UIUC AdmissionsWas it all those volunteer hours you put in? Your sharp grades? That little horseshoe anecdote in your essay that made the admissions counselors LOL all the way home? You don’t know, but what you do know is that you just got accepted into one of the most storied universities in the nation. Well done, you!
So, what now? Can you really keep preparing for college after being accepted? Of course you can! Let’s use a flowchart to consider your options:
Now that you’re officially an Illini, we can delve into your next steps!
(But seriously, if you’re on the fence about your college decision, here are 10 reasons why the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a great choice.)
Your Admitted Student Checklist
Maybe that header above should have been called “Your Best Friend,” because that’s what your Admitted Student Checklist is. Your checklist is tailored to you and lays out exactly what your next steps are. Plus, your tasks will be checked off as you complete them, which is incredibly satisfying.
You can find your personal checklist by clicking on your application for admission in myIllini. It’s waiting for you! Meanwhile, we’ll touch on some of the basics below.
You & Your NetID
Once you accept your offer of admission (the first step on your checklist), you’ll be assigned a NetID. Your NetID is basically your username for most UIUC resources and accounts. It will stay the same all throughout college and can make for a snappy nickname. Hey there, qpklbbt4! Maybe not. Still, it’s fun to get a new email address.
Now comes the hard part: to claim your NetID, you need to think of a good password. Of course, coming up with good passwords is aNn0Ying. You’re going to be even more bUGG3d when you learn that you’ll have to come up with a new password at the end of each year, but think of it as a practice in creativity.
Financial Aid
If you haven’t already, you should figure out how you’re going to pay for college. To help with that decision, consider looking into financial aid options. Be sure to submit your FAFSA (fill it out even if you don’t think you’ll get anything! More students qualify for financial aid than you might expect) and check out scholarship opportunities. This is a complicated step, so as always, we’ve broken it down further if you want more information.
Housing
At UIUC, all first-year students need to live on campus, whether that be in one of the university’s residence halls or in housing approved by the university. The exception is if you are a squirrel; first-year squirrels are permitted to live on the Quad but should understand that they must find their own food.
Whenever you’re ready, we have more to say about finding your home away from home.
New Student Registration
You can’t begin your college education without classes. And that’s what New Student Registration is for! You can get a sneak peek of the near-infinite list of classes available at UIUC through our course explorer. (Vegetable gardening? Don’t mind if I do!) But no need to pore over your options; your academic advisors will have plenty of sage advice to share when you meet with them during registration to discuss your plans.
You can learn more about the New Student Registration process, including what you need to do to sign up and how you should prepare it, on our website.
Additional Documents
Remember when you were filling out your application and you self-reported all those grades and, in some cases, tests scores? Well, now that you’re admitted, we want official versions that we can hang up on our fridges. You need to have any test scores (like the ACT or SAT) sent directly to us from the testing agency, and your final transcripts sent directly to us from your high school.
You’ll also need to send us immunization forms, and if you’re an international student, you may need to submit an I-20 form as well.
Visit Opportunities
Do you yearn to feel the UIUC quad under your sneakers? Or would you prefer to see the ins and outs of campus while buried in a pile of blankets on the couch? Whatever your preference is, we’ve got you covered. We have a whole slew of in-person and virtual visit options to help you learn more about UIUC and your next steps.
Whether you choose to visit in-person or online, you’ll have the opportunity to picture yourself on campus and learn what UIUC has to offer you.
Campus Resources
What’s that on your fingertips? It’s fresh opportunity! We try to do it right here at UIUC, especially in regard to the resources we provide our students. Now that you’re an Illini, be sure to check out what the campus has to offer. Here are just some of the highlights:
- A variety of cultural and resource centers
- Wellness support from the Counseling Center
- Close to 1,000 student groups to get involved with
- A vast range of study abroad opportunities
- Countless research opportunities
- 7 campus recreation spaces to help you stay active
- Great shows at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
- Over 20 libraries
- Tutoring and mentoring through the Office of Minority Student Affairs
- Career advising and resume reviews at the Career Center
And that’s not even half of it. Whether it’s the indoor waterslide, the 3D Printing Lab, the three medical clinics, or the free movie nights at the Union, treasures of all kinds await you throughout your new beginning at UIUC.
There’s a lot to do now that you’ve been admitted, and so much more to discover while preparing for college. You’ve passed a big milestone on the journey to college, and now the adventure begins. Give yourself a round of applause, a pat on the back, or a milkshake, because you definitely deserve it.
