University of Illinois c/o 2018 Applicants!

Veterinary Science Graduate Programs from U. of I.
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Mind is at 8:30........I'm actually really glad, that means I can get the scary part over with!! I feel I will enjoy my time around the campus/on the tour more!!!

THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING GUYS!!!!!!!!!!
 
Haven't seen my interview time on the portal yet...
But I confirmed for the 10th
 
I haven't seen my time on the portal either and I'm still waiting for the official letter in the mail but will call today to confirm my interview for the 10th
 
Where is everyone going to stay when they are there for their interview?
 
I Hotel and Conference Center

Edit: If anyone else is staying here and wants to head over together on the day, PM me! I think the hotel has a shuttle that can take us to campus buildings.
 
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Welp, declined my interview. Hope someone else gets a spot!! Good luck to all who are interviewing!
 
Has anyone gotten an email back saying their interview time? I've emailed them twice now and haven't gotten a response. I'm freaking out a little.
 
cloverbug said:
Has anyone gotten an email back saying their interview time? I've emailed them twice now and haven't gotten a response. I'm freaking out a little.
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Check the portal. As soon as I confirmed my interview my portal was updated with the time.
 
Mine was updated on the portal just a few days after I sent them my confirmation email, it was updated on 1/14. It changed on the application where it said:
Interview Confirmation Status:
Interview accepted - 2/10/14 (then your time will be here). I would call if you do not see this or it says pending just to make sure.
 
Yea I'll have to call during my lunch on Monday if it doesn't change by then. I hope they didn't miss my emails because I already made travel arrangements. Would be a sad day.
 
cloverbug said:
Yea I'll have to call during my lunch on Monday if it doesn't change by then. I hope they didn't miss my emails because I already made travel arrangements. Would be a sad day.
Click to expand...
What email did you send it to? - just checking.
 
My email betrayed me! I had to call and fix this mess so that I can interview with them. I don't have a time though and I have to wait for someone else to decline. Blagh!
 
cloverbug said:
My email betrayed me! I had to call and fix this mess so that I can interview with them. I don't have a time though and I have to wait for someone else to decline. Blagh!
Click to expand...

What happened with the email? Did they skip you since they didn't hear anything? That is so horrible!
 
Kyoht said:
What happened with the email? Did they skip you since they didn't hear anything? That is so horrible!
Click to expand...
I emailed them twice but for some reason they never went through to admin or something so they declined my interview. So, I had to call them yesterday and she said that she would add me back onto the list of interviewees and I forwarded her my original email showing I did contact them on the 15th. Now I have to wait for other people to decline to get a time to interview. I hate the waiting game.
 
I need help from people who are familiar with Illinois or who are students at U of I.

I will be flying into O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and from there will be driving 2 1/2 hours to Urbana. Now, when I booked everything I was just happy about the fact that I was saving a lot of money that way (round trip between Chicago and Germany for $620 is pretty awesome compared to the $950 round trip between Willard Airport and Germany) and from what I remember the weekly weather forecast did not show snow at the time, very cold yes, but no snow yet.
Since I keep checking the forecast, there is now snow a few days a week. So knowing this, how bad is the snow? Is it realistic for me to plan on driving 2 1/2 hours between Chicago and Urbana (do they keep roads pretty clear, is it an easy drive, etc?) I know it also depends on the weather the day I fly into Illinois but based on what you know about the weather in Illinois, could I safely drive that distance?

Also, how do the toll roads work? I googled the directions to Urbana and it appears there are some toll roads I will have to use. Is it just a little booth where I have to pay a few cents to get through or is it more high tech and it's something I can purchase online?

I appreciate any feedback I can get. 🙂
 
So, as for toll roads, Chicago toll roads are pretty simple, you pay every so often, and you pay when you get off an exit. You'll want to stay in the right lane, as the left lanes are for people with the e-pass things. There are usually toll takers on the major roads, and automated ones (you just throw in your change) on the smaller roads/exits. The people will take cash, but I'd recommend having 5-10 dollars in coins (quarters/nickels/dimes)

As for the snow-I cant answer that, but I'd say a BIG factor in that would be how often you drive in the snow, and how familiar you are ith it. Also remember, you'll be having a rental car, and who knows how good it will be in the snow (I'm assuming it would ne a small car, since they're cheaper, and I would worry about how it drives in bad weather)
 
ntorres said:
I need help from people who are familiar with Illinois or who are students at U of I.

