Just PMed you…
Thank you!
@PPofEngrDr can we also talk with you over the phone for PREP, my son got accepted in PREP and we are very confused.
We ended up accepting PREP. My daughter is there today for a special scholarship meeting.
@nfora our analysis was this.
First, my daughter is also interested in a math major. If she ends up doing math instead of engineering, we would prefer to be at UIUC and in state. She has a guaranteed admission into math if she gets a certain (low) gpa in certain math classes.
Second, if she loves engineering and gets a 3.0 or above at UIUC she can transfer to the other schools she was considering and still get a scholarship (Iowa State, University of New Mexico, UIC) and will very likely be admitted. But if she is at UNM or Iowa State she cannot transfer into engineering at UICU.
Thanks for taking @PPofEngrDr we would love to hear what happens to your son and if he gets into CE in June. Thank you for your time.
@PPofEngrDr You are incorrect. The GPA requirements posted prior to Class of 2021 admissions were minimum IC transfer requirements only. DGS first posted the MINIMUM GPA TO REMAIN a student in DGS-PREP on their revamped web site in November 2017. Check the wayback machine. Unfortunately, our family was sold by admissions. The DGS and admissions staff presented us with a four semester program of so-called discovery to find the right major, explore options, etc…However, a PREP student is not the same as a DGS student. PREP students do not have the same four semester exploration luxury as other DGS students.Those DGS-PREP students who did not make a minimum 3.0 GPA/2.75 technical GPA after first Freshman semester were kicked out of the program. When UIUC posted enrollment stats, I checked. A total of 241 Class of 2021 students enrolled in DGS-PREP for Fall 2017, and all but two were state of Illinois residents. PREP is an in-state resident program, generated to appease. Only 163 remained in DGS-PREP for Spring 2018 (includes the 2 out-of-state residents). The 32% were likely weeded out by GPA (I’m guessing most didn’t leave voluntarily). I’m sure those 32% thought they had the abilities and right amount of determination too. DGS offers no flexibility. One bad grade in a technical GPA class and you are out. One semester below 3.0 and you are out. Ask the Dean why couldn’t the 32% remain in DGS-PREP, utilizing the additional 3 semesters in DGS to make up for one bad grade or one bad first semester? With more time these students could meet minimum IC requirements. It’s all a numbers game. College of Engineering did not have room for all 241 DGS-PREP students. Best of luck to your admitted DGS-PREP student. Hope he or she adjusts well, meets the GPA, and succeeds in transfer. I also hope DGS doesn’t change the PREP rules along the way.
@KarlKing I am not sure what GPA requirements your are referring to for class of 2021 that I provided incorrect info, my son is in same class of 2021. The admission, attrition numbers you are referring seems in same ballpark with my source of information, I haven’t seen official numbers from UIUC though.
PREP has 4 categories and 3.00 is minimum category so if that is not achieved, I agreed that it can be harsh on students. To my knowledge ~50% were dropped PREP for various reasons, one you mentioned, can’t maintain 3.0 GPA and others did maintain >3.0 GPA but were fall short from their eng discipline target (e,g. you may have 3.5 GPA in 1st semester, but your target is CS then it is fall short of CS 3.75) so student has to make choice a) If CS is indeed the choice, go to other college where they can still get CS admission. b) change your path in PREP to lower GPA category eng discipline and thus compromise to what student has desire to do. My guess is most students will follow their passion thus transfer out to other colleges where they can pursue their passion.
I agree with your sentiment and as a parent I would be feeling same way if a single strike spoils your kid life.
So far my son is doing great, maintain 4.0 GPA in 1st semester and 2nd semester he is on track so far and he had finished the portfolio transfer process last month and waiting for an outcome this summer.
Recently also learned about Undeclared Engineering and found out those students even have a higher priority over PREP.
see my comment here
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21431678/#Comment_21431678
So I agree UIUC has to do better job on admission application education side so that first timer families going through process does understand all options.
