The Mystery of Illini Tower

<p>Hey guys, </p>

<p>I'm a prospective student looking to attend UIUC for the Class of 2017. I applied Regular Decision, so I have yet to get in. With that said, UIUC is my #1 option, and I'm very confident in my chances, while also keeping things in perspective. </p>

<p>When I looked at the housing options, I concluded that the best choice for me would be to stick with Private Certified Housing over University Housing. Out of all the PCH Dorms, I liked Illini Tower the most judging by a video tour on YouTube and by their nice website. It all looked great and wonderful, until I looked up the reviews online. The reviewers that have lived there in the past say that IT is HORRENDOUS to say the least. Mostly every reviewer has written that choosing Illini Tower was a decision they all regretted due to management, condition of the rooms, etc. Out of every PCH Dorm there is, Illini Tower now seems the absolute worst compared with all others.</p>

<p>Is there anyone out there who has lived in Illini Tower that can confirm all these reviews? What would be the best PCH to live in? I applied to the Engineering program, if that helps. </p>

<p>Thanks for reading, sorry for a long post.</p>

<p>I lived in Bromley last year and really liked it. Food sucks after a couple months (it’s known for having pretty much the worst food on campus) and isn’t the most social dorm but I found my closest friends there. It’s really chill and has a great party atmosphere.</p>

<p>DO NOT choose illini tower. i currently attend u of i right now and have a few friends in illini tower and they absolutely hate it. is it not social what so ever.</p>

<p>I’m a current resident at IT and recommend you to do one thing: Stay the <em>expletive</em> away… everything his horrendous about the place. What you get compared to the demo room is pathetic, it looks like a rundown hotel room that looks like it was painted by a 5 year old. The food is absolutely pathetic, I’m pretty sure the dollar menu at fast food joints is healthier (If you’re a vegetarian… don’t expect to much besides a daily bagel and salad) They honestly must be trying to mess up the food everyday, me and my friends drool whenever we get carded into University Dining halls. Next, management is absolutely pathetic and downright cheap. Me and my roommate are facing eviction by the Resident Director in order to free up space (4 person apartment, 2 people living in it : one left, one transferred schools). Dad and Uncle had to threaten legal action in order for them to stop our eviction during finals week, management still wants to kick us out during the spring. The only thing they (management) sees is $$ and even most of the RA’s want the certification of the place stripped. Social scene is blah, i was lucky to find my friends early on and click with them, or id honestly be attending UIC by the next semester. The place is filled with a disproportionate amount of international students, most of which are chain smokers, and people that keep to themselves. </p>

<p>As me and a few buds viewed apartments this semester for next fall, the tour guides were surprised on how much we (guys) examined every single last part of the apartment (tables, cabinets, beds, bathrooms). We told them we lived at “IT” and they immediately felt sympathetic for us lol. </p>

<p>You should probably stay away from PCH , even if there is a private bathroom or larger rooms. University Housing allows you to be more connected to the students of the university and the bajillion events that go on.</p>

<p>Hey There. </p>

<p>I currently live at Illini Tower, and I’ll try to give you an honest, complete review without all the hysterics of other Illini Tower reviews. And I promise that I’m not affiliated with the place in any way except for my lease.</p>

<p>First of all, let me say that Illini Tower is super, super, expensive. It’s really a lot of money to live at this place. I pay more for housing at Illini Tower than for tuition! That being said, it living at IT does have certain benefits. </p>

<p>I’ll begin with the most obvious: Location. IT is really close to the quad, really close to Green St. and really close to the Frats if that’s someplace you see yourself hanging out at. It’s very quick to walk to class, and if you have an hour break between two classes you can easily walk back to IT and eat something before going back to class. I consider that a big plus. </p>

<p>Speaking of food. Yes, you do have to have a meal plan with IT. Which means that you’ve got to basically only eat there, or else pay out-of-pocket for anything at the University dining halls. This does suck. The food at IT is pretty crappy. They make the same things over and over again, and it’s certainly not very healthy. Personally, I didn’t come into college with the expectation of 5-star dining, so I don’t really care. Usually the food is good enough to eat without having to hold your nose. But just barely. That being said, all the rooms do have kitchens, so my recommendation would be to just make some food yourself every once in a while and you should be fine. For me breakfast is fine, (Bagels, cereal, scrambled eggs, that sort of thing) and lunch and dinner get progressively worse. Although this year they added a “recommendation board” and I’ve seen a couple of people’s recommendations actually cooked, so you cannot say that they aren’t trying. I asked them to add tea as an option and they did, so I must say I was a little surprised that they actually did it so kudos to them. </p>

