WCS’ Declassified CS Survival Guide
Written By: Emma Maxwell, Elaina Xiao, Brillina Wang, Ashika Koripelly
Welcome to the University of Illinois’ Computer Science program! This guide is your all-access pass to navigating both the academic challenges and the extracurricular excitement that await you. Designed for every student, from eager first-years to seasoned upperclassmen, we’re here to illuminate the path to success in your studies and beyond. Discover the keys to understanding your degree requirements, learn how to engage effectively with your academic advisors, and find the perfect balance in your course schedule. But there’s more to university life than lectures and labs; dive into the vibrant world of clubs and social organizations that promise to enrich your college experience. This handbook is not just about getting you through your academic journey — it’s about maximizing your growth, exploring opportunities, and making unforgettable memories. Get ready to make the most of what the University of Illinois has to offer!
Academics
Tip #1: Know your degree requirements.
Graduation requirements for every major at the university can be found on the course catalog. Have an idea of what you need to be taking, and be sure to keep track of what prerequisites each class has. Building a four year plan early in your college career will help you stay on track.
Tip #2: Communicate with your advisor
Your academic advisor is here to help you! Undergraduate students in any Computer Science major will be assigned one of the department’s 7 academic advisors. Your assigned academic advisor will contact you around the start of your freshman year to help you get settled. Students in a CS+X program will also be assigned an advisor from within their X department.
Tell your advisor your plans! Even if you are not sure exactly what you want, communicate with them. Considering a minor? Let them know! They can help you make and adjust your four year plan to accommodate the extra credits. Thinking of studying abroad? Even if it’s just a vague idea floating around your head, tell your advisor about it! They can direct you towards programs that are the right fit. Studying abroad can require a good bit of planning, so tell your advisor as soon as possible if this is something you want to consider. Interested in graduate school? Your advisor can help you optimize your undergraduate experience to prepare you for academia.
Academic advisors are a major resource; be sure to see how much help they can be sooner rather than later!
Tip #3: Be realistic about your schedule
Don’t push yourself too hard the first semester. Your undergraduate experience is a marathon, not a sprint.
Do not take too many hard classes just because you can. You will want free time to attend RSO meetings, attend social events, explore campus, and more.
Many students in computer science consider testing out CS124 if they have prior programming experience, such as AP Computer Science A. However, the workload for CS124 is much lighter than that of the next course in the sequence, CS128. CS124 can provide a smoother transition to college coursework; it is still a rigorous class, but taking a class with which you have some prior knowledge proves beneficial for many students. Additionally, many introductory computer courses offered high schools do not cover all the material that CS124 does.
In addition to being realistic about the difficulty of your classes, think about timing. Just because you were able to rise early for your classes in high school does not mean you will still be able to do so in college. Once mandatory attendance is no longer pressuring students to be morning people, many no longer are. Know when you are most productive and try to time your classes such that you will be able to work during the hours you are at your best.
Tip #4: Familiarize yourself with department and college policies
College is complicated. Each college and department with the university has their own policies regarding academic success, course registration, and more. Navigating them can be tedious, but knowing these policies puts you in a place to succeed.
Registering for classes in the computer science department follows a different policy than the rest of the university. While the university determines course registration queues by the number of credit hours students have accrued, the computer science department opens courses on a rolling basis based on the semester students entered the university. As a result, many students are able to register for non computer science classes earlier than when they can register for computing courses. The full registration policy can be found on the computer science website.
Housing
Written By: Elaina Xiao
Housing is one of the first challenges you’ll face as an incoming freshman. While there are many pros and cons to where you could live, here are some of the most popular options for CS freshmen!
ISR
ISR (Illinois Street Residence) is a popular housing spot for Grainger majors. It is very close to Barden Quad and has some of the most popular food on campus. Further, there are individual-use bathrooms!
If you want to live in the Honors Living section of campus, the sixth through twelfth floors of Wardall Hall are designated only for honors students. If you are a James Scholars or Campus Honors Program student, choosing Honors Living will make it much easier for you to get a room in ISR (but you will have to take extra honors courses).
The main negative of ISR is the rooms are relatively small. However, the building itself is very new and has lots of great study areas and even a boba shop you can use dining dollars on!
6-Pack
While the 6-Pack is farther away from the Engineering Quad, it is a great place to live if you want a social environment with a lot of people all around the same area. The 6-Pack is accurately named as there are six halls all clustered together (Weston, Hopkins, Nugent, Wassaja, Scott, and Snyder Halls). This is a very lively area on campus and many people enjoy meeting people here. However, besides Nugent and Wassaja (which are usually full of upperclassmen or the business living learning committee), you’ll be faced with older buildings with communal bathrooms. If you aren’t particular when it comes to the newness of your dorm, you might enjoy the atmosphere at the 6-Pack!
Private Certified Housing
If you are willing to spend more on your housing, consider private housing. You will get a lot of amenities such as gyms, private chefs, private bathrooms, and more space. You will essentially be living in an apartment with private housing. If you need a single room, it is easier to get one through private housing as well. However, a common disadvantage of private housing is they can be quieter and it might be harder to make new friends (although this isn’t necessarily true for everyone). Some popular options include Presby Hall, Illinois Tower, Armory House, Bromley House, and Hendrick House. Here is a complete list of private housing with more information: https://certified.housing.illinois.edu/.
Of course, more dorms are available to live in. Here is a complete list of housing options (not including private housing): https://housing.illinois.edu/compare-options. However, no matter where you live, there are perks and disadvantages to every house. My advice is to make the most of wherever you end up!
