See Western Illinois University reviews submitted by students. Find out what students have to say about various aspects of attending Western Illinois University. Read about academic experiences and campus life in these free Western Illinois University reviews, or contribute your own Western Illinois University review if you're a current student there.
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22 out of 23 people found this review useful.
Debi from Farmington, IL
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Tips for prospective students -Apply for housing early. The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get your first choice of dorms
Great for these types of students every type
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11 out of 11 people found this review useful.
Stephenie from Chillicothe, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot There are a varity of subjects on campus apply to the different types of people here on campus
Am enjoying being here I love it here because it's only 2 hours from home. There aren't a lot of things to do here but you can make the most of it by going to the Square, Library, and Rec Center.
Bang for the buck Once you apply and are for sure going here, your tuition will never change if the university decided to up the tuition price
Tips for prospective students Apply early for housing and request for a roommate your first year of college. It's a great way to transition with someone else who is it your same situation.
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7 out of 7 people found this review useful.
Wren
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I would say that there are many opportunities to learn here at Western, but sometimes I feel like I am not always getting quite the quality education I desire. It is a public state-funded college after all. Although I occaisionally feel like I'm just attending beefed up highschool classes, I also keep in mind that I have very interesting and challenging classes as well, and that I am still only at a Sophomore level. Overall, I think the professors here leave in the student's hands a little more to expand there knowledge of their subjects, which makes sense because students are just as responsible for their education as the professors are. Overall there are a lot of majors to choose from, as well, and plenty of subjects to study. They also have an awesome library.
Am enjoying being here Macomb may seem like a boring small town to most people, and well, it pretty much is. But I come from a small town myself, so I guess I'd probably prefer that to a big city any day, and it is only 3 hours away from where I live. There are a lot of student clubs and organizations anyway, and a lot of interesting people (artists, social scientists, authors, etc) come to lecture at Western and attending their talks is always well worth it. If you enjoy a quiet, small town environment, you will love it here. The campus is the perfect place for a nice walk and a plethora of interesting sculptures to look at and has plenty of trees and a beautiful lake to study or relax at. There is also the Union with foodcourts and a Rec Center if you like to work out and stay fit.
Bang for the buck Western is probably one of the most affordable of Illinois' public state schools, and probably in general. They have a tuition lock, so your tuition and even your room and board freezes at the cost of the first year you enroll. Western is the only school in Illinois I think to offer this, and one of the few in the whole country. It is definitely worth taking advantage of.
Tips for prospective students I'd probably get your dorm room or apartment as soon as possible, because housing in Macomb/Western fills up fast, and there are a lot of students living in the dorms. I'd also visit the Scholarship early and often, and apply for any scholarships as soon as possible.
Great for these types of students Great for any student probably, but most likely for those who are used to small-town settings, or want a quieter environment to learn and study in.
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8 out of 9 people found this review useful.
Samantha from East Dubuque, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Not only does Western Illinois University offer a great deal of programs, but there is also a wide variety of people on campus helping to enhance life experiences.
Am enjoying being here There are many on campus activities and clubs to join in that there is never a dull moment.
Bang for the buck WIU was the first university in Illinois to freeze tuition for incoming students. But now they have expanded on their great offer to freeze room and board as well. Also they have many scholarship opportunities for students of all grade levels.
Tips for prospective students Make sure to apply early for housing and scholarships.
Great for these types of students Western Illinois University is a great school for students who are out going, and enjoy a challenge.
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4 out of 4 people found this review useful.
Madison from Roodhouse, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I have learned more in one semester than I feel like I have learned during all four years of high school. At first it was a real struggle trying to adjust from the high school atmosphere of getting straight As with little to no effort, to actually having to deal with failure from time to time. It is really a satisfying feeling to reach an earned grade that so much hard work is put into. I could not ask for more knowledgeable and enjoyable to be around faculty either. They keep me motivated to do well and they are extremely supportive when failure does occur and only try to suggest ways for it to be avoided in the future. They offer a ton of help, time, and resources.