@enginmom4 I also learnt recently about Undeclared engineering. See the thread and you may still want to discuss UE out with UIUC if that is still an option. Believe Undeclared engineering had higher priority over PREP.
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21431678/#Comment_21431678
Lots of parents and admitted students are visiting UIUC nowadays, if you happen to be PREP bound, please share your experience that can help future applicants.
We actually have just switched out of DGS and into Math. My daughter loves math at a high level. She will still be pursuing apply into engineering and taking the same courses, but she will have a major to protect her if she doesn’t get in. Also, at the end of her freshman or sophomore year, if she doesn’t get into engineering she can decide if she wants to pursue Actuarial Science or transfer to UIC or Iowa State for engineering. We feel really really good about this change.
@enginmom4 glad to hear that your daughter found her passion. It is always good to have fallback plan or plan B. You mentioned she is still pursuing apply to engineering, being Math in LAS college, can she apply directly to College of Eng or still she has to go through PREP before applying to College of Eng. Trying to understand the potential path.
She has to apply back into Prep to get there. But, she is going to take the same classes her first year so at the end of her first Freshman year she will have an understanding if she would be successful, it will allow her to transfer out to another school if she decides that is absolutely her path and have the same engineering class load, and if she decides to just stay in math, she will have gotten her science classes out of the way (she wants to take Chemistry and Physics anyway). This will allow her to not lose time in any direction while hedging bets at transfer somewhere else, applying into engineering, and making sure she is in another major (math/actuarial science) that she loves.
@PPofEngrDr Do you mind sharing what GPA/SAT scores your child had in high school so I can estimate my DDs chances of having the same success as yours.
My DD has a 3.9/1400 with lots of APs. She applied to DGS because she’s not sure what she wants to do yet. Was accepted DGS Honors.
Wants to have some idea of chances of engr in case she decides that is what she wants to do after getting there.
Thx for your posts - such a big help!
@SjFreshmanDad I would strongly suggest not to rely on my son high school credentials as that is year old now and lots of other factors plays role and competitive program intentions of applicants. However just to share he had 33 ACT, was ranked <20 (believe top 3%), GPA 4.7 W (out of 5) and his robotics club was his passion, bunch of APs.
I am sure you understand that in order to get into eng college from DGS, you first have to take PREP and maintain PREP required GPA. Being in DGS I don’t think your DD can take engineering classes, you are allowed to take engineering classes if you are in PREP, Undeclared Eng, Engineering college, Science college where you can take maths and science classes that can help you for engineering college down the road, .
My son had made up is hid mind for CS, CE was his 2nd choice so it was more definitive route for him. He had zero interest to DGS only. Because PREP is small program (~300 enrolled), they have to find home for it and puts it under DGS.
More you are undecided, more choices and more complications to navigate through UIUC process.
If your DD is more leaning towards eng, but undecided about eng discipline, then PREP and school of science is better route as those will allow to take eng related classes. Undeclared eng is a choice at time of application only and lots of applicants are kind a learning about it too late (after all decisions are out).
Also think high school like an entry to ball game, how you played in ball game that is how you going to be judged. I assume your DD is senior in high school, so at this point ball is in students court to make a decision and that involved how you play upcoming freshman year ball game to succeed.
For anyone interested in UIUC enrollment statistics, here’s the link:
http://www.dmi.illinois.edu/stuenr/
@PPofEngrDr did your son get the admission he was looking for?
@enginmom4 yes life is moving fast, he was just accepted to CS last Monday so we had a successful PREP journey.
@PPofEngrDr: Congrats!
Wow, this is a really interesting discussion. Is the OP suggesting that DSG-PREP has been created to open up room in the restricted capacity engineering programs in order to make room for out of state matriculants?
Do you gather, on balance, that an out of state applicant may have a better shot getting into a restricted capacity engineering major all else being equal?
Judd