<p>Hi, i got an email about the James Scholars Honors program... It says that i am qualified for James Scholar honors program in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. What does this mean. I am an international student do i am new to this..... Can someone explain what does it mean, am i in the program or does everybody recieve this email??? Thanks</p>
<p>I got it too…the email and the website explain what it means. Each school has its own requirements for James Scholars, but for engineering it’s 33+ ACT, 1450 SAT, or top 1%…about 60% of engineering students get it, by my count.</p>
<p>oh i see… so the email is sent to everyone is it?</p>
<p>Not everyone, just the people who get it</p>
<p>oh… is it recommended to take it, what are the benefits?</p>
<p>benefits are:</p>
<pre><code>* participate in courses for incoming James Scholars
- transform standard courses into honors courses
- early registration privileges
- work more closely with professors
- eligibility for upper-level undergraduate research awards
- invitations to co-curricular and leadership activities
- transcript designation as a James Scholar, awarded annually
- recognition at graduation
</code></pre>
<p>Thanks BMittman & shivamchauhan
do most people accept this program?</p>
<p>If you’re able to get into you’d be stupid to miss the opportunity…The course load will be a bit tough but the end result will be rewarding</p>
<p>shivamchuan got it too? (:</p>
<p>This is what an acceptance into james scholar program looks like :</p>
<p>Dear Shivam,</p>
<p>Congratulations! Your application to the University of Illinois has qualified you for the James Scholar honors program in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. This program recognizes your academic accomplishments and only applicants with outstanding credentials are selected, based on the information received with your application. Upon acceptance of your admission offer, you will be automatically enrolled in the James Scholars Honors program for the academic year 2011-2012.</p>
<p>Membership in this honors program distinguishes students across campus. All academic units at the University of Illinois manage their James Scholar programs independently, with different requirements that suit specific colleges and majors, but all students in the different James Scholar programs share the same benefit of advanced pre-registration privileges, beginning with the second semester on campus. Since honors students tend to want more challenging courses, advanced pre-registration allows one to have more flexibility in selecting the class schedule.</p>
<p>A new James Scholar student in Fall 2011 will be able to pre-register for Spring 2012 courses about two weeks before other freshmen. James Scholars are also eligible to take advantage of special activities designed to enhance the freshman honors experience. For instance, over the last two years, the College of Engineering has organized honors courses in the Spring semester, for students who plan to include research in their honors plan, followed by the opportunity of a Summer Research Internship program with some of the top engineering laboratories on campus.</p>
<p>Every academic year, students who complete the program requirements receive James Scholar certification which is then annotated permanently in the transcripts. In order to be certified, a freshman student must take a minimum of one course for honors during the first year on campus and to be continued in the program must earn at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA (3.5 for students in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department). Details on requirements for following years can be found on line at <a href=“http://jamesscholar.cen.uiuc.edu/[/url]”>http://jamesscholar.cen.uiuc.edu/</a>.</p>
<p>Continuation in the James Scholar Honors program is voluntary. If you choose not to seek certification as a James Scholar and are not interested in taking honors courses, then no action is required. You will still be able to register early during the fall and spring semester of your first year, and your status as a James Scholar will simply expire with no academic penalty to you. However, if you decide to join the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois, we strongly encourage you to consider this opportunity to distinguish yourself.</p>
<p>Congratulations again, and I hope to see you at Illinois this fall!</p>
<pre><code> Warm regards,
Umberto Ravaioli
</code></pre>
<p>
</p>
<p>That implies that 60% of UIUC’s engineering students are in the top 1% of college students nationwide. This seems incredibly unlikely, since this slim demographic will typically also be vying for entry into MIT, CalTech, the Ivies and many other top public and private universities.</p>
<p>my son did not get the invite and he is in the top 3 pct of his hs. his act was LT 33. I believe there is a way to get it after you log some time at UIUC and get suitable grades.</p>
<p><a href=“https://wiki.engr.illinois.edu/display/engrjames/Home[/url]”>https://wiki.engr.illinois.edu/display/engrjames/Home</a></p>
<p>I don’t think high school ranking is that important for james scholar.<br>
My test scores are good. GPA is just so so and my ranking is around maybe 30-40%. I’m in a private school. Top 20-25% go to Ivies. </p>
<p>I didn’t get in the honor program of my in state university. I asked, they said it’s because my GPA. They didn’t consider what type of high school I’m from. I think it’s not fair.</p>
<p>I called to find out the criteria for James Scholar and was directed to someone in the particular college DD was admitted to. She has a 33 ACT, 4.0 UW (HS does not weight or rank), is very accomplished in music and has two varsity sports. She did not receive the James Scholar. The person I talked to said that they try to balance many things including geography and I’m sure other “diversity” areas and that results in many highly qualified folks being shut out.</p>
<p>I don’t get their requirements. I got a 2060/1420 SAT score and I’m barely in the top 10% of my class, let alone any 1% nonsense. I don’t exactly have a whole bunch of medals or EC stuff. But hey, I got into UIUC, engineering and honors too. woohoo I guess?</p>