Am enjoying being here I do not think I could have picked a better fit for a college. My main reason for choice was that it is one of only two in the state that offers my major, Music Therapy. The other was that it was closer to home than the other option, yet still far enough to get homesick. All of the other great things have just come along while I have attended. I love the campus size because it is very big for me, coming from a high school class of 71, but still small enough to create many friendships and feel a sense of belonging. My farthest walk from my dormitory last semester was only about ten minutes and they also offer a bus system but I choose to be green. Like I said before, the faculty, food, and exercise options are great. Besides academics and daily living, there is so much to do with all the possible people to meet, movie theaters, restaurants, music, and there are so many clubs. I joined the Chi Omega fraternity and am involved with the campus recyclers, the Green Energy Team. It is definitely not hard to keep busy!
Bang for the buck This university is one of the cheaper in the state and it is amazing because there is still so much offered. Two of my favorite aspects, included in the costs, are the recreation center that offers fitness classes from cardio to weight lifting to yoga and also has an entire gym of equipment, three floors, an indoor pool and hot tub, basketball courts, a floor of ellipticals and stationery bikes, and so much more. The second is the food options that have rarely dissapointed me. I especially love the fact that there are vegetarian, which I am, options everyday and sometimes even vegan.
Tips for prospective students Only getting ready to start my second semester, all I can advise is: It is worth it to prove to professors that you care and give it all you have. It can only benefit you in the end. Also, get involved with hobbies or groups you can relate to because it brings great and new experiences and friends. Lastly, it is always necessary to have a little fun, but be sure to stay on top of the studies. It is not worth it to party every night and get bad grades. You are in college and paying for a reason!
Great for these types of students Ready to obtain a great deal of knowledge, have many worthwhile experiences, adjust to college comfortably, and have a great time fulfilling all wishes and needs.
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3 out of 3 people found this review useful.
Kelsey Engle from Plainfield, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot When I first started my classes i wasn't sure what to expect. i had never been in a lecture hall before and it was definetely interesting trying t come up with unique ways to make my notes organized. it was very challenging when it came to a few exams, in high school i was always good at memorizing material. However in my Zoology class my first semester at Western i realized i had to do much more than just study specifc definitions. Through all my unique classes i learned material that was mostly interesting to me and each professor tried their hardest in their individual ways to make the class fun for the students.
Am enjoying being here Academic wise i am enjoying Western. the professors are great and really personable if your not in a class of 100. It's really important that you take the time to actually email your professors if you have any questions regarding the class. Trust me they want you to. It is better to ask the professors about the material your confused on or you'll regret it when it comes to exam time.
Bang for the buck My time at Western has definitely been worth the money so far. If your from a big suburb, there are for sure some things you have to get accustomed to. You get a great education for a fair price concerning some other schools.
Tips for prospective students This school is labeled as a party school but only you can make that decision. Everyone has a choice to either party every night or take time to actually study. It is a great atmosphere no matter what type of personality you have and there are tons of things to do, only if you feel up to it though. It being your freshman year, you will not know what to do with all your time.
Also make sure you apply for scholarships and housing early, it will only benefit you. I got the best dorm building my freshman year all because i applied for it more than six months beforehand.Great for these types of students every type of student is great here.
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2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Holland from Montgomery, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot The faculty for my specific major (music) is amazing. They are always pushing me to do my best and are very supportive and helpful.
Tips for prospective students Get involved and make friends. When you move in, keep your door open and meet the people on your floor. You may not be best friends with everyone, but at least get to know as many people as you can.
Great for these types of students Music, Education
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Meghan from Frankfort, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Immediately stepping foot on campus I have transformed into a better individual with a higher education. Westerns motto is higher values in higher education, they apply this very well with their amazing professors, numerous extracurricular activities, and multiple job positions on campus that can better you as a student. Western is a great size school, with a diverse amount of colleagues who make the college transfer experience easier!
Tips for prospective students Take a campus visit! We have beautiful residence halls of different statures, an enormous beneficial recreational center. A 5 story library with immense information for papers and helpful librarians. So many intramural sports that are fun to grab some friends and involve yourself in.
Academic Rigor Classes are at a great size where they are not to big to not have the professions individual attention and not to small so you can seem familiar faces in them. Homework has been moderate at all my years here, and tests/exams are always announced and I have been well prepared for with reviews, study sessions, and with graduate assistant help.
Dorm Life The residence hall rooms themselves are a great size where two people can live comfortably and four if you are in a suit. Some are co-ed (by floors) and very nice to have the first couple floors for honors students. The RAs are always great individuals who upkeep rules and regulations.
