Guide for New and Prospective Students
On behalf of all the English graduate students at the University of Illinois, the EGSA would like to welcome you to our department.Our duties include planning departmental social events, presenting graduate student ideas and concerns to the department administration, and generally keeping communication flowing through the department.
One of our biggest jobs is providing grad students with opportunities to get to know other members of the department. The EGSA hosts a happy hour during orientation, and a pot-luck soon after orientation week. Both events will allow you to acquaint yourself with your fellow grad students and faculty. Happy hours and grad student-hosted parties take place throughout the year.
In addition to social events, the EGSA offers forums covering important academic and professional concerns such as the Special Field exam, the job market, publishing, conferencing, etc. We also provide opportunities for dissertating graduate students to present their work to us. One of the EGSA's main functions is to provide information and resources that will help you get through the program as painlessly as possible. If you have questions, the EGSA is a good place to start.
To that end, we've compiled a handy introduction to life at the University and in "Chambana." Want to know which rental companies to avoid? How the heck you get a key to the copy room? Where on earth you can get decent coffee? We've got you covered. Click on a link below to get started.
Getting settled at the university