Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

What are University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign'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 Urbana-Champaign and build a strong application.

School location: Champaign, IL

This school is also known as: UIUC


Admissions Rate: 62.2%

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 Urbana-Champaign is 62.2%. For every 100 applicants, 62 are admitted.

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

This means the school is moderately selective. The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.


Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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: 3.83

The average GPA at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is 3.83.

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. This school did not officially report its average GPA, but we've estimated it here using data from over 1,000 schools.)

With a GPA of 3.83, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign requires you to be near the top of your class, and well above average. Your transcript should show mostly A's. Ideally, you will also have taken several AP or IB classes to show that you can handle academics at a college level.

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 3.83, 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. Most schools require the SAT or ACT, and many also require SAT subject tests.

You must take either the SAT or ACT to submit an application to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. More importantly, you need to do well to have a strong application.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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: 1350

The average SAT score composite at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a 1350 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Moderately Competitive for SAT test scores.

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile New SAT score is 1220, and the 75th percentile New SAT score is 1480. In other words, a 1220 on the New SAT places you below average, while a 1480 will move you up to above average.

Here's the breakdown of new SAT scores by section:

Section Average 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
Math 700 620 780
Reading + Writing 650 600 700
Composite 1350 1220 1480

SAT Score Choice Policy

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

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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.

How does superscoring change your test strategy? (Click to Learn)

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

Section R+W Math Composite
Test 1 700 300 1000
Test 2 300 700 1000
Test 3 300 300 600
Superscore 700 700 1400

Even though the highest total you scored on any one test date was 1000, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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 Urbana-Champaign 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 1350, 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.


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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ACT Requirements

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

Average ACT: 29

The average ACT score at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is 29. This score makes University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

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The 25th percentile ACT score is 26, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 32.

Even though University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 26 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 29 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 Urbana-Champaign, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 29.


Studying for the ACT instead? Want to learn how to improve your ACT score by 4 points?

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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.

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SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 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.


SAT Subject Test Requirements

Schools vary in their SAT subject test requirements. Typically, selective schools tend to require them, while most schools in the country do not.

We did not find information that University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign requires SAT subject tests, and so most likely it does not. At least 6 months before applying, you should still doublecheck just to make sure, so you have enough time to take the test.



Final Admissions Verdict

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission. Scoring a 1480 SAT or a 32 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 62.2% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.83. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1220 SAT or a 26 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.


Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

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Admissions Calculator

What are your chances of admission at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Chances of admission with these scores:

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are.

Pick your test: New SAT ACT


Note: Your admission decision relies not only on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but also on your coursework difficulty, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. This tool provides only a simplistic estimate of your chances of admission. Instead of treating this tool as a crystal ball, we recommend you consider the big picture of what your chance means:

  • 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
We recommend you apply to schools across a range of chances. Applying to some safety schools will guarantee you have a college to go to, while applying to some reach schools will give you a shot at getting into the school at the top of your range.

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.

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program, or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation


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 Urbana-Champaign here.

Application Requirements Overview

  • Common Application Not accepted
  • Universal Application Not accepted
  • Electronic Application Available
  • Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
  • Letters of Recommendation Not considered</td>
  • Interview Not required
  • Application Fee $50
  • Fee Waiver Available? Available
  • Other Notes Audition or portfolio recommended for some freshmen

Testing Requirements

  • SAT or ACT Required
  • SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
  • SAT Subject Tests
  • Scores Due in Office December 30

Coursework Requirements

  • Subject Required Years
  • English 4
  • Math 4
  • Science 2
  • Foreign Language 2
  • Social Studies 2
  • History
  • Electives 2

Deadlines and Early Admissions

  •  
    • Offered? Deadline Notification
  • Regular Admission
    • Yes December 1 February 3
  • Early Action
    • No November 1 13
  • Early Decision
    • No


Other Schools For You

If you're interested in University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 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 Urbana-Champaign.


Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

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

School NameLocationSAT AvgACT Avg
New York University New York, NY 1440 32
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 1435 33
Emory University Atlanta, GA 1435 33
Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA 1420 33
Boston University Boston, MA 1420 32
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY 1409 31
Villanova University Villanova, PA 1395 33

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

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

School NameLocationSAT AvgACT Avg
Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA 1365 31
University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 1355 29
University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX 1355 30
University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TX 1350 30
University of Washington Seattle, WA 1340 30
Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NY 1335 29
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA 1335 29

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

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

School NameLocationSAT AvgACT Avg
Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY 1300 30
University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst, MA 1290 29
Drexel University Philadelphia, PA 1290 28
Syracuse University Syracuse, NY 1275 28
United States Military Academy West Point, NY 1270 28
Penn State University Park University Park, PA 1265 28
University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH 1265 27

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation

Want to build the best possible college application?

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Does university of illinois urbana champaign require letters of recommendation


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How many letters of recommendation do you need for University of Illinois Urbana?

application Requirements: Most graduate programs require three letters of reference. Check with your proposed program of study office regarding the number required. Your recommenders will be required to submit letters of reference using the online recommendation system.

What are the requirements for UIUC?

Coursework & Grades.
English: 4 years required..
Math: 3 or 3.5 years required, 4 years recommended..
Social sciences: 2 years required, 4 years recommended..
Lab sciences: 2 years required, 4 years recommended..
Language other than English: 2 years required, 4 years recommended..

Does University of Illinois require a personal statement?

Yes. Depending on which platform you use to apply to UIUC (Common App, Coalition App, and myIllini), you'll have to complete a personal statement, as well as several UIUC essay prompts. The questions that you answer depend on whether you're applying to a major or an undeclared program.