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How to Write a College Application Essay: Tips and Tricks

If there’s anything we know, it’s that applying to college is stressful. And while every part of the process brings its own challenges, completing the written portion of your application is one of the most nerve-racking.

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a short list of tips and tricks for how to write a college application essay. We’ve even provided some special advice for tackling UIUC’s written questions, just in case you decide to apply. Here we go!

1. Write about what they ask about.

Sometimes when you’re writing an application response, it can be easy to lose sight of the topic at hand. Since you only have so many words to respond, it’s imperative you don’t stray too far from what the prompt specifically asks you about.

One way to make sure you’re staying on track is to directly reference the prompt in your response. This shows you understand what’s being asked and you’re going to tell colleges exactly what they want to know, which can set your essay apart from other applicants.

Tips & Tricks for UIUC

In our UIUC College Essay Prompt Example blog , we wrote a sample response for the following myIllini essay prompt: “Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? Who or what do you turn to when you want to learn more?”

In our response, we included lines like, “The question of which came first captivates me because it is a question without an answer” and “ When I want to learn more about this concept, I turn to my grandfather.” Both of these sentences include phrases from the prompt directly in the answer.

2. Directly reference your own experiences. 

Colleges will ask you a variety of different questions in their prompts. No matter the topic, it’s important to be specific about the experiences you’ve had that are unique to you and your educational experience. By including personal details, colleges see that you have a genuine interest in the major you’ve picked. Make sure to clearly explain both what the experience was and how it had an impact on you.

One of UIUC’s short-answer questions specifically asks you to reference your own experience, so it’s important to provide concrete examples relevant to what you’re writing about.

We wrote another blog with examples for both UIUC major-specific prompts . In the examples, our lovely (and definitely real) applicant wrote about their experience at a DNA lab and how that affected their decision to apply for the *fake* DNA Analysis major at UIUC.

While you might not have taken the same path to your chosen major as our totally-a-real-person applicant, it’s important to be specific about the experiences you have had.

3. Be concise.

You might think you need to use a lot of words to say what you need to say (just ask John Mayer), but often less is really more. Too many words can confuse the reader and actually detract from the point of your essay.

A good way to ensure you’re being concise is to put your paper through a hardcore spring cleaning. In other words, take what you don’t need and throw it out. Once you get a first draft, read through and cut out any unnecessary words. You might even find whole sentences that seemed important at the time but sound repetitive or irrelevant when you give them a second glance.

Being concise is something good to keep in mind when writing anything, but we want to emphasize this point specifically for our major-specific prompts . You only have 150 words apiece to respond, so you’ll want to make those words count.

4. Edit, edit, edit!

You know the feeling you get when you hear you own voice on a recording and think, “Oh gosh, I can’t believe I sound like that!”? The same thing can happen when you reread something you wrote. That’s why it’s so important to take time to edit your responses before you submit them.

Wait a minute, didn’t we just talk about going back over essays for spring cleaning? Why yes, we did! Checking for brevity is a big part of editing, but if you want to submit the best version of your essay, there are other things to watch out for, too—like spelling, grammar, and clarity, just to name a few.

The best way to start is to start early. The sooner you have a complete draft, the more time there is to walk away and reevaluate your work with fresh eyes. After taking a break, you might catch errors you otherwise would’ve never seen.

Another technique is having a teacher, friend, or parent review your response. They can catch spelling/grammar mistakes you might miss and can give you a nudge in the right direction if you’ve strayed from the topic or lost your voice.

5. Be yourself.

We know you’ve heard this a millions times before, and we know it sounds like corny, cliché advice, but letting your voice shine really does make a difference in your writing. For most of the application process, you tick boxes and answer the same questions as thousands of other applicants. The written portion is your chance to show colleges who you really are (bleh, another cliché).

If you get the urge to fill you essay with cookie-cutter fluff you think colleges want to hear, remember that thousands of other kids are going to write the same cookie-cutter fluff. But there’s only one person who can tell your story.

For the full essay, there are many prompts to choose from, so pick the one that means the most to you. Write about why you really want this major, a story that actually affected you, or a topic you’re truly passionate about. When you choose to write about something meaningful, it will not only be easier for you to brainstorm ideas, but will also provide a more genuine glimpse of who you are.

As you write, keep in mind that whatever essay you end up with will be the best essay for your application because it is uniquely you. If you apply these tips and tricks on how to write a college application essay and try your best, you’re going to knock the socks off all of your applications. Good luck!

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Very insightful, helps remove the fear of trying to write the perfect essay

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So happy to see that their are blogs helping us students, really shows this school cares!!

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4 Tips for Writing a Great UIUC Essay

College Info , College Essays

Thinking of attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign? Then you've come to the right place. For this highly-ranked public school, you'll need to submit a personal statement with your application. But what should you include in your UIUC essay to make you stand out?

Read on to learn what the current UIUC essay prompt is and how to write a great UIUC essay. We also show you a real UIUC essay example to give you an idea of what a great statement looks like.

Feature Image: Adam Jones /Flickr

What Is the UIUC Essay?

All applicants must answer two to three UIUC prompts and one Common Application prompt as part of their application for admission.

Your UIUC prompt will change based on whether you 1) are applying to a major, 2) are applying to UIUC's Undeclared Program, or 3) have selected a second-choice major (including Undeclared). Each response should be about 150 words. 

Here are this year's UIUC prompts:

If you're applying to a major:

• Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else.

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

If you're applying to UIUC's Undeclared Program:

• What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering.
• What are your future academic or career goals?

If you've selected a second-choice major (including Undeclared): 

• Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals.

Students are also required to select one Common application essay prompt from a range of choices and write a response. 

You can view the full list of Coalition application essay prompts here and all of the Common Application essay prompts here. 

How to Write the UIUC Essay: Topics and Tips

The University of Illinois essay is an important part of your application since it's the only personal essay you'll write for the school. This makes it the only area on the UIUC application in which you can show off your personality, academic passion, and storytelling skills.

The overall point of this statement is for UIUC to learn more about you as a person and what qualities you'll bring to the school if you enroll.

In addition, UIUC has a YouTube series on admissions counseling that includes some useful videos with tips on how you can write an effective UIUC essay:

Now that you have a general sense of what UIUC will be looking for in your application essay, let’s break down each UIUC application essay prompt one by one. 

Myllini Major-Specific Prompt #1

Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. This can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you've taken, or through something else.

Here's your chance to show your passion for your first-choice major! You have a lot of leeway here: maybe you took a class that lit a fire inside you, maybe you joined a club related to the subject, or maybe you participated in a related activity. Be careful, though. You only have 150 words, and UIUC is asking for an experience related to your major, not why you selected it in the first place. This is a time for you to show that you're already taking steps toward engaging with your chosen major!

Choose a story that is meaningful to you, and remember to be as detailed as you can within the constraints. Show the UIUC admissions counselors that you care about your chosen major, and you're already engaging with it.

Myllini Major-Specific Prompt #2

Unlike the first essay, which asks you about your past experience, this is where you get to dream big and show UIUC what you want to do with your degree. Remember to write this as if you've already been accepted to UIUC—they want to know how you'll represent them in the world! You only have 150 words, but you can do a lot in that space. If, for example, you want to be an aerospace engineer, you should check out UIUC's Aerospace Engineering website and connect their specific courses, professors, and extracurriculars to your post-degree goals. Maybe you want to work for NASA, and the UIUC robotics team will aid you in successfully applying. Be as specific as you can! And show UIUC that they are the best school for you to achieve your goals.

Myllini Undeclared Prompt #1

What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. Much like the Major-Specific Prompt #1, this prompt asks you to share what you're passionate about, and where you excel academically. Be specific! Rather than saying "I've always been good at English and I like it," go into detail: perhaps you won an essay contest, or your op-ed was featured in the school paper. Maybe writing poetry is the best way you can connect your outer and inner worlds. If you have a few majors in mind, definitely mention them here! It's always good to show that you have a specific plan for your college career , even if you're not 100% sure what you want to major in yet. 

Myllini Undeclared Prompt #2

What are your future academic or career goals? This question mirrors Major-Specific Prompt #2, and asks you to talk about your ideal future. Maybe you know you want to get a graduate degree in sociology, or you're certain that you want to spend a few years with the Peace Corps before working with the U.S. Department of State. The key here is to remember that undeclared doesn't mean unplanned. Many students have specific career goals, but they see multiple paths to achieve them. This is your chance to show the future self you want to be, and how UIUC will get you to your goal.

Myllini Second-Choice Major Prompt #1

Please explain your interest in your second-choice major or your overall academic or career goals. You'll only need to answer this question if you've applied to a second-choice major! This prompt should look pretty familiar: you can choose to answer either the Major-Specific Prompt #1 or the Major-Specific Prompt #2. The trick here is to show that your second-choice major is deliberate and useful for your future goals. You're not just picking a second-choice major because you really, really want to get into UIUC in any way, shape, or form. If you have a secondary interest that's almost as strong as your first-choice major, consider answering the first prompt. If you have a very strong career goal that multiple majors could feed into, consider answering the second.

Whichever choice you make, remember to clearly state why UIUC is the best schoo l for your major or career path!

A Real UIUC Essay Example + Analysis

To help give you a better idea of what your own UIUC essay could look like, here is one real UIUC essay example we found online, written by an admitted student.

Keep in mind that this essay was written for an old prompt that's no longer on the MyIllini application. However, this essay is still a great example of how college counselors want to see students talk about their interests and passions. 

