Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL is beautifully canvassed school with mostly exceptional educators. This is a great school if you like nature and are studying biology, zoology, ecology, and/or plant/animal sciences. I think the professors in the science department are, for the most part, very professional and thoroughly educated in their field, especially pertaining to those in zoological studies. The chemistry department, however, was highly disappointing; the curriculum was very disorganized... Read More and the professors were overall ineffective and unimpressive--namely Kevin Smith whom had a consistent, negative, authoritarian attitude and a lack of interest in student success and well-being. Other professors in the science department such as Dr. Jennifer Weber and Dr. Frank Anderson serve as exemplary examples of what a good professor should be: they were always passionate in their lectures, they always put the students first, they go above and beyond to ensure a positive, efficient learning environment is kept. There are good and bad apples at every university, but at SIU I am glad to say in my experience I've come across more good apples than bad in regards to professors and T.A.'s. The pricing for this University, in my opinion, is overpriced for the education provided. They've recently matched the out-of-state tuition pricing to that of in-state, which consequentially raised the price of tuition for in-state applicants. Also, they've consistently reduced available parking spaces and increased prices for parking permits during my time there. My biggest issue with my experience at SIU is that the school and the counselors do not adequately prep the student for life after graduation in that there is very little support in terms of finding work after you graduate. Myself along with my peer alums of SIU whom majored in Biological Sciences are struggling to find work months after graduating. Overall I rate the school the following in these areas:
Academics: Good (7/10)
Cost: Fair (6/10)
Campus: Great (8/10)
Career Placement: Poor (5/10)
Overall: Good (7.5/10)

In my opinion, SIUC is a hidden gem of southern Illinois. Although SIUC has gained a reputation in SoIL for the social activities that occur on and around campus, I think it would be a mistake to assume that these activities alone are all that this school has to offer. In my experience, the faculty is generally made up of professors who are passionate about their jobs and care deeply about their students' time in school. Whether you are having a difficult time keeping up in your classes or looking... Read More to get ahead in your studies, they will work with you and meet you where you are at. The variety of classes on offer is massive, and you have a great deal of freedom when it comes to selecting areas of study that you find to be personally engaging. If you are drawn to nature and outdoor activities, Shawnee National Forest is a must-see in the area! The local restaurants in Carbondale are also incredible; I still think about Quatro's pizza regularly, despite having graduated eight years ago. Overall, if you want to strike a good balance between the experiential/social side of the college experience and the educational side of the college experience, SIUC is an excellent choice.

I definitely don't have too many complaints regarding the Psychology department. 8/10 of the teachers within the program were very knowledgeable and ran their classes very effectively. Here and there there would be a teacher who didn't realize when the class didn't understand them or when their teaching style wasn't effective, but overall most of the professors made sure that the class was following and gave out assignments that helped their students learn the material well. Overall I would consider... Read More my experience obtaining a bachelor's degree in psychology a good one.

I loved Southern Illinois University of Carbondale! The school has so much to offer its prospective students! The campus is absolutely gorgeous, and its diversity appeals to people of all backgrounds and cultures! One of the aspects I loved most about Southern Illinois University of Carbondale was walking to my classes. There is something about a crisp, fall, afternoon and walking through the orange trees with my backpack in hand! I loved all of my professors, and am so appreciative of the time and... Read More effort they put forth with teaching and guiding each and every student. The classes and courses I took at SIUC were made up of small numbers so it was easy to ask questions and stay engaged in the lessons. I was always the type of person who really needed to dig my nose in the book and study for weeks in order to succeed in achieving high grades. In addition, studying was always quite difficult in an apartment with three other roomates who didn't have the same "study hard" mentality. The Southern Illinois University Library on campus was an amazing asset to the campus. I used this library as a resource countless times! My favorite thing to do would be to stock up on sugary candies and haul my books and snacks up the third floor. This floor was the "quiet floor" and was reserved for those people who needed absolute silence in order to study. I would pick a table by a window away from everyone else, put my headphones in, and study away!

Southern Illinois University is a truly amazing school. The school really pushes for undergraduates to get involved, whether it be Student Organizations, Greek life, or undergraduate research. I worked as an undergraduate research assistant in the Microbiology department for my junior and senior years and I loved it! I gained so much confidence in the lab, and in my career choice as a whole. Being able to experience the work I was looking to do before I even graduated made me much more confident... Read More in my decision overall and made me so much more excited for what the future has to hold. Networking with the professors in the microbiology department helped me get interviews at some amazing schools when I was looking for a graduate program, but in the end I knew my home was back here at SIU. The professors in the Microbiology department are so friendly and really want what is best for their students. They really want students involved in anyway they can be. They provide opportunities for volunteer, class credit, and even paid research in fall, spring and summer semesters. At most schools, it is very difficult to find research labs as an undergrad. The professors and faculty really work with you to get you involved and be happy and confident in the decisions you make. I am very happy with the SIU Microbiology program and recommend it to students all the time! I am very happy with my degree and I feel it has prepared me for my future career.

I strongly recommend staying away from this college. From the start of your very first tour of the college nothing will be what it seems. My first year I staying in a "cockroach" infested dorm room in which seemed to stem from one building to the next. One of which was not better than the other. Financial aid office was a complete joke to work with. I was never so unhappy in the 4 years of my life. What was suppose to be an exciting and rewarding experience turned out to be the biggest mistake that... Read More I had made by choosing "Southern Illinois University Carbondale". I will forever look back at that time and regret the choice I made. I want to personally thank the financial aid office for my stomach ulcers! You literally made my life miserable having to deal with such nasty individuals. I do hope that there is Karma in this world~

Southern Illinois University School of Law provides successful professors and alumni. SIU Law offers numerous dual graduate programs and plenty of opportunities to earn credit over breaks. When it comes to graduation, students can apply for an intensive 2-year program. Through the offered legal clinics, I was able to meet and interview immigrants while providing information relevant to developing legal claims. Because of the numerous programs offered, I had the rare opportunity to assist the representation... Read More of people on death row or facing a capital charge in state and federal habeas proceedings.