uiuc transfer essay

Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT)

Intercollegiate Transfer to Gies Business

The Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT) process is for first-year UIUC students who are currently enrolled in an academic program and wish to pursue a Gies undergraduate degree.

Please note that the Gies ICT process can occur only at the end of a student’s first year at Illinois, due to graduation requirements. It’s important to review the information below and to talk to your current academic advisor early on about this option.

The Fall 2025 application will be available on April 29, 2025 at 8:00am and close on May 22, 2025 at 11:59pm. 

Current UIUC Student and High School Student Information Sessions

A member of the Gies undergraduate admissions team will lead an online discussion about application timeline and requirements followed by a Q&A session. Sessions typically last 30-45 minutes. Attendance is neither required nor a factor in a student's admission decision. The same information is shared in each meeting. Preregistration is required through the links below; after registering, you will receive an email confirmation and link to the Zoom meeting. Monday, September 23 Wednesday, October 2 Thursday, October 17 Tuesday. November 12

ICT drop-in advising starting on September 17.

Day/Time: Tuesdays from 2-4 pm Location: 5th floor of the Illini Union Bookstore

These appointments are a maximum of 15 minutes and occur on a first-come, first-served basis.

Eligibility and Review Process

There is a competitive transfer application process for first-year UIUC students who would like to pursue a Gies undergraduate degree or a dual degree. Students wanting to declare a dual degree in their current major and Business would need Gies to be their home/primary college due to course registration restrictions and, therefore, should apply for Gies ICT admission.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a first-year current student at UIUC
• Have completed two semesters of full-time enrollment/at least 24 graded credit hours at UIUC by end of spring semester

Students who have deferred their UIUC admission from fall to spring entry should contact our office to discuss their options for an application timeline.

You are not eligible for ICT if:

• You have taken more than two semesters of full-time coursework at UIUC, or
• You have already completed the off-campus transfer admissions process and are enrolled in another program at UIUC.

(If you are not eligible, look into our  Gies Business Minor  or our  Gies one-year master’s degree programs .)

Priority will be given to students who have completed through the third level of a language other than English (could be completed with high school coursework) or have taken and passed a proficiency exam which is posted on their academic record. If a student is unable to complete the requirement, they should include an explanation in the additional consideration prompts.

Due to space limitations and the strength of the applicant pool each year, we are unable to guarantee admission, regardless of GPA and/or course completion. 

Gies undergraduate programs must be completed in no more than 9 full-time semesters and require a significant number of Gies courses. Therefore, early completion of required and general education courses helps students maintain degree progression within the semester limit for graduation. 

Deadlines & Timelines

Students apply for ICT at the end of spring semester of their first year at UIUC to be considered for fall admission. Application review will begin once spring semester final exams and grades are complete at the end of May. Students will be notified of their admission decision by the end of June.

Due to curricula format, we only take applications in the spring semester for fall admission. We do not take spring entry applicants.

The online submission portal will be available on this page in late spring for each admissions cycle.

Application Requirements/Sections

• Accountancy
• Accountancy + Data Science
• Business + Data Science
• Finance + Data Science
• Information Systems
• Operations Management
• Strategy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship

Major Considerations

Changing majors or double majors: If you are admitted, you could change your intended major or add a double major during your sophomore year.  

Supply Chain Management major: If you want to apply for Supply Chain Management admission, you would do so once you are a student here in Gies. In the meantime, you would need to apply and be admitted to one of the programs listed above. 

+DS majors: You can apply for direct ICT admission to a +DS major if you meet some additional requirements (noted in the Required and Recommendation Coursework section). If you have not done so, you should apply to a non- +DS major; you can work towards the +DS requirements if admitted to Gies.  

Dual degrees: You will need to indicate on the application if you intend to pursue dual degrees (one Gies major and another major outside of Gies). Pursuing dual degrees is not always possible, based on both programs’ coursework and graduation requirements. Prior to application submission, we recommend discussing your intentions with your current academic advisor to see if dual degrees are options for you.  

Courses are considered complete by having taken the course or its equivalent at UIUC or another institution or through AP/IB test score credit. It is the applicant’s responsibility to assure that all outside awarded college credit (i.e., AP/IB test credit or college credit from other institutions) is included in their official UIUC records.

Required for all majors except +Data Science For first-year students entering UIUC in Fall 2024, the following required courses must be completed by end of Spring 2025:

• Composition I
• ECON 102 - Microeconomics (ACE 100 can be substituted)
• ECON 103 - Macroeconomics
• One of the following: MATH 115, Preparation for Calculus; MATH 220, Calculus; MATH 221, Calculus I; MATH 231, Calculus II; MATH 234, Calculus for Business I; or STAT 100, Statistics

Required for +Data Science majors For first-year students entering UIUC in Fall 2024, the following required courses must be completed by end of Spring 2025: 

• Composition I 
• ECON 102 - Microeconomics (ACE 100 can be substituted) 
• ECON 103 - Macroeconomics 
• CS/IS/STAT 107: Data Science Discovery 
• One of the following: MATH 234, Calculus for Business (recommended); MATH 220, Calculus; or MATH 221, Calculus 1 

Recommended for all majors CMN 101 and completing the third level of  Language Other than English LOTE) are recommended to help prepare students for success at Gies if admitted. CS 105 is a recommended course for all majors except +Data Science. Priority will be given to students who have completed through the third level of a language other than English (could be completed with high school coursework) or have taken and passed a proficiency exam which is posted on their academic record. If a student is unable to complete the LOTE requirement, they should include an explanation in the additional consideration prompts.

Essay prompts will be available in early Spring 2025. Prompts will be connected to the Gies purpose, commitments, and beliefs . 

