<p>I was looking down the U of I thread list and saw my little name thing for almost all of them as the last person to respond. Wow! But hey new thread for the freshmen. I am going to be an OSL this summer. That is an Orientation (it is being called Registration) Student Leader. We are going to have to answer many questions from freshmen. I am a Chemical Engineering major and a lifeguard.</p>
<p>My final point is that if any of the freshmen on these boards has any questions about general life here just ask here. I want to try and prepare answers for these types of questions in real life as I will probably have to answer them over the summer. If you guys could think of anything that is bothering you, I will do my best to answer any of your questions. Ask away.</p>
<p>OK, I'll go first. What's it like to go to school in the middle of corn (soybean?) fields, 2+ hours from a major city? How's U-C in terms of things to do, places to eat/shop? Location is my main concern re UIUC. Also, how's safety walking at night in & around campus? Thanx.</p>
<p>This is not related to the orientation or general life...I'll be visiting UIUC during spring break, but before I go there, I will be visiting Chicago for a couple of days. If I'm just hanging around campus for a few hours, is there anywhere I can put my luggage(won't be too much stuff...)?</p>
<p>I am used to the fields because I grew up in a small town. I'll ask my friends from the city. As for as eating there are plenty of good pizza and various Asian places. There are many many places to eat. I highly recommend Qdoba's (a make you own burrito thingy) b/c I love the fajitas there. Shopping is pretty much done at the local mall which can be reached by bus. It is a decent mall nothing extravagant. (American Eagle, Abercrombie are the important stores for me.) Safety is top notch, I think. They have emergency phones everywhere. As long as you travel in numbers and think safe no bad can come. I travel around at night alone more than I like but nothing has happened to me. All you have to do is be careful.</p>
<p>The food is different at different dorms and some things are better than others. Like Fat Don's is the steak night that is popular on campus at the 6-pack. It ranges from mediocre to good. Nothing is ever bad but I haven't really tasted anything great. Just regular college food, pretty typical stuff. There is always options for vegetarians and other specialty items as well. There is always a salad bar if eating healthy is important. And late night is also a popular option if eating late becomes an issue. Private dorms have less options in both times you can eat and the type of food but oh well. If either of you need more info I'll be happy to answer.</p>
<p>I don't really understand your question, mastercheifIl. Like you're visiting for a couple of hours when no students will be there and you have no place to put your stuff. I'm not really sure about that. What would you even be planning on doing when no one's there? Looking at the campus? I don't think I know the answer to that question. Check with the Illini Union at the Hotel front desk or maybe information. They might have a place you can keep your stuff.</p>
<p>Echo, I applied to and was accpeted to UI as a LSA-General Curriculum. At the time of filling out the application, I just assumed its like undecided for other universities. I do not know what I wish to major in but my question is that if I want to go into engineering or business, how would I go about doing it. Would I have to be revaluate pending acceptance/rejection to that specific college(engineering..etc)?</p>
<p>Yes you would have to re-apply to the particular college you want to have. For both you will have to have a high GPA. After a year of Gen eds (or if you find out what you want to do and actually have courses) your GPA should be fairly high. I think you can apply for Engineering whenever. Business is either: you're in as a freshman or you can apply for it your junior year. If you find out you want to do business your advisor will make sure that you are on track with the major you've decided on. You can follow a track even if you're not in that particular college but you will have to be in it in order to get a degree from it if your major is in it.</p>
<p>First a special thanks to Jetinfreak. You gave a very helpful answer when I couldn't.</p>
<p>Yes I get free time. It won't be as nearly as much as other majors so it will sound like not a lot but what else would you expect. Recently the workload has been insane and sometimes you just gotta stay in. I can't be specific because everyone works at there own pace and however good of grades they want to get. If you don't care and just want to be average you can go out during the weekdays. But if you really want to be #1, you will not only have to be really smart but you won't be going out that much either. So it is just how much you care and how much time you devote. Same with the other activities: how much time and how much you care. Lately I have been very busy so right now might not be the best time to ask me about workload. Plus I pretty much only enjoy partying and exercising as other activities that aren't club or job related.</p>
<p>As far as parties. Yeah there is a lot of alcohol. But they're parties what more do you want? But you don't have to drink at the parties if you don't want to. Im glad I never drank in high school but I never had that much fun because being sober at a drunk party wasn't fun for me in high school (college is a little better in that respect, although I wouldn't know that much) other people find being sober at a drunk party fun. As far as non-alcoholic other activities yeah there is a lot. People go to movies, plays, hang out, have room parties. But usually (there is the enginerding frat and stuff but often) any big party will have alcohol. In surplus amounts if it's a good one. The girls are hot and most are pretty nice. There are some stuck up ones but they mostly hail from Naperville and places like that. You are going into ChemE right. Well luckily they are the engineering major with the most girls. And definitely the most hot girls haha. It is nice for the balance b/c I wouldn't want to be stuck in a guy dominated class anyway.</p>