Meet Our Students

Student Blog

Hear first-hand from current students what life is like at the College of Business on the student blog.

Student Bloggers

   Billy Tabrizi

High School/Hometown: Vernon Hills High School/ Vernon Hills, IL
Year: Sophomore
Major: Accounting
Activities: Business Honors, Business Council, Business 101 Section Leader, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Campus Tour Guide

Why I chose Illinois: I wanted to combine the best of both big and small schools. Illinois has all the benefits of a big school--Big Ten football, awesome basketball games, amazing concerts, and a great campus life with all sorts of different people to get to know. At the same time, the College of Business has a really "small school" feel. You can get to know people in Business, the faculty are really easy to get to know, and if you need something, help is always one step away. And, the people are great--I'm meeting some of my best friends here! Illinois truly offers the best of both worlds.

   Beanca Nicholson

High school/Hometown: Chantilly High School/Chantilly, VA
Year: Junior
Major: Marketing
Activities: National Black MBA Association, NAACP, LEAD SBI, and Project Youth
Why I chose Illinois: The College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign presented an opportunity to get the "small school" feeling in the "big school" setting. I could create my own experience, they give you all the resources so that you can mold your undergraduate career to your personal goals. Most of all, I could count on the support and advice from my professors, administrators, and peers in all of my endeavors.

   Ben Miller

High school/Hometown: Meridian High School / Boody, IL
Year: Sophomore
Major: Supply Chain Management and Information Systems & Information Technology
Activities: Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, College of Business Honors Program, and College of Business Ambassadors.

Why I chose Illinois: I came to the U of I for the reputation and I am staying here for the people. I knew how important it was to attend a school with a sterling reputation for not only its business school, but also as a university as a whole. After taking a tour of the campus, I fell in love. The atmosphere here at the U of I is amazing. Never have I been around such a group of determined, hard-working people. The difference between the U of I College of Business and other business programs is that not only do we have brilliant students, these brilliant students are willing to lend a helping hand to help a struggling student or peer. This kind of compassion and friendship is what not only drew me to Illinois, but is keeping me here.

   Stephanie Soles

High School/Hometown: Oswego East High School/ Aurora, IL
Year: Junior
Major: Finance and International Business
Activities: Finance Academy, Latino Business Association, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Why I chose Illinois: I chose the University of Illinois because when I arrived on campus for a tour with my family I immediately felt at home. I knew a few family members who had graduated from the University of Illinois and they all spoke about how wonderful the campus is and all the amazing opportunities offered to students. I actually chose the University of Illinois without attending a single admissions event or informational program about the College of Business. I selected to attend the College of Business and in the past 3 years have never looked back. I have many wonderful memories and have met incredible people. To me, the College of Business is a family and from the moment I stepped on campus I knew that I had found my family for the next 4 years and beyond.

   Kelsey Karmell

High school/Hometown: Lake Zurich High School/ Lake Zurich, IL
Year: Junior
Major: Accountancy w/ Spanish minor
Activities: Business Honors, Phi Gamma Nu Professional Business Fraternity, Chi Omega Social Sorority, Office Assistant for College of Business Development Office

Why I chose Illinois: Programs like "Meet the Deans" and "Business Experience" helped me to realize the superiority of the University of Illinois. The students I talked to really conveyed the enthusiasm they share for U of I and the College of Business. I was also able to develop great relationships with the deans. Now, I make sure to attend these kinds of events and share my story with prospective students.

   David Perez

High school/Hometown: Hoffman Estates High School/ Hoffman Estates, IL
Year: Sophomore
Major: International Business and Marketing, minor in Latino Studies
Activities: AIESEC, LEAD, Latino Business Association, and Alma Mater Productions

Why I chose Illinois: Illinois is the epitome of balance- excellent academics, amazing social opportunities, and top athletics- all at a world class university. At Illinois I felt I had the right resources to craft my future. I had deans who were interested in my success and future plans, opportunities to study anywhere in the world, and mentors who could take me under their wing and fuel my passion for personal excellence. A more suitable question to answer is, am I happy here at Illinois? I have a deep sense of excitement here because I feel that the opportunities that are here are endless. My freshmen year I was able to travel to Europe and Asia which allowed me to adopt a new globalized mindset. I'm constantly expanding my leaderships skills, and building great friendships. I can already tell that when I'm older, I'll look back at my decision to come to Illinois as one of the best decisions of my life.

   Evan Thompson

High school/Hometown: Bettendorf High School/ Bettendorf, IA
Year: Junior
Major: General Management and Business Process Management
Activities: Phi Beta Lambda, College of Law Trial Advocacy Program, and freelance photography

Why I chose Illinois: I decided early on in my college application process that I wanted a small school that could give me individualized attention. I didn't consider the University of Illinois for a long time, because of its size, but once I visited, I realized how tight the College of Business really is. It was a great feeling to see that individualized attention in the midst of a much larger university.

   Chang "Will" Guo

High school/Hometown: High School Attached to Beijing Normal University/ Beijing, China
Year: Junior
Major: Accountancy
Activities: Volunteer at Crisis Nursery; Student tutor; and Institute fellow and liaison for the Social Entrepreneurship Institute.

Why I chose Illinois: University of Illinois is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by its outstanding students, professional faculty and prominent alumni.

   Lauren Bennett

High School/Hometown: Amos Alonzo Stagg High School/Palos Park, Illinois
Year: Freshman
Major: Business Undecided
Activities: Currently, I am a member of the Business Honors Program. As a freshman, I aspire to be a member of a Social Sorority, Business Council, Business Buddy Program, Colleges Against Cancer/Relay For Life, and Illini 4000.

Why I Chose Illinois: The academic reputation of the College of Business first attracted me to the University of Illinois. The facilities and opportunities are wonderful, but it was really the people that made me want to come here. The deans and staff want to develop personal relationships with you and contribute to your success. My invitation into the Business Honors Program confirmed my choice. This is such a strong community that I knew I could not find at any other institution. I am so excited for my next four years here. Go Illini!

   Paula Chuchro

High school/Hometown: Glenbrook South High School Glenview, IL
Year: Senior
Major: International Business and IS/IT
Activities: Phi Gamma Nu Professional Business Fraternity

Why I chose Illinois: I thought it had everything to offer. Some of the other schools I got into were too focused on academics and did not have football games or extensive study abroad programs or the vibrancy of Green Street. I talked to neighbors, family and friends before making my decision and realized that everyone desperately wanted me to have "the college experience." As a senior, I look back and realize I have had that experience; I've stargazed from the rooftop of the main library, traveled to Indiana to get to know my business fraternity pledge class, studied abroad in Singapore and The Netherlands and felt the drumbeat of the marching Illini in the front row of Illini football games. I did all of this while getting a great education and the confidence and resourcefulness to go out into the world and make my mark.

   Henry Soong

High School/ Hometown: James B. Conant High School / Schaumburg, IL
Year: Senior
Major: Finance, English
Activities: OTCR Consulting, Senior Legacy Campaign

Why I chose Illinois: The breadth and depth of subjects for study at Illinois is what drew me here.

You can send questions for our students to admissions@business.illinois.edu