My son is going to apply for mechanical engineering for fall 2020. Is it better for his chances to declare a 2nd choice, which would be aerospace, even if he is set on mechanical. And if he does should he write a different essay or can he use the same one?
If the applicant selects two choices, the process is to consider the applicant for first choice, then, if rejected, consider for second choice, and finally, if rejected for that, still consider for admission in possibly another major or more likely Division of General Studies.
If you list only one choice, process is to consider the applicant for that major, and, if rejected, the applicant is done and does not otherwise get consided for admission. Thus, the better action, if desire is to attend UIUC, is to list two choices.
And if two majors are listed, the applicant needs to submit two essays, one for each selection, although the second one can borrow much from the first.
Ok. Thanks. That’s what I understood but just wanted to verify. Is there much difference on the acceptance rates into mechanical engineering vs aerospace engineering? Seems like the admission stats are similar so just wondering if his chances would be higher to be admitted into aerospace if not admitted to mechanical.
The difference in acceptance rates for aerospace and mechanical is not provided. However, known is that mechanical is among the currently impacted majors, meaning it is considered to have excessive demand for number of spaces alllocated. Moreover, you cannot choose mechanical engineering as a second choice major – a rule created because the accepted class was being filled via first choice majors, and thus UIUC decided to prohibit its choice as a second choice major because those who listed it as a second choice were not even being considered for it.
Those who list a second choice are considered for it after the first choice group has been determined, and thus getting in a second choice major can sometimes be more difficult than getting the same major as first choice. Nevertheless, there is an Illinois priority applied to second choice – UIUC typically admits freshman on the same basis whether they are in-state or out-of state, except that an Illinois resident receives preference in deciding admissions for second choice majors.
As dsruba said, Mech E is oversubscribed and along with CS-Engineering and BioEngineering is among the toughest for admittance. I would also recommend a second major and depending on their stats, at least one safety school as well.