<p>DD loves the look of Illinois. the exterior is stunning. we spent the night there and went to the gym which was just ok. Some of the interior spaces- food court, student union- seem a little run down. is the state putting money into the school? we know it is top enginering but she is environmental science. she is into purdue, ncstate, wisc, def at michigan and waiting on florida and maryland.<br>
we are out of state -
any suggestions</p>
<p>With a just OK, it sounds like you went to the west side gym/recreation center which is the older one. There is new recreation center on the east side of campus that is quite impressive.</p>
<p>Nevertheless there a lot of things that are old at UIUC including all but one of the dorms and many of them inside are going to look a little run down like the Student Union. They do have a new dorm, Nugent, on the west side, which is impressive, and they are tearing down another in the same area to build another and the plan is to replace more in that area but that is a long term project.</p>
<p>The State of Illinois is broke and it competes with California as being the state in the worst financial condition while at the same having politicians who seem bent on keeping it that way. The legislature has not been decreasing funding to the university in the last several years but it has not been increasing it either so if you are expecting to see everything looking worn suddenly be redone you are going to have a long wait. In Illinois we are just happy when we have a governor that does not get arrested and go to jail (4 of the last 8) and we have minimal expectations for improvement of our government and educational funding.</p>
<p>Despite that, UIUC does have an impressive campus with many excellent programs. At the same time out of state tuition is high and it would be difficult to recommend it over one of those others you mention if one is your home state university becaiuse of the cost difference.</p>
<p>That was a great answer!! Illinois politics makes a lot of headlines, NJ gets a little press as well unfortunately for more than politics. We are in NJ so none of these state school are our state school and are all about the same cost (xcpt Mich). .
She can’t decide so it looks like we are going to have to take another trip to midwest after we hear from Florida. Indiana is putting money into Purdue, brand new gym and looks like Wisc is at least maintaining. I don’t think for her major that there is much difference in the schools academically so it will come down to where she feels happy - so far it’s all of them with Illinois a little in the lead, although the football season started her rethinking that decision.</p>
<p>thank you</p>
<p>I think as an OOS student she would find Wisconsin far more enjoyable. Better town, more positive school spirit, more national student body not all majoring in engineering. I’m from NJ BTW.</p>