University of Illinois?

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I too am bonafide! 🙂 My status also states "Admission offer accepted" 🙂 I am most definitely going to open house! Anyone else?
 
I totally would go to open house... except for the fact that it isn't exactly convenient for me in Alabama... so I will have to wait until summer to go back.
 
Unless there is a specific event or program at Open House for the newly admitted students this year, I don't really want to go. I've been twice and it was more geared towards little kids than prospective students, i.m.o.

on another topic, maybe those of us coming from Chicago should have a Chicago area meet an greet before we head down in the fall?
 
Does anyone know when the open house is? I can't find it. Also, would you not recommend that I go to the open house? I'm an Alternate, and I live in VA. I just know that my fiance told me that her grad school waits to order the waitlist until their open house day, to see who shows up. Do you think it's the same at IL? Or is it mostly just a public open house, which is what I'm getting from pigsfoot.
 
It is a 100% public open house to introduce the community and anyone who is interested to the vet school, and vet med in general. It is entirely run by the current students, and we will be required to work it when we are there, in our first years. The times I went, I literally had to wait in lines behind children and their parents to be able to see or hear anything. it was a bit of a madhouse. (in a different way from interview day!). I'm pretty certain they don't take names of people attending so they can keep track-but the last one i went to was about 6 years ago, so things may have changed, but I doubt it. its totally not a requirement for incoming students to attend. here's the site for it:

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/openhouse/

If you really want to go, by all means, you should! It is kinda fun, after all. I think we'll get a much better feel of what the school is really like when we're there for orientation week, though!
 
Does anyone know when U of I starts calling people in off of the waitlist? Do they wait until April 15 or do they start calling people as the initial offers of admissions get turned down?

As soon as there is an opening, they will call you. They won't wait for a deadline. I'm proof of that. They called me the day after my car wreck 😡
which was before the deadline.
 
We definitely should have a Chicago meet and greet before we go! I, unfortunately, won't really be in Chicago until roughly the first of July so I completely understand if everyone else wants to meet up before that.
 
Also, does anyone know what is going on with the official facebook group? I requested to join, and am confirmed on the status page, but still haven't been let in!
 
the facebook page is up and running and if you requested to join and accepted your offer-you have access now. yay!

oh-and i think July would be fine to meet up in Chicago too!
 
I was wondering about computers at U of I. The school arranges a package you can buy... but don't have to? Is this package a good deal? Is it recommended? And computer costs are outright... not included in tuition right?

Thanks!
 
As soon as there is an opening, they will call you. They won't wait for a deadline. I'm proof of that. They called me the day after my car wreck 😡
which was before the deadline.

Thanks for letting me know!
Wow, that's quite the emotional roller coaster to go through in two days!
 
Me too! I kind of felt like it was a generic thing though, did anyone not get one?
 
Me too! I kind of felt like it was a generic thing though, did anyone not get one?


I'm no where near my mailbox since I'm on spring break this week, so I was just wondering, did it come through the mail?
 
Me too! I kind of felt like it was a generic thing though, did anyone not get one?
uh, yea, over here. thanks for rubbing our faces in it. 😛

heh, no, i'm happy for you guys, i just didn't even know scholarships were available for 1st years. Did you have to apply for them?
 
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I didn't apply for anything and got the email too.

This is what it said: "Congratulations on your admission to the Class of 2014 at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. In recognition of your outstanding scholarly record, you have been awarded a Dean’s scholarship ($1000) for your first academic year at the College. The College offers approximately $420,000 per year in scholarship aid, for which you would be eligible to apply for in subsequent years.

I am very pleased that you have been selected for our incoming class and know that you will find our College an excellent place to learn and grow, both as a professional and as a person. Again, congratulations and I look forward to seeing you in August.

Sincerely,
Herbert E. Whiteley, DVM, PhD
Dean"
 
I'm sorry I didn't mean to be snotty! I got the same email, and didn't apply for it either. My mom and I thought that everyone might have gotten one since it was only $1000, but anything is better than nothing and I'm thankful!
 
BTW...
Decided for sure today that I'm coming to ILLINOIS!!!

😀
 
I'm 95% sure I'm going to U of I! I'm going to visit again next week! I was just wondering what ya'll were thinking about housing? (If you've begun thinking....) I really don't want to live alone... but am equally freaked out about living with a stranger!
 
Congrats zoogirl on making the decision! I'm looking forward to meeting you in the fall! Just curious, what was the deciding factor over MN?

Smileystar, as I mentioned in this thread a few weeks ago, I live in a pet-friendly house located in a wonderful neighborhood very close to the vet school that will have several bedrooms available starting in the summer/fall. So far, it looks like I will be successful in filling them with fellow vet students, which is very exciting! Initially I wanted to live alone for the last two years of undergrad, but because I have a dog it was impossible to find a reasonably priced and accommodating apartment. Instead I have lived in this house with upper level vet students and it has been nothing short of awesome. Having lived with them, I now know that I would get depressingly lonely if I were to live alone. But that's just me. If you're interested (everyone else is welcome to as well), send me a PM with your email address for more information. 😉
 
Hey everyone, I came across this message board through a Google search and decided to join. I'm c/o 2014 and I'm having housing anxiety, after reading the previous two posts I thought I'd reach out to you all and ask if you have any advice about finding good, pet-friendly housing! Should I go to the tenant union and ask their advice? I didn't go to UIUC for undergrad so I'm completely clueless about the area (good neighborhoods, pet-friendly places, etc.)

