“Discover. Create. Solve.” These three words appear on the cover of Illinois Institute of Technology’s information pamphlet, which I flipped through as I waited for one of IIT’s admissions officers to begin a presentation at my high school. By the end of the session, it was easy to see why these three words perfectly summarize the ITT’s mission.

Here are some of my top takeaways from the info session with IIT admissions.

1) IIT is in a great location for students who want an urban school in the midwest

Illinois Tech is located in downtown Chicago. The Admissions representative described the city as the “university’s backyard.” Students receive master passes that allow them to travel around the city free of charge and immerse themselves personally and academically in the Windy City’s tornado of activities. Art, food and music–it is all at their fingertips to explore and discover.

Watch the video below to learn more about living on campus at IIT.

2) Research opportunities are at the heart of the IIT experience

Academically, the possibilities at IIT are plentiful. However, the university’s pride and joy is its research opportunities where students solve real world questions. Over their four year experience at IIT, nearly all students will conduct several research projects, as well as take on internships. Additionally, they’ll have access to Illinois Tech’s two signature programs: Interprofessional Projects Program (IPRO) and Idea Shop. In both, students are pushed to create solutions, while increasing their practical skills and readying themselves for the job market.

Watch the video below to learn more about the unique IPRO program at IIT.

3) Students interested in liberal arts or humanities probably won’t find what they’re looking for at ITT

IIT is most widely regarded for its College of Architecture and College of Engineering. These two programs, along with countless other STEM initiatives the school offers, are no doubt impressive. They appear to push humanities to the background. In fact, IT offers fewer than five humanities majors, many of which center around utilizing technology or the sciences within the humanities.

Watch the video below to learn more about how architecture students at Illinois Tech Discover, Create and Solve.

4) IIT Students can pursue a bachelor’s and a master’s degree at the same time

If you are interested in a career in technology or pursuing research, applying to Illinois Tech seems like a solid choice. In addition to their undergraduate possibilities, the institute also offers “Co-terminal degree programs,” which allows students to receive their bachelor’s and master's degrees simultaneously adding only a year or two. Students can decide to join the program during their freshman or sophomore year and save themselves money, time, and extra hassle.

5) IIT is committed on being a good value for students

Money should not to be a top concern for most IIT students, claims the admissions officer. Illinois Tech strives to support their students financially and–amazingly– IIT provides 98 percent of their students with some sort of financial aid. Most students receive between $10,000 and $30,000 a year, a statistic that is unheard of these days.

IIT has been continually ranked as one of the Best Value Universities, most recently coming in at #44 nationally according to the U.S. News & World Report in 2022. The university is committed to giving students a great return on investment. As proof, the school offers further research opportunities to the roughly 10 percent of students who don’t receive job placement within six months of their graduation. In reviewing IIT’s countless student-centric perks, it seems clear: Illinois Institute of Technology whole-heartedly wants the best for their students.

My Verdict on IIT

Illinois Institute of Technology seems to be a great school for learners looking for access to internships, research opportunities, and careers in STEM. In a way, writing this article has made me wish I was interested in a technology career, just so I could have a shot at taking advantage of their offerings. For people like me, who hope to have more of a humanities, sporty-school spirit-y experience, it doesn’t look like IIT will be the best fit.

Note for prospective IIT students: the Admissions committee does like to see demonstrated interest and if possible, attendance at one of their online or in-person summer pre-college programs.

And make sure to apply by November 15th to be considered for scholarships!