Hello! I live at 408 E Stoughton St in a 1BR1BA with JSM. I can confirm they have someone from a company come in once a month and spray for pest. You can look here to see what day of the month your apartment building gets sprayed.

Just like you, I also have a huuuuge phobia of bugs and spiders as well. I will literally set my apartment on fire if I see a bug. Last summer, I took a sublease (not through JSM), and one night it was like 11pm I was in my bed and I saw something move on the wall. I thought it was my foot, but I turned on my flash light, and it was a fucking spider like half the size of my hand and I literally ran out of my apartment building screaming in the middle of the night. And then called my friend and went to Walmart to buy bug bombs. I think that was the day I ended up hating that apartment. But anyways, since living with JSM I hardly ever seen any pest and I leave my windows open a lot tbh. But I also have a cat, and it could be possible my cat eats any bugs she sees when I’m not home. I think in total I have only 2 small spiders since living here (Ive lived in this apartment for about 9 months now). I also live on the 3rd floor, which is the top floor in my building, so it could be possible I don’t get that many bugs since I’m higher up.

Some advice for you:

-make sure you keep your apartment clean. A little clutter maybe in the closet or here and there once in a while is ok. What is not okay is living where it is just constant clutter. Pest like clutter. I clean my apartment pretty much every day (when I say clean, I don’t mean vacuuming and disinfecting stuff, I mean like organizing such as making bed, putting laundry and dishes away etc. i clean clean like every 5 days tbh.).

-this should be a given, but don’t leave food out in the open. Keep stuff in cabinets, containers, and fridge.

-I recommend purchasing this. This is amazing because it is like that bug killer stuff people use outside on their property. BUT, this is 100% safe to use indoors and outdoors. And also safe for pest. You spray it on the perimeter of your place, (safe on walls, wood, etc) and it creates this barrier that bugs don’t like/can’t cross. And if they do manage to cross it, this stuff actually kills them. So any bugs if you happen to find any, should be dead with this.

-I also have these plugged into my walls. These actually work.

-get a cat if you can 😂 one, they are adorable. Two, they kill the bugs for you.

-make sure your windows have a window screen with no holes in it.

-try to live on a higher floor.

-I keep my apartment colder (like 68 degrees) all the time because if it is too warm then that’s livable temps for pest.

Hope this helps!!

As a counterpoint to the "switch majors" camp, Cal Newport wrote a great book So good they can't ignore you that I read after I got dropped and was questioning pretty much every decision I made in college, and life, thus far. Unless someone literally wrote your application and didn't tell you what your major was going to be, there has to be at least something about it you like.

Newport argues that, rather than passion or gut feeling guiding your academic and career decisions, one should simply embrace the struggle of whatever they're pursuing and endeavor to become the best they can. Through this struggle, they learn to appreciate their craft, rather than beginning with an appreciation and then balking at the inevitable wall that everyone hits when doing something worthwhile. What this all boils down to: the more you learn and expose yourself to the intricacies of your major, the better you'll do, the more you'll end up appreciating it, and the better you'll want to do as a result.

What I recommend is to take a semester to knock out a bunch of geneds (Soc 100 is great for this) and do some independent study on topics in your major to find a niche that you are somewhat interested in. Try and delve as deep as you can into this niche. If you find that you truly can't find anything interesting, then you should probably reconsider majors.

Seconding all of these things. I was having sleep issues recently, so I have a few things to add that helped me:

• Melatonin (but only take if you have enough time to get a full 8 hours of sleep, or you may wake up groggy)
  
  
• Get a sunrise simulation alarm clock. It gradually wakes you up the natural way. I have this one
  
  
• Darken your bedroom as much as possible. Cover any lights from chargers, power strips, electronics, etc. with electrical tape. Also invest in some blackout curtains if you can. Even a little tiny light from your TV or something can disrupt your sleep.
  
  
• Find a book or activity that you enjoy that doesn't involve any blue light (like those from screens) and partake in it before bed. It will take your mind of things and help you wind down.
  
  
• Meditate. I know it seems silly and a bit difficult when you have a lot on your mind. I suggest the Headspace app. It is a really good introduction. I have also use the Pzizz app to help facilitate power naps (never more than 20-30 minutes!) and getting to sleep at night.
  
  
• Exercise. Not too close to bed, but sometime during the day. It helps you sleep better. Even if it's just a 20 minute walk!
  
  
• No alcohol, or at least limit it to weekends. I have found that when I drink (even just one beer) before bed, though it may help make me sleepy, ultimately lowers the quality of my sleep.
  
