Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Date: Apr 13 2009
Major: Biology (This Major's Salary over time)
I spent maybe too long here at siuc, This is my fifth year. I started off in siu's engineering program and ended with a degree in biological sciences. I also was a resident assistant for 2 years. I know all sides of carbondale (sadly its not hard). Basically the run down of the school, in my experience, is; for the most part everyone (perhaps 90%) go out drinking at least four days a week, there is an overabundance of rednecks (the bad kind, racist, homophobic, egotistical type), once the glamor of drinking rubs off there is little activities to do ( small mall with 2 decent stores, lots of hiking, two small theaters), and though the campus on the outside is beautiful the buildings are a mess. From a distance the buildings look nice, but when its cold out the buildings are sweatboxes, when it is warm out they are too cold… On my way into classes there are buckets in the hallways to catch water drops, even when it is not raining… Keep track of your courses, I ended up doing an extra year due to terrible counselors and I hear that happens a lot. Financial aid office… well if you need help and are really confused, dont go in… google for advice, those people just tell you to go to the website "help link" after waiting in line for 20 mins. After the fourth time going there to ask advice, or for a walk through on their confusing website, I decided that if i were ever to go in that office again, it would be with the detonator in my hand and Ola's praises on my tongue… Oh! the best story I can share of my experience is the simple fact that every time i run outside on the sidewalk, someone in a pickup truck yells "FAG" at me. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Did i mention the girl to guy ratio is around 3:7? Though I hated my experience and going to this school would be the one thing I would go back and change if i could… Like all universities, it is what you make it. If you find a good close group of friends early, it makes life easier. but seriously… make this your last resort.