200 Reasons to Join the Illinois Family

200 Reasons to Join the Illinois Family May 1st is right around the corner, and so is the deadline to accept your offer of admission! If you need a few (hundred) more reasons to choose Illinois, look no further! Weve compiled a list of 221. While I recommend you look through the full list, Ive included my top reasons to choose Illinois below: The Campus and Community Illinois is ranked the #2 college town in America! Were also ranked the Best Midwest Food Townâ€"an honor well deserved. Some of my personal favorites are Black Dog BBQ and the Bread Company. Buses on and off campus will take you anywhere you need to go. Along with that, were also centrally located between Chicago, St. Louis, and Indianapolis, so its very easy to get home for the weekend or go explore a new city. The Opportunities   We have over 300 study abroad programsâ€"whether youre interested in studying abroad for 2 or 16 weeks, I know theres a program that will be a great fit for you! Approximately 27% of students choose to study abroad during their time at Illinois. There are 1,000+ Registered Student Organizations on campus, including academic, athletic, cultural, political, religious, and social groups to join. Youll have the opportunity to join one (or a few!) of these organizations the Sunday before classes begin on Quad Day. Also, 68% of undergraduate students participate in research  at Illinois. Research is being conducted across all disciplines, and youll have the opportunity to take part in these projects as early as your first year on campus. The Tradition The University of Illinois is a land-grant institution and has a rich 150 year history. This includes the Morrow Plots, the longest running experimental cornfield in the Western Hemisphere. The Undergraduate Library was built underground so it would not block sunlight from the Morrow Plots). Whether you join the Orange Krush or Block I cheering sections, enjoy Moms and Dads weekends, or homecoming, theres always something happening on campus. We also have one of largest alumni networks of its kind worldwide! Life After Graduation While Im certain youll enjoy your time at Illinois, its also important to think past graduation. Whether youre interested in pursuing an advanced degree or starting your career right away, youll be well prepared because of resources like the Career Center. We also hold many career fairs, where 77 Fortune 100 companies  come to recruit Illinois students. In fact,  87% of Illini are employed or continuing their education within 6 months of graduation. We also have the #1 return on investment in the Big 10! These are just a few reasons to Illinois, and Ive hardly brushed the surface. You can see the full list on our website.  I hope you choose Illinois! Hannah Admissions Counselor I grew up just 30 minutes north of Champaign-Urbana and am a recent graduate of Illinois. As a former Pathway student, I understand the challenges of adapting to life at both a community college as well as a four-year institution. Whatever you're wondering about, I'll help you out!