwestern-university-party-school/)</p>
<p>Stanford?</p>
<p>[Cross-Cultural</a> Blog: Party Life @ Stanford!?](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/group/ccr/blog/2007/10/party_life_stanford.html]Cross-Cultural”>http://www.stanford.edu/group/ccr/blog/2007/10/party_life_stanford.html)</p>
<p>Harvard even?</p>
<p>[Harvard</a> voted among top party schools - Boston News, Massachusettts News, WHDH-TV 7NEWS WHDH.COM](<a href=“http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/12004050302440/harvard-voted-among-top-party-schools/]Harvard”>http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/boston/12004050302440/harvard-voted-among-top-party-schools/)</p>
<p>My point, again, is that to perpetuate the myth that somehow UIUC is a “Party” school is wrong, but, as with any other school, you can get any number of people to say “Yep. Big Party School…party on Garth!”. On college confidential, to say that is very misleading. These are kids looking at UIUCs justified academic reputation, and trying to figure out where to go for college. To say it’s a party school to someone who doesn’t know any better, and might turn one or two away from considering it for their college education, is quite an irresponsible thing to do.</p>