What do I do if I have questions about my admittance? I applied early and got placed into Undeclared, despite me putting in my preferred and secondary majors… If there’s someone I could talk to about learning what that means, that would help in the decision making process quite a bit.
Hi Thomas,
The best thing to do would be to call our office. Our admissions counselors can help explain what your decision means and answer any questions you might have. Our number is 217-333-0302, and we’re open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Thanks for reaching out!
Hello, I applied early and got accepted so I want to know whether there is a deadline for me to accept the offer?
Congratulations on your acceptance, Krittanat! Early Action at Illinois is non-binding, so you have the same amount of time to accept your offer as other students. That deadline is May 1 (National College Decision Day). If you have any other questions for us, please don’t hesitate to reach out at 217-333-0302 or admissions@illinois.edu. We’re here to help!
I am admitted by my first choice major, but I have changed my mind and want to pursue the second or other majors not on my application. Is it possible to change it now? I haven’t accepted the offer because of the concern of the major. Thanks
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for reaching out!
You can submit a Program Change Form if you’re interested in changing your major to a different program. When you submit this form, though, you’re offering up your place of admission in your current program. This means if you aren’t accepted into your new program, you’re not guaranteed a place back in your old program or admission to Illinois in general.
As your next step, we encourage you to call our office at 217-333-0302 to speak to an admissions counselor. They can help to advise you on what might be the best course of action in your specific case.
Hi I’ve got admitted to the Gies College of Business as “Undeclared Major”
I want to know how to choose the major and information pertaining to it.
I also want information on Men’s crew as I want to join them The email link on the website for the men’s crew is bouncing back Please give me the contact details of the Men’s Crew Coach Thanks
I just got accepted and as an international student want to apply for financial aid. What is the procedure for that?
Congratulations on your admission, and thanks for reaching out! By applying to Illinois, you’re automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Unfortunately, need-based financial aid isn’t available to international undergraduates, although a few limited scholarships and loans exist through our International Student and Scholar Services: https://isss.illinois.edu/resources/finaid.html. If you have additional questions about financial aid, you can contact our Office of Student Financial Aid at 217-333-0100.
Congratulations on your admission!
All Gies College of Business freshmen are admitted to our Business Unassigned major, giving them the opportunity to explore all areas of study before declaring a major by the end of their sophomore year. If you are 100% sure what you want your major to be, you can declare it when you meet with your academic advisor at New Student Registration. If you’d like more details, you can contact Gies directly: https://giesbusiness.illinois.edu/contact-us.
If you’re interested in Men’s Crew, we suggest you fill out the following form: https://illinirowing.com/info-form/. You should also be able to contact our men’s team here: https://illinirowing.com/contact-us/.
I was admitted, but I didn’t see if I received any merit scholarship money. Should I be able to see that in my portal?
Thanks for reaching out, Abigail, and a big congratulations on your admission! If you’re selected to an honors program or awarded a scholarship, you’ll receive notification after your offer of admission but no later than April 1. All scholarship and aid information will be included on your financial aid notification letter. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to email us at admissions@illinois.edu or call us at 217-333-0302. We’re here to help!
Are scholarships available for undeclared major?
Hi Ryanne,
Thanks for reaching out! Yes, all students are automatically considered for our merit-based scholarships when they apply to UIUC. Many of these are for freshmen and transfers in any college, including undeclared students the Division of General Studies. If you’re awarded a scholarship, you’ll receive notification after your offer of admission but no later than April 1. We hope this helps! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 217-333-0302.
Before we accept, where can we see a breakdown of payment amounts and due dates? Thanks!
Hi Karla,
You can learn more about paying your bill and when it’s due through our University Bursar. This unit is also hosting virtual meetings for admitted students and families throughout the spring: https://myillini.illinois.edu/AdmittedEvents/admits_bursar. You’ll need to log into your myIllini account to view the events and sign up.
We hope this helps! If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 217-333-0302.
How do i find my UNI?
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for reaching out, and good question. You can find your UIN by logging into myIllini and clicking on your application for admission. It’s also included on the back side of your Notice of Admission letter. We hope this helps! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 217-333-0302.
Hi, I’m having trouble finding where to submit my I-20 documents
Thanks for reaching out! If you’re a newly admitted student, you can submit your documents through the I-20 application on your admitted checklist. Your admitted checklist can be found by clicking on your application for admission in myIllini. If you’re a currently enrolled student who has never been on campus, you need to email international-admissions@illinois.edu for follow-up instructions on how to submit your documents.