  
• Get a FitBit. I have the Charge 2, which has a heart rate monitor. It tracks your sleep and you can see what your cycles look like so you can set your wake up time to a place where you will not be in deep sleep.
  
  
• Use your bed for sleeping and sleeping only (except for sex, lol)! No eating, watching TV, homework, etc in bed. Your body will associate being in bed with stressful or wakeful things, making it more difficult to sleep.
  
  
• Get an oil diffuser. I sometimes diffuse lavender essential oil at night, which naturally helps facilitate sleep and rest.
  
  
• Set out your clothes, pack your lunch, and prep anything you can the night before so getting out of bed is easier and you have less to stress about at night.
  
  I know that is a lot of suggestions, and by no means do you have to do all of them to get better sleep. But, adopting just one or a few of them could really help. It gets really tough this time of year with the sun setting so early and it being really gloomy a lot of the time. I barely got any work done when DST ended. I just sat in my office and attempted to at least get emails answered while trying to stay awake. Push through these next few weeks. You are SO close to the end of the semester!
  
  Don't forget self care. I'm terrible about treating myself when I need it. Whether it's getting a massage, going for a walk, giving yourself an hour to watch a show that puts you in a good mood, or indulging in something tasty, taking a nice warm bath, or just taking a quick power nap, everyone needs some kind of self care. This time of year, it's definitely something that falls by the wayside!
  
  Sorry for the long post....I hope you find at least one thing that is helpful from it!
  
  Edit: Formatting!

Must Have Kitchenware:

• Measuring cups. Until you get better at "eyeballing", stick with measuring cups. Additionally, it gives you a good starting point if you see a recipe online or such.
  
  
• A rice cooker. This one (EDIT: I lied, I meant this one. For $7 more than the above one, it has a slow cooker function) doubles as a crock pot as well, if you're smart about it. Leave some veggies and let the rice go, easy meal. Which leads into the next point:
  
  
• A crock pot. If you want something more extravagant than rice and beans, try learning how to use a crock pot. It's easy to make ribs or pulled pork: just leave some bbq and pork in the pot and go to class. I know I had some trust issues leaving a kitchen appliance going for hours at a time, but once you get past that it's a life saver.
  
  

  Places to Shop:
  

  
  

• The Meat Lab (scroll down to the bottom). Great prices, and great quality. It's food right from the farms at school. As the name might suggest, you can get meat and eggs from there.
  
  
• Far East Grocery. Fave place to get my oriental groceries and everything you could ever want. It's cramped, very confusing, and has sketchy lighting-- reminds me of home.
  
  

  General Tips:
  

  
  

• Clean while you cook.
  
  
• Don't buy ramen because it's "the college kid food." One cup of (filling) ramen is ~$1, maybe 60c if you're lucky, or 40-60 bucks assuming you eat 2 meals a day. In comparison, 20lbs of rice is $10, and a month's veggies+potatoes+eggs is $15, and soy sauce is $5.
  
  With all of that, you can make a month's supply of some really damn good fried rice.
  
  
• When shopping for a recipe, write out what you need. Nothing sucks more than coming home and realizing you forgot turmeric.
  
  When I'm super lazy, here's my go-to meal-- Rice, salt and pepper, cumin, with a tomato sitting at the top, and maybe some carrots. I just toss them all in the rice cooker and watch some TV.

Tunnels:

Most of the steam tunnels around campus are located under bike paths (easier to dig up if the need ever arises). It's pretty simple to figure out where the tunnels are by observing the location of the hatches you see, JULIE markings (steam tunnels are normally denoted with yellow spray paint), or by looking to see where water dries or snow melts a bit faster than everywhere else. The Campus Administrative Manual states that all new steam tunnels will be "shallow" tunnels (about 3 feet tall, most of which is taken up by the pipes). Instead of allowing maintanence workers to comfortably walk down the tunnels (most of the old tunnels are 8' tall and 6' wide - roughly 3' after the pipes and their supports), the sidewalk is broken up into liftable concrete pieces. Figuring out which tunnels are shallow and which are "normal" is often difficult.

Pipes:

The tunnels house pipes that transport steam, cold water, and in one place, fuel. Because steam is highly corrosive, the pipes are designed to be replaced periodically. New pipes are made of PVC and are well insulated, so they need much less care. On top of the pipes, there are assorted valves, steam traps, sump pumps, and other equipment.

Buildings:

The tunnels often connect to various buildings around campus. None of the dorms connect. Almost all of the buildings on the Quad (with Lincoln Hall being the notable exception) can be accessed from the tunnels. The tunnels lead into a mechanical room in the building (nicknamed the "hot room"). Exploring buildings from the tunnels is a great way to get caught - doors lock behind you, there's a much higher chance of someone being there late at night, etc. The only case I know of someone getting caught in the UIUC tunnels was a result of exploring a building.

