The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, located in the vast cornfields of east-central Illinois, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most significant public research universities. For the past six years, it has ranked #1 in National Science Foundation award funding. Many publications place UIUC among the top 50 institutions in the world, with some even placing its engineering school among the top five. It’s no secret that UIUC is an intellectual powerhouse, with a library collection of over 24 million titles. Furthermore, it is a sanctuary for sports enthusiasts.
It is important to keep in mind that UIUC is not a Common App school. That means you’ll need to submit a new application through their own application portal on their website. This also means that UIUC will not read your Common App essay, making the school-specific essays even more important. Fortunately, Rostrum is here to provide you with a wealth of advice on how to tackle your UIUC essays!
How to write University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Essays 2024-2025?
UIUC ESSAY PROMPTS
All Major Applicants, Prompt 1
If you’re applying to a major: In the past 3 to 4 years, what experience(s) have you had (inside or outside of the classroom) related to your selected first-choice major or academic interest? (150 words)
While answering this prompt you must not only pinpoint the events that inspired your interest in your chosen major, but you must also provide deeper comments on why those events had such an impact on you. As a result, merely listing your experiences that led you to your chosen major is insufficient. It’s preferable to delve deeper into a specific example and reveal what drives you.
The admissions committee at UIUC want to see that you have the requisite experience to succeed in your chosen field of study, as well as that you will be enthusiastic and motivated while doing so. Make sure to share both your own experiences and your take aways from them.
All Major Applicants, Prompt 2
If you’re applying to a major: How does your selected first-choice major relate to your future career goals? (150 words)
The key to this question is to make sure you articulate a clear future career aim as well as how your desired course of study relates to that aim. As a result, before responding to this prompt, you should keep the following points in mind:
- What are your long-term career objectives?
- What role will your selected major play in achieving those objectives?
Your response must clearly outline your future job ambitions, according to the question. This part will be simple if you have a clear idea of your aim. In that case, you would have most likely chosen a course of study that would act as a stepping stone toward your long-term goals.
It’s also fine to list a few different career routes that intrigue you if you’re unsure about your professional ambitions. Another alternative is to talk about the type of work you want to undertake rather than the precise job title. You’ll do great with this essay as long as you can make a persuasive case for how your selected major corresponds to your future goals. Once you’ve determined your career objectives, you’ll need to specify which components of your selected course of study will assist you in achieving them.
This will entail discussing your major in broad terms as well as identifying specific aspects of UIUC’s course of study that are particularly beneficial to you. Because this isn’t a “why UIUC” essay, demonstrating research depth isn’t a major goal, but it will help you reinforce your response. While this essay does not demand personal insights in the same way that many other college essays do, it is still crucial for your voice to shine through in more in-depth analyses that demonstrate you appreciate the value of your major-career combination on a profound level.
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 comparable to the corresponding prompt for applicants who have chosen a major. This prompt, on the other hand, does not require you to connect your major to your future career. You are free to talk about your future academic or job aspirations, and you are not obligated to tie your course of study to your intended career if you do not want to. Much of the same advice applies to career goals. In general, feel free to just talk about what vocations or careers you want to pursue in the future, and make sure your enthusiasm comes through. If you’re not sure about your precise career route, you can talk about the type of work you’d like to do.
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)
Because this question is similar to the one concerning your first choice major, you should approach it in a similar fashion. The only real difference is that, rather than discussing it in terms of personal experiences, you can also talk about it in terms of your enthusiasm for the subject. It may be tempting to put less emphasis on this essay because it is your second choice, but we advise against it. Aside from that, keep our recommendations from the preceding section in mind. Remember to include enough context for any examples you present, and keep your sentences short so you can include as much information as feasible.
You’ll also answer one essay prompt as part of your application. Your options will depend on which application you use to apply. Essays can be anywhere from 250 to 650 words total.
If You’re Applying Through myIllini:
- Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
- Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
- Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
- 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?
- Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
ESSAYS WITH ROSTRUM EDUCATION
Supplementary essays are an essential component of your application, and they can be challenging to write without any help. It can be tough to evaluate your writing objectively after revisiting it numerous times. That’s why Rostrum Education has a team of highly qualified college counsellors on hand to assist you with every stage of the application process which allows you to get a review of your essay. Personalised essay assistance is provided to all of our students to ensure that their personality shines through and whether they’ve adequately answered the question. We can help you portray yourself and your experiences to the admissions committee in a way that will appeal to them. Contact us for a free consultation to find out more.