We hope this helps. You can learn more on the following pages of our website: https://admissions.illinois.edu/Apply/Admitted/visa and https://admissions.illinois.edu/FAQ/admitted-international. Don’t hesitate to email us at international-admissions@illinois.edu with any questions.
Will there be a “what’s next?” webinar or q&a session for accepted students? Or is there someone I can schedule a meeting with (preferably from my major) to ask questions?
Hi.
My son got accepted for his second choice major, would he be in the waitlist for his first choice?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Neharika,
Congratulations on your admission, and thanks for reaching out!
Yes, our office offers a number of virtual options that will walk you through next steps and answer any questions you have. Many of our colleges and majors also provide admitted virtual meeting options. If you’re able to visit campus, feel free to take a look at our
in-person options, too!
We hope this helps. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 217-333-0302. And congrats again!
Hi Ani,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, your son is still considered waitlisted for his first choice. If space becomes available in this major later on, we’ll let him know, even if he’s declined his offer. You can read more in the “Majors” section of our Admitted FAQ. If you have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to email us or call us at 217-333-0302.
Hi, my daughter has been admitted to her choice of major in the college of liberal arts and science. Can she explore other majors ( dual major) either within her college of admission or a course in a different college.
Keen to understand the flexibility students have
I need to know more about financial aid and scholarships please share the details
Thanks for contacting us, and congratulations to your daughter on her admission! You can learn more about how to earn a double major or dual degree on LAS’s website. We’d also suggest reaching out directly to LAS at las-studentoffice@illinois.edu, since they’ll be able to give you more specific information based on your daughter’s major and her other interests.
Hi Vijay. Thanks for reaching out, and congrats on your admission!
For financial aid, we encourage you to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible and have it sent to UIUC, if you haven’t already. Financial Aid Notifications are generally available beginning in mid-March. Please note that international students are not eligible for financial aid and don’t submit the FAFSA.
You’re automatically considered for merit-based scholarships when you apply to UIUC. If you’re awarded a scholarship, you’ll receive notification after your offer of admission but no later than April 1. You can also find a list of outside scholarship suggestions on our Financial Aid website.
Finally, we have a blog on ways to pay for college, in case that also helps. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our Office of Student Financial Aid directly if you have any additional questions. They’re here to help!
I was admitted and have yet to receive my financial aid package. Is there a specific date when it will be notified?
Congratulations on your admission, Marilisa! Financial aid notifications are generally available beginning in mid-March, so if you haven’t received yours yet, you should soon. If you don’t, or if you have any other questions regarding financial aid, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid@illinois.edu or 217-333-0100.
My son is accepted to uiuc but we need to know his financial aid package before we choose a school. Are we able to see it without accepting since this is part of our decision on where to go?
Hi Katie,
Congratulations on your son’s admission! Yes, your son can view financial aid information without accepting his offer of admission. The Office of Student Financial Aid notifies students of any financial aid they’ve received beginning in mid-March. Your son can also access his Financial Aid Notification and view his financial aid information online. If you have additional questions regarding financial aid, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Office of Student Financial Aid at 217-333-0100 or finaid@illinois.edu.
Hello,
My son got accepted for his second-choice major, and from what I have gathered, he is automatically on the waitlist for his first-choice major. When can we expect a discussion regarding if he will be accepted off the waitlist for his first-choice major?
I would like to visit the campus on March 7th. I see that there is a morning campus tour for admitted students, but I do not see any options for a session and tour of the Grainger Engineering college. Will this be an option or is there someone who I can setup a tour with? Thank you.
Hello,
I applied in early action and got accepted. I wanted to ask if I can get information regarding the scholarship and financial aid that will be offered, before accepting the admission offer? As I will be using that as basis for my final decision for admission.
Thank you!!!
Thanks for reaching out, Alex. You can find Grainger’s admitted events on the following webpage: https://grainger.illinois.edu/admissions/undergraduate/plan-a-visit/admitted-events. Note that their events will be open for registration by February 6 (and it looks like some are available now). We hope you enjoy your day on campus!
Congratulations on your admission, Tanvi! Yes, you will definitely receive information regarding financial aid and scholarships before needing to make a decision. Our office begins sending financial aid notifications in early March, and scholarship notifications will be available by April 1. The deadline to accept your offer of admission is May 1. Good luck in your decision; we hope to see you on campus this fall!
