What Drove Me to a Great College Decision

What Drove Me to a Great College Decision Believe me when I say that I understand making a decision on where to spend the next four years of your life isnt easy. In fact, I ended up at a university I swore I would never choose to attend. Coming from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago, there is always a fair share of students from my high school who chose the University of Illinois over other universities. Time and time again, I made claims that everyone from Vernon Hills goes to Illinois and I dont want to feel like Im still in high school. Photo from Rachel Hernandez It wasnt until I visited the university that I fell in love. And truth be told, it wasnt through a college visit or any organized event. I did what I suggest every prospective student do: stay overnight with someone. Staying overnight lets a prospective student see beyond a guided tour of each facility; it allows them to get a sense as to what campus life is really like, while getting a taste of the independence college feeds. The very moment I chose this university was on a Saturday morning. I had stayed overnight Friday and had a high school test to study for. I felt like a stranger to the older students around me, but soon realized the amazing opportunity to see how well I fit in. I punched the Starbucks on Green Street into my Google Maps and began walking. While sitting in the cafe listening to music and studying, I took a moment to look around me. In every direction, students were laughing, studying, and talking to one another. It felt like everyone there had known each other for years, while the truth was that they were all strangers. It hit me then: This campus is more than a universityâ€"it is a home. Gif from Giphy.com This isnt to say that other universities dont have incredible programs and amazing senses of community, but I can assure any prospective student that this one does. This university goes above and beyond in academics, sociability, and a sense of family. After only a month here, it already feels like my home away from home. Rachel Class of 2020 I am studying Middle Grades Education with concentrations in Social Sciences and Literacy in the College of Education. Although I now reside in Champaign, I am originally from Vernon Hills, a Northwest suburb of Chicago.