Category: Student

I live in Oak Park, and I juggle work, kids, taxes, plates, you name it. I got tired of ten passwords for ten state sites. So I set up Illinois’ digital ID, called ILogin. I’ve used it for months now. Some days it’s great. Some days it makes me breathe slow and count to five.

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Let me explain.
For another firsthand perspective that lines up with (and sometimes challenges) my own, you can read this longer review of ILogin over at OpenID Book.

What It Is (And What It’s Not)

ILogin is one account for many Illinois state websites. Think MyTax Illinois, ABE (benefits), and a few others. One email. One password. A code on your phone.

And no, it’s not a driver’s license on your phone. It won’t get you past TSA. It’s just a secure sign-in.
For a geekier look at the open standards (like OpenID Connect) that power systems like ILogin, you can skim the plain-English guides at OpenID Book.

Setup: Quick… And A Little Bumpy

I made my account on my laptop at the kitchen table. I picked “text me a code” for the extra security step. That’s called MFA. Fancy name, simple idea. For anyone who wants an official, step-by-step reference, the ILogin Help Guide walks through the same process with screenshots.

First snag: the text code took a while. I stared at my phone. Nothing. Then it showed up all at once. I got in, but it felt slow.

Next, it asked me those credit questions. You know the ones. “Which bank did you open a loan with in 2016?” I had to think back. I passed, but it wasn’t fun. Pro tip: if you froze your credit (I did), you may need to lift the freeze for a bit. I had to do that and try again. Not hard, just annoying.

After that, I switched from text to an authenticator app on my phone. It gives a code even when my signal is weak. That helped a lot.

Real Things I Did With It

• Paid my Illinois estimated taxes in MyTax Illinois. I saw my payment history right away and downloaded the receipt. Felt neat and tidy.
• Checked my refund status. It matched the email they sent later, so I trusted it.
• Logged into ABE to report my new address after we moved. I didn’t make a new account there. I used ILogin. That part felt smooth.
• Messaged the Department of Revenue inside MyTax. I got a reply in a couple days, and I could see the whole thread in one place.

One side note: renewing my plate sticker on the Secretary of State site didn’t use ILogin for me. I had to type my info again. Not the worst thing. But still a little eye roll moment.

Stuff I Didn’t Love

• The session timed out fast. I got up to stir a pot of chili and came back to a “you’ve been signed out” screen. Start over, Kayla.
• The text codes were slow at peak times. Friday lunch hour felt like molasses. The authenticator app fixed it, but I had to learn that the hard way.
• The credit questions were picky. One wrong memory and I had to try again later. If you moved a lot, grab a folder of old stuff before you start.
• Pop-up blockers got in the way once. I had to allow a window to load a form. Simple fix, but it took me a minute to spot it.

Little Tips That Saved Me Time

• Use an authenticator app instead of text codes. Faster. Works on Wi-Fi too.
• Write down your backup codes and tuck them in a drawer. I lost my phone for a day. Those codes saved me.
• If you have a credit freeze, lift it, sign up, then freeze it again.
• Turn on email alerts. I like seeing a “you signed in” note. It makes me feel safe.
• Keep your address the same as your driver’s license when you answer those knowledge questions. The system liked that.

How It Felt Day to Day

Honestly? Most days it made life simpler. One door. Many rooms. For a broader look at how identity is driving digital services statewide, StateScoop’s recent coverage puts ILogin in context. I paid a bill, checked a status, and moved on. Then, once in a while, a small trip-up: a code delay, a timeout, a tiny form quirk. Nothing fatal, just the kind of thing that makes you sigh and sip your coffee.

You know what? I trust it now. It’s not flashy. It’s steady.

Would I Use It Again?

Yes. I already do. I’d give it a solid 8 out of 10 for normal tasks. For tax stuff, it’s a win. For benefits, it’s handy. For plate renewals, I still had to do the old way. Maybe that will change.