Congratulations on your son’s admission, Jay! If we have space available to admit students to their first-choice major, we’ll reach out to them by email after May 1 to ask if they’re still interested in being admitted to their first choice. This is regardless of whether they’ve accepted or declined their prior offer. If space is not available, no communication will be sent. We hope this helps! If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office.
I applied early action and was admitted on Jan 28th. I’d like to see my financial package and would prefer not to wait until March. Is there a “calculator” online that gives me an idea of total cost first year? Under Next Steps it says I can review my financials before acceptance, but my guess is that means early-March. I am visiting an Illini Day on Feb 20, is this something I can find out there? Thank you!
How can I view my financial aid package? I’m not seeing it under the financial aid drop-down menu…
Just reviewed the other comments and my question has been answered. Thank you and no need to answer. Thumbs up.
Congrats on your admission, Dean! While you wait on your financial aid notification, you can use our net price calculator for an estimate (though please know that it is only an estimate): https://secure.osfa.illinois.edu/NPC/NPC.asp. Financial Aid will be offering walk-in times during Illini Days, which might also be helpful to you during your wait.
Hi. I was offered a place to study at Gies College Business Undeclared, I’ve noticed that the deadline for offer decision is May 1st, does the deposite also have a deadline? Do I pay my deposite before or after I make the offer decision? Thanks for the attention.
Hi Tim, and congratulations on your admission! Yes, you can accept your offer any time up until May 1. Students are asked to pay an acceptance fee of $150 at the same time they accept their offer. You can learn more about your next steps through your admitted checklist. We hope this helps! If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact us directly.
My son has been admitted to his first choice major, but his plan is to double major with both his first and second choice. Being able to do this is important to know before accepting. Who can he talk to about course load and options for doing a double major?
Hi Anna, congratulations to your son on his admission! To learn more about pursuing a double major, he should reach out directly to his major’s department; they will be able to provide more information about course load and his options.
Can parents of admitted students get Visit dates? Need to start planning but I don’t have access to myillini
Hi Carrie, and congratulations on your child’s admission! We’re offering admitted visits Mondays through Fridays through April 28, including a handful of larger open houses called Illini Days on 3/24, 3/27, 3/31, 4/3, 4/7, 4/10, and 4/14. We’re also hosting Saturday visits on 4/1 and 4/22. Your student is able to view and sign up for these events through their myIllini account; if you have additional questions, you can call our campus visit team at 217-333-0824. We look forward to seeing you on campus soon!
I was admitted to my second choice which was Nuclear Engineering. I wonder if its possible that I can switch to civil engineering been my first choice?
Thank you
Hi David, and thanks for reaching out! Please contact our office directly to discuss your specific situation. You can call us at 217-333-0302.
Hi I was admitted to ACES but I was kind of hoping if I can switch into either liberal arts or social work. Also, do you know how hard it is to transfer schools within UIUC. Another question is can I switch majors within ACES as well?
Hi, I applied for early action and got accepted. But I don’t know if i got qualified for a merit-based scholarship or not. How do I know if I got qualified and the amount that I got from it?
Thanks for reaching out! For specific questions about UIUC and our application process, you’ll want to email us at admissions@illinois.edu or call us at 217-333-0302 to speak directly with an admissions counselor.
Congratulations! For more information on awarded scholarships, you’ll want to contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at finaid@illinois.edu or call them at 217-333-0100.
I am admitted for fall 24 economics undergraduate program as an international student. Could you please advise on the tuition fee , housing and other expenses that I should prepare myself for.
And as an International student, am I eligible for any financial aid/grant/scholarship ?
Hi! I’m an international student and got accepted. I would like to know if I can apply for any scholarships before I accept the offer.
Congratulations on your admission! All students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships when they apply to UIUC; you can view more details on our website. Although need-based financial aid isn’t available to international undergraduates, a few limited scholarships and loans do exist through our International Student and Scholar Services: https://isss.illinois.edu/resources/finaid.html. ISSS is a great resource for incoming students!
Congrats on your admission to economics! The best way to estimate your expenses is through our cost calculator. All students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships when they apply to UIUC; you can view more details on our website. Need-based financial aid isn’t available to international undergraduates, but a few limited scholarships and loans do exist through our International Student and Scholar Services. ISSS is a great resource for incoming students!
Hello- when will transfer students receive notification if they have been accepted for fall ’24-25 school year?
Thanks for reaching out, Lynn! Transfer decisions will be released from March to May. You can learn more on our website. If you have additional questions, don’t hesitate to contact our office!