<p>I know all of them are great colleges and i'm from chicago. I have a couple of questions.
1) How is the quality of life at U of I compared to the other two colleges? Is it heavily greek?
2) I'm majoring in engineering. I know U of I has a great EE program but i'm very skeptical about the rankings because I heard they were based on the amount of money the university receives and the amount of research the professors do. Would an average students who isn't too bold or shy get enough individual attention by a professor?<br>
3) What is there to do generally besides getting wasted every weekend b/c u of i is kinda in the middle of nowhere</p>
<p>Out of the three schools, U of I will definitely provide you with the best education in engineering. You won't necessarily get the most attention at U of I, but if you're successful in the engineering program here, you'll have many opportunities open to you upon graduation. U of I's high rank in engineering isn't a fluke. The major technical consulting and corporate firms heavily recruit at U of I. </p>
<p>The quality of life here is fine. The greek life is noticeable, but it's not dominant. It really depends on the friends you make. There are plenty of things to do here. There are often some big concerts. Plus, movie theaters are a short bus ride away. </p>
<p>Joining clubs and orgranizations really helps you find things to do besides getting wasted on the weekends. Plus, getting involved in clubs can really shrink down the campus. </p>
<p>I don't know much about USC, but I have a friend who goes to UVA. From what I understand, UVA has a considerably different atmoshpere than U of I. First off, UVA is much smaller than U of I both in its campus size and student body, so there's more of an initmate feel at UVA. </p>
<p>I've heard that UVA is a bit on the "preppy" side. This means that a large proportion of the students are well off and show that they are. My friend admits that there are bunch of people who normally dress up to look nice all the time. But he absolutely loves it at UVA. He says that the professors have been very good at paying attention to the undergrad students. None of his classes have been related to engineering though. In general, UVA tries to provide personal attention to the undergrad students because it was a private university for a long time. I think UVA has a nicer overall campus and surrounding town compared to U of I. That being said, UVA certainly is not too well known for its engineering program. But if you really want to get a job on the east coast, then going to UVA would really increase your chances of doing that.</p>
<p>I love U of I. I really don't have anything to say. One thing though: if you say you are shy that will have to change in terms of asking for help. Learning when and how to ask for help is one of the best skills you will learn during your first and second semester. I thought about USC but I know I'm getting a much better education here. If you want attention, you will be able to receive it in some shape or form even if it isn't necessarily going to be with the prof him/herself.</p>
<p>I love it here and don't rule out drinking as a way to have fun (I know I wasn't looking forward to that in high school either). You might end up liking it. If not there is plenty to do. It isn't heavily Greek but this also depends on the friends you make. Of my friends it feels like they're all going Greek but some have turned away or had bad experiences so I'm not rushing unless I really feel right with the frat. But again big Greek system doesn't necessarily = big Greek population.</p>
<p>If you want to know more about the atmosphere you could IM me. A couple incoming freshman have done that already and I have been glad to answer their questions.</p>