10 Things To Know Before Coming To The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Leaving for college can be pretty stressful, especially if you’re coming from out of state. The school will give you a list of things to know before coming, but the little nooks and crannies are what make this school the best. Keep reading to find out the 10 things you need to know before coming to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

1. Prepare for a lot of walking.

When you told your friends that you were coming to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for college, I bet they all asked “isn’t that in the middle of no where?” It’s true. The school is in the middle of cornfields so the campus is really spread out. Walking a mile can take up to 20 minutes with all the construction in the way. So get some new tennis shoes and prepare for them to be worn out by the end of the semester.

2. 19 is the golden age, not 21.

Probably one of the best things about campus is you can get into bars when you turn 19. You don’t need to wait until you’re a junior in college to have fun. You’ll spend your Mondays at Joe’s, Tuesdays at Cly’s, and Wednesdays at Kam’s. Make sure you take a picture with the Alma wall at Kam’s.

3. You will get sick of dorm food.

At first, you’re going to love that food can be available whenever you want. But, after a month of eating the same cold pasta and Halal chicken, you’re going to dread even the sight of Ikenberry dining hall. Yet, you’re going to find yourself coming back just for the ice cream.

4. You’re going to spend more time with therapy dogs than actually studying.

During finals seasons, the school gets therapy dogs and places them all over campus. You can find them at the main Quad, the library, and even the gym. You’ll find a group of students all crouched over petting the cutest dogs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

5. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day early.

One of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s most popular events is “Unofficial.” Since St. Patrick’s Day usually falls on the eve of Spring Break, students created Unofficial as an event to celebrate the holiday on campus. People bust out their brightest green shirts and start partying at 6 a.m. on Friday. Even though bars let 19-years-olds in during the regular school year, the bars have a strict 21+ rule during Unofficial weekend. Remember to always think of your safety first!

6. The squirrels here are fearless.

First off, the squirrels on campus are not your regular size. They’re actually twice the size of your average squirrel. Not only are they huge, they’re also not afraid of you. If you go up to a squirrel on the main quad with a handful of nuts, they’ll come up to you and actually eat straight from your hand. Some of my friends even had squirrels climb up their arms and onto their shoulders.

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7. The 22 N/S bus will be your best friend.

Not only is the campus huge, it’s hard to get around if you don’t know the bus system that well, which you won’t your first two months of being here. But the 22 N/S will be your holy grail. Need to go to the main quad? 22 N/S. Need to go to the ARC? 22 N/S. This bus will practically take you every where you need to be on campus.

8. Ragstock will be your go-to place for themed parties and costumes.

The nearest Walmart is an hour bus ride and an even longer walk. The best place to find costumes for your themed frat parties will be Ragstock. Whether you need a onesie or an ugly Christmas sweater, Ragstock will have it. It’s located right next to the Main Quad and is also affordable.

9. You’ll see the most random things on the Quad.

You might be walking to class and see people laying down on the grass in the middle of the Quad. Some people even hang hammocks in between trees. However, you’re also bound to see events of people Naruto running through the quad or even a T-rex dancing on the steps of Foellinger Auditorium.

10. You will find the best friends you’ve always wanted.

High school is so different than college. The school is so big that you’re bound to meet someone who is just like you and when you do, it’ll be like you’ve known each other your whole lives. These are the friends that will make living in cornfields totally worth it.

Let us know what you think about University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the comments below!

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