Understanding UIC Admissions—GPA

Hey folks! I've been interested in the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and was hoping to get some insight from anyone familiar with their admissions process. Specifically, what's the average GPA for admitted students? I'm sitting at about a 3.5 right now and was wondering how competitive that would make me.

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has moderately selective admissions. According to data from recent years, the average high school GPA of students admitted to UIC is typically around 3.65 to 4.00. Therefore, a GPA of 3.5 is a little under the generally competitive range for admission to the university.

However, it's important to remember that GPA is not the only factor considered in the admissions process. UIC also takes into account factors like grade trends, the rigor of your high school curriculum, SAT/ACT scores if you choose to submit them, and your involvement in extracurricular activities. Also, remember that the relevance of these factors may vary across UIC's various individual colleges and majors. For example, an applicant to UIC's College of Engineering might be evaluated differently compared to an applicant to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Lastly, the admissions essay is a significant part of UIC's application, and it can help give them a clearer picture of who you are beyond your GPA and test scores. Be sure to take the time to write a strong and genuine essay that shares more about your experiences, aspirations, and personal traits.

Given that you have a GPA of 3.5, to increase your chances at UIC, you might want to consider participating in meaningful extracurricular activities if you're not already doing so or taking rigorous courses such as AP or honors classes if they're available to you. These steps can help you stand out and show the admissions committee that you're capable of handling college-level coursework.