Jobs and Internships
What percent of students are placed after graduation?
~95% (job or graduate school).
What does "CARE" stand for?
Center for Academic Resources in Engineering. We also have MEP and WIE.
What counts most for admissions to Illinois?
It's holistic. Really. ACT/SAT, grades, essay, extracurriculars, honors/awards, summer camps, all count. Plus cross country running!
What are common minors for engr students?
CS, math, business. We have over 100 minors at Illinois, including the exclusive T&M minor (only for engrs and bus majors).
Why not Purdue?
Do we really need to elaborate! Joking. Purdue is awesome, but we are awesomer. :-)
How many companies come to the engr-only career fair each semester?
~450.
What advising is available for students?
College, dept, and 1-1 faculty mentors all advise students. 3-layers of access to advice.
What is the average ACT of accepted ENGR students?
Average is around 33 composite on ACT. ~1480 on SAT.
How many credits for a dual degree?
158 credits minimum for dual degree (128 credits for one degree).
Isn't Illinois too big?
We are big (~8,000 UG in ENGR), which means lots of opportunities. Students need to ask Qs and seek out the fantastic opportunities that exist. Research, internships, study abroad, plus over 1,000 student clubs to join (concrete canoe, formula one sae car, solar house).
What percent of student do an internship or co-op?
95% do at least one internship, 50+% do two or more.
Can students study abroad and still graduate on time?
Yes! IPENG is our study abroad office for engineers.
Which high school sport is the best to prepare students for college life?
Cross country running! Soccer is second. (Any group activities are great: athletics, band, theater, student counsel, debate club, etc). Help promote teamwork and discipline plus time management skills.
What's the process to transfer to a new major?
Within ENGR, students have an online transfer petition opportunity each semester. Student narrative on why they want the new major, involvement in clubs/projects, plus resume and course grades. Outside ENGR, each college has own process and deadlines.
Do rankings matter?
Maybe. Overall university, college, and specific major rankings are somewhat important, but take them with a grain of salt. Illinois is generally top 10 in everything (#5 overall college).
Are Grainger internships mostly in the state of Illinois?
No, they are all across the country (some are local in UIUC research park).
What is Grainger Engineering retention rate?
97% freshman to sophomore. 82% freshman to graduation within Grainger (89% UIUC degree).
What is the honors program in ENGR?
"James Scholar" honors. Honors courses, GPA requirements, early registration. Certified on transcript each year.
What if I don't get into ENGR? Can I transfer from another outside university or different major at Illinois?
Yes, but difficult. Different process for external transfers and internal (ICT).
Do undergraduate students have the chance to do real research at Illinois?
Yes, 50% complete an UG research experience. Ever heard of LEDs, transistors, MRIs, NCSA...
Can a student do an internship _and_ take classes at same time?
Usually no, but our special "City Scholars" program is designed exactly for this work/study type of experience in Chicago.
What do you do extra for freshman?
GFX=Grainger Freshman Experience (ENG 100, ENG 101, ENG 177, ELAs). Plus midterm grade outreach with tutoring and advising.
Do AP credits and courses matter?
Yes, we do accept AP credits (and most dual enrollment). Having AP courses can also help for admissions and might make the transition to college easier.
What support do you have for entrepreneurial activities?
TEC, Technology Entrepreneur Center. ILEE (Innovation, Leadership, & Engineering Entrepreneurship) courses, second degree, plus certificates.
Isn't MIT better than Illinois? (Feel free to substitute CalTech, Stanford, GaTech, Berkeley.)
IDK, is MIT better than Illinois? Every school has pros and cons.