<p>I am prospective student for UIUC Engineering. I just wanted to know how the people and environment there are. I heard alot about the students there being close minded, getting drunk more than studying, etc. Is it a competitive environment or do people there just kick up their shoes and slack off the entire time? </p>
<p>The big enrollment lack of FA [I am international by the way] is putting me off from UIUC. Any opinions?</p>
<p>Engineers don't have time to party unless the goal is to drop out of school. Most of my engineering friends study 6~10 hours a day.</p>
<p>Would you say the people in Engineering are one of the brightest you have encountered? </p>
<p>What about the lecturers there for Engineering? Mostly T.A.s or actual Professors?</p>
<p>I've always had professors as lecturers. TAs typically just teach discussion sections which are smaller classes where they reiterate the material introduced in class.</p>
<p>ACT average for incoming freshman is around 31.5, if this is any indication of student quality. UIUC engineering provides a very competitive environment overall, and since classes are curved, it is not easy to get a good grade. It should be also noted that many students get weeded out during their first or second year, which is an another indication of the school's overall difficulty.</p>
<p>Thanks Guys! Appreciated!</p>
<p>I am in the college of engineering. I have found the students in engineering classes are very competitive. Not just academics, in projects, activities as well. Most of the students here are friendlier than what I have seen in some parts of Central USA. I am an international student as well and love it here.</p>
<p>There really isn't much to do in Urbana-Chamapign. I got bored and transfer ed to the Chicago campus so I can do a part time internship in one of Chicago's top companies while going to school. This put me ahead by a HUGE margin. I graduated from UIC and now have a really nice job in Chicago. If you are not into the drinking/frat stuff I recommend going to UIC since both schools are pretty much same academic teaching wise.</p>
<p>"I recommend going to UIC since both schools are pretty much same academic teaching wise."</p>
<p>This is completely untrue.</p>
<p>UIUC is a research oriented university. It has much better facilities and a highly reputed faculty compared to UIC. Chicago may be a big city with a lot of things to do, but living in a campus town has its own perks.</p>
<p>"I recommend going to UIC since both schools are pretty much same academic teaching wise."</p>
<p>Take that back!!</p>
<p>UIC is currently the 47th largest research school in the entire country. I say it has a strong research focus.<br>
Dirty little secret is that UIC's academics are not that much different than UIUC's level. Many a UIUC transfer has found this fact to be true. What makes it harder is that UIC doesn't have grade inflation. You will get a rigorous education at either school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am prospective student for UIUC Engineering. I just wanted to know how the people and environment there are. I heard alot about the students there being close minded, getting drunk more than studying, etc. Is it a competitive environment or do people there just kick up their shoes and slack off the entire time?</p>
<p>The big enrollment lack of FA [I am international by the way] is putting me off from UIUC. Any opinions?
[/quote]
As one of the 'social engineers' I think you'd fit in quite well with many of the engineering students here. No one here is close-minded except the kids who study too much and judge others for partying (no offense).</p>
<p>Freshman year, you are taking enough spread out courses to not be in a fully engineering environment, so you won't see much of the competitive side the first year. You will see it as you watch the upperclassmen, though. If you want to be academically challenged, come here.</p>
<p>Half of my freshman classes are TA and half are professor, which I consider to be pretty good.</p>