Additional considerations prompts (200 words or less): You should answer one or more of the following prompts as they may pertain to you, which will be considered in our admissions review:

• Explanation of low grades and/or circumstances that affected your academic performance. 
• Explanation for not completing one or more required courses prior to the end of this spring semester.
• Explanation and description of college credit that is not yet on your UIUC academic record.
• Description of unique, personal information that you would like the admission review committee to consider during the review process.
• Optional Prompt - Did you work during the school year? If yes, provide a description of your job and indicate the number of hours you worked per week or per semester.

Academic Advising and Planning Assistance

Changing majors may significantly affect other areas of your education, so it’s important to understand those possible implications. Transferring to Gies may mean: 

• Potential tuition rate and/or scholarship changes . Please review the Tuition & Fee Rates provided by the Office of the Registrar, and reach out to the Office of Student Financial Aid if you have questions about possible changes to your award packages. 
• Summer, winter, or transfer coursework . Gies students have a firm semester limit to complete their undergraduate degree. This means you may need to take additional coursework to stay within that required timeline.
• Dual degree limitations . Due to our graduation timeline requirement, it may not be feasible for you to complete a dual degree with a Gies major and one outside of Gies. Please consult with your current academic advisor on the feasibility of doing so.
• Study Abroad programs. If you are interested in studying abroad for a semester as a Gies student, please make sure you are considering that in your graduation plan as it may impact course options. You will want to plan early and talk with your current academic advisor to start considering this possibility. We encourage you to make two graduation plans, one as if you were to study abroad, and one as if you do not as a backup. If you have questions about Gies Global study abroad programs, you can contact our Gies Global office directly at 217-244-7245 or [email protected].
• Work closely with your current academic advisor on course selection based on both the requirements and suggestions listed above, as well as other majors you may pursue.
• Contact our Gies Undergraduate Admissions team for logistical ICT questions (about the application, requirements, deadline, etc.).
• Attend one of the ICT information sessions led by Gies admissions staff each semester, as listed above.
• Drop in to a quick, 15-minute advising appointment with a Gies academic advisor, as noted above.

For Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, you should work with your current academic advisor to schedule appropriate classes for Gies ICT consideration and other majors you are considering. 

For Fall 2024 course registration, you should sign up for classes based on your advisor conversations and, as if you were continuing in your current program/academic unit. If you are admitted, a Gies academic advisor will review your schedule and contact you about any needed changes. We hold spaces in specific courses for ICT students, so you will be able to get into the business classes you need for the fall.

Gies News and Events

Riley League combatting waste and fraud in healthcare

Riley League, new assistant professor in the Department of Finance, comes to Gies after spending a year as a postdoctoral fellow at the NBER, a nonprofit organization that facilitates research and analysis of major economic issues.

Inspiring the next generation of Real Estate professionals at Gies College of Business

Designed to help students explore their passions for real estate, the Real Estate Finance Academy offers the freedom to customize education in a way that aligns with unique career goals.

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How to Write the UIUC Essays 2022-2023

Located in the vast cornfields of east-central Illinois, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is widely renowned as one of the country’s most influential public research universities. In fact, it has ranked first in National Science Foundation award funding for six consecutive years.

Many sources consider UIUC one of the top 50 universities in the world, and some have even ranked its engineering school in the top five worldwide.

Boasting over 24 million items in its library collection, it’s no secret that UIUC is an intellectual powerhouse. On top of that, it’s also a haven for sports lovers. UIUC was one of the founding members of the Big Ten Conference, a tradition that has remained strong, as evidenced by its 21 NCAA teams.

We at CollegeVine are here to give you numerous tips on how to tackle your UIUC essays! Want to know your chances at UIUC? Calculate your chances for free right now.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Supplemental Essay Prompts

All major applicants.

Prompt 1: 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)

Prompt 2: If you’re applying to a major: 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)

All Undeclared Program Applicants

Prompt 1: If you’re applying to Our Undeclared Program: What are your academic interests and strengths? You may also include any majors you are considering. (150 words)

Prompt 2: If you’re applying to Our Undeclared Program: What are your future academic or career goals? (150 words)

All Applicants With Second-Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

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. (150 words), all major applicants, 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. (150 words).

At first glance, this prompt seems pretty straightforward, and there isn’t much space for extraneous storytelling. 

However, what gives this prompt its difficulty is the necessity of going above and beyond. Not only do you need to identify the experiences that shaped your interest in your selected major, but you need to provide deeper reflections as to why those experiences impacted you in the way they did. 

For that reason, it’s not enough to simply list the experiences that led you to your chosen major. For example, you shouldn’t just say, “I first discovered my passion for film in English class, when I had to write a take home essay about the movie adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray . I furthered my interest in film by making my own home documentary alongside a couple friends. I also started volunteering at a local arthouse cinema to understand a more commercial perspective on film…”

Rather, it’s better to go deeper with a given example and provide insights into what motivates your passions. Instead of simply listing experiences related to film, you might instead say, “My English teacher assigned our class a take-home essay, where we analyzed the movie adaptation of The Picture of Dorian Gray . Looking at the movie through a closer lens gave me a deeper appreciation for the small decisions directors make and the big impacts they can have…” 

The admissions readers at UIUC want to see that you have the necessary experiences under your belt to thrive in your chosen course of study, and they also want to see that you will be passionate and motivated while doing so! Make sure to show them both your experiences and your deeper insights about those experiences, and you’ll have a strong essay on your hands. 

All Major Applicants, Prompt 2 

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).

The trick to this prompt is making sure you convey a clear personal or career goal, while also relating your intended course of study to that goal. 

Thus, you should acknowledge the following main points while answering this prompt: 

• What are your future personal or career goals? 
• How will your chosen major help contribute towards those goals? 

Let’s address each of these points separately. 

1. What are your future personal and/or career goals?

The prompt plainly states that your response needs to identify your future personal or career goals. If you have a clear idea of what your goals are, that will make this part easy. In that situation, you would have presumably chosen a course of study that will serve as a stepping stone towards your longer-term ambitions. 

