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Southwestern Illinois College Reviews

Average Rating Details

Academic Rigor

Dorm Life

Food and Dining

See Southwestern Illinois College reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Southwestern Illinois College. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Southwestern Illinois College reviews, or contribute your own Southwestern Illinois College review if you're a current student there.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Alexander from Waterloo, IL

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Will learn a lot

    Southwestern Illinois College has a great faculty and staff, and the counselors there are very helpful in getting you what you need to be successful in college.
    Will enjoy being here

    Southwestern Illinois College has a great campus, with a library and full internet access, which is great for your downtime between classes. Also they are next to a great strip mall, so you will definitely have fun between classes as well as during your classes with their great staff.
    Bang for the buck

    Southwestern Illinois College has a great price of tuition, and is the best choice for starting out your college career, and their education is of the same caliber of the more expensive universities.

  • 1 out of 1 people found this review useful.

    Antquenette from East Saint Louis, IL

    Reviewer is Researching this school. Reviewer has not been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments

  • happy student

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    SWIC is a great value to the many students that attend. I have gotten a high quality education at a cost that I can afford without going into debt. SWIC goes above and beyond to help its students succeed.
    Tips for prospective students

    Register early, if classes are not full they are closed quickly so make sure you register as soon as possible. Also fill out any financial aid forms right away and complete your FAFSA asap!
    Academic Rigor

    When taking the non basic courses like Organic Chemistry or Calculus, the classes are harder, which I expect they would be at any institution.
    Food and Dining

    Not every campus has a cafeteria, but they do make up for that by having local restaurants provide food options throughout the week.
    What to do for fun

    Since there are multiple campuses in different cities, there is something for everyone. One campus is close to a mall and another is by movie theaters. SWIC is also close to St. Louis which provides for lots of entertainment!
    Bang for the buck

    SWIC is a great option for those wanting to invest in their education without accruing debt.
    Great for these types of students

    SWIC is great for all types of students; from traditional to non traditional returning students.
    Clubs and Activities

    They offer an array of clubs an activities including but not limited to; Phi Theta Kappa, Student Leadership Group, College Activities Board, Peer mentors, TRIO Student Support Services, Mathematics Club, Anime Club and Astronomy Club.
    Campus Safety

    Public Safety does their best to keep the campus secure and students safe.

  • Tracey from Centreville, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    This is one of the best two year institutions a beginning college student can attend. They have excellent instructors and inavaluable resources that you won't find anywhere else.
    Tips for prospective students

    Meet with a counselor before choosing your major.
    Don't major in anything you won't enjoy.
    Plan your schedule wisely. Don't bite off more than you can chew.
    Academic Rigor

    You are required to keep an average grade of at least a C average.
    The academic rigor is very demanding. The instructors expect you to do the work.
    Dorm Life

    They do not have dorms on this campus.
    Food and Dining

    They have a very diverse selection of food with very affordable prices. They also have different varieties of snacks such as potato chips, fruit cups, pudding cups, as well as a healthy choice of soups, salads, and sandwiches.

    What to do for fun

    They have a college activitiy center that all students have access to.
    With everything from theater, to drama club, even to group bible studies.
    Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

    The campus has an excellent book store.
    Great for these types of students

    First time students.
    Campus Safety

    The campus does have a strong public safety presence at all times.
    You don't have to worry about any safety issues.

  • Jeremiah from Shiloh, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    excellent tutoring services. knowledgeable and personable instructors. very affordable.
    Tips for prospective students

    there are excellent tutors available in the success centers, if you ever need help drop by and one of them will be more than happy to help you. the student tutors are knowledgeable, friendly, and always helpful.
    Academic Rigor

    depending on the classes you take, you can find some excellent instructors who will challenge your academic abilities to the max. there are also several classes that can be treated as easy a classes if you don't invest any time or effort into them, but they are also valuable learning sources if you spend time trying to learn.
    Food and Dining

    the food is slightly overpriced, but it is always well-prepared.

