Woohoo, I was just accepted to the civil engineering department at the University of Illinois. Another year in cow-town, but it’ll be worth it. Now I just have to figure out how I’m going to pay for it.
Congratulations! I’m an Illini myself. I lived on the Engineering campus for my 2L year-your library is so much nicer.
First year was spent on Oregon Street, last year in the grad student apartments, which get my vote. They may not be as “pretty” as other options but they’re the only places I found that would sign 8 month leases, which I found to be very convenient once I graduated and promptly fled the area. That may or may not be worth it to you-it seems like you already live there.
Congratulations! pops open champagne in your honour
(Can you give me any advice?) 
The obligatory Life in Hell grad school comic. Save it, cherish it.
Congrats! I was a computer science grad student there a long time ago - might be there still if my adviser hadn’t died on me.
I lived in Daniels Hall the first year (I moved from Boston, so finding an apartment seemed too complicated) and lived in a quarter of a house on State and Green the rest of the time I was there. $125 a month, utilities included. 
Champaign was a lot smaller back then. But it’s a great place to go to school - I’ve been other places, so I can compare.
As a current grad student, congratulations! 
You’ve joined the dark side.
(If you’ve applied, you surely know already about being wretchedly poor and constantly overworked for the next x years. It’s ok. You’ll be ok.)
Job/paying for it: any chance of a teaching assistantship?
Congrats!
I am currently going through the applications process. Your success makes me believe that there will be a light at the end of this tunnel.
Can I also assure you that there is a light? I think the application process was THE worst part, and I’m about to enter my final (thesis!) semester. This is why I haven’t yet applied for PhD programs.
Congratulations!
And to disagree with other people…imho the application process is about a hundred times easier than actually being a grad student. Especially if you have to take microecon and calculus in your first semester. Blech.
Thank you everybody.
I’m only getting an MS, so it’ll only be one year. I don’t think being a TA is possible. I applied for the Spring, I’m fairly sure all those spots are filled, but I will ask around.
Awesome! Congratulations on getting in. I’m hoping to be accepted to pharmacy school next fall, but have yet to receive my PCAT scores. The PCAT is a huge honking test that covers quite a few subjects, and I have no idea how I did on it. My scores will have a major bearing on whether or not I get into school. My scores will be coming in the next two weeks. I am…scared.
Congrats! Great department. I’d love for a faculty position to open in it, exactly 1.5 years from now, after I’ve finished a postdoc.
What’s your specialty?
I choose to disregard this warning!
Man, I am SO GLAD it’s going to be ALL OVER soon…
Geotech.
Why would you want to come to the middle of nowhere? Hope for a Berkeley position.
This!!!
Congratulations! The civil engineering graduate program there is highly regarded. I know many fine University of Illinois civil engineers.
-Wednesday Evening, civil engineer (structural)
Congratulations on making it in.
Like olives, I’m ignoring Kyla’s post. Lalala! I can’t hear you!
Robin
My condolences.
Sincerely,
GO who’s grad career was, how do you say, less than successful.
You have a point. But U of I is one of the very few good programs within driving distance of my family.
Besides…I went to ROLLA for undergrad. I’m used to that sort of thing.