Also, when do you think I should have secured my housing arrangements? I've heard apartments fill up pretty quickly! :scared:

Smileystar5, I am in the same boat!! I don't really want to pay rent alone but I'm super nervous about having roommates, I'm currently living with four of them and it really isn't working out. 🙁 I would be interested in living with some other vet students though, studying might be easier that way!
 
Housing in Urbana/Champaign fills up pretty fast. I went with my fiance on Friday to find a place to live.
We are living in the Ashton Woods University Apartments. They are close to the vet school and they allow pets. The apartments are newly remodeled and very nice too!
Finding apartments that allow dogs is difficult. We looked through a few other places and didn't find anything worth living in.

As soon as you can get there to look, the better.
 
Also, in case you haven't noticed yet there are 2 folks offering rooms in homes next year on the 2014 facebook group discussion board, FYI.
 
Thanks, I requested to join the Facebook group yesterday but I haven't been approved yet.

Zoogirl88, just out of curiosity, where else did you look that you didn't like?
 
I also looked at Weiner, since they allow dogs. The apartments were really really small and extremely beaten up. I also looked through Barr. They had a lot to choose from, but they only allow cats, and most fees aren't included in the rent. So by the end of it, you are paying for water, electric, heat, garbage, parking, internet, cable and every other thing. A friend of mine who will be at the medical school this year went up as well, and looked at Landmark too. She said most of them were very small and torn down as well, and they only allow cats at most locations.

For me, Ashton Woods seemed like the smartest decision (at least for the first year) then after we got more familiar with the area, and if we found something better, then we would move.
 
Hey Zoogirl, or anyone else who may know-have you been to Orchard Downs at all? its super close also...i know they don't allow *any* pets, but have you known anyone that lived there, and, if so, what did they think?
 
When I was there for interview day I saw students walking out of the lecture halls in street clothing (jeans, t-shirt, sweater, etc.). That's all I can offer!
 
Hey Zoogirl, or anyone else who may know-have you been to Orchard Downs at all? its super close also...i know they don't allow *any* pets, but have you known anyone that lived there, and, if so, what did they think?


Well.... I was going to look at those apartments, because they are almost right across the street from the vet med building.
But, the housing guy that talked to me said that those apartments were more like "dorm style" apartments. They don't have any carpet. All tile. And he said a lot of families live there since the unit has a day care and preschool. So he said it can get pretty noisy.

The Ashton Woods apt. just seemed so much nicer. and it's an easy 1 mi bike ride to the building.

I was thinking too....if there are other first years (I know my current classmate who will be going to IL next year is thinking about living in Ashton Woods as well) we could all just split a parking pass and carpool even.
I really don't want to shell out all that dough for a parking pass by myself.
haha.
 
If anyone is interested, I'm currently looking for a roommate for next year. I live at Amber Pointe Apartments and am looking to remain there for the 1st year of veterinary school (or longer). The apartment itself is very nice, quiet and less than a 10 min drive to the Vet School. There is free parking included and there is a washer/dryer in the apartment so it's very convenient. It's not the cheapest at $400/month, but it's very nice and still cheaper than most apartments on campus.

The one downside is that it is unfurnished, but I already have some furniture in the apartment (couch, dining table, tv, etc) so if someone wanted to move in with me, they'd only have to get stuff for their bedroom. Moreover, it's located right next to a Meijer so you can get your groceries coming back from school.

I'm really easy to get along with and have two friendly cats. My apartment is cat friendly (obviously) and there is no pet limit, so you'd be able to move in your cat(s), rabbits, ferrets, etc. as well. If anyone is interested, feel free to pm me.
 
I had similar problems finding housing that would allow me to have my bloodhound, but I looked at Hessel on the Park and it was really nice. It was kind of expensive to live alone since they only have 2 bedrooms (the rent for a 2 bedroom apartment was like $850) but the rooms (and closets!) were really big and they were recently renovated and allow pets of all sizes. So if you are looking to get a roommate it would be a great place, I think. They also have a fenced in dog park on the grounds. Most of the other places I looked at were in kind of bad shape though. 🙁
 
Also I wanted to apologize again for my previous comment. It sounds more and more obnoxious the more I think about it and at this point I'm not quite sure how I didn't think it sounded obnoxious at the time! But I really didn't mean to be so obnoxious!
 