  • Janice from Shiloh, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    great education for a great price.
    faculty and staff have a strong desire for students to succeed.
    educated, helpful professors.
    Tips for prospective students

    use all the available resources the college has to offer.
    ask questions.
    read everything you can.

    What to do for fun

    st. louis is only a metro link ride away. students are entitled to ride public transportation for free!

  • Zachary from Marissa, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    southwestern illinois college is a great college because it is cheap and is in close range from the st. louis area. if someone is trying to get their general education classes out of the way without paying extra at a four year university southwestern illinois college would be a good choice for them. many universities accept classes taken at southwestern illinois college for full credit.
    Tips for prospective students

    if you are going to see a councilor at swic make sure you arrive before the councilors offices open up because they have a tendency to become packed quickly. a 2 hour wait is not uncommon.
    Academic Rigor

    there are plenty of classes that can be taken at swic with the level of difficulty based upon the teacher that the student chooses. there are classes that are hard but with the right teacher can be a breeze.
    Dorm Life

    i give swic only one star for dorm life because there are no dorms. swic is a commuter school with plenty of apartments close by to rent.
    Food and Dining

    the cafeteria at swic is small with very few selections but there are many fast food and other restaurants only blocks away.
    What to do for fun

    the student activities board at swic holds a wide array of things to do on campus. there are movie nights where the school shows movies that are still in theaters and there are plenty of other fun activities that take place throughout the year.

  • Heidi from Scott AFB, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    In three sentences

    i have had my eyes opened to community college through attending swic, which offers a variety of courses in many departments. my classes have been no larger than 30 people and i am known by name by my professors. everyone i've interacted with, from the success center, to registration, to the library, bookstore, cafeteria, and my teachers have all been very pleasant.
    Tips for prospective students

    register as early as possible and make an appointment with an advisor instead of waiting for the walk in list. go to office hours of professors if you need help. take advantage of the success center and tutoring options offered.
    Academic Rigor

    depending on the classes one takes, the rigor varies. however, each class i've taken requires at least 3 hours of study time during the week.
    Dorm Life

    no on campus living.
    Food and Dining

    good, expensive, but convenient. they will frequently have a taco bar or fajita bar set up. in the fall and spring the college activities office holds a free lunch for all students (as long as they present their photo id). it consists of hot dog or hamburger, chips, a drink, and a cookie.
    Clubs and Activities

    they have a whole listing of clubs offered, which college activities should supply for you.

  • Ana from O'Fallon, IL

    Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.

    Categories Rating Comments

  • Preston from Belleville, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Currently I am an Engineer student who plans on transferring next fall semester. But so far the first semester in terms of learning has been great. A lot of the teachers are friendly and willing to work with you if you show them you want to learn.
    Am enjoying being here

    It is a nice campus, but I have had a major hiccup in my being here. The main problem being with the metro running through the campus it can bring in people who are not meant to be there. I myself have gotten my book-bag stolen when i had it right next to me, much to my despair. So watch your crap when you go here.
    Bang for the buck

    Inexpensive, although make sure you actual NEED the books for a class before you buy them. I used previous year math books and didn't buy some English books because i didn't need them. (I got A's in all my classes.)
    Tips for prospective students

    Make study GROUPS! very important in the first few week to grab some people from each class to improve yours and their grades.
    Great for these types of students

    Anyone.

  • Margarita from Fairmont City, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    lesson are really all hands on, teachers will make sure everyone understands before going on.
    Am enjoying being here

    I have enjoyed my time there, everyone really nice and willing to learn
    Bang for the buck

    class are fair in price, and if you have trouble with money they are willing to help you out with something
    Tips for prospective students

    College is a one time and a life time so dont sit around, get up and do something with your self. SWIC has a lot of classes for everyone. Here you will meet people from all over, classes are small so everyone has a chance to learn better. Teachers are more hands on then anything. I have not had a bad experience at SWIC and it only my second year. All I can say be on time, dont miss class , and always have your materials. I hope you enjoy SWIC as much as I have.
    Great for these types of students

    SWIC is a great school for all. as long as you are looking for a school to learn and understand your major you will be fine there. and SWIC have a campus close by everyone. I have been to Belleville and Granite City and loved them all and they even have classes in the local high schools. There is alwasy something going on at SWIC if it games or family nights or anything.