Here is the prompt:

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (250 to 650 words)

And here is the essay:

The chicken, or the egg? The hours I’ve spent pondering this question are countless. People frequently debate the seemingly simple idea of which came first. To me, it is more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think. The question of “Which came first?” captivates me because it is a question without an answer. It has been asked for centuries and no progress has been made, but it still continues to be brought up. I think this is because humans prefer clear-cut answers. Like in any kind of competition, ending with a tie between teams or individuals isn’t a satisfying conclusion. People would rather the competition continue for extra time than admit there’s no real winner, or in this case, no real answer. So even though it’s obvious there will be no agreement, the debate over chickens and eggs continues. When people label something a “chicken-egg” situation, it means there is no way to establish the order of cause and effect, again leaving a feeling of uncertainty. But human nature is to seek an answer. The chicken-egg question shows humanity’s inability to accept unfinished business, and this fascinates me most. People want closure in all aspects of life, and big questions like this are no exception. I think the question “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” is so interesting because people will always try to answer it knowing they will never find a solution. It shows that humans desire understanding above all else. When I want to learn more about this concept, I turn to my grandfather. He doesn’t have a degree in philosophy or psychology, yet he’s a reliable source on almost any subject given his extensive years spent at the University of Life. With so many experiences under his belt, he understands unanswerable questions much better than I do. “The only truth is uncertainty,” he tells me when I once again dive deep into the possibility of eggs without chickens or chickens without eggs. In his words, the most beautiful parts of life are the questions we can’t answer but spend out whole life trying to. My own desire for answers keeps me thinking about this question for hours on end. I think there’s good points to grandpa’s perspective, but as an eighteen-year-old entering college, I don’t know if I can accept that the only answer is no answer just yet. Until I can, I’ll gather my own evidence and continue to spend my days wondering whether Aristotle was eating chicken and waffles or omelettes for breakfast.

What Makes This UIUC Essay Work?

• It’s got a great hook. The applicant starts the essay with a familiar philosophical question: “The chicken, or the egg?”. This pulls the admissions committee into the essay by making them ponder the question too. The applicant then analyzes the question and provides their own unique interpretation of what it’s really getting at. As the applicant says at the end of the first paragraph, “To me, it’s more than just a question, but an example of how human beings think.” By stating their unique take on the chicken vs egg dilemma, the applicant shows the admissions committee that they can interpret complex ideas and analyze tough questions. These are qualities that UIUC wants their incoming class of students to have!
• It’s clear, focused, and easy to follow: A topic like this one could easily go off the rails, but the applicant keeps the essay focused by responding to exactly what the prompt is asking in the correct order. The first paragraph states the idea that the applicant finds engaging. The next two paragraphs explain why the applicant finds this idea “captivating” and connects their engagement with the idea to deeper meanings about human nature, which also demonstrates why this topic causes the applicant to “lose all track of time.” The fourth paragraph states who the applicant turns to when they want to learn more about this question, and explains what they have gained from exploring this question with their grandpa. The applicant wraps up the essay with a conclusion that describes how their approach to the chicken vs egg question relates to the kind of student they will be at UIUC. The clear structure, clean prose, and adept analysis all make this essay easy to understand and exciting to read

How Could This UIUC Essay Be Even Better?

• It could be more specific about why the idea is captivating: Although this UIUC essay is well written and tightly focused, it isn't super specific about why the applicant personally relates to the question about the chicken and the egg. The applicant does a great job explaining what they feel this debate reveals about human nature, but doesn’t say much about why that debate is meaningful to them.
• It could have a stronger conclusion : Although the applicant makes a great attempt at tying their essay response into why they will be a great fit for UIUC, the conclusion could do a bit more to show how this is the case. Reframing the last paragraph so it explains how the applicant’s approach to uncertainty makes them the perfect UIUC candidate could make this essay even stronger.

3 Essential Tips for Writing a Great UIUC Essay

To wrap up, here are four essential tips to keep in mind as you write your U of I application essay.

#1: Don't Just List Your Accomplishments

At first glance, some of the UIUC essay prompts may seem like an invitation to list all of your amazing accomplishments. But none of these prompts actually want you to do that! Instead, you need to use expertly crafted stories to convey everything you have to offer as an applicant to UIUC.

The point of the UIUC essay is to give the admissions committee more detailed and personal commentary on why you've chosen their school and why you would be a great addition to their student community. Leave the list of accomplishments for your resume. Telling a genuine story is the best way to show how your life experiences have shaped you into the perfect candidate for admission to UIUC.

#2: Highlight Your Passion

While the essay prompts all have a different focus, the main goal of each one is to draw out what you’re passionate about and why. With each prompt, what you're really trying to do is demonstrate your passion to the UIUC admissions committee.

In other words, what motivates you to learn? What drives you more than anything else? And why are you so enthusiastic about bringing your ideas, experiences, and character to UIUC?

By highlighting your passions and interests, you're also showing the UIUC admissions committee who you are and what's important to you, both academically and more broadly.

To really make your passion stand out in your University of Illinois essay, take the following steps:

• Be as specific as possible —give us real names and use visceral descriptions to make us feel as though we're there experiencing and feeling everything with you
• Be honest —the admissions committee wants to get to know the real you, and it can only do this if you're writing in an authentic voice that's true to who you are

#3: Polish and Proofread

My final tip is to give yourself plenty of time to polish and proofread your UIUC essay.

In your rough draft, keep an eye out for obvious typos and technical mistakes, such as errors in punctuation, grammar, and spelling. Also, look for any areas that are awkward, incomplete, out of place, or unclear.

Once you've edited your essay on your own, give it to someone else to read, such as a parent, teacher, or tutor. Ask them to make technical corrections as needed and to offer you advice on what you might be able to improve in terms of story, cogency, and overall effectiveness.

What's Next?

Applying to other colleges in the midwest? Check out our expert guides to how to write the UChicago essays , the Notre Dame essays , and the Michigan State essay .

If you're using the Common App to submit your college applications, you'll need to figure out which essay prompt is the best one for you .

Learn more about how to get into the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign by visiting our UIUC admission requirements page .

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Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Guide

Early Action: Nov 1

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 5

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 2023-24 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 2-3 essays of 150 words each

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why

The admissions committee at the University Illinois Urbana Champaign wants to know about your academic interests and career goals. The prompts change slightly depending on whether you’re hoping to attend with a declared major or not. Regardless, you should be prepared to write concisely and authentically about your plans and goals!

If You’re Applying to a Major:

Explain, in detail, an experience you’ve had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major. this can be an experience from an extracurricular activity, in a class you’ve taken, or through something else. (150 words).

For this essay, d escribe an experience you’ve had that relates to your first-choice major. Admissions is literally asking you to speak about this experience in detail, so don’t hold back. Did you work on a science experiment that taught you about the basics of organic chemistry? Maybe you watched those crazy robotics videos online and thought, “Hmm, I should understand how those work so I can protect my future family when A.I. takes over in 2050.” (I mean, honestly, have they not watched Black Mirror ?!) Throughout high school, you’ve been exposed to so many different subjects, and admissions wants to know why this one in particular has caught your eye.

Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them. (150 words)

After explaining why your major is the right choice for you, look ahead five or ten years and imagine how it will catapult you into a fulfilling career—one that you may not have access to otherwise. Maybe when you were younger, you fell in love with stargazing and memorizing constellations and knew you wanted to be involved in a space-related field when you grew up—UIUC’s Astronomy program will help you get there! Build a bridge between your past and your future for admissions so they can see your commitment and demonstrated interest in this field.

If You’re Applying to Our Undeclared Program in the Division of General Studies:

What are your academic interests please include 2-3 majors you’re considering at illinois and why. (150 words).

There’s only one trick to generating a straightforward explanation of your academic interests: be honest. Since you probably don’t know what you want to major in or are in the process of paring down your list, don’t waste time trying to think of what admissions “wants” you to say! Choosing anything other than your true interests would be a misrepresentation of who you are and a disservice to you and the admissions office. To narrow your focus, try to tell a story with your choices. How can you use your life experiences to reveal something about what you value and what excites you intellectually? 

Try to illustrate a general inclination (e.g., journalism, English, and media/cinema studies go hand-in-hand). Or if you really feel like you could go any direction, try to show a balance, picking majors across fields that link to each other in a way that makes sense (e.g., mathematics, linguistics, and music composition all use special notations). Do whatever you can do to give admissions the full picture of who you are.

What are your future career or academic goals? You may include courses you took in high school and how these impacted your goals. (150 words)

Even if you’re undecided, it’s important to remember that UIUC seeks to invite movers and shakers to campus, students with big dreams and plans to make them happen. You don’t have to use this prompt to outline your 30-page plan for eliminating world hunger—in fact, with only 150 words to work with, we definitely advise against it! Think about the areas that pique your interest and where your curiosity originated. Was it a philosophy class you took junior year? Or, perhaps what spurred your interest wasn’t a class at all. Maybe you knew you wanted to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change and global warming after watching a poignant documentary with your family that hit close to home. How do you plan to contribute to this effort and how will your time at UIUC set you up for carbon neutral success? (Maybe their Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences major is a good place to start?) Whatever way you decide to answer this prompt, be sure to show admissions that you have an actionable, long-term goal in mind.

If You’ve Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared):

You have selected a second-choice major. please explain your interest in that major or your overall academic or career goals. (150 words).

For this essay, admissions understands that you haven’t got it all figured out yet. And that’s okay! A lot of very successful people have leapt in and out of various disciplines or have even found common ground where they overlap (think philosophy and economics or agriculture and business). You’re allowed (encouraged, even!) to have many interests, and admissions wants to know where your strengths lie. 

Why does this secondary area of education appeal to you? What applications can you see blossoming from studying in this field? We recommend doing another dive into UIUC’s course offerings to show that this isn’t just an afterthought; additionally, feel free to share any previous experiences (in or out of the classroom) that have led you to this choice. Once you’ve succinctly demonstrated your interest, look to the future and explain how UIUC’s offerings will help you achieve your end-goals when it comes to your selected second-choice area of study.

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How to Get Into University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) Guide

How to get into uiuc guide–general information.

The University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC) is Illinois’s largest and most well-known public university. It was founded in 1867 and is home to 33,500 undergraduate students and 17,800 graduate students.

What we’ll cover in this How to Get Into UIUC Guide:

• University of Illinois GPA requirements
• Average UIUC SAT scores
• University of Illinois Acceptance Rate
• Details on UIUC Early Action
• UIUC Application Deadline
• How to approach the UIUC Supplemental Essays
• UIUC Interview

When thinking about how to get into UIUC, make sure every aspect of your application—including your GPA, UIUC SAT scores, UIUC supplemental essays, and all Common Application materials—is top-notch. You do not need to conduct a UIUC interview. You should also start planning how to get into UIUC well before the UIUC application deadline.