On the other hand, UIUC knows that your interests will change over the next four years, and that nothing is set in stone. If you’re uncertain about your career goals, it’s also okay to identify a few possible career paths that interest you. Another option is to discuss the type of work you wish to do (e.g. helping deliver aid to marginalized communities) as opposed to the specific career title.

Keep in mind that UIUC gives you the option of specifying your personal goals as well, and not just your career goals. This is a wording change from the 2021-2022 cycle, so it’s certainly intentional. Your personal goals should still be related to your major, but don’t have to be as career-focused. For instance, some solid personal goals to mention would be things like becoming a stronger public speaker, learning to program in a certain coding language, doing research on a specific topic, or writing a novel. 

As long as you can make a compelling case as to how your chosen major relates to your future ambitions, you will be in good shape for this essay. 

2. How will your chosen major help contribute towards those goals?

Once you have identified your personal or career goals, you also need to indicate what aspects of your chosen course of study will help you achieve those goals. 

This will mean both speaking about your major in broad terms, as well as identifying some features of UIUC’s course of study that serve you particularly well. This is not a “why UIUC” essay, so showing depth of research is not the top priority, but it will strengthen your response nonetheless. 

While this essay does not require personal reflections in the way that many other college essays do, it is still important for your voice to come through in deeper analyses that show you understand the significance of your major-goal combination at a deeper level. 

To accomplish this, make sure you are always stating why a particular aspect of your intended major serves your goals. For instance, it is not enough to say, “I hope to be a lawyer for the United Nations, so I want to take the course Governing Globalizations.” You might instead write, “Courses such as Governing Globalizations, which explore the historical, moral, socio-economic, and political dimensions of an emerging global society, will provide me with the interdisciplinary background to thrive as an international lawyer.” 

All Undeclared Program Applicants, Prompt 1

If you’re applying to our undeclared program: what are your academic interests and strengths you may also include any majors you are considering. (150 words).

This prompt is similar to the one above about how your past experiences relate to your intended major; it’s just a more open-ended version.  However, you still want to ground your interest in specific examples or experiences, rather than talking about your interests in a broad way (anyone can do that, so you want to connect it to who you are). It’s also best to limit your selection to 2-3 interests/strengths, as you only have 150 words. Otherwise, you may appear too unfocused.

For example, say you’re interested in creative writing and political science. You might share how you wrote a collection of short poems based on your family’s immigration experience, and how you found it a great way to reflect on those experiences. You may describe how fulfilling it was when the poems were published in a local magazine and strangers reached out to tell you how much they resonated with them. For political science, you have just started exploring the field after taking AP Government, and may be interested in immigration policy, but are trying to decide between that and your more creative endeavors.

One distinction here is that you do not necessarily have to discuss a potential major at all , if you don’t want to. You can simply focus on some of the topics you’re interested in or have a talent for. On the other hand, if you do want to allude to potential majors, that will also work just fine.

It’s okay to talk about the reasons you’re undecided (and you should), but make sure to avoid self-deprecating language that might indicate that being undecided is a weakness. For instance, don’t say, “I want to major in math, but [insert self-doubt].” Instead, it will be better to frame things positively, where you talk about the things you love about your potential subjects. 

All Undeclared Program Applicants, Prompt 2 

If you’re applying to our undeclared program: what are your future academic or career goals (150 words).

As above, this prompt shares some similarity with the corresponding prompt for applicants who have decided on a major. However, rather than relating your chosen major to your intended career, this prompt gives you even more liberty. You can discuss your future academic or career goals, and furthermore, you don’t have to relate your course of study to your intended career if you don’t wish to do so. 

Regarding career goals, much of the same advice applies. If you know you want to be a computational social scientist, but you don’t know which degree will best help you get there, that’s perfectly fine. You can just discuss the joys of gaining social insights from large-scale network and content analysis. In general, feel free to simply discuss what jobs or careers you hope to one day pursue, and make sure your passion shines through. 

On the other hand, if you are unsure of your specific career path, you can speak about the type of work you hope to do. For instance, “Although I do not yet know my specific career path, I am certain it will be somewhere in the realm of environmental justice. I am excited by the prospects of participating in food justice programs at urban farms, as well as lobbying for public land preservation alike. I hope to ground myself in further environmental justice experiences by…” 

Similarly, maybe you know you wish to pursue a certain academic opportunity, although you do not yet know where it will lead you. It is okay to talk about opportunities at UIUC and postgraduate alike. For instance, maybe you really want to be a Fulbright scholar one day. Tell the admissions readers all about it! 

This prompt might be difficult for you because it is so open-ended. One piece of advice that might help is to simply ground it in yourself, your own narrative, and your own value system. Although this essay does not center a personal narrative in the way your Common App essay will, relating your future plans with your core values is helpful both because it gives the essay cohesion, and because it shows you are introspective. Strong personal reflections are great for demonstrating maturity and self-awareness. 

All Applicants With Second Choice Major (Including Undeclared)

This prompt is similar to the previous one about your first-choice major, so you should approach it in largely the same manner. The only nuance is that you don’t necessarily have to relate your second-choice major to any personal or career goals, if you don’t want to (though it’s always helpful to!). 

It’s still important to ground this essay in meaningful experiences with this field. Since the essay asks about your interest in this major, it can be easy to simply write all the reasons you love the major without actually sharing more about who you are. You want to avoid that! For example, anyone could write an essay about why environmental science is so great and important, but only you can discuss how the river in your hometown was polluted by a garment factory, or how fulfilling it was to teach kids at the elementary school how to compost. 

After explaining your interest, make sure to share how this second-choice major relates to your future goals. Since it’s a second-choice major, you may not have as concrete of an answer, and that’s okay, but UIUC still wants to know how you might make an impact with this major should you study it. For the hypothetical student interested in environmental science, they may want to work in environmental policy to prevent pollution, or become a teacher so that the younger generation learns to love and care for the earth.

