On Feb, 13, many students’ lives were changed forever. It was decision day for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Illinois has consistently been the most applied to school by New Trier students. From 2012 to 2014, 970 New Trier students applied to the U of I, and of those 970 kids, 644 were admitted, and 234 enrolled.
“The University of Illinois is the Flagship University of the State,” said Jim Conroy, the post high school counseling department chair at New Trier. “Money helps attract kids, because the in-state tuition makes it a much better bargain than other Big Ten schools.”
“It’s not the most expensive school in the Big Ten, and it’s very reasonable compared to many other schools,” explained Daniel Rogan, a post high school counselor at New Trier.
In-state tuition for UIUC can range anywhere from $12,000-15,000. In comparison, out of state tuition at the University of Michigan costs around $40,000, and out of state at the University of Wisconsin costs around $25,000.
The average University of Illinois acceptee had a 4.17 GPA and an average of 30 on their ACT.
“Illinois uses a sliding scale, which means you can get a lower score on your ACT, but still get in if you have a higher than average GPA, and visa-versa,” stated Conroy.
US News, which each year ranks all the colleges in the U.S. in a variety of categories, ranked UIUC as the 42nd best college in America.
The UIUC undergraduate engineering program, which has consistently been among the nation’s best, ranked sixth in the nation. US News also said that UIUC had the number one accounting program in the nation.“You need a 31-35 on your ACT to get into the engineering program,” Conroy said, “UIUC is very conscious of its programs and makes sure its students are academically ready.”
“For Chicago people, Illinois is top tier. The engineering program is the strongest in the Big Ten, and it helps attract a number of students from overseas, especially from Asian countries, according to the university website.
Despite U of I’s academic success, there are some flaws. “There are no big cities around, and it doesn’t win the award for the best college town.
Michigan and Wisconsin are consistently ranked better,” said Conroy.
Champaign is around two and a half hours from New Trier. While only a short distance, the feel of UIUC’s campus is very different from the New Trier district, according to Rogan.
“Champaign is not the quintessential college town. If you drive too far in one direction, you could end up in a cornfield. It’s a different feel from a school like Minnesota. People don’t go to Illinois because they are in love with the town, people go because they are in love with the school,” said Rogan.
Illinois popularity among New Trier students could stem from home. Rogan explained, “Lots of New Trier parents went to Illinois, so the family roots are strong in this area.
Also, the school is big enough so that you can do a ton of different things. You will always have stuff to do.”
With decision day looming last week, many students awaited the results nervously. But there are other ways to get into the University besides the traditional route.
“There are back door ways to get in to the University,” said Conroy, “you can try to go to a community college, or get into Illinois for a lesser known major than business or engineering.
That process is not always successful, but it offers some hope to kids who don’t get in.”