Well, he applied ED to CMU so obviously he would’ve preferred that. CMU is amazing! I wish this son would’ve looked there, but I think he felt it was too small for what he wanted. My daughters wouldn’t look because in their minds too “geeky” maybe but WOW talk about impressive. My oldest would not have gone to UT nor considered. He took that off his list 123, as did my youngest both for differing reasons. My daughter who is in CS did apply to UT but because she applied ED elsewhere she doesn’t know if she would’ve gotten into UT. In the past with UT CS all I know is that classes were hard to get into for CS. I don’t know if that’s still the case. Maybe @yoaustin can tell you that. My other daughter is at UT in their Business Honors program and it is phenomenal. She has never had a problem getting any of her classes. Honors gives you priority and a lot of extras and means a lot. Totally worth being in an Honors program over a regular program. So if your son is in Turing vs UIUC CS I would go with Turing. The CS programs are so comparable when you’re in a Top 10 program it doesn’t make much difference. Austin has all the tech opportunities right there as well and many kids do internships during school. If he’s interested in CE however, then that’s not going to be an option at UT since it’s near impossible to transfer into Engineering at UT plus the CE major is combined with Electrical Engineering to be ECE. So that’s a turnoff for many.
As for partying, it doesn’t matter what school one is at, it is there 100%, but if you’re not interested in it, you can avoid it. My youngest won’t want the partying but he will want to be in clubs, etc. Feel free to pm me for more details or other info. If I could’ve gotten my son to go to college I would’ve, but after a few months I did learn that it’s not for everyone, but that doesn’t mean that I still wish he would go. We have this joke in our family now that if he marries someone else like him and has kids, that kid would be considered a First Generation as far as colleges. There is something so wrong with that. Which should tell people there are problems all over with education and the inequalities out there.
I hear ya! He has a friend who is probably going this route because he really doesn’t have any other options, so that friend is getting the lowdown and sharing it, so it is something to consider. But, to know that you’re in Engineering or CS at numerous schools already, with more to hear from, it can just be a lot of unnecessary pressure on kids who don’t like that hanging over their heads.
I am curious though, when I look at all the requirements they need for Prep, Calc 1-3, Physics E&M, Chem, etc. If a kid has already AP credits in those courses, high enough AP scores (5) that they qualify for the Engineering course equivalent, then what happens as far as the Prep requirements? Do they then just start in the other Engineering classes, like the 3 CS courses, Engineering Seminar, etc? My son has the 5 on the CS and dual credit for data structures that we know UIUC will take, but he would retake both of those anyway. I assume they’re part of those 3 courses required for the prep. So, it just makes me wonder what then happens? It’s a 3.75 requirement, but having already had those classes how many more are left…English and what else? It seems then that some kids would be ready to transfer well before second semester soph year.
Regardless, I’ve still told my son interested or not, that he should reach out to a Prep advisor. He has until May to decide, although the dorm he wants would probably be full by then, but no harm living in University Housing. He’s not high maintenance like my others.
As long as AP credits are recognized at the school, PREP doesn’t overrule that. But it become a double edge sword, means now you have to take higher classes and may potentially ding GPA as your high school rigor/AP wasn’t good enough to prepare you for higher college level classes.
Prep has detailed table/chart that defines what one need to take based on engineering discipline they want to pursue.
Also i believe earliest one can apply to is freshman spring sem and decision in summer after spring sem end (they wait to consider spring GPA). So you start sophomore year as CS major. PREP, allows up to 2 years (if my memory serves right), so basically it is possible kids transfer after 4 sem.
You are absolutely right to weigh on all options you have and then decide. In our case PREP advisor was indeed a tie breaker because back then there was not that much useful info about program being a first year of program. When PREP advisor laid out all statistics with us, we both knew right there, he can do it. I felt that was a right decision to drive there to have in person meeting (after few iterations over phone of discouraging w/o facts).
Now they have published the data about their outcome, check out historical data Pre-Engineering | Division of General Studies as well as news letters, none of this was there when my son started, so I can clearly see the DGS PREP Student committee really worked hard in last few years to create more awareness and facts finding.
Could you please initiate the PM, I do have a follow up question this thread doesn’t need to read but your account is private and does not allow me to start the PM.
Yeah I looked at the chart, there is nothing that says one has to take the higher level course. So for instance, he has already completed Calc 1-3, has the AP credit, and dual credit with an A from a University for Multivariable so that would transfer over. The next sequence would then be Linear Algebra, but offhand I don’t remember if that was one of the courses required or if they require Diff Eq there.