One Last Thing

If you’re nervous about the ID check, I get it. I read the prompts slow, answered once, and took a breath before I clicked submit. It worked. And once you’re in, you’re in. After that, it’s quick taps and done.

If you’re juggling state tasks like me, ILogin is worth it. Not perfect. But close enough to keep me sane on a Tuesday night.

Hi, I’m Kayla Sox. I used the ASU digital ID every day as a student. Doors, dining, gym, library—you name it. I still keep the plastic Sun Card in a drawer, but honestly, I barely touch it now.

Let me explain how it actually felt to live with it, day in and day out. By the way, if you're curious how a different system stacked up, here’s another student’s year-long review of ASUS Digital ID.

Quick take: it works, and it’s fast

The short version? Tap your phone or watch, and go. No fishing for a card. No weird fumbling. When it’s hot and your hands are sweaty on Palm Walk, that little tap feels like magic.

If you’d like a broader look at where digital identity is headed, this quick primer breaks it down in plain English.

But it’s not perfect. I’ll get to that.

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How I set it up (and what tripped me up)

• I added my ASU ID to Apple Wallet from the ASU app. It took about 2 minutes. (Arizona’s official Apple Wallet guide is also handy if you want the step-by-step basics.)
• Express Mode turned on, so I didn’t need Face ID every time. Just tap and done.
• I also added it to my Apple Watch. That was a game changer at the gym.

If you're curious about device compatibility, meal plan usage, or how to troubleshoot a misbehaving reader, ASU keeps an updated Mobile ID FAQ that answers most of those what-ifs before they happen.

Tiny hiccup: my MagSafe wallet blocked the reader. I had to flip my phone or slide the wallet off. After that, smooth sailing.

My friend Alex used a Pixel 7. His Google Wallet worked too, but he had to wake the screen for some readers. Not a deal breaker—just a small extra step.

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Real moments that sold me

Move-in day mayhem

I was hauling bins, a fan, and a random bag of snacks. My hands were full. I got to the dorm door, tapped my phone to the little square reader, and it clicked open. No digging in a backpack. No “Wait, where’s my card?” Honestly, it saved my morning.

Dinner at the MU

I went to the dining hall at the Memorial Union with two friends. I used my meal swipe with a quick tap. The screen flashed green, and the cashier waved me through. When I used M&G Dollars at the grill, it just pulled from the right balance. No guesswork.

The printing panic

Five minutes before a lab, I had to print a PDF. I tapped my phone at the release station by Hayden Library. It pulled up my queue and charged me like normal. I grabbed the pages and ran. It felt like a tiny win on a very loud day.

Gym check-in with sweaty hands

At the Sun Devil Fitness Complex, I hate holding my phone while I work out. So I used my Apple Watch to tap in. Beep, gate opens. No fuss. I kept my phone in my locker and never worried.

Late night, low battery

This one surprised me. My phone battery was super low after a long study night. I still got into my hall with a tap. I wouldn’t push it every time, but it worked that night, and I was grateful.

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Where it stumbled

• Some doors are picky. The reader sits left of the handle, and if I tapped too high, it didn’t read. I learned to touch the flat circle on the reader, not the side.
• My thick case (with the magnet) caused misses. If your case is chunky, you may have to try again.
• A few events asked me to use the barcode in the ASU app, not the Wallet pass. So I kept both ready.
• Once, a dining reader froze. The cashier told me to try the next lane. It worked there, but I did feel silly standing with my tray and a line behind me.

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What I liked most

• It’s quick. Tap and move. That’s huge between classes.
• It cuts clutter. I stopped carrying my lanyard.
• It’s safer. If I misplace my phone, I can lock it fast. A loose card? Not so simple.
• It’s great for habit stuff: gym check-ins, quick snack runs, library stops. The small wins add up.

