[University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign]

which city you live in doesn't matter too much in my opinion. Considering the campus sits almost dead center between the two, it's fairly even in terms of where grad students live.

the campus is gigantic, it actually occupies turf in both towns relatively evenly and you'll find rental properties of all sorts in both Urbana and Champaign. The closer you get to campus the more expensive, but it's not too hard to find something within walking distance of campus. The bus system is also very good (it apparently wins all sorts of awards) and the University has an arrangement that lets all students and faculty ride for free so even if you live a little farther away it's not a big deal.

The university does also have a graduate student/post doc housing area called Orchard Downs (in Urbana), it's large area of apartments surrounded by lots of grass fields and an arboretum with a direct bus line to the heart of campus. It's a good place for those that have children or want a quieter neighborhood. There's also Goodwin-Green (also in Urbana, but it's like 2 blocks from the Urbana-Champaign boundary) which is another University apartment complex that's actually on campus. These tend to be a little more expensive than privately owned apartments but tend to be better maintained in my opinion.

There are several rental companies in town as well (JSM, Bankier, Gabe's Place). It really depends on what you're looking for. The campus culture for undergrads is generally to live in the dorms for 1-2 years and then get an apartment with friends so most buildings will significant amounts of juniors and seniors living in them as well as grad students.

In terms of time outside of class. There is a sort of main strip right next to campus (Green Street) that has many eateries and bars/pubs, at night it tends to be over-run with undergrads. I don't really do bars much but the nightlife in Downtown Champaign is what I personally prefer because the crowd tends to be a little older (although it is very possible to run into some of the younger professors there).

links

housing

JSM

Bankier

Gabe's Place (tends to be very undergrad heavy)

Royse&Brinkmeyer

Ramshaw

PPM

Burnham (new building, might be pricier)

Capstone

There's also all sorts of individual properties and whatnot and as you mentioned craigslist is a good place to look. CU-Living is also a good place to find listings, parts of their website make it seem like they are a property management company but they are solely a listings site.

random

CU mass transit district - Bus routes and info

Campus Map - The division between Champaign and Urbana runs along Wright Street

Eat CU - Website that lists many of the restaurants in the area along with their menus, also has a system that allows you to order online.

Wow!! Thanks for all of the great info. It's so helpful! I really appreciate you looking out for a newbie.

[University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign]

Urbana has more of a small town feel (trees everywhere, brick streets, etc), it also has almost no commerce because of an almost rabid adherence to keeping the small town image -> high property taxes and very limited shopping.

Champaign feels like a suburb of a large city.

regarding undergrads. it depends on what college you're looking at, some are extremely competitive for undergrad as well.

Zilch,

In your opinion, where would be best for a grad student to live --- Urbana or Champaign?

In which do most grads actually reside and spend time in while not in class?

Thanks!!!

[University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign]

Yay! I haven't seen anyone else around who's intending to go, but then I know that they accepted fewer this year than last (confirmed by multiple profs in my department), so that might be part of it. I haven't accepted my offer yet, but I'm going to for sure! Part of my reluctance to accept is my desire to procrastinate dealing with the awkward-ness of getting an ecstatic letter from a program which had accepted me unfunded, and now just secured funding for me. I feel terribly guilty that they were deliberately working on it with the thought that the only reason I was not intending to go was funding, when the reality is they're a weak program comparatively to the other two schools I have admits to -- Pitt-with-fellowship (another awkward rejection I need to deal with) and UIUC, namely.

Anyway, I'm in San Diego now and the thought of being surrounded by cornfields with no culture, no Trader Joes (!!@!rage), no awesome weather and no frequent drug-busts with helicopter searches for rapists at 4am has me depressed. I could probably do without the last two, admitedly. I told one of the grad students about the helicopter searches keeping me up and her eyes about fell out of her head from the incomprehension, which was pretty awesome.

Cost of living is a total joke from what I can discern on craigslist. It's very amusing to me how all the housing seems to list addresses by street names (as if they're meaningful to me!) because it's such a small place. I am totally clueless except that I want to live in Urbana because of the health food stores and the farmers market. That's all I know, really. ...

I only know people in Chicago, which is totally not the same thing as knowing people in Champaign/Urbana. I do know someone who went there for undergrad and someone whose whole clique of friends/family also went there or currently goes there for undergrad, but the grad student scene seems pretty separate from the undergrad. I get the impression that the undergrad pop has no clue that the grad students are selected from a hyper competitive group since it's relatively easy for them to get in (assuming Illinois residency).

I'm in for psychology, specifically the "brain and cognition" division, to work on psychophysiological studies of cognition ("language stuff", which 3/4s of the profs in the cognitive/brain&cog sections specialize in). The psych department has seven divisions, and there were about five of us there for visiting weekend from 3 of the divisions combined, but I think there were a lot more admits that couldn't make it... The idea of potentially being *literally* the only admit of my year in my division is kind of alarming, but most classes are combined with students from other divisions and departments.

I could go on and on since, as I said, I haven't seen or heard from anyone else who was admitted (and everyone from admit weekend had "choices" to make). What department are you with? Did you go to admit weekend? What made you want to go? I'm really curious!

Lucere,

I completely understand big city life. I am relocating from New York City so I am very familiar with the sirens and sorts.

I am going to be a student at the ischool (GSLIS).

I did not attend admit weekend, but then again, I really didn't need to because GSLIS surpasses all other ischools by far. I say this in terms of innovation, professional opportunities, outstanding research opportunities, and the school's dedication to social change at the community-level. Aside from those things, the program is the most flexible (allowing me to hone in on my specific interests), it is the most prestigious, and as far as information schools are concerned, UIUC is the most generous with funding.

I was really interested in attending a program that would allow me to focus on "Information Science" outside traditional settings. Others schools tended to solely focus on traditional librarianship. GSLIS is definitely, the best information school for someone like me - a person who wants to integrate libraries, information, communication and technology.

I have decided to live on campus for the first semester or two. I really wanted to jump right into the program without having to worry about finding a place. I want to be able to take my time and find something appropriate for myself.

I do see your point about the undergrads. But to their defense, it wasn't until I started researching graduate programs myself that I realized most public research-one institutions are super selective and heavily invest in their grad students; because it's the grad students who form the institution's future reputation (research, teaching, and professional application).

You may only know one person there, but I know no one. So your one-up on me...lol.

Congrats, I wish you the best!!!!!

P.S.: Not having a Trader Joe's is kind of a shock for me too...lol. ;-)

[University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign]

Hey there! I'm from India and I'll be attending UIUC this fall too! What program have you been accepted to? I will be pursuing a PhD in Molecular & Cellular Biology. By the way I should be the one apprehensive about relocating NOT you!!! Regardless I can't wait for the fall to begin either!

Hi PhDhopeful,

Congrats!!!!

Yes, India is a big move. The US is so diverse, and moving from one part of the country to another can be a little bit of culture shock too. Granted, your move still beats mine.

It's going to be great!!!

[University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign]

Hello Everyone,

I just accepted my offer of admission to UIUC. I am so excited about attending the top program in my field!!! I am relocating from a urban metropolis, so I am a little scared about the change in scenery and culture. But nevertheless, I am thrilled about it all and wholeheartedly embracing the change needed to accomplish my dreams.

I don't know anyone there. Are there any others in my situation? I would love to read your responses.

Even if your not in my situation and attending UIUC this fall, I would still love to connect.

Thanks!!!