Food and Dining The cafeterias always have something new and exciting to be served in their clean, nutritional, and affordable atmosphere. You have convenient stores in multiple spots on campus for a late night snack. In our union we hold a Sbarros pizza, burger king, and bagel shop. Swipe your WIU student card at ease to pay for everything you pay off your meal plan or pay with cash. You also can find great student jobs at these locations for the extra pocket cash.
What to do for fun Enjoy a walk around our beautiful campus. Go to the recreational center to enjoy basketball, volleyball, raquet ball, running, weight lifting, swimming, or the sauna to relax. The recreational center always has a bunch of intramural sports happening from tennis, flag football, softball, volleyball, or even a paper airplane toss! Visit The Square which is our downtown area to look at the cool shops or the chow down on some amazing food!
Bang for the buck With being a great affordable state school you do earn a great education for a reasonable tuition price that is locked in once you start your freshman year! There are several book stores that offer great prices on text books so you don't empty your pocket out immensely.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus 5th floor in the library is the complete and utter silence floor. You don't even hear a pin drop!
It is said that some of the floors of the dorms are haunted which is always a scare around Halloween to hear about.
Haunted Higgins is a great haunted house on the very top floor of the residence hall around Halloween that is a great charity event that provides you with a scream while walking through.
Chicks in The Square the best chicken fingers they call lips you'll get anywhere dipped in their original famous sauce!Great for these types of students EVERYONE! Campus is diverse with so many different types of individuals, from rural, suburban, & urban and everyone gets along. It's great coming from Chicago and learning about someone growing up in the south on a farm.
Clubs and Activities Scuba club, MMA club, or trivia at the library. Western seriously has it all and if your interested in it and we don't have it (highly unlikely) start your own club up! Western is great for their clubs and activities to have leadership roles in.
Greek Life There is a ton of academic and social fraternities and sororities on campus. Whichever you decide to join they are a great bunch of individuals who help your transition into college much smoother and more enjoyable. Plus it never hurts to build your resume with highly looked at organizations!
Campus Safety There is a student escort service on campus, especially for those late nights at the library where you just want to be safe and not walk home alone. However, I feel campus is very safe with our campus security and patrol that are always out and don't feel a need to use this service.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Lauren from Oak Lawn, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot To be honest, it all depends on the professor and the way you learn/remember things. A nice amount of teachers here are foreign and have accents. They are still very good teachers, but sometimes are hard to understand. Power points come in very handy. A lot of teachers use them and are very well organized but there are the few that don't.
I am actually surprised by how much I have learned. I thought that with all these different classes that I would not be able to learn it all and remember it, but the way some classes are taught are extremely easy to follow and learn from.Am enjoying being here It might be in the middle of no where, but you would be surprised how much there really is to do. Even inside the dorms there are ping pong tables, pool tables, and air hockey machines. There are also a lot of restaurants and a few parks around that are very nice.
For me, it is also the perfect distance from home (4 hour drive) where I am not smothered by family, but also where, if needed, I could go home or they come here.
Of course there is also the party scene like at every college and personally i have taken that route, but I make it my top priority to keep up with class. I am here to get an education. Not party. As long as you can balance it out, you should be fine.
I like it so much here because it is possible to get a good education while still enjoying myself.Bang for the buck Compared to other schools this is a very reasonably priced school and the education is very good.
What this school gets you on is the money spent on dining. Food is probably what i spend all of my money on. I feel like I am constantly putting more and more money on my ID (what you use to buy food from the cafeteria) just for food.
There is however a transportation system (buses) that are extremely useful and are included in the package. Not only do these buses travel to the dorms and to the buildings where classes are taught but these buses even take students to the stores and other places that are needed but without some sort of transportation are too far to walk. The buses are very quick too; during school days you will not wait more than 8 minutes for the next bus.
There is also a recreation center that is AMAZING and it is also already included. All you do is walk in and swipe your ID and you can lift free weights, play basket ball, run, workout on machines, and attend fitness classes that work you out.Tips for prospective students Do not get engulfed by the party scene. Your grades will slip fast and your money will be all gone.
STUDY. In high school you could get away without studying for tests. NOT HERE ... it is time to grow up and realize you are at college and not in high school anymore.
Find a job. It might take away from some studying, but it will occupy your time and put money in your pocket that you will be wishing you had during the semester.