Where to Get Your University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Essays Edited 

Do you want feedback on your UIUC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free  Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools.  Find the right advisor for you  to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Transfer Students

Effective Fall 2025, DGS will become the Division of Exploratory Studies . Same mission; new name.

The Division of General Studies (DGS) is the Illinois home for freshman and sophomores who wish to explore their academic options before declaring a major. Our advisors are our best resource, providing one-on-one guidance focused on each student’s interests and talents. We are familiar with the requirements of all majors across campus and are excited to help students find the right one.

Benefits of DGS

Explore multiple majors before declaring

Take Illinois coursework in your area of interest before committing to a major

Pursue a professional program, like pre-med or pre-law, while exploring majors

Receive award-winning academic advising

Important Admissions Criteria

• No more than 4 completed full-time semesters (not including summer semesters) prior to enrolling
• No more than 50 transferable hours prior to enrolling (does not include test-based credit hours such as AP or International Baccalaureate exams). Preference is given to students with 30 hours or less.
• Completion of the transfer course equivalency of the University's Composition I requirement (usually a 2-course English composition sequence at other institutions)
• Subjects or fields that interest you
• Academic programs you are considering
• Career or pre-professional goals or relevant experiences that have influenced your academic and career interests

Check out the University’s  transfer handbook  for more information.

Our transfer-student admission decisions are based on a thorough review of your submitted application.

Click on the commonly asked questions below to find answers from transfer students!

Yes, DGS does accept transfer students. Students are eligible to apply as a transfer student from another institution if they have completed less than four full time semesters at the time of application. Priority is given to students who will be bringing fewer than 30 transferable hours by the term of entry. More information on what will be reviewed at the time of application can be found on the  Office of Admissions' Transfer Handbook .

You should use the website called  Transferology . This site will tell you whether a class you have taken at your current institution will transfer to Illinois.

The Office of New Student Programs provides some additional resources specifically for transfer students.

University Housing has special housing options specifically for transfer students called the Transfer Cluster. More information can be found on the Housing  website.

All new students (both incoming freshman and new transfer students) are required to take an Introduction to the University course (regardless of whether you took a similar class at your previous institution). In the Division of General Studies we have created a special section of GS 101 for transfer students. 

Notifications of admissions for transfer students are done on a rolling basis. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for official notification information. 

This will really depend on which major(s) you wish to explore once you arrive on campus and what classes you have already completed. If you transfer to Illinois hoping to do a major but have not taken any classes in that subject area then you may delay your time to graduation.

Unfortunately we are not able to offer any scholarships to transfer students in the Division of General Studies. For information about other scholarship information for Illinois students, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid's  website .

All new students (both incoming freshman and new transfer students) are required to take an Introduction to the University course (regardless of whether you took a similar class at your previous institution). In the Division of General Studies we have created a special section of GS 101 for transfer students. This class is taught online and is designed to help transfer students transition from their previous institution to Illinois.

• Inter-College Transfers

Application Periods

Applications for Inter-College Transfers (ICT) will be conducted at the beginning of the fall semester for spring admission for students who completed the necessary course prerequisites. 

A second, shorter application cycle is available during the winter for spring admission for students who had prerequisite courses in progress in the fall and have received grades in those required courses.  

A third application cycle is available each spring in April for admission to the following fall semester. All applicants will be notified of admission after grades have been submitted for the spring semester.  

There is no summer application period. See below for application dates. 

College of Media ICT Application is now open!

2024-2025 Application Deadlines

Fall 2024 application for Spring 2025 admission For those students who have completed all prerequisites for applications. Required prerequisite courses must have a grade and should not be in-progress.

• Begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, September 9, 2024.
• Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.
• All applicants will be notified by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 14, 2024.
• Majors will be changed in Banner by Monday, October 21, 2024.
• Application is now open

Winter 2024 application for Spring 2025 admission Prerequisite courses must have a grade by the end of Fall 2024. Winter courses will not be considered in the application review.

• Begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024.
• Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 27, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.
• All applicants will be notified by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
• Majors will be changed in Banner by Monday, January 13, 2025.

Spring 2025 application for Fall 2025 admission For students who have completed the prerequisite coursework in a previous semester or by the end of this spring semester. Applicants who have prerequisite coursework in progress this spring will have their applications reviewed after spring grades are posted.

• Begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025.
• All applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted.
• All applicants will be notified by 5:00 p.m. on June 2, 2025.
• Majors will be changed in Banner by June 6, 2025.

Students who are chosen for admission to the College of Media will automatically be admitted and their student record will be updated to reflect the new major. If a student decides to decline the offer of admission, they should contact the Media Student Services Center at (217) 244-4329 or email  [email protected] .

APPLICATION INFORMATION

• Students can only apply to one Media major during an ICT period.
• All applications are reviewed at one time after the application deadline.
• All applicants are notified of an admission decision at the same time. 
• If students are denied admission, they are welcome to apply again during another ICT application period.
• No late applications or appeals to admissions decisions will be accepted.

ICT Application Workshops in Fall 2024

Registration for the following workshops opens on August 15, 2024. The same information will be presented at each workshop.

Thursday, September 5, at 1:30 p.m. – Register to receive Zoom link. Wednesday, September 11, at 11:00 a.m. – Register to receive Zoom link. Tuesday, September 17, at 10:00 a.m. – Register to receive Zoom link. Monday, September 23, at 4:00 p.m. – Register to receive Zoom link. Tuesday, November 12, at 9:30 a.m. – Register to receive Zoom link. Wednesday, December 4, at 10:00 a.m. – Register to receive Zoom link. Monday, December 16, at 3:00 p.m. – Register to receive Zoom link.

ICT Application Details

Interested students must complete an online application that includes a personal essay of up to 500 words. The essay should include details of relevant and recent media-related experiences, demonstrate the applicant’s communication abilities, and detail their interest in and commitment to the desired Media major.  

