University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Reviews

"The training I've received in the political science grad program has exceeded my expectations. The opportunities to collaborate with faculty are limitless, and the support students receive when they are on the job market is equally impressive. I'm glad I came here."

"I enjoyed my stay in Urbana and program was intense and of high quality."

"UIUC is a place of excellence with world renowned faculty, outstanding students and state of the art facilities. All major tech companies visit UIUC for hiring. The program is not easy but it shouldn't be. That's the price to pay for being among the best. The only downside is that the surrounding area is not very vibrant. Campus is situated between two small towns. However the campus itself is always full of students so if you are an undergrad you can have the whole college experience. For grads, well you can focus on your studies with no distractions such as those you can find in a big city."

"Cheaper for instate tuition but far from Chicago firms day-to-day."

"Pros: 1) Excellent network of students and research 2) Great opportunities after program completion Cons: 1) Very high tuition fees 2) No financial aid"

"The program is quite straight forward, but the red tape is a nightmare. I expect you'd find that at any big school thought. Overall I like the program now that I'm in it and I think I will be well prepared to teach."

"The MPH program (Masters in Public Health) is in conjunction with the BS degree. Therefore it is a 5yr program essentially or one could do a 2yr track in they do not attend the university already. The pros: a GRE score is not necessary, in-state tuition, great campus, acclaimed faculty and network with a passion for their jobs. The degree is also very marketable for entering different related fields. Cons: Not as much financial aid"

"The history department at UIUC is one of the best in the nation. The faculty are all superb and from diverse fields, giving students a variety of options for field specialties and collaborations."

"Pros: Very good faculty. Cons: Lack of room to study inside the department."

"Pros: - Accessible faculty - Supportive staff - Affordable living - Close to Chicago - Small class sizes Cons: - Limited focus areas in the department - Few classes offered per semester - Interdisciplinary research discouraged"

"The pros are that I receive an excellent education from some of the top professionals in their field of study at a highly ranked institution however the biggest downside is the accesibility in scheduling for working adults as well as tuition costs."

"Like all grad programs, you'll get different feedback from different students. My experiences have been generally positive, in good part due to having a great adviser. Others have not been so fortunate. Quality of instruction is generally pretty good, but the methods sequence tends to frustrate a lot of students. Workload is reasonable and professors are very good about letting students pursue their own research agenda. The C-U area is boring, but cheap (that's always the trade-off, isn't it?)."

"Political science at UIUC is nationally-ranked, and deservedly so."

"Jazz Studies Department: Pros: High standards of performance are required. Talent of peers is high. Expertise and experience of the Faculty is exceptional. Faculty is very accessible and not arrogant. Full range of courses in jazz performance, literature, compostion, and arranging are available. Many ensembles and performance opportunities. Exceptional performance and library facilities. Cons: Separation exists between jazz and classical divisions. Students do not cross easily between departments due to scheduling. A distinct disadvantage to those students looking for both jazz and classical experience."

"I feel that it is a combination of the faculty, staff and my fellow peers that creates the appropriate foundation for an excellent education at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. The combined intelligence of my professors and the desire of myself and my peers creates the ultimate learning environment. A con of my graduate program is that the school is rather large, which can make it difficult to stand out from the rest of my peers. Also, the area that surrounds the campus is not optimal, nor is the crime right in the area."

"Some of the classes are beneficial, it would be nice if there were more financial assistance opportunities."

"Excellent research and academic environment, good education quality, good advisor, rich course system, quiet campus, rich student diversity. I am satisfied with the overall graduate education quality here."

"Competitive program that requires a lot of effort and will to complete. The result though is worth the try."

"Among top 10 engineering schools, solid graduate program and overall support in laboratories, and resources."

"It has lots of good classes. Some of the breadth requirements are annoying."