Get involved. There is sooo many different clubs and activities to get involved with and they are a lot of fun.Great for these types of students Great for anyone. People will always have their own cliques, but everyone basically gets along here.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Dominique from Chicago, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Bang for the buck There's a bus system with nice bus drivers if you catch them on a good day. Has everything you can possibly need on campus.
Tips for prospective students Don't miss class. If you do miss class and you end up emailing the professor, don't ask them 'if you've missed anything important?' b/c then they'll think you don't like the class.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Jacqlin from Chicago, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot I can honestly say that I have learned a lot being at Western Illinois University. Not only do you learn tons of academic information, but you also experience self growth. You learn a lot about yourself and who you are as a person. In addition to making many friends, you will always have life long values.
Am enjoying being here The atomosphere is fun, friendly and great!! The small town is really close and comfortable.
Bang for the buck Western Illinois is very affordable.
Tips for prospective students Make sure you do your housing, financial aid and take care of other important busisness. Also always go to all of your classes. Be aware of negative influences and people! and anything you wouldn't do at home infront of your parents, don't do it at college!!!
Great for these types of students Western Illinois University is known for there phenomenal Law Enforcement and Justice Administration programs.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Dylan from Monmouth, IL
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
Categories Rating Comments Will learn a lot They have a great Law Enforcement Program for me that is ranked in the top 5 in the nation!
Will enjoy being here There is a very large number of activities for everyone to be involved in from sporting events to clubs and church groups! Also a great opportunity to meet new people!
Bang for the buck Suprizing of how cheap and affordable it is! This is a big university and yet it cost 19,000 to 23,000 a year!
Tips for prospective students Visit the campus! Meet the students and staff and they will tell you how great of University it is!
Great for these types of students All types of students will love Western Illinois University!
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Evan from Fulton, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot The classes are small enough where you as a student are able to grasp the information better as opposed to multiple lectures.
Am enjoying being here The college has a lot to offer for entertainment. There are tons of Greek life organizations, and if you're not into that then there are many student organizations, activities, and clubs to choose from.
Bang for the buck This public university is quite cheap in price, yet every thing about the college is anything but.
Tips for prospective students When you're a freshman choosing classes, make sure you do it the second you are able. Otherwise you will most likely not get the class you want or need. Also, when applying for housing, don't wait.
Great for these types of students This college is great for any outgoing students. However, even if you're conservative, this college may also be for you. Overall, anyone is a fit for Western.
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1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
Ashley from Hillsboro, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot College life is not all about partying, please remember that. You go to school for an education and that's what your going to get here. So study hard and you'll be as smart as you let yourself become.
Am enjoying being here I am a freshman at this school so I do miss home but it is still very exciting being away. The campus is great and the people are very nice here. I especially love my sorority I joined. :)
Bang for the buck They freeze your tuition so your price doesn't change as long as you stay enrolled here for all of years and don't leave.
Tips for prospective students When it comes to your money remember there are some additional fees included with your tuition. This can include internet for your room and for freshman an orientation fee.
Great for these types of students ANYONE! :)
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1 out of 2 people found this review useful.
Lauren from Bloomington, IL
Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon. Reviewer has been to campus.
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Chanelle from Chicago, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments In three sentences Great University. Better than I expected. I'm having the time of my life.
Tips for prospective students Find a school that fits you. Comfort zone is important.
Academic Rigor Rigor- ma-role. Just get there. You can find your nich now or later. Just know what I know now. Higher ed is a B. LOL
Dorm Life It's a wonderful life!!!
Food and Dining Miss home. But not bad
What to do for fun Do what makes you happy. Get involved in something. Live,Love,Laugh..Eat,Drink,Be Merry, you know what I mean.
Bang for the buck This is one of the most cost effective universities. Do your research
Campus Safety I feel real SAFE. There are at least 3 police departments on campus. But remember you must take care of you. Always have a partner in crime lol.
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Cayla from Aurora, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
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Anaiah from Decatur, IL
Reviewer is A current student here.
Categories Rating Comments Am learning a lot Everyday that I'm in class I learn something new from my professors that benefits me when I leave the class.
Tips for prospective students Don't hold yourself back. College is the best time in your life to make mistakes and learn from them. To take chances and to discover who you really are.
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