The problem with UIUC is that our previous Governor didn’t even know it was a top engineering university. Can’t find the article with his quote. The new governor has lots of friends in Chicago in the tech sector. There will be no empty seats at UIUC but incoming freshman I think has been down for a few years. Engineering is self sufficient but other programs are not.
The main problem is, is that Illinois will lose top talent to come back to Illinois.
With regards to University of Michigan, I think it has been a very calculated move for a long time to take OOS kids. Michigan State as great of a school that it is doesn’t have the elite feel to it to draw kids that also Apply to Vanderbilt, Northwestern, Berkeley etc. These tend to be kids from wealthier families.
There is no question in my mind and being on the Michigan threads that Michigan is aiming to increase their stats to further compete with the top elite schools. As stated above with the stats stated. Their LSA is literally the same as THEIR engineering GPA /Stats. It has inched up yearly. So their LSA students GPA /Statwise are as competitive as students applying to some of the best engineering schools in the country. It’s just a different culture and feel. Not better then… Just different.