Figuring out how to get into UIUC takes strategy. We can help. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes UIUC graduates. Want to maximize your UIUC admissions odds?  Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

How to get into UIUC

As mentioned, the question of how to get into UIUC involves many factors. Although there is no formal UIUC interview, the application process does include written components, test scores, activity lists, and a review of your high school academic record. Beating the UIUC acceptance rate requires excellence across all of these metrics. 

One important factor to consider is when to apply. Many students choose to apply to UIUC Early Action in order to increase their chances of admission. In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits of applying through UIUC Early Action (or “priority admission”). 

Although there is no official UIUC Early Action deadline, they do offer priority admission to students who submit their applications by November 1st. This priority admission is very similar to a UIUC Early Action deadline, as it gives students first priority for places in the most selective programs at UIUC. Those students also get first consideration for merit awards and scholarships.

How hard is it to get into University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?

According to US News and World Report, the University of Illinois’s acceptance rate is 63%, making it a more selective school. The University of Illinois acceptance rate for Illinois residents is almost 10 points higher than the rate for non-residents (70% vs 60%). So, your chances of getting in are lower if you are not an Illinois resident. 

UIUC has an overall ranking of 47 among US universities. Among public universities, UIUC ranks 15th. UIUC also has top ten programs in Accounting, (#3), Computer Science (#5), and Engineering (#6). These programs have acceptance rates that are slightly lower than the average University of Illinois acceptance rate. So, the University of Illinois GPA requirements are stricter for how to get into UIUC in these programs.

What is the average GPA for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

When thinking about how to get into UIUC, GPA is an important factor. The University of Illinois GPA requirements vary between UIUC’s many colleges . However, the middle 50% of students overall have a GPA between 3.50-3.94. The most selective colleges in UIUC are the Gies College of Business (3.61-3.95) and the Grainger College of Engineering (3.75-4.00). 

The average UIUC SAT scores range from 1300-1500 without the writing section. The average ACT scores range from 28-34. However, if your GPA is lower than 3.5, don’t worry; you can still get accepted. We’ll go over strategies for how to get into UIUC throughout this guide.

Although the University of Illinois’s acceptance rate does not seem low, UIUC is still a competitive school. This is especially true in Business and Engineering, where the University of Illinois GPA requirements are stricter. No matter which field you want to pursue, you must craft a strong application. 

Start early so you have time to plan before the UIUC application deadline. And even though you cannot apply to a UIUC Early Action program, you can still apply with priority admission.

What does the UIUC application look like?

The UIUC application consists of the Common Application or Coalition Application plus the UIUC supplement, which includes the UIUC supplemental essays. Students can also apply through the school’s Myillini portal . No matter which platform you choose for how to get into UIUC, you must submit a high school transcript and a summary of your extracurriculars. 

Applicants must submit:

• The Common Application , Coalition Application, or Myillini Application
• The UIUC supplement and UIUC supplemental essays
• Your high school courses and the grades you achieved in those courses
• Your application fee or fee waiver
• A final high school transcript, if admitted

Submitting UIUC SAT scores or ACT scores is optional, but high UIUC SAT scores can strengthen your chance for admission. If you took either test and scored well, we recommend that you submit your scores. 

Most applicants do not need to conduct a UIUC interview or submit letters of recommendation as part of how to get into UIUC. However, some programs, including theater and music, do ask students to complete a UIUC interview.

What extracurriculars does UIUC like?

One of the most vital parts of how to get into UIUC is a strong activities list. Here, you tell the admissions team what you do outside the classroom. Given the University of Illinois acceptance rate, a strong extracurricular resume can help your application stand out. 

When it comes to your extracurriculars, the two most important factors are leadership and consistency. Colleges like UIUC want to see that students have held leadership positions and have stayed involved in their activities over several years. So, choose extracurriculars that you care about and can commit to. Don’t just join clubs because you think they will look good on your college applications.

UIUC also looks at how your extracurriculars align with the field of study you want to pursue. So, think about how you can use your activities to dive deeper into your academic interests. For instance, a potential engineering major might join a robotics club, or a potential English major might become editor-in-chief of their high school literary magazine. Whatever you like to do, try to connect it to your extracurricular activities.

Beyond the University of Illinois GPA requirements and the UIUC SAT scores, your activities list lets you show the admissions team who you are and what matters to you. If you’re a sophomore or junior, explore what your school or community has to offer. If you’re a senior, see about taking a leadership role in a group you’ve been with for a while and start making a list of your key activities.

What is the acceptance rate for the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign?

The overall University of Illinois acceptance rate is 63% , meaning that almost two-thirds of applicants get in. However, this number is slightly lower (60%) for applicants outside of Illinois and slightly higher (69%) for Illinois residents. In 2020, 43,473 students applied and 27,520 were accepted. 

While most applicants get in, you should still put your best foot forward in your UIUC application. This includes submitting UIUC SAT scores and writing strong UIUC supplemental essays. The University of Illinois acceptance rate does not mean you’ll get in. Plus, the more work you do before the UIUC application deadline, the better your chances will be. 

There is no option to apply to UIUC Early Action. However, if you apply by November 1st, you can be eligible for priority admission. Meeting this UIUC application deadline increases your chance of admission, especially for the school’s most selective programs.

Want to learn more about acceptance rates? Check out our expert  guide .

Do UIUC applicants get interviews?

According to the UIUC admissions website , not all students are offered a UIUC interview. Because UIUC has so many applicants, there are not enough staff members to support a UIUC interview process. So, regardless of whether you apply through regular or priority admission (the alternative to UIUC Early Action), you will most likely not complete an interview. 

However, if you are planning to apply for a major in fine arts, music, or theater, you will need to complete a UIUC interview.

How to write the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign essays

In addition to the Common Application or Coalition Application essay prompt, you must also submit several UIUC supplemental essays before the UIUC application deadline. There are two UIUC supplemental essays, and the prompts differ based on whether you apply to a specific major. 

If you apply to a specific major, the UIUC supplemental essays will ask you to reflect on your experiences that have led you to pursue this major. The key here is to be selective. You only have 150 words, so you should only discuss 1-2 major experiences rather than trying to mention everything you have done. Try to choose experiences that showcase your growth.

UIUC will also ask you to reflect on how your major relates to your career goals. This is your chance to show UIUC how you will use your time there they provide by referencing programs, courses, and other features UIUC offers. Be as specific as possible to show your investment in UIUC.

No major, no problem

If you’re wondering how to get into UIUC without a chosen major, don’t worry. The UIUC supplemental essays for undeclared students are similar—the language is just more general. These questions address your identity and interests, letting you show how UIUC fits your goals. The UIUC supplemental essays also allow you to showcase your personality and show off your writing skills. 

Make sure you give yourself time to write and revise all of your UIUC supplemental essays. Even if you meet the University of Illinois GPA requirements, strong writing is a great way to show your strengths. Stellar essays are key to any prime “how to get into UIUC” strategy.

How does the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign review applications?

The UIUC website contains details about how the admissions team reviews applications. You can use this information to learn more about how to get into UIUC. 

After the UIUC application deadline, the first thing that UIUC looks for is the rigor of your courses. Put another way, they want to see whether you took the hardest courses offered at your high school. 

While there are no University of Illinois GPA requirements, UIUC does look at your GPA. So, having high grades in hard classes is the best way to strengthen your “how to get into UIUC” strategy. Remember that the average UIUC applicant has a GPA from 3.50-3.94. You can use this metric in place of any University of Illinois GPA requirements. 

UIUC also wants to see that you’ve engaged deeply with extracurriculars that match your interests. So, make sure to include activities on your list that relate to your chosen major. The UIUC supplemental essays are also a great place to show this interest.

Holistic review

UIUC holistically reviews applications submitted by the UIUC application deadline. They consider an applicant’s background and the opportunities available to them in high school. According to the website, “[UIUC’s] admissions review process focuses on how an individual student maximizes the educational offerings available to them and how that student has demonstrated academic achievement within their unique context.” So, if your high school does not offer AP classes but you took the hardest classes available, don’t worry. You will not be penalized by any University of Illinois GPA requirements.

Finally, UIUC is test-optional, meaning that applicants do not need to report their UIUC SAT scores. However, we advise you to take either the SAT or ACT if you can. A strong score will strengthen your application, especially given the University of Illinois acceptance rate. Because there is no UIUC interview, your UIUC SAT scores can help set you apart.

Will UIUC look at my social media accounts?

Because of the sheer number of applications that UIUC receives every year, it is unlikely that UIUC will look at your social media pages. In fact, social media presence is listed among the factors NOT considered in the application review process. This means that your social media presence will neither help nor hinder your application.

However, this is not a license to post anything you want onto your social media profiles. Employers and internship coordinators may still check your profiles, and anything inappropriate can jeopardize your ability to access opportunities. So, even though it will not impact your UIUC application itself, posting responsibly on social media is vital. 

Is UIUC a good school for me?

In addition to asking “how do I get into UIUC,” you should also consider whether UIUC is a good fit for you. Despite the University of Illinois acceptance rate and the school’s popularity, UIUC is not the best school for everyone. 

UIUC is located in Urbana, a city of approximately 50,000 people. So, you should expect more of a college town setting. The city caters mostly to students, with less activity in the summer months. 

If you prefer a smaller school or one that is closer to a large city, UIUC may not be the best fit for you. The most important thing to do is research the school and see if it matches your needs. The school you choose should set you up for a successful future. 

Wondering whether UIUC is right for you? One good place to start is by checking the list of majors to see if UIUC offers programs in your chosen field. Then, visit the webpage for your future major to see what courses are available.

Additional tips to get into University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

Start early.

It is best to start planning well ahead of the UIUC application deadline. Plus, even though there is not an option to apply to UIUC Early Action, you are eligible for priority admission if you apply by November 1st. Getting your materials turned in well before the UIUC application deadline can help secure your spot.

