Eastern Illinois University grants admission to students whose abilities, interests, character, and background give them the greatest promise of benefiting from and contributing to the Eastern Illinois University community. Such students demonstrate strong academic ability, intellectual curiosity, open-mindedness, and commitment to learning. Since students learn not just from faculty but also from fellow students, Eastern seeks a diverse student body with a variety of talents, interests, and backgrounds. Admission decisions are based on the student's academic record; on personal qualities and accomplishments; and on capacity for growth. Careful attention is paid to letters of recommendation, the student's personal statement, and co-curricular activities.
Application Portfolio
In addition to ACT or SAT scores, class rank,
and cumulative grade point average, the University considers:
Grades earned in college preparatory courses, which should document a
high level of achievement and consistency;
A well-crafted personal statement explaining the student's plans to achieve
academic excellence at Eastern;
Letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors who assess the
student's performance in the classroom and potential to succeed.
The best qualified applicants in each years' pool will be admitted as
resources permit.
College prepartory curricula
Eastern Illinois University enrolls students who
are prepared to meet the challenges of a rigorous university curriculum.
High school students who complete the college-preparatory curricula described
below are more likely to succeed.
College-Preparatory English:
Four years of English, emphasizing composition, grammar, and literature.
As much as one year of the requirement may be satisfied by two semesters
in any combination of drama, debate, public speaking, or journalism.
College-Preparatory Mathematics: Three
years of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, advanced mathematics,
or computer programming.
College-Preparatory Science: Three years
of natural sciences (biological and physical), with significant laboratory
experiences.
College-Preparatory Social Studies: Three
years of social studies, including one year of United States history and/or
government.
Electives: Two years of academic or vocational
electives.
Foreign Language: Two years*
*Foreign Language is not an entrance requirement;
however Eastern does require one year in a single foreign language for
graduation. Students with two years of a single foreign language in high
school with a C or better average will be considered to have met this
requirement.
If your students meet our regular admissions requirements,
they can apply one of two ways. They can apply on-line
or they can complete a paper
application.
Students who apply on-line will also need to send a copy of their high
school transcripts and their official ACT score. Either way they will
also need to pay the $30 non-refundable application fee.
If your student does not meet the regular admissions requirements, two additional admission options are available:
1. Gateway
Admission Program
This limited enrollment program is designed for
disadvantaged students who can demonstrate a need for structured programming.
The Gateway Committee will consider applicants whose ACT scores are lower
than the minimum required for regular admission who have a minimum of
a "C" average. There is a check box on the application for admission
that students can mark to be considered for Gateway. Students are also
required to send three letters of reference and a narrative about themselves.
Review of applications begins in October and continues on a monthly basis
until available slots are filled.
Gateway students must meet one of the following criteria:
First generation to attend college
Reside and attend school in a economically depressed area
Live in a low-income household
Be a member of an ethnic minority
2. Community College Transfer
Your student may want to consider attending a
community college and then transferring to EIU. Changes in our transfer
policies have made this transistion quite easy. Students who are considering
community college should be aware of the Illinois Articulation Initiative
(IAI) which is a state-wide general education core curriculum. Students
can chooses courses off the iTransfer
web site that meet general edcuation requirements at any participating
institution. Go to iTransfer.org
for the General Education links. For more information on transferring
to EIU, including admission
requirements, link to our transfer
menu.
