I am thinking about attending UIUC (I got in as a Computer Engineering major) and I was wondering how to know if I am in the James Scholar Program. My SAT scores were CR: 730, Math: 750, and Writing: 800 (2280 total, 1480 w/o Writing). I did not receive any information about the program but I saw on the website that a 1450 SAT was required to be eligible. How can I sign up to be in the James Scholar Program?
Posted Apr 5, 2015, 3:49 AM UTC
I think they changed the rules starting last fall. Pretty sure you aren't automatically in or out by SAT scores.
The page you looked at is probably outdated. I remember reading about the 1450 SAT / 33 ACT requirement, but I also remember reading a wiki page that said something to the extent of "the top 15% of the freshman College of Engineering class are offered James Scholar status."
My numbers might be off, but I'm pretty sure it's a percentile cutoff, not a flat SAT/ACT score cutoff anymore.
As an aside to that, what does it mean to be a James Scholar other than early class registration? I'm an incoming J.S. studying CS.
Not much, really. You have to do an extra honors project each semester. For LAS, you have access to a study lounge in Lincoln Hall, but only for certain hours on certain days since it's actually a conference room, so it's pretty much useless.
I came into Engineering with a 2280 last fall and I don't think I had to fill out anything. I'm pretty sure I was automatically made a James Scholar.
How did you know you were? I didn't receive an email and I didn't see anything on my application status or in the mail. Does that mean I did not get it?
I just checked my email and on 2/22/13 I got an email saying "Welcome to the James Scholar Honors Program at Illinois! Congratulations! Your application to the University of Illinois has qualified you for the James Scholar honors program in the College of Engineering, and you will be automatically enrolled in the program if you attend Illinois." Things might have changed since then, I'm not sure.
Btw, I just checked the UIUC website and it says: "The top 15% of entering freshmen are invited to participate in the James Scholar Program. Freshmen who do not initially qualify may apply after achieving a GPA of 3.3 or higher after one semester. Students in Electrical and Computer Engineering must achieve a 3.5 GPA or above."
Edit: For the College of Engineering it says that "Freshmen are admitted through the Undergraduate Application for Admission". That leads me to believe that it is an automatic admission thing. You can call 217.333.2280 with any questions about Engineering James Scholar stuff.
If you made it, it shows up on your application by the financial aid and stuff.