I think you totally missed the point the whole time. Nobody is arguing if UIUC is the choice or not. People cannot care less whether the state is losing talents or not. The frustration is about the so-called EARLY ACTION. Why would you apply to UIUC early if you don’t see results early? To increase the odd? It’s not an Ivy after all.
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I hear you on this later-than-usual decision release date from UIUC this year and the emotional havoc it plays on the kids. My D19 had the exact opposite experience: was awaiting a mid-February release date from her sentimental favorite and was not expecting EA admission to engineering from UIUC. The decision quickly moved UIUC back up to #1 consideration and because we’re in-state and it was the best academic option for her, the UIUC decision was the proverbial “no brainer” in the end. While she’ll often wonder “what might have been,” particularly in the dead of winter, that feeling is fleeting. With all the weirdness this year (my D21 is in the middle of it now and has some surprising decisions - both good and not good), and with many schools seemingly doing a LOT of deferrals, it’s taken its toll on everyone.
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I hear you loud and clear on that. Unfortunately I am not aware of exact timeline when and how UIUC announced the late decision policy. Also believe there is no definite rule from EA application deadline, 15th Nov?, to release the results, whether it is 30th Nov, 15th Dec or 15th Feb. The way I look at it releasing the results later than usual time frame, is not expected to change outcome, rather provides a level playing field who were not so fortunate to accomplish everything to their potential due to pandemic.
UIUC still intends on filling the competitive majors with those who applied EA. And yes, some majors, including CS in Grainger, have Ivy like acceptance rates.
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tell me about that family. 
I’m pretty sure the EA decisions not being announced until 2/15 was communicated upfront, when the application opened on 9/1. It think they positioned it as one date for all due to the pandemic, etc.
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Thanks for sharing that and clear the air further. With all fairness, yet I have to hear a single genuine case that is indeed adversely impacted by this EA policy.
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We will find out on 2/15 definitively. But even then, there’s know real way to know. Wishing all prospective Illini good vibes and success! The suspense is real.
Yes it was. I saw it last summer well before the application even opened. It was annoying but it’s really no different than all the kids who are waiting their RD decisions from Ivy League schools or even EA from schools like UVA which says it will be February, or even Michigan EA this year they say end of Jan.
I looked up what Illinois’ decisions will be because I did wonder how they are handling as I couldn’t remember what they did for my oldest son’s year when they had the same system of one notification date in Feb for all. Everyone will get a decision in February of either Admit, Waitlist, or Deny. So top students in EA round it sounds like get first dibs which was the benefit of EA and then they went onto the next round of students. Programs like Engineering in general are so competitive, but this year will be even more so. Students already admitted to ED schools will pull their applications so in that regard it does help increase chances of other students who might have been denied under a previous early decision date.
As for those who have received money from other schools, let them send their constant emails. They do that to everyone. And, even ones that your kid may not have applied to will constantly do so as well. I can’t believe the amount of email my son gets. But that said, if you’re expecting merit money from UIUC, that is slim to none and very very few get it. Some do, but not many at all. There’s also nothing stopping you from making a deposit at another school and then switching. That is possible.
To add to that, even students switched after May 1st deadline, because they were accepted from waitlist from their dream school or top choice or whatever. At most you will loose a small deposit, generally couple of hundred, not thousands.
This is how we are proceeding - moving forward with another OSS - not a fan of possibly losing the deposit if we pivot but honestly, the more time we spend immersing in the OSS school info, the more we feel a part of it. UIUC is only losing ground w my D because they are out of sight out of mind. Other schools w/ true EA are capitalizing on the time difference and really trying to move things fast. With state budgets, Covid, and higher ed funding in questions OSS are trying to roll out the red carpet. So much info coming from other schools that UIUC sort of slips to back burner - a bird in the hand as they say… I realize they don’t care as there are always students to fill a freshman class at UIUC but as the parent who will be paying, in state would be nice. Also, why would they give any priority to EA if they aren’t making EA announcements and have the time to review all applicants and same date notification - just take the best of the total pool that applied.