<p>The rooms. Oh my. When I arrived, my room was filthy. In addition the room wasn’t in great shape. The walls look terrible, the carpets are worn out, the rooms look like… well… like college kids lived in them for a couple of years. That being said, after a long cleaning session, some new rugs, and adding some posters to the walls, my room looks pretty presentable, and I would actually say quite nice. Everything in my apartment works, and the one time the sink was clogged, my roommate called the front desk and they fixed it the same day, so that was pretty good. That being said, I know people who never get their problems solved, and who have bigger issues then us. (Leaky sinks, broken appliances, etc) My room was terribly insulated and really cold, so I bought some insulating tape and insulated the windows myself. Oftentimes you get the feeling that you just have to fix things yourself. </p>

<p>The staff is generally Ok. Like anywhere some people are really nice, caring and helpful, and some people really don’t care and are downright rude. I’d expect the same at any dorm/PCH. </p>

<p>The movie-theater is often broken, that is true, but I’ve seen people using it quite frequently, so I don’t think it’s a terrible problem. The ping pong paddles do indeed suck, but the pool table is just fine, and the gym, while basic, is good enough as far as I’m concerned. Laundry, however, is super expensive, and a huge hassle. </p>

<p>In terms of atmosphere, yea, this place is very quiet compared to other places. There are no “floor events” or whatever, and people just generally keep to themselves. There are tons of international students. Personally I enjoy their company, and I think they’re interesting, but they do have a tendency to keep to their own little groups as well. The social scene is basically non-existant, which if you think about it, may not be that bad. If I want to party, I can go to a frat, or out, or wherever, and I don’t have to worry about there being all this noise going on at home when I want to study or sleep or whatever. It is difficult to make friends at IT, but you can join different groups and get out, and you should be fine with that. </p>

<p>I moved to IT because I wanted the privacy of larger rooms and semi-private bathrooms. I wouldn’t say that I’m disappointed, but rather I feel like I’m not getting a good deal, money-wise. I suppose it just depends on what it is you want for your living experience, and then how much money you’ve got. I will be moving away from IT, mostly for financial reasons, but I know people who will stay here another year, so I suppose it just depends on finding a good fit. I don’t think IT is a terrible hell-hole, although people like to complain about it and make it seem that way. I think it’s just a crappy, expensive place, except that other places are crappier. </p>

<p>Hope that helps.</p>

<p>I highly recommend Newman Hall for PCH. Great location, nice rooms, and decent food.</p>

<p>Have heard nice things about “Presby,” as well.</p>

<p>There are a lot of things that IT will to do to lure their prospective clients into signing a lease, and I’m pretty sure the person who posted up there works for them. I’m also a resident at IT, but because of their fine print, I couldn’t move out at the end of last semester. I thought their marketing schemes were outrageous, but apparently, they’ve decided to pretend that they are students. Here’s my comments on the above review.</p>

<p>“First of all, let me say that Illini Tower is super, super, expensive. It’s really a lot of money to live at this place. I pay more for housing at Illini Tower than for tuition! That being said, it living at IT does have certain benefits.”</p>

<p>This is wrong. IT is CHEAPER than most resident halls for next year. Reason why? Ask them. Also, ask them about housekeeping. Just one of the many “amenities” that they will no longer have to cut costs. Also, ask them just about anything, and see how many excuses you’ll have in return. Ask them why the key cards never work. Also, ask them why complaints on their facebook page periodically get deleted. </p>

<p>“I’ll begin with the most obvious: Location. IT is really close to the quad, really close to Green St. and really close to the Frats if that’s someplace you see yourself hanging out at. It’s very quick to walk to class, and if you have an hour break between two classes you can easily walk back to IT and eat something before going back to class. I consider that a big plus.”</p>

<p>Yes, they have a good location. BUT Newman Hall (PCH) is one block closer to the quad and Presby Hall (PCH) is one block closer to Green Street. University housing Halls are all relatively close to distinct areas, and hence why there’s so many of them (Allen is close to music, the six pack is close to the ARC, Daniels is close to engineering, etc.).</p>