No additional materials (including letters of recommendation, portfolios, resumes, etc.) will be reviewed during the application review process.  

Meeting the minimum GPA and completion of coursework does not guarantee admission.

The application must be submitted online by the posted deadline. No late applications or appeals to admissions will be accepted.

ICT Admission Requirements

Admission into all College of Media majors is competitive. Students should apply to the major they wish to complete their studies in. Applying to change one’s major within the college upon initial acceptance is not guaranteed.

For admission into all College of Media majors, applicants must be in good academic standing and be making progress toward completing any university, college, and departmental requirements for courses outside the College of Media. 

A minimum of three semesters of residency within the college is required for students admitted as juniors. A minimum of five semesters of residency within the college is required for students admitted as sophomores.

For some of our majors there is no specific requirement regarding grades, but a competitive cumulative GPA is always advantageous. CS + Advertising, however, requires a 3.5 minimum GPA. Students with the best essays and academic qualifications, will receive highest priority. One way to demonstrate interest is to have earned a grade of “B” or better in introductory courses such as ADV 150, JOUR 200, MACS 100, MACS 101, MACS 261, or MACS 262.  

Meeting the minimum GPA and the completion of prerequisite coursework does not guarantee admission into any major.

Please see information below regarding specific transfer requirements or suggestions for each of our majors.

To transfer to the Advertising major:

• Demonstrate passion, knowledge, and experience in advertising
• Completion of STAT 100 or ADV 200 is recommended prior to application 
• Completion of at least one Advertising course is required (ADV 150 or ADV 175 are recommended)
• Attendance at an ICT workshop is preferred
• Student must be in good academic standing

To transfer to the CS+Advertising major:

• A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher is required 
• Math 220/221 or equivalent course with a grade of a B or better (unless a student has proficiency credit)
• CS 124 with a grade of B+ or better
• CS 128 with a grade of B+ or better
• CS 173 with a grade of B+ or better
• CS 225 with a grade of a B+ or better
• Attendance at an ICT workshop preferred
• Completion of ADV 150 is recommended
• Demonstrated interest in both computer science and advertising

Due to the sequential nature of this major, students should apply no later than the second semester of sophomore year, otherwise additional semesters to complete this degree might be necessary.

To transfer to the Journalism major:

• Completion of Composition I is required
• Completion of JOUR 200 is required
• Attendance at an ICT is workshop preferred
• Completion or registration in STAT 100 (or approved equivalent) or STAT 107 is recommended
• Demonstrated passion, knowledge, and experience in journalism

To transfer to the MACS major:

• Completion of Composition I is required
• Completion of at least one MACS course is required (MACS 100, 101, 140, or 150 are recommended)
• Demonstrated passion, knowledge, and experience in media and cinema studies  

For students who have left Illinois and wish to return into a College of Media program, please review our  re-entry policies and procedures.  

• Student Resources
• Prospective First-Year Students
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Transfer Admissions

Transfer to a hub of collaborative innovation.

The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign embraces the unique experiences and diverse perspectives that our transfer students bring to campus. As you consider continuing your education at Grainger Engineering, our Transfer Programs staff is here to assist you and keep the transfer admissions process all about you - because it's all about where you see yourself, and we hope to see you at Grainger Engineering. 

Transfer Admissions Requirements Contact Transfer Programs

On this page

• Transfer application process
• Transfer admissions requirements
• An alternative pathway to Grainger Engineering
• Our review process

How to Apply 

Grainger Engineering transfer applications are made directly to your engineering major of interest. The process involves a thorough assessment of your qualifications, experiences and ambition. To make your application more competitive and ensure progress toward completion of degree requirements, plan ahead by contacting our Transfer Programs staff as early as your first college semester for assistance with course scheduling and transfer preparation.

Fill out your engineering transfer application to Grainger Engineering through myIllini and submit it through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions . Follow the provided steps to ensure successful completion of your application. 

Transfer student interested in completing a major, including a dual degree, at Grainger Engineering must apply and be admitted directly into the college at the time of their transfer. Transfer students admitted to other academic colleges on campus at the University of Illinois are not eligible for later admission or on-campus transfer to the Pre-Engineering Program (PREP) or The Grainger College of Engineering. 

• Select a program of study that best fits your skills, interests and goals.
• Review and gather all application requirements to prepare for each stage of the application process.
• Complete the online application through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Check your application status and ensure you have submitted all materials. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions will notify you via email once your application decision is ready.

Important Dates and Deadlines

Transfer applications open on January 15th 

Application submission window: January 15 – April 5 Priority Deadline:  March 1st 

Notification of admission: Rolling, April at the latest

Transfer Admissions Requirements

Grainger Engineering transfer requirements are established to provide a path of transformative success for each applicant and admitted student. To be considered for transfer admission, all applicants must complete transfer coursework equivalent to the following University of Illinois courses prior to application:

• CHEM 102 and 103, General Chemistry I
• CHEM 104 and 105, General Chemistry II*
• MATH 220, Calculus, or MATH 221, Calculus I
• MATH 231, Calculus II
• MATH 241, Calculus III 
• PHYS 211, University Physics: Mechanics
• PHYS 212, University Physics: Elec & Mag 
• CS 101, Intro Computing: Engineering & Science, or
• CS 124, Intro to Computer Science I, or
• CS 125, Intro to Computer Science, or
• ECE 110, Introduction to Electronics, or
• MCB 150, Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life, or
• SE 101, Engineering Graphics and Design, or
• ME 170, Computer-Aided Design

*Specifically required only for the following Programs of Study: Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bioengineering, Civil Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, and Materials Science and Engineering. A full year of chemistry may be required, regardless of major, depending on course transferability from the current institution. Please note: AP Chemistry awards credit for the lecture only — applicants are responsible for completing the full lecture and lab sequence(s).

Students are highly encouraged to complete additional courses that transfer to their desired program of study to have the most competitive application for admission.