I will be flying into O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and from there will be driving 2 1/2 hours to Urbana. Now, when I booked everything I was just happy about the fact that I was saving a lot of money that way (round trip between Chicago and Germany for $620 is pretty awesome compared to the $950 round trip between Willard Airport and Germany) and from what I remember the weekly weather forecast did not show snow at the time, very cold yes, but no snow yet.
Since I keep checking the forecast, there is now snow a few days a week. So knowing this, how bad is the snow? Is it realistic for me to plan on driving 2 1/2 hours between Chicago and Urbana (do they keep roads pretty clear, is it an easy drive, etc?) I know it also depends on the weather the day I fly into Illinois but based on what you know about the weather in Illinois, could I safely drive that distance?

Also, how do the toll roads work? I googled the directions to Urbana and it appears there are some toll roads I will have to use. Is it just a little booth where I have to pay a few cents to get through or is it more high tech and it's something I can purchase online?

I appreciate any feedback I can get. 🙂
Click to expand...

You should be ok driving, but the roads here can get really icy even when they plow just because of the wind, so snow drifts over it. Your trip should still be 2.5 hours, but don't be surprised if it ends up taking you longer, say, a half hour or so. I'm not sure if you're used to driving in winter-y weather, but just go slow 🙂

As for the tolls, here we have an "I pass". Paying with change is almost twice as much as with an I pass, but you can go through I pass without one, you'll have 7 days to pay online (you will see signs with that saying after you go through).

Hope this helps, and if I missed anything please let me know!

And to everyone, if you want to look at the U of I campus in general (which is north of the vet school) and you want to park to eat, shop, etc bring quarters!! There are parking meters everywhere.
 
Thank you for your responses, it really helps me out a lot.

I'm originally from California, Los Angeles to be specific. Before moving to Germany I had no experience driving in the snow whatsoever. That being said, even in Germany it hasn't gotten horrible and when it does get bad there's 2 hour delays at work or if it gets really really bad things get shut down so we don't have to be driving around in the bad weather. So I have very limited experience driving in the snow, my technique is to just go slow and hope for the best. I'm going to be praying that weather is good when I arrive and that things warm up at least a few degrees.

I was telling my husband earlier that your blood probably freezes as soon as you step out of a building in Illinois. I can't imagine weather that "feels like" -20 degrees. The coldest it's gotten here is -8. Brrrr
 
layers. lots and lots of layers.

I'm even wearing leggings under my suit pants so I stay warmer on the tour 🙂

are you flying in on Sunday?
 
ntorres said:
I need help from people who are familiar with Illinois or who are students at U of I.

I will be flying into O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and from there will be driving 2 1/2 hours to Urbana. Now, when I booked everything I was just happy about the fact that I was saving a lot of money that way (round trip between Chicago and Germany for $620 is pretty awesome compared to the $950 round trip between Willard Airport and Germany) and from what I remember the weekly weather forecast did not show snow at the time, very cold yes, but no snow yet.
Since I keep checking the forecast, there is now snow a few days a week. So knowing this, how bad is the snow? Is it realistic for me to plan on driving 2 1/2 hours between Chicago and Urbana (do they keep roads pretty clear, is it an easy drive, etc?) I know it also depends on the weather the day I fly into Illinois but based on what you know about the weather in Illinois, could I safely drive that distance?

Also, how do the toll roads work? I googled the directions to Urbana and it appears there are some toll roads I will have to use. Is it just a little booth where I have to pay a few cents to get through or is it more high tech and it's something I can purchase online?

I appreciate any feedback I can get. 🙂
Click to expand...

One thing about our weather is that it is extremely cold or we have snow. So pray for cold! Right now, tt looks like we are in for a little snow but not much and the weather changes so much here that you really have to check as we get closer to the date. Tolls are approx. $1.50 unless it's an exit ramp ( then you will need change). If it does snow, they usually do a great job keep the expressways clear once they get started. Our expressways get can like that of the 405 without a car pool lane so just make sure you give yourself plenty of time. I'm an hour north of O'hare and will be heading down Sunday.
 
Also keep an eye out for cops on 57, they'll try to get ya!

If anyone in the O'Hare vicinity wants to carpool Monday morning, PM me! I'm a big cheapskate and figure I can't be the only one. My interview is at 2:30, and I would like to hit up the info session thingy at 11am. I plan on driving back in the evening. Just thought I'd make a shout out.
 
HowIMetYourPet said:
layers. lots and lots of layers.

I'm even wearing leggings under my suit pants so I stay warmer on the tour 🙂

are you flying in on Sunday?
Click to expand...