Be authentic

UIUC uses the application and UIUC supplemental essays to get to know you. Let your passions shine through. Colleges look for enthusiastic and driven learners, so highlight your honors and interests.

Consider letting a parent, teacher, or advisor look over your application and offer suggestions about how to get into UIUC. However, don’t let them write your responses for you; make sure your unique voice shines through.

This guide was written by Alex Baggott-Rowe , Davidson ’16. If you want to know how to get into UIUC or how to get stronger UIUC SAT scores, we’ve got you covered. CollegeAdvisor.com’s network of 300+ Admissions Experts (and former admissions officers) includes UIUC graduates. Create your free account or schedule a free advising consultation by calling (844) 343-6272. 

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First-Year Requirements

• Undergraduate
• Requirements & Deadlines
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Did you know?

First-Year Applicants

First-year applicants are currently enrolled in high school, or have not attended college since graduation. If that doesn’t apply to you, select a new application type .

Application Pathways

UIC has two main pathways for first-year admission. Each pathway to admission has its own advantage. Be mindful of requirements and dates when choosing the one that’s right for you.

Learn more about application plans.

Here’s what you need to apply

All first-year applicants must meet these requirements to complete an application.

• Complete the Common Application online, including the specific questions and essays for UIC under the "My Colleges" tab. See  application tips for details.
• Submit the $60 nonrefundable application fee or fee waiver.*
• Send official high school transcripts.
• Optional: Send ACT or SAT scores (S ee our test optional FAQ ) . Please note, if you choose to submit a score ("Test Inclusive"), you must provide a score report. We do not accept self-reported scores. We will accept scores if listed on the high school transcript, or an unofficial test report with identifying information (name, test date). We do not accept "super scores." To get a copy of your SAT score, you can visit this link.

*Fee waivers are only accepted for domestic applications. We do not offer application fee waivers for international students at this time.

Learn more about credential submission.

What we review

Factors for admission.

UIC admissions counselors review your application for academic preparedness and potential contribution to the UIC community. Here’s what we’re reviewing on your application. 

• Course selection and rigor (see our recommendations below ) 
• Grade point average (see our admitted student profile below )
• Quality of writing
• Demonstration of academic interest
• Identification of any current circumstances that contributed to your high school performance
• ​ Each College within the University has its own criteria when selecting applicants for admission. For example, STEM-related fields (i.e. engineering, computer science, biological sciences, and pre-health majors) may have different expectations for performance in high school math and science while other majors may emphasize strong grades in english. If applying for a STEM major, we strongly recommend taking four years of math and science in high school.
• ​ ACT or SAT scores are not required for admission but will be reviewed if provided. 
• AP or IB scores are not required but will be reviewed if provided.

Planning pays off

Plan your high school coursework.

While not required for admission, completed coursework in the subject areas listed below can make prospective first-year applicants more competitive. 

Additional Tips

• Take advantage of honors, AP, or IB and other college preparatory courses offered at your high school. When reviewing course rigor, our review team takes into consideration the coursework available at your high school.  
• Submit letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or extracurricular activity supervisors.
• Submit the Common Application mid-year report when your first semester grades from senior year become available.

Admitted Student Profile

Middle 50 percent of the admitted fall 2023 first-year class.

The values listed below represent the middle 50 percent of students who were admitted to UIC last year. They are not cut-offs for admission. In fact, 25 percent of admitted students fell below these ranges and 25 percent above. 

• We offer a test-optional pathway for admission and about two-thirds of applicants chose to be reviewed without a test score. We have split the profile into a test-optional profile and a test-inclusive profile.
• We know that numbers don't tell us the whole story. Remember while reviewing these charts that we conduct a holistic review of your application based on multiple factors not represented in these charts. 

Test Optional Profile

Test Inclusive Profile

Other Requirements

Additional requirements may apply:.

• An essay for each program submitted with the application.
• Two recommendations submitted through the Common Application or via mail.
• International applicants . Must meet the core first-year requirements as well as display evidence of English competency and financial certifications. See  Undergraduate International Admissions Requirements  for details. 
• a list of all subjects/courses attempted by year.
• grades and/or examination results received (both passing and failing).
• maximum and minimum grades obtainable.
• number of units earned.
• High school graduates who have never attended another college or university must submit evidence of graduation from an accredited high school or submit passing scores on the General Educational Development (GED) test.
• Applicants to performance programs.  An audition is required for admission to all performance degree applicants. For audition requirements for theatre programs, please visit the Theatre Department's Auditions webpage , for Music programs, please visit the Music Department's Auditions webpage . 

Related Resources

• Summer Session
• Honors College
• UIC Academic Calendar

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE UIC ANNUAL SECURITY AND FIRE SAFETY REPORT

The University of Illinois Chicago is pleased to share the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report with all prospective students. The report contains information regarding campus security and personal safety including topics such as: crime prevention, public safety authority, crime reporting policies, fire safety, disciplinary procedures, and fire statistics in UIC residential facilities and crime statistics for the three previous calendar years. The full text of this report is available online at ready.uic.edu . If you would like to receive a copy on paper, visit the Office of Preparedness & Response, located at 1140 South Paulina Street, Suite 109, Chicago, IL 60612.

The Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Graduate college thesis requirements, organizing your thesis.

The links below will direct you to the Graduate College thesis requirements, as well as sample pages and templates to further guide you in formatting your thesis. When organizing your thesis, be sure to follow the required order, which is shown below.

We also offer basic full-document templates to help you begin formatting your work. You may adapt these templates to fit your needs. If you have issues with formatting your document, please visit our Formatting Tutorials page to access written and video tutorials.

Doctoral Template (MS Word download)

Master's Template (MS Word download)

LaTeX Template (Link to Box folder with files)

Looking for a good example?

The following theses and dissertations passed the Graduate College review with very few, if any, corrections requested by the Thesis Office:

• Civil Engineering
• Crop Sciences
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mathematics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• Neuroscience (includes supplementary files; see the appendix of the thesis and document uploaded with the thesis)
• Veterinary Clinical Medicine
• Curriculum and Instruction (includes IRB approval letter in an appendix)
• Human Development and Family Studies (includes IRB approval letter in an appendix)

Note the absence of List of Tables and List of Figures sections from the examples above. These sections are generally not necessary, and the Thesis Office advises students who are interested in a quick review with few or no corrections requested to leave these sections out of the thesis or dissertation. Also note that the Table of Contents is most useful for the reader when entries are limited to chapter-level titles only or to chapter-level titles and first-level (main) section headings, as has been done in the examples above.

A note on departmental requirements

This list describes only Graduate College requirements for student theses. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign confers graduate degrees in over 100 units, and many of these departments have additional, discipline-specific format requirements. Students should consult with their program regarding departmental format requirements and departmental thesis review procedures.

Note: The Graduate College Thesis Office will not begin the thesis format review without notification of departmental approval.

Calculate for all schools

Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, admission requirements at university of illinois.

Hi fellow applicants. Anyone else applying to U of I? I'm struggling to find a definitive account of their admission requirements. I know GPA, test scores, and ECs are key, but is there anything specific they're looking out for?

Indeed, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) considers several factors for admission. To give you an idea of what they look for in an applicant, in recent years the middle 50% unweighted GPA among admitted students has been around 3.65-4.00. The middle 50% SAT score is 1380-1530, and that for the ACT is 30-34.

That being said, I agree with you that GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars play a significant role. Course rigor, meaning the difficulty of the classes you take, is also important. They prefer students who have taken challenging courses in high school, such as Honors, AP, or IB classes.

Essays are another crucial part of the application. UIUC uses the essays to gain insights into the student's unique qualities and interests outside of academic achievements. Thus, a well-crafted essay that genuinely reflects you can help your application stand out.

UIUC is test-optional for the 2024-2025 application cycle, so submitting SAT or ACT scores is optional for all applicants. However, if a student's score is strong, it can make their application more competitive.

Also, UIUC does review an applicant's extracurricular activities to understand their dedication and leadership ability. However, keep in mind that quality is more critical than quantity. They seek students with Tier 1 and Tier 2 extracurriculars, which demonstrate a high level of achievement or leadership. However, all types of extracurricular involvement, from Tier 1 to Tier 4, can contribute value to your application.

Keep in mind that the specific requirements might vary depending on the program you're applying to. For instance, the Gies College of Business or the Grainger College of Engineering might value certain areas slightly more than others. Therefore, it might be useful to browse their specific college pages or reach out to them for more specific information.

Remember, every component of your application provides a different opportunity for you to demonstrate your fit for UIUC. Make each part count, and good luck with your application!

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Undergraduate Admissions

Deadline Update: We want to ensure anyone applying for federal financial aid has enough time to make an informed decision regarding their college choice! For this reason, we're extending our enrollment decision deadline to May 15.

Admit Rates

Following are our first-year admit rates for 2023. Admit rates include the percentage of students we admitted from our applicant pool, both to the university overall and by academic community.

Don't be discouraged from applying based on a lower admit rate. Applicant pools vary from year to year and our holistic review process ensures we admit those best suited for each program.

Overall Admit Rates

Total Admit Rate: 43.7%

First-Choice Admit Rate: 34.7%

College Admit Rates (First-Choice Major Only)

College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences: 56.5%

College of Applied Health Sciences: 35.8%

College of Education: 46.8%

College of Fine & Applied Arts: 49.3%

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: 45.5%

College of Media: 43.7%

Division of Exploratory Studies: 53.2%

Gies College of Business: 24.2%

Grainger College of Engineering: 22.3%

School of Information Sciences: 21.6%

School of Social Work: 37.4%

Computer Science Programs

Computer Science: 7.5%

Computer Science + X Programs: 19.6%

Want more info?

Requirements for Admission

Grade point average, and class rank

The following credentials will be considered:

• Unweighted Grade Point Average

Prompted Question

To help us learn a little more, we ask that applicants complete our prompted question form on the application status page (after application submission) or as part of the Common Application. The essay should not be more than one typewritten or handwritten page.