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You are not a fan of losing deposit at OSS, but willing to pay instate. In that case you should entertain all marketing from OSSs and make a decision when you are ready what fits best for your D and family. 2.5 months after EA is ample time for anyone to learn about school as it has been for RDs for years, especially for instate applicants as plenty of high school seniors are there to provide first hand experience and knowledge, not just hearsay.
IL state budget issues are not new, they have been there for good 10+ years. We heard the same fear back in our days, guess what everything work out well last 4 years. Since even Illini rolled out few programs to maintain IL strength and I don’t see it is affecting in foreseeable future. Try to avoid to bring politics, but current governor is very supportive of state universities.
Students who deferred last year for this year are taking up some spots too - D has a few friends that graduated last year and did this. Class sizes can only be so big and deferrals get priority and impact current admits despite more applicants. Not sure about everywhere but it’s real - read an article in what I think was the Chronicle of Higher Education on it related to Ivy’s.
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We’ve learned about the school - it’s why she applied - noone but you mentioned politics - I said state budget, covid and funding for higher ed - state budget is worse due to covid - higher ed in the state is looking at the prospect of significant cuts - already doing tabletop exercised for reductions. Programs to maintain strength - like all the people/students leaving - worked well??? Your ideas are too simple - head on over to the op-ed pages of your local paper.
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Agree that domino effects of differals may play some role, not to mention few current students took a fall semester off as well and now based on university handling of covid most of them are coming back on campus in spring sem.
So far to my knowledge those numbers are not significant that can cause havoc, headwinds are short term and have confidence in university’s leadership to manage that crisis as good as they did for Covid.
IL had weathered the budget issues in the past and expecting to do same for public education. Covid certainly throw a monkey ranch in efforts and progress IL is making, but not expecting it to cut flagship university funding.
Bottom line is everyone just has to do what’s right for their family and student. Losing a deposit at another school in order to stay in state at UIUC is not going to make a difference in the long run. It’s annoying, but in the end if it’s less expensive at UIUC or a better program then it is worth it. UIUC also usually locks in tuition so that whatever you pay freshman year is the same rate you pay for the whole time you’re there. I’ve seen tuition increase for all my kids at their OOS schools both private and public anywhere from 3-8% per year. Compared to other schools, UIUC fared much better with Covid and shutting down because they actually had pandemic insurance. So their losses are not as substantial as other schools.
At the end of the day again it goes back to what your child wants and family wants and where they get in. My son received a full ride this week to a school, but having said that, he would still pick UIUC over that school no matter how often they try to “wine and dine” him and UIUC isn’t even one of his top choices. But, it’s a tough cycle year and with the number of students not submitting scores, and the increase in applications, who knows how things are going to shake out. One other thing with Illinois is that they don’t even take LORs so they have even less information about our kids. It really is somewhat of a crapshoot who gets in and who doesn’t with some programs.
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I can see all Purdue evening sessions in suburbs to lure all students, which is a blow in current environment, but certain they may find holiday chocolates as a way to do that. Nowadays everything is fair not in just love and war, education too.
Just to clarify. That last statement depends. I live in Chicago and my son went to one of the known selective enrollment high schools. Just read the Chicago Tribune articles of how many freshman are leaving the state for much better financial offers. Even schools like Michigan give financial aid and make UIUC look silly. Many are getting $25-35,000/year. Many other schools in the Midwest are less expensive. UIUC for engineering is one of the most expensive publics for instate families. It’s a great school but many are going oos.
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Not sure, you meant Chicago Tribune or News Gazette. That NG article is again from 4 years back when budget impasse had created lots of uncertainty.
It would be interesting to see percentage for OOS and international students attending univ.
If freshman leaving the state are considered loss, than incoming OOS should be gain.
IL budget issues are known, current environment is halting the progress at least.