  • Anonymous

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I am learning a lot more than I expected. Just because SWIC is a local college does not mean it is a bad place to go. For one, SWIC is very cheap compared to all the other colleges. I know it is not smart to base what school you will go to based solely on finances, but it is great fact to know. On top of that, SWIC has great programs and extracurriculars and so far my experiences with teachers have been great. You just have to make sure you speak up and ask a question whenever you have one because they won't know if you need help if you don't say something and someone else probably has the same question as you do!
    Am enjoying being here

    Being at SWIC is quite enjoyable. It is close to home and I don't live on campus. Living on campus is a good experience, but I do believe it can lead to bad consequences and habits. It's more distracting when you are living in a dorm with other people and it's easier to put off homework. Plus the people at SWIC are usually very helpful and nice!
    Bang for the buck

    Compared to all of the schools I was looking at SWIC has AMAZING prices for classes. Books on the other hand, I would research some websites that sell textbooks!
    Tips for prospective students

    Dear senior high school students,

    As many new freshmen students begin their classes in college they are beginning to learn the truth about college. It is NOT all about parties and hanging out with friends. As fun as all of that sounds it is not what college is all about. True college students get up early in the morning and go to class instead of sleeping in late because they went to a party the night before. A good student will not procrastinate to do their homework and will always be prepared for their classes. Students have to learn when to say no to partying and yes to success. When all of your friends are out parting and you are at home studying you will feel as if you're being stupid and wasting your time, but in reality you are not only saving money and time, you are one step closer to achieving your dream. The rate of students that drop out of college is alarming and it is continuing to rise. Don't let you be another statistic! Finish college first and then party on your breaks! Be smart, be safe and take care of your priorities first!

    Good luck!
    Great for these types of students

    Students who have families
    Students who are easily distracted and shouldn't live on dorm.
    Student's who can't afford an expensive college.
    Student's who want a good education!

  • Brittany from O'FALLON, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    I have learned how to study many different types of art work and get feelings and things out of it. I know how to put my own meaning to it.
    Am enjoying being here

    I know many students that I went to high school with. I am getting along with everyone and meeting new people.
    Bang for the buck

    Its cheaper which is good.
    Tips for prospective students

    Just have to watch how many classes you take because you have a limit amount of loans you can get for the whole year, so if you are transferring from another school in the middle of the school year then you need to know how much those previous classes were and subtract it from the loan amount you are able to get here. The financial aid office will tell you how much that is though. Pass the placement test in all parts so you dont have to take the basic classes, but if you take the Math 97 class you will most likely get into a higher math class in other schools if you plan to transfer to a 4year college, but you have to pass the class. Make sure you look into what programs they have if you plane on trying to get your degree here they might not have all of them. Thats all I have for now.
    Great for these types of students

    Anyone trying to get there degree or GED.

  • Katie from Collinsville, IL

    Reviewer is A current student here.

    Categories Rating Comments
    Am learning a lot

    Southwestern Illinois College has employed very smart and accredited teachers that really know their material. They offer a lot of different resources and learning strategies for the hundreds of students.
    Am enjoying being here

    I enjoy being at Southwestern Illinois College a lot. The library has plenty of computers and plenty of chairs if you want to read or tables if you want to study. It is always a pleasure to be at school where everything is close by. The college has three buildings and they are very close to each other which makes it easy to get to your class on time.
    Bang for the buck

    I think Southwestern College is deffinantly worth the money! With the great teachers that are always helpful and really know what they are doing to the library that is always friendly and easy to get around to the FREE tutoring! How many colleges offer free tutoring? Not many that's a fact.
    Tips for prospective students

    The only problem I have ever faced at Southwestern Illinois College is parking. More students attend school in the late moring to early afternoon hours so parking can get tough so make sure to get there early enough to find a spot.
    Great for these types of students

    I cannot just start naming out types of students that Southwestern Illinois College is great for because this college is simply great for everyone!