Prompt : Tell us about yourself and what you would like us to consider for admission?

Standardized test scores (optional)

ACT or SAT scores are optional. We will accept ACT or SAT test scores that are posted on an official high school transcript. To have scores reported to us from ACT and SAT, use our ACT institution code of 1137; for SAT, the code is 0834.

The Honors Program

The Honors program is a selective program combining high standards and an emphasis on excellence with a small, residential college model. We are currently enrolling about 100 first-year students each year. As an Honors Student you will participate in an interdisciplinary core curriculum designed to prepare you for your major as well as to introduce you to those intellectual skills that society expects from future leaders.

Each of the courses in the core curriculum is integrated with the rest so that together they will provide a broad understanding of the world before you. Many courses are interdisciplinary, exposing you to the views of scholars from several disciplines. Each course will include topics and draw on authors that reflect the ethnic, racial, and gender diversity of America, and also the broader cultural diversity that exists in the world.

Honors students participate in learning teams for many course assignments, not only learning the assigned material, but also how to participate effectively as a member of a team. The curriculum-wide focus on collaborative learning emphasizes leadership as an integral aspect of collaboration.

Visit the web site for complete information about the Capital Scholars Honors Program for first-year students.

Other Undergraduate Applicants

Applicants with 30 or more attempted semester hours and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale from any regionally accredited institution of higher education by the North Central Association or any of the seven regional accrediting organizations may be considered for admission.

These applicants are encouraged to have completed some or all of the 39 hours of required general education courses prior to admission at UIS.

Remedial or developmental courses are not applicable to admission requirements.

Graduates of regionally accredited Illinois community colleges holding an associate of arts or associate of science transfer degrees are considered to have met all general education requirements. Requests for exceptions should be directed to the Office of Admission. An official transcript from each institution attended must also be submitted.

Graduate Applicants

Students must complete an application to the university and have official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended submitted to the Office of Admission. Full admission to graduate studies may be granted to students who have earned a baccalaureate degree with a minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale from any regionally accredited institution of higher education by the North Central Association or any of the seven regional accrediting organizations and who have met all specific program requirements and prerequisite courses.

Programs may require higher grade-point averages. Programs may grant conditional admission to persons with less than the required GPA with the additional requirement of completing eight semester hours of courses at UIS (exclusive of prerequisites) with a grade-point average of at least 3.00. If conditional admission is granted, the program will specify which courses must be completed.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students must complete an application and submit it to the Office of Admission. The non-degree student will be allowed to take courses for one term unless admitted to a certificate or licensure program.

Students who have not earned a bachelor degree (or its US equivalent) will be classified as Undergraduate Non-Degree and should apply using the Undergraduate Non-Degree Application. Students who have earned a bachelor degree (or its US equivalent) will be classified as Graduate Non-Degree and should apply using the Graduate Non-Degree Application.

Applicants seeking a certificate or licensure, will need to provide Bachelor Degree granting institution transcripts. Guest students not seeking any credential will not be required to submit transcripts.

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University of Illinois at Chicago Requirements for Admission

What are University of Illinois at Chicago's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into University of Illinois at Chicago and build a strong application.

School location: Chicago, IL

This school is also known as: UIC

Admissions Rate: 78.7%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at University of Illinois at Chicago is 78.7% . For every 100 applicants, 79 are admitted.

This means the school is lightly selective . The school will have their expected requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores. If you meet their requirements, you're almost certain to get an offer of admission. But if you don't meet University of Illinois at Chicago's requirements, you'll be one of the unlucky few people who gets rejected.

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University of Illinois at Chicago GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.47

The average GPA at University of Illinois at Chicago is 3.47 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.47, University of Illinois at Chicago requires you to be around average in your high school class. You'll need a mix of A's and B's, and very few C's. If you have a lower GPA, you can compensate with harder courses like AP or IB classes. This will help boost your weighted GPA and show your ability to take college classes.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.47, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

University of Illinois at Chicago hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to University of Illinois at Chicago will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

University of Illinois at Chicago SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1120

The average SAT score composite at University of Illinois at Chicago is a 1120 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes University of Illinois at Chicago Competitive for SAT test scores.

University of Illinois at Chicago SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1120, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1320. In other words, a 1120 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1320 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

University of Illinois at Chicago has the Score Choice policy of "Highest Section."

This is also known as "superscoring." This means that you can choose which SAT tests you want to send to the school. Of all the scores they receive, your application readers will consider your highest section scores across all SAT test dates you submit .

Click below to learn more about how superscoring critically affects your test strategy.

For example, say you submit the following 3 test scores:

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, University of Illinois at Chicago will take your highest section score from all your test dates, then combine them to form your Superscore. You can raise your composite score from 1000 to 1400 in this example.

This is important for your testing strategy. Because you can choose which tests to send in, and University of Illinois at Chicago forms your Superscore, you can take the SAT as many times as you want, then submit only the tests that give you the highest Superscore. Your application readers will only see that one score.

Therefore, if your SAT superscore is currently below a 1120, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You have a very good chance of raising your score, which will significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Even better, because of the Superscore, you can focus all your energy on a single section at a time. If your Reading score is lower than your other sections, prep only for the Reading section, then take the SAT. Then focus on Math for the next test, and so on. This will give you the highest Superscore possible.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

University of Illinois at Chicago ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, University of Illinois at Chicago likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 24

The average ACT score at University of Illinois at Chicago is 24. This score makes University of Illinois at Chicago Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

Even though University of Illinois at Chicago likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 24 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to University of Illinois at Chicago, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 24.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

University of Illinois at Chicago considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is lightly selective, you have a great shot at getting in, as long as you don't fall well below average . Aim for a 1120 SAT or a 24 ACT or higher, and you'll almost certainly get an offer of admission. As long as you meet the rest of the application requirements below, you'll be a shoo-in.

But if you score below our recommended target score, you may be one of the very few unlucky people to get rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

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Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of University of Illinois at Chicago here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $60
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes Audition for music and theater majors, portfolio for art majors required for freshmen

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Considered if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests
• Scores Due in Office February 1

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies 3

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes February 1 December 1
• Yes November 1 December 1

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 1200 Chicago, IL 60607
• Phone: (312) 996-4350 x4350
• Fax: (312) 413-7628
• Email: [email protected]

Our Expert's Notes

We did more detailed research into this school's admissions process and found the following information:

You will apply to one of the following colleges: College of Applied Health Sciences College of Architecture, Design and the Arts College of Business Administration College of Education College of Engineering College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

To look at majors and minors within each school to help with your decision, see here. For the Honors College, there is an additional application you can fill out from the Common App, which you can learn more about here. Scholarship consideration is automatic.

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Illinois at Chicago, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to University of Illinois at Chicago.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than University of Illinois at Chicago. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for University of Illinois at Chicago, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for University of Illinois at Chicago, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If University of Illinois at Chicago is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

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Undergraduate Admissions

Deadline Update: We want to ensure anyone applying for federal financial aid has enough time to make an informed decision regarding their college choice! For this reason, we're extending our enrollment decision deadline to May 15.

Essay Questions for Transfer Applicants

You'll answer one to two essays as part of your application, depending on whether you're applying to a major or to our undeclared program , and if you've selected a second choice . Essays should be 300 to 400 words each.

If You're Applying to a Major :

Explain your interest in the major you selected. Describe how you have recently developed this interest, inside and/or outside of the classroom, and how this major relates to your professional goals.

If You're Applying to Our Undeclared Program :

Explain your academic interests and strengths or your future career goals. You may include any majors or areas of study you are currently considering.

If You've Selected a Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared ):

You have selected a second-choice major. Please explain your interest in this major.

Tips for Writing Your Essay

Be memorable..

The essay portion of the application is important because it gives us further insight into who you are and who you want to be. Make us remember you!

Be prepared.

Take time to think about and brainstorm your message. Create an outline, write a good first draft, and edit multiple times.

Be yourself.

We want to know more about you, so be honest and let us into your world. Instead of making broad statements about what you want to do, provide specific examples from your current institution or extracurricular activities. And don’t be afraid to add your personal style and voice to your writing!

You only have a couple of paragraphs to tell us that you’re not only qualified to attend UIUC, but you're also ready for the challenge and will make the most of your experience. Choose your words wisely.

Be focused.

It's not necessary for you to repeat information that’s already elsewhere in your application. Stay focused on explaining how those credentials and qualifications will lead to a successful future here.

Be professional.

Submitting a sloppy-looking essay with spelling errors and glaring mistakes sends us the message that you’re not serious about UIUC. Proofread your essays and ask your counselor, a friend, or a parent to take a second look.

Want more info?

Office of the Provost

General Education @ Illinois

Gen ed requirements.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign requires that all undergraduate students take General Education courses to gain and use broad knowledge beyond the specialized learning they gain in a major field of study because of the value and impact these courses add to a degree. These Gen Ed requirements cover the kinds of knowledge all students should have: the humanities and the arts, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences and technology, quantitative reasoning, composition/writing, and cultural studies. Explore the value of the Gen Ed Program on our Why Gen Eds? page.

Illinois’ Gen Ed Program consists of 13-18 courses, or 40-66 hours of the 120+ hours required in a degree program. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in a major, or may be fulfilled by other credit. Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling these requirements. Students with entry terms prior to Fall 2021 should consult the Course Explorer: Gen Ed Years and discuss with their Academic Advisor. Frequently Asked Questions may be found at the bottom of this page.

Category Descriptions

Click on each area to read more about the Gen Ed category and the current requirement. Students with entry terms prior to 2021 should consult the Course Explorer: Gened Years and discuss with their Academic Advisor.

Satisfactory proficiency in written communication is a requirement for all undergraduate degrees awarded at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The Composition I course requirement may be met by satisfactory completion of an approved course, taken at an appropriate skill level, in Rhetoric, Communication, or English as an International Second Language.

This proficiency can be certified by the satisfactory completion of the “Composition I” general education requirements below. Students should discuss the proper Composition I placement/completion with their academic advisor .

