Ok thank you!
Also UIUC has admission blog and time to time good information being post there as well.
https://blog.admissions.illinois.edu/?cat=11 You can also ask questions to admissions from there too.
1 Like
The big difference is that students who weren’t able to take the ACT or SAT in time to apply by the EA deadline might have been able to take the test - or retake it - if they application deadline had been in January from the start.
It seems I am missing something here. Which deadline wasn’t in January from the start?
EA deadlines are rarely in January for any school. So that comment doesn’t make sense.
What I meant was that if U of I had said ahead of time that they’d be evaluating all the applicants at the same time and notifying in February, there wouldn’t have been any reason to apply EA with the November deadline. Instead of rushing to meet the November EA deadline, some students might have taken more time and applied RD in January since it sounds like it won’t make a difference.
They said in the summer they would be reviewing all applicants at the same time, however, they did say and continue to say that EA applicants will be reviewed first and have an advantage, so it does matter if you applied in November. You go to the front of the line. Applicants in February will either be admitted, waitlisted or flat out denied unlike past years when they may have received a deferred decision as part of the EA December notification. It’s likely that those students this time are the ones who will be waitlisted and the RD ones will be flat out rejected not waitlisted which is pretty much how it went in the past as well.
First of all November 1st deadline was extended to Nov 15, based on demand university saw from community.
I don’t see the university forced anyone to apply in rush and early, rather university extended EA deadline to accommodate people inconvenience in unprecedented times.
University has put a public statement and explained the rationale behind decisions. I am sure as a stack holder they have broader interests for all IL students and making right decisions like they did for Covid policy during last fall sem. Also it stated few times earlier, EA applicants are being reviewed first.
Hey I’m a senior, in-state, and u of i is my top choice. I applied engineering, but I don’t think my stats are high enough( ACT 32, UW 3.37, 9 APs). I saw you mention the PREP route. Do you by chance know any of the statistics of admission to PREP. Or how they review for it. Also, do they offer you a spot with your admissions decisions.
You would have had to apply to DGS as your second choice major, did you do that? Here is the prep info: https://dgs.illinois.edu/newly-admitted-prep
Based on your stats, Grainger is a high reach. Make sure you apply to a handful of match schools, and at least one affordable safety.
Good luck.
What is your 1st and 2nd choice on application?
Know your end goal: Many disappointing stories f/ students who start off in DGS or PREP with hopes to transfer into competitive majors: Engineering, Business, CS+ Math/Stats (in LAS). Ask this question via UIUC Reddit. DGS and PREP is generally not advised. Also, you didn’t mention which engineering discipline you’re interested in - some more competitive than others. Did you select a second choice within the school of engineering on your application? See link below - some not allowed but say Systems/Industrial Engineering would be.
What are your high in demand majors?
Computer Science (including all CS + X majors), Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. These cannot be selected as a 2nd choice.
If you are not admitted to the major you want - ask yourself this question: Which do I want more - to attend UIUC or to attain a degree in “x”. It’s often advised that if you really want a highly selective major, and are not admitted directly into it, attend a school where you have been accepted! YOU will drive your success more than the name on your diploma.
Of course you can take the risk, and students have. But you have to prepare yourself for the possibility of (a) having to find a different major at desired school (b) having to find a different school to complete desired major.
2 Likes
My first choice was Industrial engineering and second was DGS.
That is more a doable engineering than highly sought majors. Even with those credentials you have shot at Industrial engineering.
Follow the Majors Capacity Chart at https://dgs.illinois.edu/newly-admitted-prep and Industrial would required 3.25 overall as well as Science GPA in order to transfer from DGS to Industrial eng, should your 1st choice doesn’t materialize.
To my knowledge from 4 years back, PREP enrolls ~300 students and your follow ICT process at Spring semester of 1st year and have to take all pre-reqs.
Something new learned as well, now they are posting acceptance data on same link, it is encouraging to see “84% of the accepted applications were admitted to their first-choice major in the Grainger College of Engineering” (follow the Grainger Acceptance Data on that link)
Also now Fall 2017 Cohort data is published fully as PREP was began Fall 2017 semester (very first batch that my elder S was part of) (same link Fall 2017 Cohort Data).
Glad that UIUC is publishing this statistics and hopefully help applicants to decide better.
There is a link that provides list of classes required for each engineering discipline that PREP student has to complete.
1 Like
Thank you very much!
Does anyone have any idea if UIUC is at all affordable for OOS students? I applied for engineering at a variety of Big 10 Schools, and I was curious as to how the cost would compare. My family makes too much to be considered for financial need, and my stats are 1490 SAT, 3.98 UW, 12 APs
Financial aid for OOS students is limited at UIUC. OOS COA is low to mid $50Ks, and UIUC does not meet full need.
The largest OOS merit scholarship, Illinois Achievement Scholarship is $10K, but requires demonstrated need. There are school and dept scholarships, amounts vary but none are higher than $10K for OOS students AFAIK:
Run their NPC to get an estimated cost. The NPC doesn’t include all merit though, so not sure this will be that helpful for you.
https://secure.osfa.illinois.edu/NPC/NPC.asp
In terms of the Big10 schools, only UMich and NU meet full need for all students (and offer relatively little merit), and, like UIUC Grainger, they are reaches. Are any of the Big10 schools affordable? If not, make sure you have at least one affordable safety school on your list.
Good luck.
1 Like
Thanks for the help! I live in Michigan and go to a high school that sends a lot of students to UMich, and my counselor was confident I would get in there. As far as affordable safeties go, I’ve been admitted into MSU and Rose-Hulman, and both of those options look affordable for me. It’s too bad UIUC doesn’t look like it would be an option due to cost, looks like a great school if I was able to get in.
1 Like
If you don’t get into Engineering, another option you should consider is the guaranteed pathways option through a CC. Many students even do this through Parkland in Champaign-Urbana instead of their own CC. They can live in private dorms down there (not sure about University dorms) and I am pretty sure can engage in social activities including sorority and frat life so it’s one way to feel a part of the University. There are also plenty of students who did this and tell people they go to UIUC when they are really not in UIUC until junior year, but basically you’re getting rid of a lot of the gened requirements and pre-engineering requirements and with a certain GPA you’re guaranteed admission into engineering.
Here is information about it for each CC in Illinois. Plans of study – Engineering Pathways
1 Like
UMich is your best bet being instate. 2nd UIUC is not safety unless you are an Ivy caliber.
1 Like