University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
About Me
Intro
Although I am a distinguished and respectable Midwest institution, I have undergone some recent identity crises. Let's just say that our mascot has been retired and although our athletic teams are still known as the Fighting Illini, any other reference to our dear previous chief no longer exists.
In spite of those challenges, I am a state school that is a tasty, eclectic mix of liberal arts, agriculture, and world-class engineering talent.
Let's also not lose sight of the important fact that I'm a Big Ten school with amazing athletic programs. I've got a bunch of brainy jocks that hide slide rules in their lockers, sing opera in their off-time, and love to feed chickens. (Yes, actual chickens, at the ag school.)
To those who take the train from Chicago or the bus from Belleville, I am "downstate." But my population is pretty international, partially because of my engineering excellence. Really, Urbana-Champaign can't talk smack about me, because this area wouldn't exist without my presence.
Let's get back to what you're really interested in, though—my sports programs. My advice? Sit in the card section, have a carbonated beverage, and cheer the teams on as we defeat all of our Big Ten competitors (because that's bound to happen).
Name
Fighting Illini
Hometown
Urbana-Champaign. But some of us prefer Chambana-Urpane.
Birthdate
1867
Body Type
I've got one beefy undergraduate population: 32,281 U.S. undergraduates and 4,447 international undergraduates, to be exact. We've also got 12,239 graduate and professional students. Don't let the fact that I'm a big state university throw you. Inside this huge body is a natural, down-home spirit.
Current Living Situation
My dorms are institutional, but not oppressive…which is good, because lots of students live in them. If you're looking for schmaltz, you're in the wrong latitude/longitude. Most of the off-campus digs are for the grad students and faculty. If you do voyage out there, remember, you're in the corn-belt, bible-belt, and pocket-protector belt here.
Relationship Status
As hard as I work to describe myself as a world-class engineering and liberal arts site, I'm still Big Ten. So I'll always hate the Hoosiers, Badgers, Wolverines, and Buckeyes. If you're smart, you won't wear any of their gear on my campus. You'll get the infamous Midwest glare…
Politics
The fact that I'm one short train ride from Chicago influences my politics for sure. Plus, we have a sister campus in Chi-town that we like a lot, despite some competition between us. (We're older, bigger, and more austere—shh, don't tell them we said so.)
You should apply to me if...
you're looking for a high-class Midwestern university with zero pretension.
Website
http://www.uiuc.edu