<p>"Speaking of food. Yes, you do have to have a meal plan with IT. Which means that you’ve got to basically only eat there, or else pay out-of-pocket for anything at the University dining halls. This does suck. The food at IT is pretty crappy. They make the same things over and over again, and it’s certainly not very healthy. Personally, I didn’t come into college with the expectation of 5-star dining, so I don’t really care. Usually the food is good enough to eat without having to hold your nose. But just barely. That being said, all the rooms do have kitchens, so my recommendation would be to just make some food yourself every once in a while and you should be fine. For me breakfast is fine, (Bagels, cereal, scrambled eggs, that sort of thing) and lunch and dinner get progressively worse. Although this year they added a “recommendation board” and I’ve seen a couple of people’s recommendations actually cooked, so you cannot say that they aren’t trying. I asked them to add tea as an option and they did, so I must say I was a little surprised that they actually did it so kudos to them. "</p>

<p>If you are required to pay for a meal plan freshman year, then there is no reason to have a kitchen in your room. Why pay over two thousand for a “crappy” meal plan, and be encouraged to spend even more money to cook your own? Ask them how long their head chef has been working there, and then ask them why the old one left.</p>

<p>“The rooms. Oh my. When I arrived, my room was filthy. In addition the room wasn’t in great shape. The walls look terrible, the carpets are worn out, the rooms look like… well… like college kids lived in them for a couple of years. That being said, after a long cleaning session, some new rugs, and adding some posters to the walls, my room looks pretty presentable, and I would actually say quite nice. Everything in my apartment works, and the one time the sink was clogged, my roommate called the front desk and they fixed it the same day, so that was pretty good. That being said, I know people who never get their problems solved, and who have bigger issues then us. (Leaky sinks, broken appliances, etc) My room was terribly insulated and really cold, so I bought some insulating tape and insulated the windows myself. Oftentimes you get the feeling that you just have to fix things yourself.”</p>

<p>Having to fix your own room is unacceptable. If you are first year student, having to clean and decorate your room to barely make it appear habitable is laughable. No student attending the University of Illinois should have to deal with this type of recommendation. Look at their facebook page and keep scrolling down. You will see many CURRENT resident complaining about their internet service, heating/cooling, room requests, etc.</p>

<p>“The staff is generally Ok. Like anywhere some people are really nice, caring and helpful, and some people really don’t care and are downright rude. I’d expect the same at any dorm/PCH.”</p>

<p>Yes, nice staff. Ask them how many RA’s they had this year and how many they currently have. They need 15 RA’s to staff the building, and just about that same amount quit throughout the year. It’s unfortunately that this poster would “expect the same at any dorm/PCH”. If you are a college student, you shouldn’t have to deal with people who “don’t care and are downright rude”. If this is the case at IT, I question their hiring and management standards.</p>

<p>“The movie-theater is often broken, that is true, but I’ve seen people using it quite frequently, so I don’t think it’s a terrible problem. The ping pong paddles do indeed suck, but the pool table is just fine, and the gym, while basic, is good enough as far as I’m concerned. Laundry, however, is super expensive, and a huge hassle.”</p>

<p>All these amenities are true, but do you really need them? Included in the tuition and fees that students pay for, are fees for the campus amenities. Why pay extra for a small dark gym, when you can take a bus, or walk to the state-of-the-art campus gyms (ARC, CRCE)? Also, how many times do you play pool or ping pong? Just walk to the Illini Union, pay a few dollars and play a few games, along with bowling. Is there really a need to have one table 24/7?</p>

<p>“In terms of atmosphere, yea, this place is very quiet compared to other places. There are no “floor events” or whatever, and people just generally keep to themselves. There are tons of international students. Personally I enjoy their company, and I think they’re interesting, but they do have a tendency to keep to their own little groups as well. The social scene is basically non-existant, which if you think about it, may not be that bad. If I want to party, I can go to a frat, or out, or wherever, and I don’t have to worry about there being all this noise going on at home when I want to study or sleep or whatever. It is difficult to make friends at IT, but you can join different groups and get out, and you should be fine with that.”</p>

<p>Resident Assistants are supposed to create an atmosphere that encourages a social life. Well, very few floors actually had RAs this year.</p>

