Plan to visit campus to see the biggest student-run science fair or to participate in special tours and other events. To make the most of your visit to campus, check the websites or contact the sponsors for dates, reservations, maps, and other details of tours and activities.
Each spring for more than 80 years, this showcase event has attracted thousands of visitors to campus to experience a myriad of engineering marvels and mysteries in this ever-changing world.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers all day programs for visitors during the fall. The program consists of an overview of Illinois, admissions information and a campus tour. There are specific sections devoted to financial aid, housing, student panel and college meetings. Reservations are required.
During Engineering Days, high school students spend the day on campus attending classes, visiting labs, touring the engineering campus, and talking to current engineering students. For additional information, call 217/244-3828, or email.
All female high school students who have been admitted to the College of Engineering are invited to join the women of Alpha Omega Epsilon Professional & Social Engineering Sorority for a weekend in March or April. Prospective students have an opportunity to attend a mock lecture, meet with department advisors, ask current students anything, meet other prospective students and tour campus in a fun and educational manner.
The Materials Science and Engineering Department invites high school seniors to spend a day touring laboratories, watching materials demonstrations, and meeting current students and professors.
Each fall and spring, high school students can attend classes, tour laboratories and participate in hands-on workshops, attend seminars on financial aid and admissions, and have the opportunity to interact with current students.
Each spring, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) invites female high school students who have been admitted to the College of Engineering to spend a weekend on campus to learn more about the university and engineering. Each prospective student is assigned a big sister (a current female engineering student) and will attend classes and special events. The SWE weekend is typically the first weekend in April.
Engineering Council sponsors this weekend event each February for prospective engineering students to attend classes, meet with current students, and explore the College of Engineering at Illinois.
Young women--prospective high school juniors and seniors--meet with current engineering students as well as an academic advisor in their area of interest; tour the Women in Math, Science, and Engineering (WIMSE) living learning community; and learn about other programs and organizations at Illinois. Women in Engineering Days are offered a few times each semester. Women in Engineering also hosts a luncheon for interested women in conjunction with the campus Orange and Blue days. For further information, contact the Women in Engineering program at wie@illinois.edu, or 217/244-3517.
The Academic Challenge is a competitive series of tests created and administered by Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering and offered to high school students in Illinois and Missouri. The tests are now offered by more than 50 community colleges and universities and are designed to present a challenge to the brightest students.
Commencement
Commencement ceremonies for both the University of Illinois and the College of Engineering take place in May and December.
Summer Camps
On-campus summer camps provide interested students with unique opportunities to learn and experience various aspects of engineering, science, and math, while having fun with like-minded teens.
The GAMES Summer Camp is an annual, one-week residential program in August designed to give academically talented middle school girls an opportunity to explore math, engineering and science through demonstrations, classroom presentations, hands-on activities, and contacts with other women in these technical fields. Sessions are offered in both structures and computer science. The camp is for 7th, 8th and 9th grade girls.
This one-week program in July for high school students offers classroom and hands-on experience in the following areas: propulsion systems, theory of flight, aerodynamics, and principles of aircraft and spacecraft design.
"Exploring Your Options" is a weeklong residential program that introduces high school juniors and seniors to the field of engineering. Participants will interact with engineering students and faculty members, plan and build a project, and engage in hands-on activities prepared by each of the 12 engineering departments. Two sessions are offered, one in June and one in July. "Discover Engineering" is a week-long residential camp offered to high school sophomores; students learn about engineering disciplines by participating in hands-on projects and extracurricular activities.