Physical Dangers:

The tunnels are a hazardous place. The main reason I'm taking the time to post this is to make sure that if people do explore the tunnels, they do so safely.

The pipes are hot. The valves are hot. Steam leaks happen - best case, you hear a hiss and can locate the leak and avoid it. Worst case - the leaks are often periodic in nature. They'll burst some steam every few seconds/minutes. There is asbestos covering some of the pipes. This isn't a danger unless disturbed - try your hardest not to disturb it. There's a lot of rusty metal, and there are places where water collects. Pay attention to where you're walking, and avoid walking through water - you never know what could be in it.

Legal Dangers:

First off, the police will never follow you into the tunnels. They are not willing to risk their safety in order to catch someone for trespassing (technically criminal trespassing on state property). That doesn't mean, however, that you shouldn't be extremely careful entering the tunnels. If you are spotted, you'll have a much harder time getting out unnoticed. Getting out is much easier - pick a hatch in a secluded spot, that has a grate you can scan the area from. There is an increasing number of cameras around campus, and all outdoor cameras are equipped with an infrared spotlight. Be aware of when you're nearing a hatch or other opening, and keep your voice down, and do your best to hide your flashlight.

If you do get caught, you're likely looking at probation from the University, and about 60 hours of community service. Your employer will likely be notified, and most don't appreciate hearing about a court case. Student Legal Services, in the Union, is a great resource for times like this.

Getting In:

You only need to find one entrance. Once you're in, you can go around propping other hatches to maintain future access. Check construction sites. Keep an eye out for service vehicles. Pull on every hatch you see - eventually you will find an open one.

Resources:

inflitration.org is a great resource for urban exploration (specifically this page). If you find that information useful, I cannot recommend their book enough.

Protips:

Bring plenty of Gatorade (throwing the bottles in the freezer beforehand is a nice touch). Bring flashlights and extra batteries. Bring a small first aid kit. Bring at least one friend. Let someone know where you're going and when you expect to be back. These might seem like overkill, but people have gotten seriously injured. These simple extra precautions will go a long way towards keeping you safe, and the extra peace of mind will make your trip more enjoyable.

Stay south of Green. The tunnels on the north side don't connect together well, and many systems have a single entrance/exit.

Be considerate - there are a lot of random artifacts from earlier explorers (can you find a beer can with a pop top?). Don't take anything, and try to minimize your footprint. If you want to tag the walls, use chalk.

Some not well known secrets: There are multiple levels of tunnels. There's a mailbox where you can leave/read messages. If you're not careful, you can easily find yourself in the power plant (AKA "Hell").

Don't touch anything. The main reason access is tightly controlled isn't because of any liability reasons - a simple spin of a valve can have catastrophic consequences when it's controlling highly-pressurized steam. There are a lot of things that look like light switches - and most of them are. Some, however, control other equipment.

Finally, be alert, be careful, and be aware of your surroundings.

Get this product called Nizoral shampoo (linked below), it has ketoconazole in it (you can read up on it) which doctors prescribe similar stronger ketoconazole products to people with excess dandruff that cannot be controlled. Use it like every two or three days for about 6-8 weeks, you can use conditioner every day though. After that, I would recommend a natural shampoo and conditioner that contains a lot different oils such as argan oil.

 

Also really important, people who shampoo their hair everyday especially with products such as Head & Shoulders which contain ingredients such as sulfate (which is terrible for your scalp, companies just use these ingredients because they are cheap. They couldn't give a sht about what happens to your scalp.) are stripping all the natural oils which your hair/scalp needs at least a little bit of, drying your scalp excessively which also causes dandruff, and also making yourself more prone to baldness. Read up on the no shampoo method which is basically you use shampoo ever two or three days, but you can still use conditioner every day. I've linked a page below if you're interested.

 

Oh one more thing....
For the love of god, please stop using two in one shampoo and conditioners because it doesn't work! Think about it, shampoo is supposed to strip stuff out while conditioner is supposed to put nutrients back in. How the fck can one product do these two things at once. It's obviously just a way for the company to scam you into buying that product because you think you are getting the better deal. Just buy separate shampoos and conditioners, I've linked below the products that I'm currently using if you want some reference. You could buy that or other products that have similar ingredients.