An Alternative Pathway to Grainger Engineering

For Illinois residents interested in starting their engineering journey to at an Illinois community college , Engineering Pathways offers a streamlined transfer experience and guaranteed admission to the Grainger College of Engineering, upon successful completion of program requirements. 

Participants may be admitted to 18 Grainger Engineering programs and have access to collaborative activities and specialized student support services.  

Learn More about Engineering Pathways

Application Review

The Grainger College of Engineering is home to some of the most accomplished problem solvers, academic powerhouses, social collaborators and critical thinkers in engineering. Accordingly, we review all applications holistically , considering each aspect of the individual when making admissions decisions. By evaluating your academic achievements and personal aspirations, we strive to create a review process that is both fair and tailored to your individual goals.

Overall and technical GPA

Grainger Engineering generally expects applicants to have a minimum of 3.00 overall GPA (A=4.00), but admission to specific majors may be significantly more competitive during any given admission cycle. In the fall of 2022, the average transfer GPA for admitted students was 3.86, with the middle 50% of GPAs ranging from 3.78–4.00. 

Applicants should demonstrate mastery of subject matter by earning a B or better (3.00–4.00) in all prerequisite courses.

Technical coursework and academic rigor

All applicants should complete as many technical courses listed in the Transfer Handbook as possible. Successful applicants demonstrate course progression and rigor consistent with suggested sequences for the major(s) selected, taking prerequisite courses in the appropriate terms and a minimum number of technical courses (three to four) and credit hours (15+) each semester. Applicants should also complete all required coursework and at least one semester with four technical courses and 15+ credit hours completed before applying.

If an applicant is unable to complete a listed course or maintain a full-time schedule due to any reason, please address in the "Other Academic Information – Academic Challenges" section of the online application.

We place great importance on the essay portion of the application and seek applicants who are excited to showcase their unique talents and take advantage of our cutting-edge resources to fulfill their goals. Transfer applicants will provide one to two essays, depending on whether a second-choice major has been selected. Essays should be 300 to 400 words each.

View our transfer admissions essay questions.

Activities and work experience

Tell your story by sharing your involvement with extracurricular, work and volunteer experiences. We want to know more about who you are and what personal strengths and skills you will bring to Grainger Engineering.

High school transcript and ACT/SAT scores 

For applicants with less than 30 graded credit hours, we review high school and college-level coursework, alongside ACT and SAT scores, if submitted, for admission. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there someone who can assist me with schedule planning?

Yes! We know navigating the transfer process can be challenging, so our program staff members are here to help. You can work with a transfer programs advisor by emailing [email protected]  and including the name of your current college/university, major(s) of interest, intended transfer semester (fall terms only) and an attachment of an unofficial transcript of any college coursework completed or in progress. We encourage you to contact us early in your college career to discuss transfer requirements due to our competitive admissions process. 

Is there a limit to how many credit hours I can transfer?

While the policy varies by college, there is no limit to the number of credit hours you can transfer, and a high number of credit hours earned does not negatively impact your admissions process. Regardless of credit hours transferred, all students must complete the campus residency requirement, which specifies that each bachelor’s degree candidate from UIUC must earn at least 45 semester hours of credit, with 21 credit hours of 300- or 400-level courses. 

As a transfer student, am I eligible for the James Scholar Honors Program?

Transfer students who complete an initial full-time semester on campus (fall or spring) and have a UIUC GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to apply for the James Scholar Honors Program . 

Can I use test-based credit (AP, IB, etc.) to fulfill transfer requirements?

We strongly encourage you to fulfill admission requirements by earning graded, transferable credit, as test-based credit policies are not finalized until after the incoming student admissions cycle is complete, and these policies can and do change often. 

I already earned a bachelor’s degree. Am I eligible to apply for a second bachelor’s degree?

Yes, we accept second bachelor’s degree applications for consideration; however, we give priority to students seeking their first bachelor's degree. For limited capacity majors, including Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering, second degree applications are unlikely to be approved. Contact Grainger Transfer Programs for more information and alternative paths to achieving your academic goals. All applicants are expected to have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. If you completed your first bachelor’s degree from a different institution, continue as a transfer applicant; but if you earned your first bachelor’s degree from the UIUC, contact Grainger Transfer Programs for information on how to proceed. Our guidelines and course requirements established in the Transfer Handbook , alongside transfer admissions dates and deadlines, apply to all transfer applicants. If you completed your first bachelor’s degree from Illinois, contact Elizabeth Gonzalez, Assistant Director of Transfer Programs, at [email protected] to further discuss your degree options and application process. Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree from Illinois are not able to submit a second application in the transfer application portal and are expected to meet all requirements for transfer in the Transfer Handbook .

Can I change majors after being admitted as a transfer student to Grainger Engineering?

The Transfer Programs staff must approve major change requests, evaluating them on a case-by-case basis. Due to space constraints, the college does not permit dual-degree petitions or major change requests to Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or Mechanical Engineering. Grainger Engineering may consider a major change within the same department for students admitted to Electrical or Computer Engineering with limited exposure to the introductory courses at their previous institution (e.g., ECE 110, 120, 210, 220). For questions about declaring a major outside of Grainger Engineering, please contact the respective college or academic department. 

Are there scholarships available for transfer students?

Scholarships are available for students who transfer to Illinois. Some scholarships are offered as part of your acceptance package and others are available for continuing students. Additional information about Undergraduate Aid is available here. 

Our Undergraduate transfer admissions & recruitment team is ready to answer your questions and make your journey to Grainger Engineering as easy as possible. Connect with us!

Email:  [email protected] Call: 217-300-8489

Continue Your College Journey at Grainger Engineering

Your college journey may have already started, but there is no better place to continue than at the Grainger College of Engineering. 

Schedule a Visit      Request Information      Apply Now

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Undergraduate Admissions

Majors : find your calling..

Need help? Start here.

