University of Illinois c/o 2019 Applicants

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HowIMetYourPet said:
So does anyone have a guestimate budget that they stick to? Food, bills, etc? I'm trying to figure out how much to budget for rent..
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I used a website similar to this one http://average-rent.findthebest.com/l/5041/61802 when I moved here. Also used some others to compare cost of living overall, including prices for groceries, insurance, etc. Of course if you have a room in a house, compared to a whole apartment, your rent is going to be cheaper.
 
A lot of private landlords and smaller companies will make exceptions to their pet clauses if you tell them you're a vet student. I found my place on Craigslist, and the landlord initially had a no pet policy, but I was able to work it out with him so I could bring my cat. 🙂
 
Would love to hear more about the school and new curriculum from any current students lurking this thread - I'm still trying to decide between Iowa, Western, and Illinois :S
I can't decide though IL is my IS.
 
Has anyone heard of The Place @ 117? if so, any thoughts or comments about this place?
 
neocia said:
Would love to hear more about the school and new curriculum from any current students lurking this thread - I'm still trying to decide between Iowa, Western, and Illinois :S
I can't decide though IL is my IS.
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Choose IL, its the cheapest option.
 
Did anyone get called off the waitlist yet by any chance? On the previous forums it says people started getting called off mid-March.

I know chances are grim at this point, but I really wanted to go to Illinois 🙁
 
bbeventer said:
Choose IL, its the cheapest option.
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But what if @neocia likes the programs at other schools better? This is a concern I'm having too, except I'm heavily leaning towards Wisconsin, despite their potential tuition increase. Cost is a huge factor, but maybe not at the risk of going somewhere you might not be as happy (for whatever reason).
 
The thing is very few schools let you switch to instate, which in most cases is half the cost of out-of-state. I paid 60k in tuition (all loans) just for this past year which means by the time I graduate I'm going to owe $240k just from what I borrowed and does not include the interest accrued. If I choose the standard fixed option to paying off loans, I will owe 2k a month (about how much my fiance and I are bringing in each month right now) at least while if I choose the income-adjusted fixed rate then I'll owe less each month but it'll still take me 30 years to pay off the majority of what I borrowed. Just being instate lowers all of these costs greatly which means you'll be able to be more flexible financially right out the gate. I'm out-of-state everywhere and was only accepted at IL so my choices were extremely limited. The point is, tuition costs should be at the forefront of your decision. Your education is basically going to cost as much as a house, except the loaners don't care how much you make each month or your debt load. All they want is their money back.
 
GrizzlyMaya3 said:
But what if @neocia likes the programs at other schools better? This is a concern I'm having too, except I'm heavily leaning towards Wisconsin, despite their potential tuition increase. Cost is a huge factor, but maybe not at the risk of going somewhere you might not be as happy (for whatever reason).
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I believe happiness is a choice regardless of your address. Obviously there is some reason you want to go somewhere more expensive, besides the advisement of those who have gone before you. Do as you wish, it is no skin off my nose. I am just trying to give you a good solid piece of advice that debt become a huge issue in the last couple years of school.
 
GrizzlyMaya3 said:
But what if @neocia likes the programs at other schools better? This is a concern I'm having too, except I'm heavily leaning towards Wisconsin, despite their potential tuition increase. Cost is a huge factor, but maybe not at the risk of going somewhere you might not be as happy (for whatever reason).
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I was in a similar situation, having to choose between Kansas, Iowa, and Illinois with Illinois being my in-state. I went to Illinois for undergrad, so I was really considering going to one of the other two simply to get to experience life at a different school. But I am a practical person, and in the end, Illinois won out over the others because of the cost difference. Happiness is all about your attitude, and I truly believe you can be happy anywhere, especially if you are pursuing your dream of becoming a veterinarian! Plus, going somewhere else may make you happier for the 4 years you are there, but then you would be saddled with loan repayment on out-of-state tuition for the next 20 years, so would that really make you happier overall? That's the thought process I went through, anyway.
 
Anyone know whether first years can work in the LA hospital like super part time?
 
So, I'm now seriously considering buying a trailer - as it seems the most cost effective option. Anyone interested in being roommates? 🙂
 
I'm in the process of buying a house to rent out a room or two as well. I can bring more updates around mid-April for if this happens. If it does I'll be looking for a vet student roommate as well!
 
pinkpuppy9 said:
Where are you looking to live, specifically? I need more info....I've had a trailer in the back of my mind
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Well I've contacted Surbana Estates/Liberty Commons. They seem very well kept and reasonably priced. Liberty commons has an on site gym and dog park and is within driving distance to school. Surbana is slightly closer. Rent would be relatively cheap and they pay for water, so it would just be the other utilities. 🙂
 
LoveFate said:
Well I've contacted Surbana Estates/Liberty Commons. They seem very well kept and reasonably priced. Liberty commons has an on site gym and dog park and is within driving distance to school. Surbana is slightly closer. Rent would be relatively cheap and they pay for water, so it would just be the other utilities. 🙂
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They pay for trash and lawn litter pick up as well. Ive been meaning to msg you back, I just haven't had time so I will try to respond to your PM tomorrow!
 