 

You can ask me any questions if you have some.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Nizoral-D-Anti-Dandruff-Shampoo-Fl/dp/B00AINMFAC/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1540274200&sr=8-1&keywords=nizoral

 

https://www.nopoomethod.com/

 

https://www.amazon.com/ArtNaturals-Organic-Moroccan-Shampoo-Conditioner/dp/B01BFKIJ06/ref=sr_1_8_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1540274589&sr=1-8&keywords=shampoo

 

If you follow what I've written here, I expect you to come back in a few weeks in order to thank me for giving away all my secrets and for changing your life for the better.

If you have some free time, it might be a good idea to take some time to read, journal, and learn new skills.

You can journal about the fall semester and try to brainstorm the reasons for why you got a 2.5 GPA. Were you taking time to study every day, were you spending too much time at Kams, or were you spending too much time alone on reddit and not developing a social circle? There's a lot of reasons that can lead to a difficult semester and identifying them is important to prevent the same problems from happening again in the spring. Also the act of journaling will help you process your thoughts in a more productive way than if you are just ruminating.

Reading would also be a great use of your time because for one, the act of reading helps to alleviate feelings of loneliness. You can also read different books about motivation, psychology, health, or success that can give you some tools on how to think about your problems. Some books that were beneficial to me when I was in a similar situation were, "Change Your Brain Change Your Life (before 25)," "The Defining Decade," and "Mindset." Here's the links to them on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Brain-Life-Before/dp/0373892926

https://www.amazon.com/Defining-Decade-Your-Twenties-Matter/dp/0446561754

https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483208928&sr=1-1&keywords=mindset

Lastly, learning new skills will help you increase your confidence and remind you that you are a capable person. Learn how to solve a rubix cube, learn to play a song on some instrument, take a coding class online, or teach yourself how to make an omelette. Honestly, you can teach yourself anything and it will be beneficial. Learning these small skills will make you feel productive and increase your sense of self-efficacy.

Try not to think of your failures as a sign that there is something inherently wrong with you or that you are a failure. You have an incredible capability to grow as a human in all areas of your life and failing is a good sign to show that your pushing yourself to learn. In the words of John Wooden, "Failure isn't fatal, but failure to change might be."

I'll leave you with one last quote that I found to be inspirational: "Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all." - Norman Vincent Peale.

ILL!

Go out and buy K&R's "The C Programming Language". It's about 50 bucks on Amazon, and it's the definitive guide to C.

C++ is a derivation (and in fact, a strict superset) of C. So, anything that works in C works in C++. The book will get you acquainted with pointers, structs, and all the things that make C totally different than Java.

The best way I can describe C++ is if Java and C had a bastard child-a lot of the concepts from Java (object orientation, a class library, etc.) translate pretty directly, but a lot of stuff (pointers, memory allocation/deallocation, structs, unions) come from C. I find that these topics are much easier to learn through C rather than C++.

C doesn't contain much resemblance to Java because it has no object orientation (i.e. you can't have "objects", nor can you have "object methods" which only act upon the data in that object) which makes it a very weird experience for someone with only Java programming experience, but being able to program in straight ANSI C is an invaluable skill and it will put you WAY ahead in 225.

Here's a link. Trust me, don't rent this book, BUY it. You will use it for years to come.

Also, if you want a book that strictly covers C++ (I would only recommend this after you go through all of K&R), go ahead and get this one. It's easily the best C++ reference I know of.

I studied from reading the stewart book and looking at a ton of old midterms and finals. I think you get around 3 hours but I don't remember exactly. From what i saw people say online it's usually harder than the old finals, but for me the finals were a lot harder than the exam... so difficulty probably varies. And yeah it's formatted exactly like the old finals, like 3 or 4 free response and I want to say around 15? (big error bars) multiple choice.

I didn't take 231 but so I don't know if it's exactly the same but you def have the same amount time since everyone takes it in the same room.

Good Luck!

It depends on what flavor of bubble tea you want and how much you want to make.

I personally became a fan of the fruity bubble teas. i.e: plum, grapefruit, yogurt green/black tea.

I ordered the syrups flavors that I liked online. You can find different syrup flavors here

You can purchase boba at local asian stores. I have not been in an asian grocery store that did not have it.

I then brew the strongest possible tea I can brew and chill it in the fridge. It's important to brew the tea as strong as you can because a small amount of syrup dilutes the tea flavor drastocally.

Once the tea is chilled, I pour 16 oz into a drink mixer I use my blender bottle. I then pour 1-2oz of syrup depending on the flavor and add half a tea spoon of honey, or sugar. You will have to play around with the amount of syrup and honey/sugar you add. I don't like my bubble teas too sweet. I shake the mixture for about 1 minute and (along with ice) pour it in a mason jar with a handle and use a reusable bubble tea straw.