Also I wanted to apologize again for my previous comment. It sounds more and more obnoxious the more I think about it and at this point I'm not quite sure how I didn't think it sounded obnoxious at the time! But I really didn't mean to be so obnoxious!

heh-don't even worry about it, AUILlinoisian! no biggie. we forgive you....:biglove:
 
Many Vet Students live in Savoy...you can take a look at some of the apartment complexes there, such as Indigo Place or The Village, which are about 5 mins away from school and allow dogs and cats. Also, Town and Country Apartments in Urbana is nice too, although about a 15 min drive to the school. They can be furnished or not, and are pretty new so you will get a nice-looking place. Some have utilities included, or partial inclusion. However, if you live by yourself it might get pricey. Honestly, it might be worth trying out living by yourself and paying a little more your first year. Then, if you think you need some company, you can get a roommate and lower your housing costs. That's just my opinion, though. Not everyone is going to have an issue with roommates, it's just something to consider. If you want to keep costs down from the get-go, then get a roommate...or two, or three! lol Send me a PM if you have any more questions.
 
Sent in my acceptance postcard on Friday 🙂

Can't wait to meet the rest of the Class of 2014!!!
 
Many Vet Students live in Savoy...you can take a look at some of the apartment complexes there, such as Indigo Place or The Village, which are about 5 mins away from school and allow dogs and cats. Also, Town and Country Apartments in Urbana is nice too, although about a 15 min drive to the school. They can be furnished or not, and are pretty new so you will get a nice-looking place. Some have utilities included, or partial inclusion. However, if you live by yourself it might get pricey. Honestly, it might be worth trying out living by yourself and paying a little more your first year. Then, if you think you need some company, you can get a roommate and lower your housing costs. That's just my opinion, though. Not everyone is going to have an issue with roommates, it's just something to consider. If you want to keep costs down from the get-go, then get a roommate...or two, or three! lol Send me a PM if you have any more questions.

Thanks, LadyHitokiri!! 🙂
 
Watch out for The Village at Colbert Park. There was a girl last year who was almost shot there and an e-mail was sent out to all of the Vet students to warn them about it. I was looking at living there a couple of years ago and I visited multiple times. It seems so nice and the staff is very understanding at first glance, but they kept lying to us. Each time we went there, we were given different information. : /
 
I have another random question 🙂 What are weekends like for vet students in terms of clinics and clubs? Would you consider the weekends jam-packed? Is there an opportunity to leave for the weekend and visit family?
 
Luvgoldens482-
I have lots of these questions too-i think we should re-direct them to the current students though. maybe post to the other forum for veterinary students? I will definitely be perusing that too!
 
Good idea. I will go ahead and make a thread for 2014 in the vet forum 🙂
 
I had similar problems finding housing that would allow me to have my bloodhound, but I looked at Hessel on the Park and it was really nice. It was kind of expensive to live alone since they only have 2 bedrooms (the rent for a 2 bedroom apartment was like $850) but the rooms (and closets!) were really big and they were recently renovated and allow pets of all sizes. So if you are looking to get a roommate it would be a great place, I think. They also have a fenced in dog park on the grounds. Most of the other places I looked at were in kind of bad shape though. 🙁

Hey guys, just wanted to give a heads up on Hessel on the Park. I go to U of I currently, but will be going to Mizzou for vet school. I lived at Hessel on the Park for a year and its really pricey...I'm not just talking about the rent. The apartments have NO insulation, so I was paying $200 a month on heating bills in the winter. It was so bad that I spilled a glass of water between my dresser and the wall and by the next morning, the water had frozen to the wall. Not kidding. :scared:
 
To answer a couple of the questions I saw people asking:

1. The dress code is really casual; just avoid any controversial t-shirts and "fashionably ripped" jeans and you're fine. And I've never seen anybody show up in their pj's, but other than that...

2. There are definitely some areas that are nicer than others here. I wouldn't suggest living near the undergrad part of campus, since we have been getting a lot of crime reports in that area (particularly East Nevada Street). An area teeming with drunk 19 year-olds is a prime hunting ground for the criminally inclined. A lot of vet students live in apartments in Savoy, and seem pretty satisfied with it. I didn't start looking for a place to live until the middle of last summer, and there were still plenty of places available (although not many that were both pet-friendly and livable).

3. As for clubs and things having activities on the weekends, it really just depends on what you want to get involved with. Most things seem to be after class during the week, but there are occasionally things on the weekends. You can definitely make time to go home if you need to. It can get kind of crazy the weekend before an exam, so you might want to plan your trips accordingly so you have time to study.
 
It was so bad that I spilled a glass of water between my dresser and the wall and by the next morning, the water had frozen to the wall. Not kidding. :scared:

Oh geez! Thanks for that heads up! they definitely don't tell you that when you go on a walk through!
 
Haha, no problem. Its really unfortunate that the buildings are so old and the insulation is so bad because I liked pretty much everything else about the place. If you're rich and don't mind spending a lot on bills, then I guess I would recommend living there! LoL!
 
How long did it take from the time you mailed the "offer accepted" postcard to the time your status changed on the application status page? Its been a week, I'm gettin anxious... Oh and how long did it take to be accepted to the facebook page?


Also, does anyone know if there is a thread started of not just official acceptances, but official accepted offers... like "the official CVM classes of 2014" ????
 
Also, does anyone know if there is a thread started of not just official acceptances, but official accepted offers... like "the official CVM classes of 2014" ????

Nevermind... I found the thread 🙂, If you haven't done so already add your name to the list,

yay c/o 2014!!!!!!!!!!
 
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