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What I didn’t love

• Reader quirks. A slow reader can throw off your rhythm.
• Case drama. If you have a magnetic wallet, you might have to adjust.
• Not everything uses the Wallet pass. Some things still want the in-app barcode or even a manual check.
• If your phone truly dies, you’re stuck. It helped me on low battery once, but I don’t count on that every time.

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Tips I wish someone told me

• Turn on Express Mode. It saves seconds, and those seconds matter before an 8 a.m. class.
• Add it to your watch if you have one. The gym feels easier.
• Practice the tap. Sounds silly, but knowing where the reader coil is speeds things up.
• Keep the ASU app handy. Some events still scan the barcode in there.
• If a reader fails, try another lane or reader. It’s often the device, not you.

If you’re the kind of student who learns best from clear, step-by-step walkthroughs—whether that’s setting up a digital ID, troubleshooting a stubborn reader, or just staying organized for campus life—take a look at this ever-growing library of practical how-to guides that breaks down each task with screenshots and pro tips so you can nail it on the first try.

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Who it’s great for

• First-years who lose cards. Been there.
• People living in the halls. Door taps all day long.
• Gym regulars who don’t want to juggle stuff.
• Anyone who likes quick check-ins—dining, printers, library.

Digital IDs aren’t limited to campus life, either. States are rolling out versions of their own—Illinois just launched ILogin, and here’s one user’s honest take on that roll-out.

On a totally different note, if you’re curious how smaller, location-based services are embracing the same kind of streamlined, mobile-first access, check out Listcrawler Leesburg, which showcases a minimalist directory that lets you browse local listings quickly without mandatory sign-ups or extra clicks.

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My verdict

You know what? I’m a fan. The ASU digital ID isn’t flashy. It’s simple and steady. Most days, it just works, and that’s all I want. It made busy days feel a little lighter—hands free, head clear, less rummaging in a bag.

It’s not perfect—some readers are fussy, and you still need the app for a few things. But for campus life, it’s a real upgrade. If you’re at ASU and you haven’t set it up yet, do it when you’re calm, not when you’re late. Then you’ll feel the difference when it counts.

I’m Kayla, and I actually used a digital student ID every day last year. I kept it on my iPhone 13 mini and my Apple Watch SE. My school runs on Transact eAccounts, so I added my ID to Apple Wallet. If you're curious about the broader platform behind those taps, the Transact Campus ID Solutions for Higher Education page breaks down how the company weaves campus credentials into mobile wallets.

My roommate used the CBORD GET app on his Pixel 7 with Google Wallet. We compared notes in the dining hall line, like two nerds who care way too much about gates and beeps.

And you know what? It mostly felt like magic. But it also glitched at the worst times. Let me explain. If you want a second opinion, this deep dive from another student lines up with a lot of what I saw.

Setup: Not hard, but not instant

I did the identity check in the Transact eAccounts app. I had to log in, pass a code, and wait a few minutes. It was done in about 10 minutes. My friend had to wait longer with CBORD—his card took almost an hour to show in Wallet. He kept refreshing like it was a game.

One odd thing: I tried to change my student photo and couldn’t. The system locked it until a new term. Not a dealbreaker, but I looked stuck in my freshman haircut.

If you’d like a plain-English peek at the authentication layer that makes mobile IDs possible, this short OpenID guide breaks down the protocols without the jargon.

Real life moments where it helped

• Dining hall: I tapped my phone on the reader, and it beeped fast. One time I was carrying a tray and used my Apple Watch instead. That felt slick.
• Library gate: The NFC pad by the turnstile liked my phone when I held it flat. If I held it at an angle, it failed. Once I had a metal ring on my case, and it blocked the tap. Took me a week to figure that out.
• Gym check-in: They used a scanner for a QR code at one desk. I had to turn my screen brightness all the way up. Dark screen = no scan.
• Laundry: The machines took campus dollars. Tap, choose washer, done. I stopped hunting for quarters. That alone saved me on a Sunday night.
• Campus bus: Our bus readers took the mobile ID. I love pockets free of plastic. Rainy day, hoodie up, quick tap, done.
• Printing lab: It asked for a tap before my print job. At midterms, the line moved faster with phones. Fewer lost cards = fewer sighs.

