uic is a great choice for students who are in the chicago area. there are many opportunities for all majors be it business, medicine, or engineering. the growth uic has shown in the last few years is promising, and sooner or later will be a flagship school in illinois.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
my advice is to live on campus as opposed to commuting if financially possible. it is much easier to make friends and get involved on campus. i commuted my first year and at the end of the year i hadn't really made any friends. it also makes it easier to get work done since you are not spending the time commuting.
get to know your professors. office hours have been incredibly helpful in the past with clarifying concepts and explaining them in a different way to make it easier to understand. if you see them outside of class walking by say hi, there is no reason not to and it makes you more likable.
go to class. it is so tempting to skip class since attendance isn't mandatory, and some professors post their notes online post lecture. but you rid yourself of the opportunity to ask questions in class or hear any announcements your professor might make regarding an exam or assignment.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
uic is academically challenging, but rewarding at the same time. professors there come from all sorts of backgrounds, with some possessing phd's from the likes of mit or harvard, so they know their stuff.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
dorm life has been fantastic in my experience. i highly recommend living in a cluster if you can. in this setup you have 5-8 people living in the same lounge area with separate bedrooms and shared bathrooms. it is the easiest way to meet your first friends and socialize. the best part is that you can meet your other roommates' friends and expand your social circle.
Describe the food and dining at your college.
food and dining is typically good quality, though some days are better than others. there are certain foods that are served everyday such as eggs, burgers, hot dogs, and chicken. each day there is a different "main entree" for lunch and dinner, which can range from baked mac and cheese to chinese or mexican themed food.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
the city of chicago is your backyard. you could go to millennium park for a concert, the united center is only a blue line stop away and then some walking, so going to a bulls or blackhawks game is super easy. any tourist attraction in chicago is yours and since the school provides a pass for free public transportation while school is in session it doesn't cost anything but time to get there.
on taylor street there are several bars such as vintage lounge or ten doors that students frequently go to on thursday nights. there are also a couple of pizza places open really late into the night that go for about $2 for enormous slices. big g's and taylor made are my favorites.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
each year there is a concert during the second week of school called spark in the park where the university will bring a popular music artist or band to play for a night on stage. in the past there has been kendrick lamar, j cole, john legend, and most recently twenty one pilots. admission is free for students.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
uic is best for students pursuing medicine since it is nearby hospitals and there are many opportunities to connect with professionals in the field. although any science majors like engineering are gaining traction as well, such as the annual engineering career fair which has brought companies like google and microsoft.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
there are several clubs and activities to participate in at uic. these range from major specific clubs like business or physics, to intramural sports like soccer and dodgeball.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
i can't speak for greek life since i don't participate in it, but it has grown in the last few years and my friends say nothing but good things about it.
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
the main campus area is typically very safe. the university notifies students by email when there is a crime on or near campus, which doesn't occur very often and is typically in the middle of the night. there are hundreds of emergency call stations across campus for students to use.
uic is a great choice for students who are in the chicago area. there are many opportunities for all majors be it business, medicine, or engineering. the growth uic has shown in the last few years is promising, and sooner or later will be a flagship school in illinois.
my advice is to live on campus as opposed to commuting if financially possible. it is much easier to make friends and get involved on campus. i commuted my first year and at the end of the year i hadn't really made any friends. it also makes it easier to get work done since you are not spending the time commuting. get to know your professors. office hours have been incredibly helpful in the past with clarifying concepts and explaining them in a different way to make it easier to understand. if you see them outside of class walking by say hi, there is no reason not to and it makes you more likable. go to class. it is so tempting to skip class since attendance isn't mandatory, and some professors post their notes online post lecture. but you rid yourself of the opportunity to ask questions in class or hear any announcements your professor might make regarding an exam or assignment.
uic is academically challenging, but rewarding at the same time. professors there come from all sorts of backgrounds, with some possessing phd's from the likes of mit or harvard, so they know their stuff.
dorm life has been fantastic in my experience. i highly recommend living in a cluster if you can. in this setup you have 5-8 people living in the same lounge area with separate bedrooms and shared bathrooms. it is the easiest way to meet your first friends and socialize. the best part is that you can meet your other roommates' friends and expand your social circle.
food and dining is typically good quality, though some days are better than others. there are certain foods that are served everyday such as eggs, burgers, hot dogs, and chicken. each day there is a different "main entree" for lunch and dinner, which can range from baked mac and cheese to chinese or mexican themed food.
the city of chicago is your backyard. you could go to millennium park for a concert, the united center is only a blue line stop away and then some walking, so going to a bulls or blackhawks game is super easy. any tourist attraction in chicago is yours and since the school provides a pass for free public transportation while school is in session it doesn't cost anything but time to get there. on taylor street there are several bars such as vintage lounge or ten doors that students frequently go to on thursday nights. there are also a couple of pizza places open really late into the night that go for about $2 for enormous slices. big g's and taylor made are my favorites.
each year there is a concert during the second week of school called spark in the park where the university will bring a popular music artist or band to play for a night on stage. in the past there has been kendrick lamar, j cole, john legend, and most recently twenty one pilots. admission is free for students.
uic is best for students pursuing medicine since it is nearby hospitals and there are many opportunities to connect with professionals in the field. although any science majors like engineering are gaining traction as well, such as the annual engineering career fair which has brought companies like google and microsoft.
there are several clubs and activities to participate in at uic. these range from major specific clubs like business or physics, to intramural sports like soccer and dodgeball.
i can't speak for greek life since i don't participate in it, but it has grown in the last few years and my friends say nothing but good things about it.
the main campus area is typically very safe. the university notifies students by email when there is a crime on or near campus, which doesn't occur very often and is typically in the middle of the night. there are hundreds of emergency call stations across campus for students to use.