Spring Break
She is EIU
Barbara Harrington/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 7/19/07 Section: Opinions
I almost didn't come to Eastern.
I had my sights set on the University of Iowa ever since I attended a journalism camp there my sophomore year of high school. The campus was breathtaking and the facilities were top-notch. I was certain that U of Iowa was the only place I belonged.
Unfortunately the high cost of out-of-state tuition was a major obstacle. With two high school English teachers for parents, my family didn't exactly have twenty-seven thousand dollars to shell out each year.
Determined to get to Iowa, I applied for every scholarship I could get my hands on. While I was awarded a couple scholarships from the school, the final scholarship I had needed to be able to afford tuition did not come through.
I was crushed.
I had been so focused on going to Iowa that I hadn't really considered other schools. For some reason I thought there was no way that I wouldn't get that last scholarship, but boy was I wrong.
So with a defeated attitude, I began to weigh my other options. I had applied to several in-state schools, but none of them really appealed to me.
I had visited Eastern in the fall, when I had first been filling out college applications. I liked the school, but I didn't love it. The campus seemed too small and it didn't sound like there was much to do.
However, my first impression of the school may have been different if my campus tour guide and admissions counselor were a bit more enthusiastic about EIU, and if they knew more about clubs, activities and academics.
The misinformation I was given during my first visit made Eastern seem like the completely wrong school for me. I was under the impression that the overall academic performance of students was poor, that there were only a handful of non-athletic organizations and that aside from partying, life on campus is pretty dead.
But after I realized that going to the University of Iowa was not financially realistic, I didn't have much of a choice. I had to choose between Illinois State University and Eastern. And there was no way I was going to ISU, because I have lived in Bloomington-Normal my entire life.
I had my sights set on the University of Iowa ever since I attended a journalism camp there my sophomore year of high school. The campus was breathtaking and the facilities were top-notch. I was certain that U of Iowa was the only place I belonged.
Unfortunately the high cost of out-of-state tuition was a major obstacle. With two high school English teachers for parents, my family didn't exactly have twenty-seven thousand dollars to shell out each year.
Determined to get to Iowa, I applied for every scholarship I could get my hands on. While I was awarded a couple scholarships from the school, the final scholarship I had needed to be able to afford tuition did not come through.
I was crushed.
I had been so focused on going to Iowa that I hadn't really considered other schools. For some reason I thought there was no way that I wouldn't get that last scholarship, but boy was I wrong.
So with a defeated attitude, I began to weigh my other options. I had applied to several in-state schools, but none of them really appealed to me.
I had visited Eastern in the fall, when I had first been filling out college applications. I liked the school, but I didn't love it. The campus seemed too small and it didn't sound like there was much to do.
However, my first impression of the school may have been different if my campus tour guide and admissions counselor were a bit more enthusiastic about EIU, and if they knew more about clubs, activities and academics.
The misinformation I was given during my first visit made Eastern seem like the completely wrong school for me. I was under the impression that the overall academic performance of students was poor, that there were only a handful of non-athletic organizations and that aside from partying, life on campus is pretty dead.
But after I realized that going to the University of Iowa was not financially realistic, I didn't have much of a choice. I had to choose between Illinois State University and Eastern. And there was no way I was going to ISU, because I have lived in Bloomington-Normal my entire life.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
bmajor
Brenda Major
posted 7/19/07 @ 12:55 PM CST
I'd like to know with this student spoke during her first visit. It seems odd that neither employee could provide information or direct her to another source. (Continued…)
Nathan
posted 7/26/07 @ 4:41 PM CST
Actually Brenda, once you look at much of the welcome staff at EIU, they are not very friendly or knowledgeable. On top of that many were rude. I attended EIU and walked away with such a bad taste in my mouth about the admissions office, billing department, and administrative staff; however, with that being said, the professors were more than helpful and made my experience at EIU a very enjoyable one. (Continued…)
il128
posted 8/07/07 @ 3:06 PM CST
EIU is what you make it. Eastern Illinois University from a pure educational opportunity stand point is at least on par with the University of Illinois. (Continued…)
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