Extracurriculars
Written By: Brillina Wang
As a CS or CS + X major at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, there is a lot of life outside the classroom. CS student groups reflect the diverse interests, backgrounds, and passions of students and can enhance your learning and team experiences around computing. There are numerous extracurricular activities available for everyone to explore, including gaining leadership and professional experience, becoming a mentor or mentee, volunteering for a wide range of service projects, and attending social events to meet new friends and have fun.
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
ACM, the world’s largest educational and scientific computing society, opens doors to a vast network of professionals, researchers, and students passionate about computing. Joining the ACM student chapter at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign exposes you to a plethora of resources, including guest lectures, hackathons, and collaborative projects. The organization is a melting pot of ideas, where you can engage in intellectually stimulating conversations with peers who share your passion for all things tech. ACM events foster a sense of community, encouraging socializing and collaboration that extends beyond the classroom.
Founders
Founders began in 2013 with a mission of making entrepreneurship at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign more accessible for students, aiming to grow and promote a community of entrepreneurs and innovators at Illinois. They have hosted some of the largest student-run events and programs to foster a strong culture and environment that educates, inspires, and motivates students interested in entrepreneurship and startups. Some of their goals include unifying entrepreneurship on campus and providing access to a collaborative working space for students on and off campus, providing resources to existing student startups, and strengthening the network between the university, alumni, and entrepreneurs in Chicago.
Project: Code
Project:Code is an organization that allows introductory and intermediate programmers to learn and explore with like-minded peers through group programming projects. Here you can explore different fields of computer science, such as app and web development, data science, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and game development. Members can meet with a project manager in a group of 5–10 students and work on a semester- or year-long project centered around their area of interest.
Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
Created in 2006, SIAM aims to advance the application of mathematics and computational science to engineering, industry, science, and society. As a student chapter at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, they organize various events and activities throughout the year, including pizza parties, seminars, field trips to the supercomputer at Argonne, and more. SIAM student membership is free for students at UIUC and provides several benefits, including discounts on SIAM books and subscriptions to SIAM news and reviews.
Besides the student groups listed, there are many more clubs and organizations for everyone to explore. Illinois offers countless opportunities and support to ensure a worthwhile experience inside and outside the classroom. Get involved in student activities and network with alumni and potential employers to make the most of your college career! Learn more about the Student Involvement department at Illinois here: https://studentengagement.illinois.edu/
Social
Written By: Ashika Koripelly
Embarking on your computer science journey at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign is not just about coursework and rigorous studies. It is also about immersing yourself in a vibrant community of like-minded individuals. Socializing plays a crucial role in making your university experience memorable, and joining organizations such as this (WCS 🙂) can offer a welcoming and enriching environment for you to flourish.
Here are some fantastic organizations you can join to get the chance to foster meaningful social connections while also learning more about the professional world:
Women in Computer Science (WCS)
WCS stands as a beacon for female students in the field, providing a supportive community that empowers and uplifts. Joining WCS allows you to connect with fellow female computer science enthusiasts, share experiences, and foster a sense of friendship. The organization hosts various events, from networking mixers to workshops and guest speaker sessions, providing ample opportunities to build lasting friendships while expanding your knowledge of the industry. WCS serves as a platform not just for professional development but also for personal growth, helping you navigate the unique challenges that women in tech may face. (WCS is open to everyone — not just women in cs).
B[U]ILT (Black, Indigenous, LatinX in Technology):
A newly-founded non-profit student organization leveraging the groundwork established by two previous student clubs, Black and African Americans in Computing (BAAC) and Latinxs in Computer Science (LCS). Their aim is to provide support for minorities in computing-related fields that fosters scholarship, professional development, and a sense of community. B[U]ILT strikes to improve the diversity of the workplace in computing fields by holding technical and professional events for current students, in addition to running outreach programs to encourage the next generation of students from underrepresented communities to pursue careers in computing fields.
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
The Society of Women Engineers is a fantastic resource for female students interested in engineering and technology fields. SWE provides a supportive community for women pursuing STEM careers, offering networking events, mentorship programs, and workshops to help members navigate the challenges of academia and the professional world. Joining SWE can open doors to a network of inspiring individuals and create lasting connections beyond the boundaries of the computer science department.
Computer Science Graduate Student Organization (CSGSO)
The Computer Science Graduate Student Organization (CSGSO) is an organization for computer science graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. They are in touch with faculty and administration to ensure that graduate students’ needs are being met and to help organize fun events. Some activities include organizing the visit weekend for newly admitted graduate students, providing pizza every Friday, arranging social events for CS graduate students, keeping the kitchen stocked with coffee, and hosting weekly happy hours.
Other Social Groups
Beyond these organizations, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign offers professional fraternities like Theta Tau, Triangle, Psi Eta Mu, Tau Beta Pi, and Sigma Phi Delta. These fraternities provide unique avenues for socializing and professional development among like-minded individuals. Whether you’re drawn to co-ed engineering in Theta Tau, the interdisciplinary focus of Triangle, or the recognition in computer science and engineering from Psi Eta Mu, each fraternity offers distinct opportunities. Engaging in these groups expands your social circle and connects you with industry professionals, providing networking events, workshops, and collaborative projects for personal and professional growth within the dynamic world of computer science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
The social aspect of your journey at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is as vital as your academic pursuits. I believe that the broader community of CS and engineering students at the University of Illinois is a welcoming and inclusive one. Whether you’re attending study groups, collaborating on projects, or participating in coding competitions, you’ll find a diverse group of individuals eager to share their knowledge and experiences. Embrace the opportunities, attend events, and immerse yourself in the welcoming world of students — it’s not just about coding; it’s about creating lasting bonds with fellow enthusiasts who share your passions and interests!