That “my phone died” panic

This is the part that sold me. On my iPhone, Express Mode let me tap even when the phone looked dead. Apple calls it power reserve. I got into my dorm after a late study night. Door opened. No drama. It won’t last all day, but it bought me time.

My roommate on Android? He sometimes had to wake his phone first. His taps worked fine, but not always with a true “screen off” feel. It depends on the device and the reader. He learned to just tap twice if the first try failed. Android users looking for official troubleshooting tips can skim the eAccounts Mobile Apps FAQ for Android to see what features and limitations their phones support. There’s an even more detailed Android perspective in this year-long review of Asus’s Digital ID if you want to geek out on the hardware side.

The good stuff I loved

• It’s faster than digging for a card. Less fumbling.
• Apple Watch support is clutch when your hands are full.
• I paid for laundry and snacks with campus funds, no coins or cash.
• Lost phone? I could freeze my card from the eAccounts app on my laptop. That felt safe.
• It handles “I forgot my wallet” days. We all have those.

The stuff that bugged me

• Thick cases or metal rings can block NFC. My cute grip ring? Had to go.
• Some scanners hate cracked screen protectors for barcodes. Mine chipped and the gym scanner threw a fit.
• Readers aren’t all the same. One library gate took my phone super fast. Another one made me tap twice.
• Outages happen. One morning the system went down, and staff had to wave us through. Cool for ten minutes, then chaos.
• Battery life matters. Express Mode helps on iPhone, but you still need a charge after a while. I now carry a tiny power bank.

Little tips I wish I knew on day one

• Add it to both phone and watch if you can. It’s like a spare key.
• Keep a photo of your student number in your notes. Some offices still ask for it.
• If a QR won’t scan, bump the brightness. Works like a charm.
• Turn off those metal phone rings and thick magnetic plates. They block taps.
• Update the app before big rush days (move-in, finals). The login holds can be real.

Who it’s great for

• People who lose cards a lot. Me, hi.
• Folks who use Apple Wallet with Express Mode. It feels smooth and quick.
• Students who live in dorms and do laundry on campus. Less juggling, more doing.

Who might not love it

• If your phone’s old and slow, taps can feel fussy.
• If your campus still scans barcodes everywhere, it’s fine, but not as quick.
• If you keep a very rugged case or metal mount on the back, you’ll fight with the reader.

Outside the campus bubble, state programs like Illinois’s ILogin digital ID wrestle with many of the same usability quirks—worth a skim if you’re curious how larger governments tackle the same problems.

On that note, some upper-classwomen told me they loved having a single-tap way to confirm their student status when they RSVP’d for affinity dating mixers. If you want to see how location-based apps specifically empower Black female students to meet nearby matches, check out this local Black girls dating guide—it shows how verified profiles and proximity filters can make the process safer and more convenient. Meanwhile, students at Kentucky campuses who road-trip to Owensboro for weekend meet-ups often look for equally verified listings off campus, and a quick look at the Listcrawler Owensboro overview explains how that platform vets ads, displays recent photos, and outlines optional screening steps so you can connect with genuine providers instead of rolling the dice on sketchy classifieds.

One small story to end

I was late for an exam. Hands shaking. Coffee in one hand. I tapped the door with my watch, slid in, and sat down. My friend fished for his plastic card for a full minute. He made it, but he gave me the look. After class he asked how to set it up. We did it right in the hallway.

My verdict

I’d keep the digital student ID. It made campus life easier, most days by a mile. It’s not perfect—glitches happen, readers vary, and phone cases can mess things up. But the mix of speed, safety, and “oh no my wallet” peace of mind? Worth it.

Would I carry a plastic backup in my backpack? Yep. It weighs nothing. But I reached for my phone or watch 99% of the time. And that says plenty.