Has anyone here attended this program? I just received an email about it today. Should I register for it even if I am not sure if I will get admitted to the engineering school?
My son registered. I guess they will e-mail to let you know if there are spots left or if you are waitlisted.
I was hesitating to sign up for it since I am not totally confident I will even be admitted to UIUC Engineering (I applied for CS).
My son is very borderline, too, but applied for Materials Science and Engineering.
Historically this program was only available to students already accepted to the College of Engineering. Since there is no longer an EA program, and no one has his/her acceptance in hand, I am going to go out on a limb and say that all applicants (to ENG) received an invitation.
This is speculation, but I don’t see how this group, which is a student group after all, could possibly have access to the application material that would tell them who the “top” applicants are. I suppose it is possible that admissions is feeding them a list, but I doubt it.
Still, if Illinois is high on your list, this is an excellent program to consider. It is like CMU’s sleeping bag weekend on steroids (and that is a great program as well).
For those who think they may not get in, it is a tough call. This is really a program for admitted students trying to gauge fit. The SITE group did not want to cancel the program (it is a huge program that takes tons of work to organize), but they kinda got screwed by the cancellation of EA. Still though, I am only guessing that they invited everyone. If I thought my son was at risk of rejection, I would want an answer from them re: the claim that “Invitations are distributed in January to the top applicants of the College of Engineering”.
There is the $125, there are transportation costs, you are missing two days of school, etc. If I attended this program only to be rejected by admissions a week later I would be a little ticked off.
^I REALLY hope that doesn’t happen.
I wonder why SITE couldn’t be held two weeks from the Feb 2-4 date… would not like for son to attend, really like UIUC and then deal with rejection. Can’t be that SITE didn’t know about the release date for admissions…
That is right, why can’t they do this couple of weeks later, at least a week after Feb 13th. You have to miss 2 days of school + it is tough for OOS people with out knowing whether they got in. Also it has only 95 spots.
Anyone that applied to engineering not get this? I’m sure there’s at least 5,000 of the 32,000 that apply to engineering. I sent an email - I love Illinois Engineering and it is my top choice, but sign ups went by so fast. I’d do anything to get another chance for the sign up. Maybe the waitlist will let up!
My S just released his spot at SITE. OOS - missing 2 -3 days of FIRST Robotics build days just too much without any inkling of admission decision. If admitted will visit during Feb break. Good luck to everyone - this waiting is just cruel - feel like I have clicked refresh more times in the last few months than the rest of my life put together.
How is the SITE experience so far?
I haven’t heard much from my son yet. I’ll post if he relays any good info.
The best part in my opinion is that it is completely student driven. No parents following along like with most college visits. I don’t expect too much in the way of detailed feedback, but I’ll post what I hear.
@YZamyatin did you go to school here?
Any idea how many apps came in for CS in Eng. this year? The whole extending the deadline thing has me very confused about what happened…
Never mind - read your post elsewhere…hope level receding…
@KunjiBoy
Yes I did, but a while ago.
Got a text from my son this morning. Not too much information. Hotel is fine. Banquet was good. They bowled at the Union after the banquet. Loves Illinois and is having fun (but we already knew how fond he is of Illinois). My husband and I also graduated from Illinois, so we go there fairly often.
^ Thanks ilmomof2boys.
I figured I would update for those who might be interested. My son had a good time and thinks it was worth going. They built a boat out of cardboard and tape the first day, in addition to the banquet and bowling. He said the Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering tours he did the second day were very informative. They also had a Tinker Toy catapult competition the second day. He stayed with a host on Friday night. He said he was very nice. They went to a hockey game, which he really seemed to enjoy.