Applications are generally accepted during the first five weeks of the Fall or Spring semester, for admission in the following semester. Dates for Spring 2024 are January 16 through February 19.
Eligibility
The MCB Honors Concentration is open to MCB majors only. All students admitted to the concentration must either change their major to MCB Honors or make MCB Honors their primary major, if they are completing more than one major.
In order to qualify for admission, students are typically required to have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, as well as grades of B+ or better in mathematics and science courses taken at the university.
Completion of one year of general chemistry (Chem 102 and 104) is also a prerequisite. One semester or concurrent enrollment in organic chemistry is strongly encouraged for students enrolling in MCB 250 as well.
During the application period, a link to the online form can be found here. It is recommended that you prepare and save the information in a separate document and copy/paste it into the form for submission. You may re-submit an application if you wish to make changes. Only the last application submitted will be read.
The required essays are a critical component of your application assessment. Please take the time to construct thoughtful answers that provide some insight into your personality and character. Applicants who have not met this criterion may not be selected for an interview.
Recommendation letter
Applicants must submit ONE letter of recommendation. This letter must be from a University of Illinois professor/instructor or a graduate teaching assistant. Letters from high school instructors or undergraduate TAs will NOT be accepted.
Students who have transferred from another university or community college and are applying during their first semester on this campus may submit a letter from their previous institution.
A letter of recommendation should address your qualifications for participation in a college-level honors program and your level of commitment to furthering your education. Consider asking someone who has known you in a classroom or lab research setting.
The referee should email their letter to Dr. Shawna Naidu, Senior Coordinator for Instruction - Honors.