I was thinking of wearing something under my suit pants too but I'll be afraid my pants won't close anymore, hahaha. 😛 Stress the past few weeks has made me gain a few pounds.
I'll be flying in on Saturday afternoon, I'm glad I arrive when it's nice and bright out and I can take my time.

vet4life said:
Our expressways get can like that of the 405 without a car pool lane so just make sure you give yourself plenty of time.
Click to expand...
The 405, really? I don't have any fond memories of ANY freeway in LA, especially not the 405. Ew.
 
I just heard that there might be more than a foot of snow on the 9th!!!! The Sunday before interviews!!! Hopefully it will change in the next week. Still, I will be keeping a close eye on the weather. I only live about 2hrs away, but I'm starting to get nervous and might end up heading into town early. I hope all the OOSers are able to make it!!
 
Kyoht said:
I just heard that there might be more than a foot of snow on the 9th!!!! The Sunday before interviews!!! Hopefully it will change in the next week. Still, I will be keeping a close eye on the weather. I only live about 2hrs away, but I'm starting to get nervous and might end up heading into town early. I hope all the OOSers are able to make it!!
Click to expand...


I'm suuuuuuuuuuuuper paranoid about this "super storm" a-brewin as well....
 
Not sure if anyone's asked this already, but anyone have a guess at when we might hear back? The admissions page says "late February." Since all interviews will be on the 10th, would we hear back the following week, or the week after (both are technically "late February" in my mind)?
 
Last time I applied, they sent out letters a week after interview day. So we could reasonably hear back the following week! It'll probably be on Portal too.
 
I wonder how the alternate list will work....I'm assuming they'll send out acceptances first? Then do they wait and see who rejects, then send out more? Or do they just put everyone on an alternate list to begin with (or, I guess, just flat out reject them)
 
I was wait listed a few years ago, and I received my letter (it was actually more like a postcard) the same day my classmates received acceptances. Everyone who interviews is either accepted or wait listed, so no flat out rejections go out. If you're wait listed, you won't hear from them again unless a spot opens up. I do remember the card alluded to your spot on the wait list, but didn't give an official rank. So some people were told it was "highly unlikely" they would receive an admissions offer due to their spot on the list, while others were told it was "possible" because they were near the top. This WAS a few years ago so they may do it differently now.
 
Grrr, there's snow on the forecast for Saturday. Oh well, glad I arrive early in Chicago and can take my time getting to Urbana.

On another note, anyone staying at the Ramada Inn? I'd love to meet some of you 🙂
 
no ramada for me :/ I'm at the homewood suites
I was planning on coming in on Sunday am, but now I'm thinking of leaving a day early in case we have trouble getting there :/
 
This is a dumb question but is it Urbana or Champaign? Or are they the same thing? >_<
 
I totally forget where I'm staying...oops lol. But I'll be there saturday night. So if anyone wants to do anything Sunday let me know I'll have a rental car 🙂
 
Just double checking...as far as I've read online, there is no dinner that anyone knows of is there? I'm just wondering because I know that other schools had dinner on/before their interview days, and I don't want to have misread and miss something important! Also, for people that have afternoon interview times, what time do you plan on getting to the school? I was thinking I'll get there closer to the first info session at 11, since I don't want to check in at 7 and then sit around with nothing to do til 11. Unless anyone knows of other activities they have planned for us during that time. Thoughts?
 
No dinner.

I also have an afternoon interview time. I plan on getting there around 10am to check in and then go to the info session. There will probably be current students roaming around if you want to ask them questions.
 
RPCVvet said:
No dinner.

I also have an afternoon interview time. I plan on getting there around 10am to check in and then go to the info session. There will probably be current students roaming around if you want to ask them questions.
Click to expand...

Yep, we will be roaming around all day! We're in class all morning so you'll see us on breaks and then tours go from 11-2. There's also going to be a Q/A table where you get to ask current students questions and usually there is food set up somewhere in the building 🙂

But don't be afraid to come chat one of us up!! We're a pretty friendly bunch 🙂
 
jessejames23 said:
Yep, we will be roaming around all day! We're in class all morning so you'll see us on breaks and then tours go from 11-2. There's also going to be a Q/A table where you get to ask current students questions and usually there is food set up somewhere in the building 🙂

But don't be afraid to come chat one of us up!! We're a pretty friendly bunch 🙂
Click to expand...

How long are tours? My interview's scheduled for 1.30 and I know they had other info sessions here and there
 
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