If your decision is "Offered Wait List," we're offering you the wait list for your first-choice major. If your decision is "Offered Wait List, Second-Choice Major," we're offering you the wait list for your second-choice major as we were not able to place you on the wait list for your first-choice major.

The number of students on the wait list varies each year. Depending on space availability, we may offer wait-listed students admission. Some years we’re able to admit hundreds of students from the wait list, while some years we can’t admit any.

No, additional materials such as letters of recommendation and senior year grades won’t be considered. Only the application materials that were reviewed initially will be used in any wait-list decisions. Interviews aren’t part of our admissions process.

If you wish to be on our wait list, you need to accept your wait-list offer within myIllini by April 1. We’ll notify you of your admission decision by late June. If you’re admitted, you’ll then be sent a complete admissions packet.

If any openings become available for the college to which you applied, the admissions review committee will review your application. Applicants aren’t ranked within the wait list.

We value the residential college experience, and housing is guaranteed for all first-year students, including those selected for admission from the wait list. You’ll have a place to live in University Housing.

You should go ahead and file financial aid paperwork for the school you expect to attend. If you’re selected for admission and didn’t initially list University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as one of the schools to receive your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) report, you can then have it transferred to us.

Yes, information about New Student Registration will be sent with your admissions packet, and information on placement testing will be available online.

Yes, you should accept admission to another institution, as we can’t guarantee that any students from the wait list will be offered admission. If this institution requires an enrollment deposit, you’ll also need to send it. If you’re offered admission and choose to attend Illinois, you may lose this enrollment deposit. Check with the other institution about its refund policy.

Yes, applicants who aren’t offered admission are eligible to apply as transfer students in a future year. When reviewing applicants with only 1 year of college work, we focus primarily on high school grades, test scores, and activities. When you’ve attended college full-time for 2 years, the strength of the college program and your academic achievement at the college level are given primary consideration. Learn more about our transfer review process.

First, focus on choosing the best fit for you of the universities that have offered you admission. Wait lists are uncertain, so it’s best to ensure your happiness no matter the outcome. If you’re on our wait list, that means we really like you and you don’t need to improve your application. You should, however, continue to get good grades your senior year. If you’re still interested in attending Illinois, be patient. It may take some time, but you’ll receive wait-list news by the end of June.