Living on campus at UIS is more than just having a place to sleep, it’s about being in the heart of campus life. From my first days as a freshman to my time as a graduate student, the convenience of being just minutes away from everything has made life at UIS not only more manageable but genuinely enjoyable. As a graduate student-athlete, my schedule is often jam packed with classes, work and soccer. Being on campus means I’m never more than a five minute walk from where I need to be, which saves me the stress of a commute and allows me to maximize my time.
One of my favorite parts of living on campus is how close I am to everything I need. Whether I need to get to class quickly, grab a quick meal in the middle of a study session or get in a late night workout, everything is accessible within minutes. Having a packed schedule with classes, athletics and extracurriculars, I am not sure I would have been able to manage everything on a bigger campus or commuting. There is no worrying about leaving 20 minutes early to class or having to find a parking spot at 8 a.m., everything is within easy reach. Being on campus allows me to quickly get to basketball games, club meetings and other on campus activities.
In addition to the easy access of amenities, living in the residence halls during my freshman and sophomore years made it incredibly easy to connect with other students. It was there I formed friendships that will last a lifetime. I loved that there was always someone to share a meal with, study alongside or just hang out and relax. They truly became my family. It made it easier to be included in things because if I heard commotion outside my door, all I had to do was pop my head out to see what was going on. Either there was a party in someone’s room or we were all getting ready to head out. Opportunities I would have missed if I had not lived there.
The experience only got better when I moved into a townhouse my junior year. Transitioning from a traditional residence hall to a townhouse with my closest friends was an incredible upgrade. Having my own bedroom and a spacious living area created the perfect home base for continuing life on campus. The biggest perk was the full-size kitchen — as an athlete, being able to prepare meals and meal prep for the week gave me even more freedom to focus on academics, sports and other activities. It was the ideal combination of independence and community. Although I was able to move into a townhouse my junior year, I know multiple students who attended UIS while commuting, then moved into a townhouse after two years, and loved the experience.
Living on campus at UIS allows you to fully immerse yourself in student life. It doesn’t feel like you are there for just school, you feel completely absorbed into the experience of being a student at UIS. Living on campus creates an environment where you can thrive academically, socially, and personally.