• Completion of the “Composition I” general education requirement via the one-semester, four-hour course Rhetoric 105 (Writing and Research); the two-semester, eight-hour sequence of Rhetoric 101 (Principles of Writing) and 102 (Principles of Research); or the two-semester, six-hour sequence Communication 111 and 112 (Oral & Written Communication I and II).
• A student who achieved, prior to enrolling in college-level coursework, a sufficiently high score on either the appropriate college-preparatory English exam (currently ACT, SAT, AP, or IB) will earn course credit that fulfills the general education “Composition I” requirement and thus will satisfy the Written Communication requirement for graduation. More information can be found on the Placement & Proficiency: Proficiency Testing website .
• Non-native English-speaking students who are mandated to take the English Placement Test (EPT) and given an English as a Second Language (ESL) placement must fulfill their Written Communication requirement by taking the two-semester, six-hour sequence of ESL 111 and 112 or the one-semester, four-hour ESL 115 course. They might also be required to take ESL 110 (Pronunciation). Non-native English-speaking students who are not required to take the EPT due to sufficiently high TOFEL iBT or IELTS scores may elect to satisfy the Written Communication requirement by taking the ESL, or the Rhetoric, or the Communication sequences. Students in this category who wish to take ESL must take the EPT to determine correct placement.
• If the academic credentials of a transfer student do not indicate fulfillment of coursework equivalent to fulfill the Written Communication graduation requirement, the student will need to do additional coursework to satisfy this requirement. Non-native English-speaking transfer students may be required to take the English Placement Test (EPT).

The Advanced Composition requirement is met by completing an approved writing-intensive course. This requirement will normally be completed through the Urbana campus. Courses taken elsewhere must be individually evaluated and substantial documentation of the writing component provided if they are to satisfy the requirement.

Approved Advanced Composition courses may be in any department on campus, and will fall into one of three categories:

• approved courses in the rhetoric and communication disciplines that build upon the Composition I requirement and have writing as their principal focus;
• approved courses meeting another area of the General Education requirements that have a substantial writing component;
• approved courses meeting requirements within a major, minor, or elective field of study that are designed to require and enhance writing in the disciplinary subject matter.

If you entered college as a freshman in  Fall 1991 or later,  you need to complete an Advanced Composition course in order to graduate.

The Humanities and the Arts are those studies which foster skill in communication; discriminating judgment and the appreciation of ideas; an understanding of human cultural traditions; an appreciation of cultural, ethnic and national diversity; conceptions of literary, artistic, philosophical or historical criticism; and reflection on goals for human life.

All courses approved for General Education credit in the Humanities and the Arts should fulfill these goals by:

• introducing students to the typical critical approaches and methods utilized in the discipline and to past accomplishments in the field;
• relying substantially on primary texts and sources;
• requiring substantial writing; and
• approaching their subjects in ways that would be intellectually challenging for majors as well as non-specialists.

Each student must satisfactorily complete at least six credit hours of approved coursework in the humanities and the arts. It is recommended that one course be from an approved list of courses in literature and the arts (“LA”) and the other from an approved list of courses in historical and philosophical perspectives (“HP”).

Natural Sciences and Technology courses are placed into one of the following two subcategories: Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.

Physical Sciences (PS):

• must be introductory in nature and present (or have as a prerequisite a college course that presents) the fundamentals of the physical science, and
• should emphasize scientific methodology by involving the student in making observations, evaluating data, and solving problems.

Life Sciences (LS):

• must be an introductory course which presents (or has as a prerequisite a college course that presents) the fundamentals of biological science, including genetics/speciation/evolution, growth/differentiation, metabolism/bio-energetics and ecology/ethology, and

Natural Sciences and Technology courses must be approved in either the Physical Sciences or Life Sciences, and may focus primarily on technology and its application to the Natural Sciences. Courses with an emphasis on technological application:

• should emphasize the applications of the sciences to the solution of human and societal problems;
• should be comprehensive enough to give a broad perspective on the implications of technology to society; and
• should emphasize the problem-solving nature of technology by involving the student in such activities rather than being simply descriptive and requiring only memorization of facts.

If you entered college as a freshman in  Fall 1994 or later,  you need to complete six hours of Natural Sciences and Technology courses in order to graduate.

Social Sciences (SS):

• should provide opportunities for studying social groups, institutions, and organizations, and their context;
• should have a primary emphasis upon persons in relation to others and their environment;
• should formulate basic questions and inquiry about the nature of social life through both interpretive and systematic analyses;
• should address a broad area, chronologically, geographically or culturally; and
• should reflect concern both for methodological and substantive issues.

Behavioral Science (BS):

• should concern the empirical approach to the study of human behavior;
• should be broadly conceived; and
• should give appropriate attention to both the general issues and methods of the behavioral sciences.

If you entered college as a freshman in  Fall 1994 or later,  you need to complete six hours of Social and Behavioral Sciences course in order to graduate. Social and Behavioral Sciences courses are placed into two subcategories: Behavioral Sciences and Social Sciences.

Courses approved as meeting the Cultural Studies requirement:

• should be concerned broadly with culture understood as the interaction among the intellectual, artistic, political, economic, and social aspects of a society or other cultural grouping;
• should treat topics and issues that can be expected to promote a deepened understanding of the culture(s) focused upon; and
• provide either (i) a broad description and analysis of the interaction of intellectual, artistic, political, economic, social, and other aspects of a society’s cultural life; (ii) an intensive investigation of the cultural life of a society or group in a particular time and place; (iii) a focused investigation of particular aspects of a society’s or group’s culture (e.g., its art, literature, and music); or (iv) a comparative investigation of cultural systems and the development of constructs for cross-cultural sensitivity and analysis.

(Click on the categories below to expand and read about each requirement)

Effective Summer/Fall 2018:  Undergraduates newly admitted in Summer/Fall 2018 or later (note this includes both freshmen as well as transfer students matriculating in Summer/Fall 2018 and after) need to complete one course in Non-Western Cultures; one course in US Minority Cultures; and one course in Western/Comparative Cultures. These courses may fulfill other curricular requirements, but no single course can fulfill multiple Cultural Studies categories. Undergraduate students who matriculated  Spring 2018  or prior need to complete one course in Non-Western  or  U.S. Minority Cultures and one course in Western/Comparative Cultures.

Courses approved for the Non-Western Cultures category should provide deepened understanding and appreciation of significant aspects of cultural traditions originating outside the Western cultural tradition.

In some instances, it will be difficult to ascertain whether cultures are Western or non-Western from purely geographical or group designations (e.g., Latin America or Middle East), and appropriate categorization will depend upon the emphasis of the particular course as designated by the department.

Courses approved for the U.S. Minority Cultures category should provide deepened understanding and appreciation of significant aspects of the cultural tradition of a socially significant, non-dominant population of the United States. Courses that focus on a racial minority should appropriately and substantially address the experiences, conditions, and perspectives of that population. Courses that focus on socially significant, non-racial minority identities (for example, sexuality, gender, religion, and disability) or broadly on diversity, inequality, or discrimination should significantly represent the experiences of U.S. racial minority populations.

Courses approved as Western Cultures courses should provide deepened understanding and appreciation of significant aspects of the cultural tradition evolved from the confluence of Greek and Roman philosophical thought and European religious traditions (i.e., the cultural traditions associated with European and North American countries).

Each student must fulfill a two-part Quantitative Reasoning requirement, designated Quantitative Reasoning I and II. Options are to take two Quantitative Reasoning I courses, or to take one Quantitative Reasoning I course and one Quantitative Reasoning II course.

Quantitative Reasoning I (QRI or QR1)

To fulfill the Quantitative Reasoning I requirement the student must receive credit for at least one college-level course in mathematics, computer science, statistics, or formal logic.

Quantitative Reasoning II (QRII or QR2)

The Quantitative Reasoning II requirement may be met in any one of the three following ways:

• completing a second course that has been approved to satisfy the Quantitative Reasoning I (QRI) requirement ;
• completing a course from the areas of mathematics, computer science, statistics, or formal logic that builds upon and expands a prerequisite course taken to meet the Quantitative Reasoning I requirement (courses may be listed as QRI or QRII) ; or
• the use of calculus or mathematics for which calculus is a prerequisite; and/or mathematics which involves logical thought processes and places little emphasis on memorization and manipulation of mathematical formulas; clear organization and exposition of mathematical thought is expected
• a course that incorporates the following computer science principles: problem formulation; algorithm development; coding in a programming language; and the application of computer programs to the solution of problems
• a course that incorporates probability and statistics. Approved courses should emphasize the relationships between the assumptions of the probabilistic and statistical models presented and the conclusions drawn. The material should not be primarily “cookbook” in nature and must require that students understand when it is appropriate and inappropriate to apply particular models.
• any course that incorporates philosophy which emphasizes the forms and methods of symbolic logic and scientific reasoning including: formal logic, including truth- functional logic and quantification theory; methods for the evaluation of scientific evidence; and the use of scientific information in decision making. The material must: (a) include the translation of verbal arguments into their symbolic counterparts (b) cover the relationships between premises and conclusions, and thus foster critical thinking; and (c) involve the manipulation of symbols

If you entered college as a freshman in  Fall 2002  or later, you must complete both Quantitative Reasoning I (QR1) and Quantitative Reasoning II (QR2) courses in order to graduate. To complete the QR1 requirement you must take one course listed as QR1. To complete the QR2 requirement you must take a second course from  either a second QR1 or a QR2. If you entered college as a freshman between  Fall 1993 and Summer 2002,  you need to complete a Quantitative Reasoning I (QR1) course in order to graduate.

To ensure that all Illinois graduates will have a working knowledge of a language other than English (LOTE), each student must obtain credit or demonstrate proficiency at the third or fourth college semester level or satisfactorily complete the third or fourth secondary school year of language other than English. If you enter the university without three years of language other than English in high school (or four years for LAS students), you must take a language placement test to determine the courses in which you should enroll.

Students should consult with their academic advisor to determine their current level of completion and the level of completion required.