Transfer Guide

Discover prerequisite course and GPA requirements, necessary application materials, and term availability for each program of study.

Please note that this directory should only be used as a guideline when planning for transfer. For official requirements please refer to our Transfer Handbook .

Want more info?

Apply Like a Pro to Illinois: Examples of Major-Specific College Application Questions

If you’ve made it here, chances are you’ve reached one of the more daunting parts of college applications: the written questions.

There are two ways you can apply to Illinois: the Common App and Illinois’s own application, myIllini. In this blog, we’ll instead focus on something they both have in common: the major-specific questions .

As part of your application, you’ll have to respond to two to three major-specific prompts about why you picked your intended major(s) , each with a word limit of 150. Sound difficult? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Disclaimer: Does something seem funny about the “majors” we’ve chosen to write about? Listening to Music is a great hobby, and while you may learn about DNA Analysis in some of your classes, the majors we’ve written about are imaginary! We did this so we could show you how to best structure your responses and have a little bit of fun. Okay, okay, fun might be somewhat of a subjective term in this case. Hey, at least we’re trying.

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.

Example 1: Music Listening Major

I played the triangle for four years in my high school band, and through that was exposed to genres of music I would’ve otherwise never heard. Playing the triangle was fulfilling, but I wanted to create a space specifically for listening to music. During my sophomore year, I formed a club for music listeners called “Hear There Everywhere” and have served as the president ever since. As president, I organized meetings, held outreach events to engage new members, and implemented a Playlist Friday program, where teachers play personalized playlists created by the club on Friday afternoons. I’ve always had a passion for listening to music and “Hear There Everywhere” has given me a platform to share the benefits with others. From my experiences in high school, I know the Music Listening major at Illinois is the perfect fit for me.

Example 2: DNA Analysis Major

My high school biology teacher taught me the importance of curiosity, creativity, and integrity in scientific endeavors. She inspired me to continue taking science classes throughout high school to learn as much as I could. By the start of senior year, I knew I wanted to work in a science field, but it was a trip to a forensics lab last summer that helped me decide I want to specialize in DNA Analysis. On the trip, the first place we visited was the DNA lab, where I was able to speak to the lab technician about different techniques for analyzing DNA samples. He showed me the equipment and explained how proper analysis is vital in crime investigations. After witnessing biology used in this manner, I am certain I want to pursue a career in forensics, starting with studying DNA Analysis at Illinois.

Prompt 2: Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from Illinois and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.

Listening to music has been a passion of mine since I was very young, and I want to share that passion with others. Through the Music Listening major, I hope to build a foundation of knowledge that will support me as I pursue a career as a professional music listener. As a professional listener, I want to become a strong voice within the field that not only pushes the boundaries of what types of music are listened to, but also advocates for the inclusion of listening as an important part of the music industry. Listening is a severely underrepresented piece of the music community, and my main career goal is to bring more recognition to music listeners everywhere. Not many Music Listening programs exist, so by taking part in this major I hope to establish my voice in the movement of change sweeping the music industry.

DNA Analysis is one of the most important branches of forensics science. By choosing this major, I will learn hands-on skills that will help me find a job in a DNA lab. My ultimate career goal is to use the power of biology to help other people, and I want to do that by engaging in research and analysis to improve DNA handling in crime investigations. With this major, not only will I learn the physical techniques being used, I will also gain knowledge of the ethics behind DNA analysis and storage. Learning about the moral debate occurring in the field from professors engaging in everyday research will make me a well-rounded scientist. I want to make forensics a more equitable field, and I believe the combination of hard science and ethics taught through the DNA Analysis major will help me accomplish this goal.

See, that wasn’t so bad! We hope these major-specific college application questions seem a little bit clearer now, and you have a better idea of what to write when you sit down to craft your own responses.

Overall, the key to effective major-specific college application questions is to be clear, be concise, and to always be yourself. Happy writing!

Illinois Admissions

We're here for you as you prepare for college. Whether you're looking for guidance on the college search process or have questions about Illinois, we hope our blogs will help!

56 comments

Haha I can’t say I wouldn’t have at least considered ‘Music Listening’ as my major if it wasn’t an imaginary one.

Thanks for the tips and examples. It helped write the first few words of my essay…which is always the most difficult part.

Us too! You’re very welcome, and we’re glad our examples helped. Hope you have a great year, Ashvin!

I think you have a typo lol “My ultimate career goal is to us the power of biology to help other people,” I’m pretty sure “us” should be “use”

I still think this was very helpful though. 🙂

Oops! Great catch, Violet, and thanks for letting us know so we could fix it. We’re glad the information was helpful to you, typo notwithstanding!

Extremely helpful blog, especially provoking more thought into the ‘why’ and ‘so what’ aspects of choosing a particular area of study….thanks for posting these examples.

Thanks, Jahnavi; we’re so glad you found it helpful!

the guides were pretty helpful. Hope to be in UIUC next year 🙂

We’re glad that you found the info helpful, Syed, and we’re excited that you’re interested in UIUC! If you have any questions throughout the application process, don’t hesitate to contact us .

Those examples quite help me a lot. These days, I have been unable to get a handle on the essays of majors when applying for the ea of uiuc. After reading these examples, I feel I have found the inspiration. Thank you very much!

This was helpful! But for me personally, there wasn’t a singular event that led me to choose my major but rather multiple experiences over a long period of time. Is it acceptable to write about multiple experiences instead of just one?

Really appreciate the samples as they provide us with some foundation and expectation as to what information we should include within the short word limit!

That music listening major is reaaaaaaly inspiring, and DNA analysis one is helpful too, lol. Thanks a lot, I was surprised when I saw this, you college instruct us to answer!

We’re glad they helped, Kylin! Any questions as you work on your application, don’t hesitate to reach out .

Hi Allison! No, we don’t want a list of things that led to your interest in the major. Even if you’ve had multiple experiences over a long period of time, we’re looking for a more in-depth, detailed description of one of those experiences that helped draw you to that area of study. We hope this helps! Any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office .

