Guaranteed Admissions (Transfer)

Guaranteed Admissions (Transfer) Handbook

The Guaranteed Admission program offers students currently attending one of our partner community colleges guaranteed admission into one of nine specific colleges at UIC. These include the Colleges of Applied Health Sciences, Architecture, Design, and the Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Public Health, RN to BSN Online program, and Urban Planning and Public Affairs.

Graduation with an AA or AS degree is strongly encouraged but not required (we offer a reverse transfer process so you can complete courses for your associate’s degree while attending UIC and earning your bachelor’s degree). 

Students must remain in good academic standing and have a cumulative transfer grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (RN to BSN requires a 2.50). 

Participants in the program must also seek transfer advising from your CC and UIC. Use the transfer guides found on transferology.com and on the TAG website at tag.uic.edu to ensure you are taking the required prerequisite courses and meeting all early application deadlines (Feb. 1 and Sept. 1).

Students who are interested in guaranteed admission to UIC must do the following:

• Meet with their CC academic advisor and sign the participation form within their first year at CC at tag.uic.edu or gat.uic.edu
• Earn and maintain a 3.0 transfer GPA (2.50 for RN to BSN online program)
• Apply to UIC. Meet early UIC application deadlines of Feb. 1 and Sept. 1
• Select a UIC major by the semester before UIC enrollment
• Attend UIC Guaranteed Admission orientation one year before entering UIC

Restrictions include: 

• City College Students can have no previous college credits before entering CCC
• Cannot be a returning student or second bachelor’s degree-seeking student

Patricia Francey | Contact
Your UIC Guaranteed Admission Coordinator can schedule individual appointments with you and will send out emails on a regular basis to keep you involved with the transfer process and to help you learn more about UIC. These emails will also help you maintain your status within the Guaranteed Admissions Transfer program.

Be sure that you are receiving and reading your emails because some of the information contained within these emails is meant to help you maintain your guaranteed status and will notify you when it is time to apply.

 Semester 1

• Learn about the Guaranteed Admission program, meet with CC advisor and submit the participation form
• Achieve a 3.0 GPA
• Visit the gat.uic.edu or tag.uic.edu website for more information

Semester 2

• Follow and maintain your transferology guide
• Decide on a degree program
• Register for Guaranteed Admission orientation and UIC Open House 

Semester 3

• Participate in events at UIC
• Attend the Guaranteed Admission Orientation in Sept/Oct
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA
• Meet with community college advisor and complete a graduation audit

Semester 4

• Apply to UIC by February 1 or September 1 of your graduation year
• Submit your transcript and AP or IB exam scores
• The 3.0 transfer GPA and pre-requisite courses are confirmed for admission

GAT STEM 

GAT/STEM is a selective program that supports GAT students who excel in science and mathematics. Students interested in pursuing a PhD or MD/PhD, who want to become a scientist or engineer the GAT STEM program is designed to enhance the experience of those majoring in biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, earth & environmental science, engineering, mathematics, neuroscience and physics.

Key Components

• The main components of the Guaranteed AdmissionT STEM Initiative:
• A summer research experience (STEM Co-Lab)
• Faculty-led STEM seminars and discussions
• Academic advising and support promoting academic excellence, leadership and professional development
• Research and internship opportunities
• Graduate and professional school preparation
• Program Benefits
• Hands-on scientific research experience
• Build a professional network system
• Learn how to study effectively in a STEM discipline
• Access to select UIC facilities as a participant in GAT

Program Eligibility

• Apply to be considered for the GAT STEM program no later than the second week of the fall semester of your sophomore year, if you are:
• Planning to enroll at UIC in your junior year
• A participant in the Guaranteed Admissions Transfer (GAT) program
• Pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree at UIC
• Entering UIC with a qualifying gpa of 3.25 in your science and mathematics courses
• Those who are qualified will be sent an invitation to complete a separate GAT STEM application.

Other Grant Program Opportunities

• Bridges to Baccalaureate—Cancer Research
• Break Through Tech—Females in Computer Science
• L@S GANAS—Lantinx going into health sciences

Academic Support Resources

• Academic Center for Excellence
• African American Academic Network
• LARES—Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services
• Disability Resource Center
• UIC Honors College

Diversity Resources

• African American Cultural Center
• Arab American Cultural Center
• Asian American Resource and Cultural Center (AARCC)
• Disability Cultural Center (DCC)
• Rafael Cintron Ortiz Latino Cultural Center (LCC)
• Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC)
• Women’s Leadership and Resource Center (WLRC)

Other Support Resources

• UIC Library
• Commuter Center Resource Center
• Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarship
• Scholarship — UIC Snap | scholarships for current students

What are the benefits of being in the Guaranteed Admission program?

The benefits of the Guaranteed Admission programs are numerous, but to name a few:

• You will be guaranteed a spot at UIC within the degree program of your choosing.
• You will receive transfer counseling from your UIC Guaranteed Admission Coordinator to ensure you are taking the right steps and are on-track to transfer and learning more about UIC and the services offered.
• You will be assigned a recruiter at UIC within the academic college you intend to enroll.
• You will have a clear course pathway into UIC programs.
• You will be invited to participate in events both on your campus and ours that focus on Guaranteed Admission students.
• You will receive your decision sooner than most transfer students applying for the same semester.
• You will have access to the UIC library, support programs and more.
• You are not “locked in” to attending UIC at any point throughout the process.

Does it matter that I am an international or undocumented student?

• Your citizenship status has no bearing on whether or not you can participate in this program. As long as you are a full-time student at any one of the participating community colleges and you meet the Guaranteed Admission requirements we would love to have you join us as a member of the next Guaranteed Admission cohort.

What happens if my GPA falls below a 3.0 when I apply to UIC?

• No need to worry. Sometimes things happen that may affect your gpa causing it to transfer over to UIC under the required 3.0. As long as you have submitted everything that we ask for, your application will be added in with the other transfer applications and you will then be considered along with all other transfer students for a spot in your chosen field of study. This means you are no longer guaranteed a spot and will be required to compete with other applicants for entry into UIC.

What if I have coursework at a college or university other than my community college?

• If you have previous coursework outside of City Colleges of Chicago you are not eligible for the Guaranteed Admission program. However, you are still more than welcome to apply as a transfer student.
• If you are a member of TAG then we would simply require you to send in your transcripts from all other institutions at the time of application and those courses will also be  added into your degree audit and grades will become part of your transfer gpa.