If you want to add boba in your bubble tea:

Instead of pouring the mixture into a cup, I put the mixture in the fridge. I bring a pot of water to a rolling boil on a stove. I then reduce the heat to medium and add boba and stir until the boba floats. I cover the pot for 3 minutes and then turn off the heat and let the boba rest in the hot water for 3 minutes. If you don't like your boba too soft and chewy and want a firmer texture you can cook the boba for 2 minutes and let it rest in the hot water for 2 minutes.

Afterwards remove the boba from the hot water and chill it in cold water for 30 seconds. Then remove the boba from the cold water and mix it in simple syrup or honey. Alternatively, you can use a bubble tea syrup flavor (I have started to do this) to give your boba a different taste.

Add the boba to the cup you will use first, then ice, then remove the drink mixture from the fridge (give it an extra shake or two for good luck) and pour into the cup you will use.

There are actually several reasons more security cameras would be a bad idea. Here are some reasons from the ACLU. In addition to that, security cameras are reactive and not proactive. In other words, they do not prevent crime, they only make it easier to catch the criminal (sometimes). They might make you feel safer causing you to let your guard down thereby making you ironically more vulnerable. Security cameras also create an environment of mistrust which divides not only the University from the surrounding community (already a huge issue in Chambana) but also students from the administration which is always watching (George Orwell wrote a great book on this called 1984.) And finally, to expand on a point made by the ACLU, UI already has a surprising number of security cameras (1028 as of 2014, Source) and monitoring all of that video is tedious work which requires hiring new staff and expanding an already bloated administration and/or police force, which is scarcely something the University can afford, especially without a state budget.

Edit: I would note that I definitely agree with the other posters' comments on hard work/merit of your work. That's a big element! I just thought I would address your question from another angle, since they already covered the other important elements. :)

Original comment:

Academia + research involves a fairly significant element of relationships and/or politics, which may seem insincere. You could look into books on navigating relationships and/or office politics. Many extroverted or popular people fake it until they make it. That is, treat everyone as if they are already your buddy, and soon they will be.

I’ll list a few books below that are solid regarding navigating relationships and politics... but I would also note that different environments have different politics. (academia has different politics than a corporation, for example)

And if you don't like politics or managing office relationships, you could start your own business. I don't know whether you are an introvert, but I think introverts benefit from owning a business, because there is no stress from trying to anticipate office politics.

Good luck!

Helpful books: (I recommend “How to Talk To Anyone” to start)

http://www.amazon.com/How-Talk-Anyone-Success-Relationships/dp/007141858X/

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/

http://www.amazon.com/The-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197

Introvert entrepreneur blog:

http://theintrovertentrepreneur.com/

I went through the EXACT same ordeal last semester! It is uncanny how similar the whole situation is. For a second, I even gave it a thought if my ex-roommate could've done it. lol

My monitor was damaged while I was away. Before that, I had had occurrences of things getting lost/damaged. I dealt with this last semester. Only difference is that we were living in an apartment. This is how I handled the situation:

After seeing the initial few occurrences of things getting lost and damaged, I got a spy camera from Amazon (Damn! Its cheaper now). Within 2 weeks of setting it up, it recorded multiple instances of my roommate coming into my room, going through my personal belongings and damaging the monitor. I took the recorded evidence to Office of Student Conflict Resolution which advised me to move out of the house and file a police report. I filed the report but didn't press charges. The report was necessary to have documented proof of the incidents which would've helped me break the lease of my apartment. I confronted my roommate about it and after initial hesitation, he agreed to it. The OSCR themselves followed up with my ex-roommate to help him with the reasons why he was doing this. He moved out after paying monetary compensation for all the stolen things and damages (including for things for which I didn't have a proof).

So, my advise to you is to get proof that he/she did it or have proof of him/her doing something of similar nature in the future. Since these things have happened before, there is a chance your roommate might do it again. An evidence of something done later can be backtracked to this. He/she might confess since you will have verifiable proof. Show it to a counselor at OSCR and discuss the matters. They will give you good advice on how to handle it. (btw, it is legal to put a spy camera in your personal room. However, not in a shared space like kitchen/living room)

If that sounds like an extreme measure, set up an appointment with a counselor at OSCR. They are very helpful people who will analyze your situation and can help to mediate out the situation if a resolution is possible. The mediation will be off the record.

I know how mentally unnerving the situation is. Hope this helps. PM me if you have questions or need some advice.

http://www.amazon.com/A118-C-Capacitor-Edition-Recorder-Authentic/dp/B00SK8B47W/

I love it. Super discrete, easy to wire without having the wire visible, and the quality is good. Cons are that the quality sucks in 720p mode (it goes down to like 360p).

I ordered this one and it looks nice. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MSSOW7F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1