Campus LOTE Requirements:

Most students (with the exception of most LAS programs and one FAA program as noted below) students may satisfy the LOTE requirement in any of the following ways:

• Successfully completing a third-semester college-level course in a language other than English;
• Successful completion, in high school, of the third year of a language other than English; or
• Demonstrating proficiency at the third semester level in a language proficiency examination approved by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the appropriate department.

Musicology Major (College of Fine & Applied Arts) LOTE Requirement:

• Successfully completing a fourth-semester college-level course in a language other than English;
• Successful completion, in high school, of the fourth year of a language other than English;
• Demonstrating proficiency at the fourth-semester level in a language proficiency examination approved by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the appropriate department.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences LOTE Requirements:

If you are a student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in the Sciences and Letters major, secondary education, or specialized curriculums not included in the exceptions listed on the LAS: Gen Ed language requirement website , you may satisfy the LOTE requirement in any of the following ways: 

• Successful completion of the third-semester level in each of two different languages other than English by any combination of high school and college work; or

Effective for all entering freshmen in Fall 2000 or later, the language requirement must be completed for graduation. Gies College of Business (BUS) students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021 are required to complete to the fourth level. Consult with your academic advisor.

Exception to LOTE:

Students who can demonstrate and document a specific language-learning disability  may petition for an accommodation to substitute approved cultural-based course work for regular language courses. Previous and current records of achievement, commentary from previous teachers, and clinical data are generally required to support petitions.  All petitioners must be registered with  Disability Resources and Educational Services .  Students who are uncertain if they qualify for a language accommodation should start by meeting their Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES) access specialist who will help to determine their eligibility and explain the various petition requirements.  Students must work with both DRES and their college/school office on the exception and completing the proper petition and approved coursework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Students should discuss questions and requirements with their academic advisor to ensure they are receiving accurate information based on their individual situation within the designated program and college/school.

General Education is just as essential to a student’s education as their specialized coursework because it provides students with the skills, knowledge, and experiences that will ensure their success during and after college, and in their professional, personal, and civic lives. No single major can provide a student with all the knowledge and skills they will need to be successful and fulfilled; it is General Education that provides students with the skills they cannot gain from their majors. Students who view the Gen Ed program as essential to their learning make the most out of their experience and are able to leverage the skills and knowledge gained from these courses towards their future success. Visit our Why Gen Eds? page for more information and read Gen Ed Program Testimonials to understand the impact.

In some cases, students will receive course credit that carries Gen Ed credit for AP, IB, or A-Level exams. Students should discuss any pre-college credit and Gen Ed completion with their Academic Advisor. Information about AP, IB, and A-Level credit is found on the Placement & Proficiency: Proficiency Testing website.

It is important to have your test scores sent to campus as soon as possible and check with your advisor to ensure it is recorded correctly.

In most cases yes, you may take Gen Ed equivalent courses at other institutions and transfer them to campus. Current University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign undergraduate students should  contact their college office  for information on transfer credit restrictions prior to enrolling in courses at other institutions. Find out more about Transfer Credits to Illinois or view our Transfer Student Gen Ed page .

Please visit our Transfer Student page to find information about the requirements, course transfer, Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), and other helpful information.

It may be possible to take Gen Ed equivalent courses while you are studying abroad. Students must follow the  Education Abroad: Course Approvals  process to have courses articulated, and part of the articulation process within the department/college/school where the course resides is evaluation for Gen Ed credit. It is important to discuss with your Academic Advisor, your college office, and the study abroad office.

Some campus departments offer proficiency exams that may allow students to earn credit for a course approved as Gen Ed. Students should discuss this option with their academic advisor to determine if earning the credit is necessary. Consult the Departmental Proficiency Exams website to determine which exams are available.

There is a Language Other Than English requirement which varies based on the program in which a student is enrolled (view details in the “Language Requirement ‘LOTE'” above). In some cases students may have this completed requirement from their high school transcript or AP/pre-college exams or they may be able to fulfill the requirement by taking a proficiency exam or coursework. Exemptions are only granted for special circumstances as listed in the section above. Consult with your academic advisor on completing this requirement.

It is important that you discuss this with your academic advisor as some programs may have specific requirements about the subcategories and students must follow for degree completion. The Gen Ed policy does not require students to take a course in each of the subcategories within these areas, but it is recommended that students explore courses in each of these areas to receive a more rounded Gen Ed experience (and example is taking one Behavioral Science and one Social Science, but most students have the flexibility to take two in the same subcategory). View the details under each of the categories above and speak with your academic advisor.

It is important to discuss your academic plan with your academic advisor to ensure you are on-track with both your specialized and Gen Ed requirements as there may be certain courses which must be taken in a particular order. We recommend students take their Gen Ed requirements throughout their undergraduate experience to gain the most from the Gen Ed Program and balance with specialized coursework rather than rushing to complete Gen Ed requirements. Spreading out these courses allows students to select Gen Ed courses which better align with interests, skills, and future goals which develop throughout their academic career.

Gen Ed themes are not listed in a student’s record or on a transcript, as they are an optional addition to the Gen Ed Program. There is no “completion” of a Gen Ed theme and no minimum number of classes a student may take in one or more themes. Instead, themes will act as a map for students to curate their undergraduate education, and then students will communicate what they’ve gained from these courses via their resume and discussion with potential employers.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students can view their degree audit through the  Degree Audit System . This report is an unofficial audit of your degree progress which includes in progress coursework. Students are able to see which categories of Gen Ed requirements are completed, in progress, or unfulfilled in order to plan accordingly for the next courses in their academic sequence as a whole, as well as the Gen Ed program specifically.

The Course Explorer provides students the schedule of classes by term and a browsable database of General Education requirements and courses in addition to other resources. Students may also utilize the Gen Ed Themes to browse courses in specified areas, tailored to their personal interests.

Gen Ed requirements have change over time, so students should review Gen Ed requirements in the Course Explorer based on the year they started their undergraduate degree at Illinois, and discuss their Gen Ed requirements with an academic advisor .

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How to Write the University of Illinois at Chicago Essays 2023-2024

UIC has one required supplemental essay for all students, and two required essays for students applying to the honors college. The supplemental essay for all applicants asks about your interest in your intended major. The honors college prompts ask about your academic challenges and successes in high school, and how the honors college will help you grow personally and professionally.

To be competitive for admission at UIC, you should have strong essays that will stand out and convince admissions officers that you are a good fit for the university. In this post, we’ll discuss how you can write winning essays for UIC.

University of Illinois at Chicago Essay Prompts

All applicants, please provide an essay that explains why you chose your intended program of study. what interests you the most about this major please be specific – those evaluating these essays are highly interested in your response. if undecided, what areas of study do you look forward to studying in college (50-500 words), honors college applicants.

Prompt 1: Please describe in detail ways that you have sought out academic challenges and personal growth opportunities while in high school. Examples can include activities both inside or outside of your school. (400-500 words)

Prompt 2: How will your engagement with the Honors College foster your academic, personal, and professional growth? (400-500 words)

Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions (GPPA) Applicants

By applying to the gppa programs, you are applying for a guaranteed seat in one of uic’s graduate or professional programs earlier than students who apply in a traditional manner. the gppa program seeks to understand why you have chosen your intended profession and a guaranteed path into it. what makes you an ideal candidate for guaranteed admission rather than following a traditional path to your intended profession how would a guaranteed seat contribute to your goals as an undergraduate (400-500 words).

This essay is a traditional “ Why this Major? ” prompt that invites you to share what about your background and experiences has drawn you to want to study a given subject. A key element that will differentiate a strong response from a weaker one is the ability to draw specific connections between your experiences and specific characteristics of the major in which you are interested. 

For example, a weak response would merely say that you are interested in UIC’s B.S. in Computer Science because you grew up playing retro computer games. But a strong response would draw a specific connection between noticing glitches in the gameplay of those retro games, constantly wondering how the game programmers’ logic inadvertently created those glitches, and wanting to pursue a career in software quality assurance. As you write your essay, keep in mind the importance of drawing the linkage between experience and interest.

If you’re undecided about your major, don’t worry. You can still produce a high-quality essay by highlighting 2-3 areas of study or intellectual interest that you are drawn to, even if there isn’t a clear favorite. It would be a mistake to say that you have no idea what you may want to study. Even if you are genuinely indifferent among many areas of study, consider reflecting on which high school classes you have had the most success or interest in; those will potentially be areas on which you can write convincingly.

We recommend beginning this essay with the anecdote that you will use to demonstrate how your interest in your major developed. This anecdote might be a personal, non-academic experience , or it may be related to coursework . Of course, a strong essay likely combines these two types of experience: perhaps your interest in computer science logic was strengthened by writing your own proofs for the first time in a geometry class.

Here are some tips on building this “Why this Major” essay around such an anecdote:

Personal experience: Consider choosing a story in which you initially are unfamiliar with the intellectual or technical foundations of something that impacts or influences you, and you realize that you want to develop related expertise. For example, perhaps one day your aunt told you about how she relies on a pacemaker to regulate her heart rhythm, and your first-hand insight into how medical technology can save people’s lives has drawn you to UIC’s bioengineering major. A mistake in writing that essay would be to not elaborate on specific problems or dynamics in the field of bioengineering that you are drawn to solving. For example, perhaps there are materials-science-related barriers to advanced implants that you want to help overcome. It is critical that you demonstrate that you have spent time thinking about not just the impact a given area of study has had on you, but also the impact that you want to make on that area of study.

Coursework: Stories based on coursework lend themselves to more straightforward connections to a given area of study. A strong essay based on an anecdote about an assignment you’ve completed or a discussion you’ve had in class should not just be about your having a natural talent for the subject. Instead, you should emphasize the growth you’ve undergone over the course of the class or classes. For example, if you’re interested in the English major within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you might talk about how the critical feedback you got on a creative writing assignment pushed you to be more deliberate about your writing technique and you eventually decided to participate in the National Novel Writing Month. By showing a growth mindset, you can more easily lead into your interest in advanced, college-level study in a topic.