Thanks Eshwar, we’re glad they help! And if you have any questions as you work on your application, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office .

We’re glad you found the examples helpful, Haoyu, thank you!

HI! Your examples are cool! I just wonder whether two questions shall better be related or not?

Thanks for the examples! I have a question: are you looking for experiences that explain why we decided to choose the area of study and major we chose, or is it more towards an experience that demonstrates the steps we’ve taken in our area of study? Both?

Hi Jeremy, and thanks for reaching out! Your major-specific responses help us understand why you’ve chosen that specific major and also allow us to ensure that the major will be a good foundation to achieving your goals after graduation. We hope this helps! If you have additional questions as you work, don’t hesitate to contact us directly .

Thanks, Haoyu! Your major-specific responses help us understand why you’ve chosen that specific major and also allow us to ensure that the major will be a good foundation to achieving your goals after graduation. We hope this helps! If you have more questions as you work, don’t hesitate to contact us directly .

Great examples!! I finally have an idea of what information to add in such a limited space 🙂

Thank you for the tips and examples.

Thanks, Prithvi! We’re so glad you found them helpful.

Hello, thanks for your nice and clear answers. I am using Common App (not myIllini) and I have 2 questions(I am EA applicant). The prompts #1 and #2 above are not in the Commpn App, and I see there are 2 other questions as shown below instead.

So my questions are: (1) to where and by when do we have to submit the essays for the 2 prompts above? (2) The following 2 questions look like optional but I want to write an essay for #1. I do not think I am relevant to #2 though (I have a good GPA and no drop record) so I am wondering if it is ok to enter briefly like: Not Available (for the #2 below)

2 UIUC Questions on Common App:

#1. Academic Challenges Explain any challenges (outside of COVID-related) you have faced throughout your academic career, including the dates or timeline below.

#2. If you have a low grade or a drop in grades that you have not already explained, do so below.

Thanks for reaching out, Tom! The academic challenges questions are optional. Once you click “Continue” on that page of the application, you’ll move to the academics section, where you’ll select your intended major and possible second choice. After that section, the two major-specific writing prompts will display for you to write your response. We hope this helps! If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly .

Thank you so much for writing this blog. I was stuck on where to begin but these example essays made it very clear how to craft my essays and show my goals.

Hope I can be there at UIUC next year:)

Thank you for this information. I hope I get into UIUC next year!!

Thank you so much for this information! I feel a lot more prepared for writing my supplemental after this!

Thanks for the essay examples, it was extremely helpful. Looking forward to finishing my application 🙂

These examples are super helpful! Thank you so much.

I noticed that both of the academic challenge and grade drop explanation questions are optional. I don’t have a lot to fill out because I already used the Common App additional info sections for that.

If I leave these blank or shallow for UIUC, will it impact my application and admissions consideration at all? Or, is it truly just an area to express extra info if necessary?

Hi Ethan, yes, in not fully answering the major-specific questions, it could negatively impact your consideration. You’re welcome to use the same or similar information that you included in your Common App essay or additional information sections. We hope this helps. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly .

Thanks for the example!

I think you have a couple of typos in your examples.

“share the benefits with other” I think it should be “others” instead.

“my main career goal is to bring more recognition to musics listeners” I think it should be “music” instead.

Indeed we did, so we’ve made some edits. Thank you for catching them, Pranav!

Thank you so much for the great examples! It really helps provide me with a solid start and understanding of how to approach essays! Much less daunting than expected!

This is really helpful .Thank you!

Thanks so much, Advaith; we’re glad the examples helped!

Thanks, Aayush; we’re so glad you found the examples helpful!

Thank you for these examples! My mind was scrambled while thinking of what to write!

I wanted to say that this blog and the comments are both very helpful. I was going to contact the admissions office regarding these questions (like how specific the responses they need to be, how many things we could talk about, etc.), but this blog cleared most of my doubts. Thank you for posting these examples!!

This was a very great helpful blog. I am a senior in high school and just submitting my apps and this gave me an idea of how to do the essays for UIUC Thanks so much.

Thank you! I have an idea of what it should sound like now. What would you suggest if I’ve already covered the information a question asks for in the personal statement?

Thank you so much for this guide, it made the writing process significantly easier!

Is the second prompt more of a “Why UIUC” prompt? As in, do we write details about why we want to attend UIUC or details about why we want to do CS?

Thanks so much for the examples, super helpful with starting off the supplemental essays!

These are some great examples and they helped me a lot with writing my own which was pretty intimidating at first! Y’all were also funny with the music listening major— I wish!!

HI Arnav! For the second prompt, it’s more about you and less bout UIUC; we’re more interested in what you want to do with a degree in CS. We hope this helps!

Hi Shrujana, we’re glad the examples helped! If you’ve already covered the information a question asks for within your personal statement, some options could be to provide a different experience in your major-specific answer, elaborate more fully in the personal statement, or choose a different question for your personal statement. Whatever makes the most sense to you and will give our admissions counselors the most helpful information!

Hi UIUC Admissions, I am planning on listing “undeclared” on my major because I am interested in a few different areas such as Business and Psychology. Can you provide an example for someone who is not sure what they want to major in?

Thanks for the suggestion, Melissa. Although we won’t be able to do this in time for this year, we’ll see what’s possible for future years!

you the goat fr

Hey UIUC, I am so thankful for this content put out! This got me through my drafting sessions and now I am ready to submit my application. Looking forward to become a fighting Illini next year :))

AHH you do amazing work UIUC admissions blog! Thank you!

Hahahaha. Very creative! I like the example of music learning as a major. This was very helpful and look forward to applying to UIUC🙂👍

Very helpful information thank you

Thanks a lot for this post. I’ve been having a bit of writer’s block to start these responses and this gave me a better idea on how to start!

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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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