Admissions

Get out and join something! Staying in the dorm room is not fun at all. There are over 400 RSO's on campus, so there is something for everyone. I joined Marching Salukis this year, and it was a BLAST! I had never marched before, but the group was a lot of fun to be with. It's nice to have a little family together before classes even start. This would be the same way with any group, however. You will know people on campus and that group will give you resources for anything one could possibly need.

Don't be afraid to take a course that interests you just because it's not in your major. There are many interesting courses - ranging from bowling to wine tasting. It's okay to take a course for fun!

Get involved! You'll have an easier time transitioning if you join a group and start meeting people. We have over 200 different groups on campus so there's bound to be one you're interested in!

Thompson Point (dorms) is the place to live if you like a somewhat rural environment.

Most importantly - GO TO CLASS! This is the easiest way to keep your grades up. Don't worry - you will still have plenty of free time.

Don't buy your text books at the student center, or any kind of laptops/computer stuff for that matter. Saluki bookstore will give you the best prices on books and will buy books back for better prices than anywhere else. 710 bookstore is also okay, but I prefer Saluki bookstore, which is close to the Towers (student accommodation). You don't necessarily need a car in the Dale. I didn't have a car the first two years and I was fine. If you're a first time college student, you'll learn what it is to walk. My friends and I literally walked everywhere. It's a great way to save money and enjoy the campus with friends. Be sure to buy a bike if you don't think you can wake up early enough to walk to class. Luckily, all of my classes were very close to where I lived, but now and then you'll get a class in a building that is all the way across campus. If you don't have a bike for that you may be looking at a 15 minute walk. Also, if you plan to live in the residence halls, try to live in Thompson Point! I lived there for 2 years and loved it. It's a much different atmosphere than the Towers (there aren't thousands of people jam-packed into three, 17 story buildings). Thompson Point is much more laid back and quiet, and is right next to campus lake and a great running trail (don't swim in the lake though or else you may turn into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle). Also, I know it's hard with the excitement of starting college and the responsibility of living by yourself for the first time, but try to get involved in some sort of RSO (registered student organization). You can meet many people that way with the same interests as you. And try not to waste your time partying. It's easy at SIUC to find house parties and get into that scene, but the cops bust a party almost every weekend. There are also a ton of undercover cops at every bar, so if you're planning on going out with your friends and you're under 21, be aware that they will most likely find you! I knew of many people...

Look at what fields the school excels in because you are going to college to get the best education you could possibly get in your field of study at a reasonable price. Also, look at what kind of clubs and support groups they have on campus to make sure you will be able to enjoy your college experience with people of like mindedness.

Southern has an undeniable, and somewhat undeserved reputation for being a party school. However, if you are a focuses student like myself, you'll find that there are plenty of fun things to do outside of the party scene. There are often so abundant activities on campus over one weekend that it becomes a matter of deciding between several good opportunities. The real difference between experiences is in making friends- if you get involved in something, you will make friends, and be much happier.

Know why you're here. Even if you are in college to find out what you want to do with your life, be sure that that is the goal above all. It is really easy to forget your goals when in environments where non-productive habits are encouraged.

If you are going into the aviation program here at SIU, most kids tend to major in AvFlight and minor in AvManagement, you should do a major/minor in AvTech and AvFlight. Most of the AvFlight/AvManagement students that I have talked to and are finishing up there schooling have told me that they wish they have taken AvTech/AvFlight because it seemed a bit funner. Well I'll tell you that it is definitely fun, especially if you like working with your hands and have a fascination with how things work. Now... I will admit that the work load will be a tad more but you have to remember that, in AvTech, your time is split between lecture and lab. Some of those credit hours will be time spent doing hand-on things and not like papers and essays and things like that.

Be prepared to study or go home. You are paying for this even with financial aid because some of that money is loans. If you just want to come here for parties and don't plan to work or get mediocre grades, then its best you go to a junior college because the decisions you make now are going to follow you for the rest of your life. Refund checks... use them to pay back you loans at the end don't blow it all. Learn to manage your time and have fun its college. Just put your priorities first.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND FOR ANY COLLEGE YOU DECIDE TO LOOK AT OR CHOOSE TO ENROLL!

Definitely come on a college visit like you should for any college! Also if you do choose to enroll I strongly recommend you attend as many of the events they have for new students, you meet so many new people and get free stuff! :) I also recommend that you check and join the RSO’s (registered student organizations).
I would definitely try rushing! Going Greek may not be for everyone but you can always attend rush events and if you don’t think it’s for you then you don’t have to go anymore!
Dining hall tip: if you want to swipe someone who isn’t an SIUC student than borrow a friend’s id to swipe them in, all they have to do is flash it to get in and your done! No biggie!
Meal Plans: If you have extra meals left over at the end of the week GO cash in your remaining meals! Don’t waste them; it’s great for extra snacks in case you don’t have to time to make it to the dining halls for breakfast or lunch.
SIUC has had a reputation for being known as a party school, but any college you go to is going to have parties; so don’t let that affect your decision! Your college experience is what YOU make of it, if you choose to go out every night and weekend then so be it, and it you don’t then don’t feel pressured to go out.

I'm glad I'm at SIU-C, its hard and you cant expect to skate through the year, if you want the grade you have to work for it. The Professors don't care if you hand in HW or even come to class, but it really makes a difference in your grade. Also the study sessions offered are a great help in studing and forming study groups. The Campus is great, I live in Thompson point and I really enjoy living on this side of the campus, I have a bike here but all my classes are within 10-15 minute walk, great exercise.