The Illinois Institute of Technology

Date: Apr 16 2010
Major: Chemical Engineering (This Major's Salary over time)
Wow! There is actually a forum for me to voice my opinion about this school. Ok let me give a brief synopsis of who I am and where I am from. I am an African American female who resided in Chicago yes Chicago the South Side in which you may already assume since I am Black. I went to an African American college where the quality of education wasn't to my liking.

Now with all that said, let me first say IIT was horrible my first three years. Seriously people would ask me do I attend this school. Am I the first to go to school in my family and other similar questions like that made it hard for me to socialize with other students? (One student asked me that and HE made it bad for the rest) So imagine, I had to do all that hard ass work by myself. The strangest part was that I felt extremely lonely and self conscious. Maybe someone would ask how did you do that problem but over all it was a bad experience for me I barely talked to any one. I desperately wanted friends from other races but it seemed to never happen. I felt like no one liked me because of my race and I felt like people thought I was stupid. As the years went by I started to really appreciate the school and everything it had to offer. I am extremely smart and in fact was the smartest in my class despite what everyone thought. So I decided to be a little more friendly and I was very competitive so since no one wanted to be my friend because maybe I was an ass-hole or just plain odd not friendly I would kind of compete with homework assignments or what ever it was to involve myself with others. I found life to be a little easier and of coarse time went by quickly.

But before I lose the point of me writing this comment, I would like to say IIT is a great place to be for a great education, for life experiences, and real world technical training. I must admit IIT made me realize that you don?t need people to like you but respect you. This school isn?t for the weak minded or unmotivated but for leaders of the future. If you want a school that will hold your hand than release you into the real world than dam-mit you are wasting your time at IIT. This school is not for you.

Chemical engineering is the hardest field out there trust me I have dabbled in all the educational fields and trust me Chemical Engineering is by far the hardest and taking it at IIT doesn?t make it no easier unless you are in a click where they have the answers to all the test, homework?s, and quizzes other wise this shit is hard. I must have been the only person in my graduating class who understood and could write a book on Chemical Engineering (except that one). Everyone else from what I have observed got answers from someone else (former student). Essentially, IIT initially was a very dismal experience for me but by time I realized who I was and what I wanted the experience became enlightening in fact it was life changing. In the end (which actually matters) I was happy for the whole experience and glad I did not get caught up in coping but learning.

So the moral of the story is being sociable is one thing but actually learning is another. Go to school any school with a purpose and be confident in who you are and don?t be influenced by peers that lack direct but be influenced by those who walk the long and narrow road. IIT is one of the best schools despite its rep and no you will not be a party person and be successful at this school.

I forgot to say IIT does have a place for minorities that feel left out and that is the OMSS believe me I would have giving up a long time ago and went to Northwestern if it wasn?t for the refuge that this office offered. In fact my first real job came from this office. This office saved my life. Thanks to ALL staff that worked in this office from 2006-2009.