Regardless of the type of anecdote you choose, be conscientious about the details that you choose to include. Mention parts of the story that show your reasoning and process of developing interest, but don’t linger on elements that don’t contribute to your narrative, since you only have 500 words.

Finally, make sure that you demonstrate your specific interest in the major at UIC and not just the major generally. For example, you might talk about how you envision yourself presenting at UIC’s new annual bioengineering research symposium or how being in the vibrant Chicago arts and writing scene provides a natural platform for you to hone your craft and learn from others.

Honors College Applicants, Prompt 1 

Please describe in detail ways that you have sought out academic challenges and personal growth opportunities while in high school. examples can include activities both inside or outside of your school. (400-500 words).

For this prompt, you’ll have to think about the ways in which high school has formed your personal and academic development. Since this essay is for the Honors College, you’ll also want to make sure that your essay adequately discusses your academic history and success. 

Brainstorming Essay Topics 

Before you begin writing, you’ll want to spend some time thinking about moments throughout your life that have impacted your personal and academic growth. This might be the hardest part of this essay, as finding a topic that is both meaningful and significant can be tricky. Below are some mistakes you’ll want to avoid when picking an essay topic.

Picking a Topic That Is Cliché

There are many essay topics that have become cliché by students because they are so overdone. This includes topics related to sports injuries, personal tragedies, or getting a bad grade. Remember, you’ll want to pick an example that highlights both academic and personal growth–not just one or the other.

Picking a Topic that Isn’t Significant Enough

Topics that aren’t meaningful enough may include group project failures or interpersonal conflict unrelated to your academic history. While these experiences are certainly important in your life, you should try to pick an experience that shaped your identity.

Picking an Extremely Personal Topic

Topics such as pet deaths and breakups should be avoided as they are too personal and do not highlight any types of academic engagement which should be included in this essay.

How to Approach the Essay

Now that you’ve had a chance to think about potential topics, it is important to understand how to actually write the essay. You can do this in three steps: 

1. Describe The Situation

Set the scene for the reader by discussing the academic or personal growth challenge that you’ve faced. You’ll want to be sure to add vivid details here so that the reader fully understands and can imagine the situation.

2. The Steps You Took to Overcome the Situation

What happened next in the story, and what role did you play in your own growth or challenges? 

3. Reflect on What You Learned

Last, you’ll want to reflect on what this experience taught you, and how you changed because of it. This part of the essay is especially important as admissions officers want to know how students have positively changed through their previous life experiences. 

Do you still need help flushing out the details of the essay? Below is a list of questions that can help you brainstorm the details within your essay.

• When you think of challenges that you’ve faced, which one has been important to you and why?
• Was there a situation that changed your perspective on a long-standing belief that you had?
• What was your immediate reaction to this situation, and how has that reaction changed over time?
• What steps did you take to manage the situation, and how did you do it?
• Were you surprised by your own growth? Did your growth impact people close to you as well?
• If you could’ve changed anything about your reaction to the situation, what would it be and why?

Although this has already been mentioned, you’ll want to make sure that you describe a challenge that is related to both your academic and personal life. While you could describe two separate situations, it may be best to just describe one that affected both your academic and personal life since you are limited by the word count.

A hypothetical example may be a student who writes about how she always strictly followed her parents religious beliefs, but was questioned by a classmate during a seminar about her religion. In turn, this made her question her own beliefs, and led her to creating a school club which explored various religious philosophies. If the student did significant reflecting on their experience and discussed how this has changed their viewpoints, this example would be perfect as it discusses religion as an academic discipline and also a personal belief system.

A not-so-strong example for this essay would be a student who writes about how they struggled to finish a group project at school and asked their teacher for extra help. This would not show how the student went above-and-beyond, or how this changed their learning experience or perspective. 

Mistakes to Avoid

Focusing Too Much on the Challenges/Growth and Not Enough on Personal Development

At the beginning of the essay you’ll want to “set the scene” and describe the academic and personal challenges and growth you faced in high school. However, the point of this essay is to discuss how you’ve overcome those challenges and how you’ve developed into the person you are today. Your focus should be on you, not on your circumstances. 

Telling Instead of Showing

Stories are always more engaging when a reader can imagine themselves in the narrator’s shoes. Instead of simply listing the lessons you’ve learned, instead use vivid examples to describe your challenges and growth.

Honors College Applicants, Prompt 2 

How will your engagement with the honors college foster your academic, personal, and professional growth (400-500 words).

The UIC Honors College is a prestigious program in which members of the college have special access to honors courses, additional research opportunities, and faculty mentorship, along with access to Honors College-only facilities in Burnham Hall. Honors College students spend their last year at UIC developing a capstone research project. Given all the advantages of being in the Honors College, admission is competitive, so a compelling essay is a key to being invited.

Before writing this essay, look through the Honors College website and identify a few programs or opportunities that you find the most attractive. Specificity is key in this essay : you need to show why access to the additional privileges of Honors College students can make a difference for you. Here are a few approaches you can take to answering this question:

Connect UIC Honors programs to past relevant experiences.

One way to illustrate why you think the Honors College is right for you is to draw connections with previous experiences that align with some of the Honors College opportunities. For example, if you have worked closely with a professor in the past on a research project or in another capacity, you can explain how you’ve become better at distilling insights from experts in a field and making meaningful contributions. As a result, you might be more confident that you would have very productive relationships with faculty mentors as a member of the Honors College.

If you go down this path, make sure that this essay is still ultimately about how you’ll take advantage of the given opportunities in the future . The value of discussing past experiences is to demonstrate that you have a solid foundation to take full advantage of UIC’s opportunities—not merely to show what you’ve done in the past.

Emphasize the closeness among students in the program

One of the big advantages of honors colleges is that it creates a natural, smaller community at a university. This is especially important at UIC, given the immense size of the undergraduate body. UIC Honors College students are able to live on-campus in special living-learning communities, such as Commons West. Students also participate in special student organizations. You could discuss how you learn best through the exchange of ideas with your peers, and how being in a close-knit community can facilitate that process. By showing that you recognize that learning happens not just between teachers and students, but also among students, you can demonstrate your personal maturity and openness to diverse viewpoints.

Discuss how a specific research project will help you grow academically and professionally

Given that the Honors College places a large emphasis on additional research opportunities and the capstone project, you can use this essay to discuss how those opportunities will help you pursue one or two projects about which you are very passionate. For example, you might need sustained engagement with a bioengineering professor to advance your ideas on improving pacemakers. Or maybe you see the Red Shoes Review literary magazine as a great opportunity to share your writing and receive critical feedback from your peers who are also skilled writers. These projects might also help you demonstrate your capabilities to employers after school.

The advantage of taking this approach to the Honors College essay is that it gives a lot of color to what exactly you hope to do as a member. By giving your essay reader a more vivid picture of the student you will be, you make it easier for them to give you the nod.

The GPPA initiative is an invaluable opportunity to lock in your admission to one of UIC’s professional or graduate schools. If you’re admitted, you might feel more freedom to explore various academic interests as an undergraduate at UIC. Note that for many UIC programs, you are required to be a member of the Honors College as well, so you will also have to fill out the Honors College essay and submit the required letters of recommendation. GPPA is ideal for applicants who know that they have a very strong interest in attending graduate school in one of the available areas of study . While you are not required to matriculate to the graduate program, it would still be helpful to show your specific interest in UIC’s graduate schools. While in undergrad, you will need to meet the conditions of acceptance for the relevant graduate school, which may include taking certain courses and examinations.

Explain why you prefer the guarantee to a traditional path to graduate school.

UIC is interested in knowing why you are eager to have the safety of admission to a master’s or professional program as you are starting out your undergraduate education. There are a number of good reasons this may be the case, including your ability to gain early exposure to the professional school. A key advantage of knowing which graduate school you will be attending four years before matriculating is that you can engage with professors, research centers, and other opportunities at that graduate school over a longer timeframe. This can be helpful if, for example, you are a potential public health student interested in longitudinal research that takes years to complete. Instead of only being in the MPH program for two years, you’ll be able to connect with researchers for up to six years, including your time as an undergraduate. Additionally, you’ll be able to meet more professors and professionals affiliated with the graduate program.

Think carefully about your reasons, and make sure they still convey your intellectual curiosity and academic seriousness. For example, don’t convey that you just want to slack off for four years before attending a master’s program.

Demonstrate fit with the profession.

A strong GPPA essay will discuss your interest in the dynamics of the profession that you would be entering after graduate school. For example, if you want to apply to UIC’s Doctor of Dental Medicine program, you can tell a story that shows how you thrive in environments where you have to decide between snap judgments and more diligent research. Or you can discuss how helping one person at a time with their health needs is the most tangible way you can imagine making an impact on the world. Demonstrate your readiness by making it evident that you’ve thought deeply about, and are comfortable with, the tensions and complexities of the profession. Make sure to also communicate that the traits and experiences driving you toward the given area of study and profession are integral to who you are. For example, you can offer an anecdote about how your strong judgment under high pressure or your relentless drive to find the right answer shows up in the rest of your life. 

Discuss a pivotal moment in your academic, personal, or extracurricular experience.

Maybe you’ve known for a long time now that you are interested in the profession for which you’re applying to GPPA. You can talk about an experience in which you realized that your interests require an unconventional path in which guaranteed admission is valuable. For example, say you are applying for pre-admission to the UIC law school because you eventually want to be a public defender. You can tell a story about how when you were volunteering for your local legal clinic, you were always taken aback by the hostile appearance and construction of the courthouse, and so now, before practicing law, you want to get a B.S. in Architecture and help design more humane civic buildings. Bring the reader into that moment, and explain how the interconnections among different areas of study compel you to apply for GPPA.

Where to Get Your UIC Edited for Free

Are you looking for guidance and feedback on how to make your UIC essays better? It’s always a good idea to get another set of eyes — or two or three — on your essays to ensure you’re representing yourself and your interest in the school to the best of your abilities. That’s why CollegeVine offers a free essay peer-review service , where you can get a critique of your essay and feedback to help you improve.

Just create a free  CollegeVine account , and you’ll be able to use this and other resources that will benefit you during the college admissions process.

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