University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A Big Ten public with exceptionally strong engineering, computer science, and accounting programs.
- Next deadline
- Nov 1, 2026Early Action
- Essays
- 2Prompts
- Supplement
- Required2026-2027 cycle
- Platform
- Common AppAccepted platform
- Selectivity
- 45%Less selective
- Enrollment
- 35,120Large undergrad
Build your University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign application plan
Track the deadline, review every supplemental essay prompt, and shape each response around one clear admissions story.
Application deadlines
Supplemental essay prompts
- Supplement150 words2026-2027
Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major.
- Supplement150 words2026-2027
Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.
How to approach University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's supplemental essays
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Choose a role before you draft
Decide what this essay should add to the application: evidence, range, bridge, or a new window into your life. Avoid repeating the Common App essay in miniature.
Use this as a blank structure for a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign supplement response, then replace every bracket with your own specifics.
- Open on [specific scene, object, problem, or conversation].
- Show what [choice/action/constraint] reveals about how you think.
- Connect that trait to [school program, community, lab, class, or value].
- End with the contribution you want to make at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, not a compliment.
Need more help with this application?
Use our guides to plan your supplement, sharpen your Why Us research, and review your draft before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
How many supplemental essays does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign require?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has 2 supplemental essays listed for the 2026-2027 application cycle, in addition to the shared application essay.
Does University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accept the Common Application?
Yes — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign accepts the Common Application.
What is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's acceptance rate?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's most recently reported acceptance rate is 45.0%.
When is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's next application deadline?
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's next listed application deadline is the Early Action round on November 1, 2026.
What is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's "Explain, in detail, an experience you've…" prompt (#1, 150 words)?
Explain, in detail, an experience you've had in the past 3 to 4 years related to your first-choice major.
What is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's "Describe your personal and/or career goals…" prompt (#2, 150 words)?
Describe your personal and/or career goals after graduating from UIUC and how your selected first-choice major will help you achieve them.
Sources and verification
We prioritize University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's official admissions pages for school-specific prompts and deadlines, then use application-platform and federal sources as cross-checks. This record is labeled for the 2026-2027 cycle but still needs a fresh verification pass.
Review official source →