How We Review
When reviewing applications, we take a holistic look at your academic record, experiences, and preparation to understand your strengths, interests, and potential fit as an exploring student at Illinois.
First-Year Students
- ACT or SAT I scores (we do not use SAT II) if provided
- High school percentile ranking (if your school doesn’t rank, we’ll calculate an estimated rank)
- Challenging high school curriculum (AP, honors, accelerated, etc.)
- Grade patterns and trends across 4 years of high school
- Co-curricular, work, and volunteer involvements
Off-Campus Transfer Students
- No more than 3 completed full-time semesters (not including summer semesters) prior to enrolling
- No more than 45 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)
- See the Transfer Handbook for more information.
Application Essays
Application essays help us understand how you would benefit from our explorative mission and they may include:
- Subjects or fields that interest you
- Academic programs you are considering
- Career or pre-professional goals
- Relevant experiences that have influenced your academic and career interests
Application Resources
Find everything you need to navigate the application process, including important dates and deadlines, admissions requirements, class profile information, and more, on the Undergraduate Admissions website.
Learn More about Exploratory Studies
Continue your journey of discovering your academic path with Exploratory Studies. Learn about the program, plan your visit to campus, and get answers to frequently asked questions to help you make confident decisions about your academic path.
Program Information
Visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Are You a Current or Previous Illinois Student?
To learn more about requirements, deadlines, and other important information needed to move forward, please visit the appropriate page below.
Questions?
Have questions about visit options, admissions, or the Exploratory Studies program? Reach out to us anytime at exploring@illinois.edu — we’re happy to help!