On UIUC’s website, it recommends choosing a second-choice major and writing a second supplemental essay for it. However, through the Coalition App, I am only allowed to choose 1 major and write 1 essay. Is the second essay only available through their private application portal (myillini)?
When you begin the Coalition application, it allows you to choose one major and you may get the sense you cannot add another. You need to go through the app further until you do your essay for the first choice major. Following completion of that, you go to the next page and there you should be able to add a second choice major.
Also, if you have already applied without the second choice major, you can add one after you have set up your myillinni account online and submitted the application. Once you get the email that allows you to sign into your account, you can go online and fill out and submit a Program/Term Change Form, which adds a second choice major.
Very useful info. A related question: Apart from the the major related essays (1 or 2) does UIUC also require coalition essay? I couldn’t tell this from the progress I made so far. tia.
The only essays required, and the only ones UIUC really wants to see, are the ones relating to your first and second choice of major (unless your “major” choice is “Division of General Studies,” meaning you are applying undecided, in which case the essay can be more general and need not relate to any specific major, see https://admissions.illinois.edu/Apply/Freshman/essays). UIUC is one university that sets out what is required for applying for admission and does not want to see anything more than what is required, e.g., for determining admission, it does not want any resume, SAT subject tests, recommendations, or any mid-year report providing first semester, senior year grades, and if such extra things are provided, they will not be shown to those who actually make admission decisions.