<p>“I moved to IT because I wanted the privacy of larger rooms and semi-private bathrooms. I wouldn’t say that I’m disappointed, but rather I feel like I’m not getting a good deal, money-wise. I suppose it just depends on what it is you want for your living experience, and then how much money you’ve got. I will be moving away from IT, mostly for financial reasons, but I know people who will stay here another year, so I suppose it just depends on finding a good fit. I don’t think IT is a terrible hell-hole, although people like to complain about it and make it seem that way. I think it’s just a crappy, expensive place, except that other places are crappier.”</p>

<p>No, other places are not “crappier”. Presby, Bromley, and Newman Hall are also PCH and are really nice, and I would suggest taking a tour of them when on campus. Is University Housing “crappier”? Probably not. They’re currently rebuilding most of the older dorms. </p>

<p>“Hope that helps.”</p>

<p>I really hope that their review helped no one. If you want real answers, talk to current residents who do not work for their building. They will truthfully answer your questions without having to pretend to be a student. Also, ever wonder why each of those paragraphs said one thing negative, and then something positive? That’s because they’re trying to sell them place rather than talk about it. I made my account just so that I can post this because that post upset me like no other. The Mystery of Illini Tower is true!</p>

<p>I will say, university housing is definitely “crappier” than PCH. Take tours and see for yourself that that is obvious.
And why do you hope none of those reviews helped the OP? They’re just expressing their opinions. Why should your review be more helpful than the others…? Just sayin…</p>

<p>I graduated from UIUC in 1989- while I never lived in IT (I lived in Hendrick House my first year and a fraternity for 3 years), the complaints listed about IT now are the same ones that my friends complained about then. Yes, it is close to the quad, but it was definitely more expensive then. I guess some things never change.</p>

<p>As a parent I made the mistake of letting my kid stay at Illini Towers during his freshmen year. I fell for the good demo rooms and the food they provided when parents visit the facility. That is just a sham. Real life is far from the show they put up. Few of my friends kids also stayed at the same place and they all had the same complaints as some of the posts in here. They seem to be violating Rental agreements like failing to respond for maintenance/repairs in any shape of form. They end up charging penalties while moving out. We were charged a fee for things that were perfectly in order. At the time of move out, I photographed the room be on the safer side everything seemed to be in order yet they ended up charging us a penalty. This place seems to be less then honest and as a parent, I would NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE to anyone until they change their policies.</p>

<p>My son is going to be a freshman starting August. He chose Newman Hall. It has an excellent location, close to the quad. You can chose between 2 sections- North or South. North has newer rooms, with suites/bathrooms etc. My son has a friend who lived at Newman last year, he said the food is very good. You do not have to be Catholic to live there! Big misconception! You can get as un-involved or as involved as you want with the church there. Just know that there are advisers to help you spiritually if you wish. A few more rules like no sleep overs of the opposite sex. My son felt comfortable there when he visited. He wants to enjoy dorm life and have fun but is not a “partier”. It is just not as wildly social as some of the univ dorms. We picked a South room double and with the meal plan we selected it is only costing us I think an additional $1k. Well worth it -prime location!</p>

<p>rmp, exactly as you said. It’s location, location, location in real estate, and dorms are no different. My son was there for two years before moving into a house last year, and he said the food was passable, but repetitive, as is all dorm food. No pressure to participate and/or be religiously educated either.</p>

<p>You can literally roll out of bed and be in a freshman class on the Quad in less than 5 minutes.</p>

<p>Good luck to your son.</p>

<p>Thank you Balthezar! We are very excited for son- neither of us went to a 4 year college so we are going to live vicariously thru our him - LOL! Seriously, though we are very pleased with his choice. The location of Newman in relation to the quad is excellent!</p>

I totally agree that IT is a crab place to live. My room was filthy when I moved in, particularly the bathroom. It was beyond your imagination. Moreover, they have a piano, but the key is out of order and they never fix it. Front desk do not care for students. I seriously recommend you guys to live in the residence hall or somewhere. I agree with a number of international students. They are interesting, but they really keep themselves. I don’t have any social life here, in this tower. I thought this was fraud. fraud of showing of different apartment. It was totally different from what I thought, what I had imagined, and what I had seen through photos. Out of 700 residents, they only have 3 maintenance guys. This seems like an good excuse for them to take so long to fix something when your room need repair. This is the worst choice of housing in my life