Kyoht said:
They pay for trash and lawn litter pick up as well. Ive been meaning to msg you back, I just haven't had time so I will try to respond to your PM tomorrow!
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Thanks! Talk to you soon 🙂
 
Is the portal down for anyone else? I keep checking it to see if anything gets updated and this is the second day an error message came up and said the server is temporarily unavailable. Not sure if I was just the only one experiencing this.
 
JRL13 said:
Is the portal down for anyone else? I keep checking it to see if anything gets updated and this is the second day an error message came up and said the server is temporarily unavailable. Not sure if I was just the only one experiencing this.
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I just checked my portal just fine.
 
I was told the university awards around $800,000 in scholarships to students in the spring. Does anyone know how these scholarships are dispersed?
 
LoveFate said:
I was told the university awards around $800,000 in scholarships to students in the spring. Does anyone know how these scholarships are dispersed?
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Lots and lots of essays. There's a whole bunch of scholarships that award anywhere from $500-$20,000 a year to students, but every one of them requires an essay. I haven't one any so I can't tell you how you get them.
 
I'll be withdrawing myself from the alternate list since I got into one of my top schools. I hope nothing but the best for those of you that are in alternate limbo.

Oh and @pinkpuppy9 I hope you don't think this means we're not becoming super WoW nerd friends. :3
 
JRL13 said:
has anyone on the alternate list heard back yet? Just curious if they started making any calls yet.
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I'd like to know as well. My little is on the alternate list for Illinous and it's her first pick
 
pinkpuppy9 said:
Should we expect financial aid in the May mailing they said we'll get?
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I got an email from Illinois finaid today about the health professions/disadvantaged students loans. Dunno if that applies to you, but that may mean you'll get info via email soon
 
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I got an email about the Health Professions Loan... but I wasn't planning on applying for it, although I would love the lower interest rate. Does anyone know how likely it is to get that loan? I know you have to put in your parents' information, which makes me think I won't get the loan.
 
jmstroup said:
I got an email about the Health Professions Loan... but I wasn't planning on applying for it, although I would love the lower interest rate. Does anyone know how likely it is to get that loan? I know you have to put in your parents' information, which makes me think I won't get the loan.
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If you didn't qualify for the special low income loans in undergrad most likely you wont qualify for the health professional or disadvantage student loan either.
 
I think if your parents combined income is over $100,000 you don't qualify...correct me if I'm wrong but it is something similar
 
Dewdropinn said:
I think if your parents combined income is over $100,000 you don't qualify...correct me if I'm wrong but it is something similar
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That's been incorrect for me. My parents make over 100k combined but they have no assets, almost nothing in retirement accounts/general savings, and two other kids in college. I don't get a ton of money from the hspl loan but the lower interest rate is nice.

I also don't go to Illinois but I always figure it doesn't hurt to try for the hspl.
 
Yeah I think it's on a sliding scale according to your income + parents income/assets. Then it's also first come, first serve I think
 
Just letting you fine people know that I'll be turning my IS seat down. Hopefully that helps someone out 🙂
 
Once you get a bachelors degree you file as an independent from your parents. So I believe it's only based on how much money you make on your own. I called fafsa a couple days ago and asked them a bunch of questions.
 
Country_roads said:
I got an email from Illinois finaid today about the health professions/disadvantaged students loans. Dunno if that applies to you, but that may mean you'll get info via email soon
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What did the email say? For some reason I didn't get it 🙁 haha
 
hellovetschool26 said:
Once you get a bachelors degree you file as an independent from your parents. So I believe it's only based on how much money you make on your own. I called fafsa a couple days ago and asked them a bunch of questions.
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Truth, if you're graduating in May, then next year you file as an independent. Learned that the hard way this year.
 
hellovetschool26 said:
What did the email say? For some reason I didn't get it 🙁 haha
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Just that based on my fafsa info I can get hpl/disadvantaged loans. Also that I have to reply by the 25th to be considered for them. I also included my parental info because you have to in order to be qualified for these loans (even as an independent), so if you didn't include that info that may be the reason?

Edited to fix what I now see was an incredibly incoherent from-phone reply
 
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hellovetschool26 said:
Once you get a bachelors degree you file as an independent from your parents. So I believe it's only based on how much money you make on your own. I called fafsa a couple days ago and asked them a bunch of questions.
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Thats true, but there are still a couple a low interest loans reserved for disadvantage students and these loans do require your parents information. Those loans being the health professional and the disadvantage student loan.
 
I've found some beautiful 2-3 bedroom houses for rent. I'd really like to start considering a roommate because there is no way I can afford $1200 rent by myself!
 
shoupjos said:
It's official for me too. I will be at Illinois in the fall. Looking forward to it. I'm a male from Michigan. Anybody looking for a roommate let me know
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I'm from Michigan too! Went to U of M for undergrad and also officially going to Illinois in the fall. Where did you go for undergrad?
 
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