Our high school is one of the top in the state, so I’m not really concerned about our rigor or AP courses. He has one of the hardest rigor he could have including the appropriate AP scores and accompanying grades.
This answers my question perfectly though about when someone can transfer in as they aren’t very clear about it being before junior year, but it sounds like during freshman year. I think he knows someone from our school that transferred into CE very early on but again that’s not CS.
I remember when the program started. It was in between my oldest and my daughters but my daughter who had applied was accepted into CS so it wasn’t an issue but then she’s the one that wound up in Business anyway. Go figure.
Anyway, all good info to have and he can always change his mind, but I think he likes the idea of having options and being right into Engineering and starting in his program from the getgo. But anything can happen! Thanks for the info!
Higher level classes, its not required to take, but at the same time you aren’t taking only gen ed classes in first year, likely to end up taking higher level CS classes (kicker is those are in demand by CS enrolled, hence difficult to find spot) and acing those will illuminate path, also to be competitive, participating in CS clubs would be necessary from getgo.
Ultimately it is kid choice and comfort.
Yeah, we heard that about the clubs too but that’s important anywhere! In college kids should absolutely be engaged and do what they love to do and what got them there in the first place.
My daughter has found getting into some upper level classes were harder to get because she came in with a semester worth of AP that her school took. They’re more selective on what they give credit for than public schools and it helped but then when she was registering for a class that mainly sophs take, she then couldn’t get in it. It was frustrating. I think it’s now fixed itself. Last semester for CS she took a different class than she wanted but fortunately is ahead on the CS track at least so that hasn’t been the issue, it was more some of the other classes. That’s one problem schools are not doing a great job with as a whole. They enroll too many students and then don’t have enough seats. Hopefully when it’s time to graduate she doesn’t mess anything up and has all the required courses and isn’t sitting as a senior having missed taken something. I have seen it happen before and it wouldn’t be pretty.
My son was waitlisted for Geis school of business. He got into Indiana Kelley but really wanted to go UIUC. Any idea on past waitlist possibilities? I suppose every year is different and it’s a crapshoot, but thought I’d ask.
It depends how you interpret this language on their FAQ page under “Additional Information” on the same page where you can see your decision and what you’re accepted into. No idea if it means you’re still waitlisted or not for first choice but it seems to imply you are.
You were strongly considered for your first choice; however, we simply didn’t have room for all qualified applicants. You’re still considered wait listed for your first choice. If space becomes available in this major later on, we’ll let you know even if you’ve declined your offer.
We strongly encourage you to stick with the major you were admitted into after enrolling at UIUC. If you’re interested in transferring to another program, we recommend you work with your academic advisor to learn the requirements and timeline needed to do so. If you were admitted into the Division of General Studies (DGS), you’ll work with an advisor to craft a unique schedule and declare a major before your junior year."
In general, UIUC is not generous with merit scholarship. YMMV.
James Scholar is program and I believe you invited for that. General consensus for that program is being in engineering its rigor is already hard enough and besides some early class registration, doesn’t have added value. More important from residency pov, they have interest specific Living Learning Communities for variety of interests and they live at same residence hall floor. Learn more https://housing.illinois.edu/Living-Options/Living-Learning-Communities
Just curious - UIUC’s freshman class profile says that “GPA is based on academic courses only using an unweighted 4.0 scale” - Does UIUC give additional weight to honors/AP/IB courses, while recalculating their own version of unweighted 4.0 scale? OR, does it just use standard UNWEIGHTED GPA calculation (like 4 or As, 3 for Bs etc) regardless of the rigor of the courses (honors/AP etc)?
Yes, we had done that, few times over phone and then in-person, in current environment I am not sure how are they managing, may be zoom call appointment?
Specific Department advising most likely not be accessible until after accepting offer.
Thank you, You are right it is Bio-engineering. My son’s interest is in Biomedical engineering, which is a sub set of Bio Engineering. So i just asked about that . Your answers were really helpful.
I have one more question- Is it possible to pursue Bio Engineering and be on Pre-Med track as well. Do people do that?
My daughter is a sophomore in Gies. We live in Illinois. She did get direct admit into Kelley as well her freshman year. I would highly recommend that if he 100% knows he wants to pursue a business degree that Kelley is a better option because he got into it already. My daughter does love Gies! She has had so many opportunities with recruitment already and the program is wonderful. However, I do know of some who decided to go DGS into U of I because they didn’t get into Gies and still ended up not getting in their Sophomore year as well because I believe the GPA requirement is higher but double check and do your homework. Hope that helps!
. Your answers were really helpful.