Hello everyone! I really like U of I Champaign and have it as one of my top choices. Do any of you know what it takes to get in? GPA? EC's? Also, do they prefer in-state students?
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) holds academic achievement in high regard. It's important to know that while UIUC is a moderately competitive school, the admissions rates and criteria vary significantly by major, so the difficulty level of admission may depend on the specific program to which you are applying.
To be a competitive applicant, you should aim for a high GPA. From recent UIUC admissions report data, on a 4.0 scale, the middle 50% of incoming freshmen have a weighted high school GPA between 3.68 and 4.0. So if your GPA is within that range or higher, you should be competitive academically.
Extracurricular activities are an important part of your application as well. UIUC is interested in students who have proven leadership skills, dedication to a particular activity or a meaningful commitment to service. In line with this, remember that depth matters more than breadth when it comes to your involvement. Having a few extracurriculars, where you have made substantial contributions or held leadership roles, is generally more impressive than being a member of many clubs without significant involvement.
That said, it's important to note that the admission process at UIUC is not just about numbers, but also about the fit between you and the school. Your essays play a crucial role in indicating why you are interested in UIUC and how you plan to contribute to the community.
Concerning your question about in-state preference: UIUC is a public university, and as such, they do give a slight preference to in-state applicants. However, out-of-state and international students make up a significant proportion of the student body, so being from out of state is by no means a deal-breaker. Just make sure to pay attention to the deadlines, as those can vary depending on whether you're applying as an in-state or out-of-state student.
Good luck with your application process!
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