How can I get more information about Uni High admissions?

There are several ways to find out more about Uni High admissions. This document is intended to provide basic information. The Uni website, www.uni.Illinois.edu, has information under the “Prospective Students” link. If you would like to speak to someone directly, we encourage you to contact Sue Kovacs, Assistant Principal and Director of Admissions. Ms. Kovacs oversees the admissions process and will be able to answer all of your questions. You can contact Ms. Kovacs by calling the school number, (217) 333-2870, or by e-mail at skovacs@uni.illinois.edu.

What is considered a complete application packet?

Only complete application packets, received prior to the appropriate deadline, are reviewed and considered for admission to Uni. A complete packet includes the following:

• Application
• SSAT scores from one date; if you take multiple tests please leave a note with the application as to the month and year test to use. No one sees the other tests.
• Transcripts and school records
• Teacher Recommendations (2); one from the previous year and one from the current year or two from the current year. Recommendations must be from academic teachers: social studies, English, mathematics, foreign language (meets daily) or science.

What is included in the application?

On the application, the student provides some basic information (gender, grade, age…), lists recent primary activities, and answers a few essay questions. This information helps to provide a more complete picture of the student. Racial/Ethnic designation is optional on the application form. If this is not identified, the committee may not be able to determine race/ethnicity.

What is the SSAT and when do the SSAT tests take place?

The SSAT is the examination Uni uses to help assess an applicant’s verbal, quantitative, reading
and writing aptitude; these help predict the applicant’s ability to do the work at Uni. Registration
forms for the SSAT are contained in the admission packet or online at http://www.SSAT.org.

• SSAT offers a study guide (Preparing and Applying) for prospective applicants. The guide includes
  a full-length practice test, review tips and exercises, sample answer sheets and test-scoring
  instructions. You can order this guide when you register for the test or by using the order form of
  the SSAT Student Registration Guide. The fee is $28.
• Test dates for SUBFRESHMAN admission are October 17, November 14, December 12, January
  9, and February 6.
• Test dates for HIGH SCHOOL admission are, in addition to the days for subfreshman applicants, March 6, and April 17. Applicants for grades 9-12 must take the upper level
  of the SSAT.
• If an applicant has taken the SSAT more than once, the admission committee will consider only
  the test results from the last test date unless the committee receives a written request to use earlier
  scores.
• The test fee is $105. Sign up after the original registration deadline is $130. To sign up for a
  standby test is $160.
• Fee waivers are available for eligible families. To determine if the applicant is eligible for a fee
  waiver, call Barb Gerdes, 217-333-2870.
• For Sabbath Saturday accommodations, contact Barb Gerdes at 217-333-2870.
• When registering for the SSAT, make sure that you request your scores be sent to University
  Laboratory High School (code number 7820). Uni will not accept unoffi cial score reports from
  the applicant.
• SSAT scores taken before 6th grade will not be considered.

Are there special accommodations available to take the SSAT?

There are special accommodations available for students taking the SSAT. The SSAT Student Registration Guide provides instructions on how to request those accommodations. This information is also available on the SSAT website: www.ssat.org. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Barb Aschenbrenner, SSAT Site Administrator, for more information at (217)333-2870.

What SSAT score is needed to be admitted to Uni?

There is no set standard or minimum score that must be achieved on the SSAT to be considered for admittance to Uni. The SSAT score is just one component of the entire application package that is reviewed.

Why are transcripts sent from my old school?

Each applicant is responsible for having their previous year’s grades and current fall semester’s grades sent to Uni. If the applicant is waitlisted, he or she should have their third quarter grades sent to Uni as well. The records sent from the school give the Admissions Committee a picture of the academics of the applicant as well as attendance and tardies. These are all factors which will contribute information about the applicant. Once the transcript form is signed by the parent or guardian and given to the school, the school will send all materials on file. This could include records of discipline, absences and tardies, awards, ISAT scores, other test scores, etc.

What are teacher recommendations and why are they important?

• Two teacher recommendations are required for each applicant. The teacher rates the student on 15 characteristics and answers a few short questions regarding the student’s strengths, weaknesses and character. The teacher then has the opportunity to: highly recommend, recommend, recommend with reservation, or not recommend the student to Uni High. This information usually has a significant impact on the committee’s assessment of the student. The applicant should select a teacher that he/she feels will provide a strong recommendation.
• Teacher recommendations are important because they give a picture of the applicant in the academic setting. The applicant should make sure to ask a teacher who teaches in the academic areas (social studies, English, mathematics, foreign language (meets daily) or science). Each applicant should ask the teacher if he/she is willing to give a strong recommendation. The applicant can waive or not waive his/her right to see the recommendation. If the applicant waives the right, the recommendation tends to be more candid and open. If the applicant does not waive the right, the teacher may not be as forthcoming.

How are the applications processed?

• Uni High receives the required information and builds a file for each applicant. We notify the applicant (if we have contact information) if components of the application package are missing. Again, only application packets that include all required information will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.
• After the application deadline, the application, SSAT scores, transcripts, and teacher recommendations are copied. All identifying information is obscured, and a second copy is made from these altered sheets. The file is assigned a number and is then available to the Admissions Committee for review. This is called a “blind” admissions process. The reviewers never see any information that might give them a clue as to the applicant’s identity.

What is the evaluation process of the Admissions Committee?

• In Mid-March, each Committee member reads and takes individual notes on every application. The members of the Committee are not only looking for students who are academic achievers, but those who also consistently demonstrate a high degree of task commitment and/or motivation, giftedness, creativity, and leadership. Uni seeks to increase the number of qualified students from minority groups who are traditionally underrepresented in programs for the academically talented and gifted.
• By late March, each Committee member has reviewed and evaluated every application file. A time is set to meet for one full day to discuss each application. This meeting consists of several “rounds” and determines which candidates will be recommended for admission.

What happens at the time when regular admission offers are made?

• The Admissions Committee recommends approximately forty to fifty students for regular admission. This will reserve ten to twenty spots to be filled in the late admissions period. The Admissions Committee will develop three lists: students offered admission, students declined admission, and students placed on a waitlist.
• The Committee Chair takes notes throughout the entire process. These lists and notes will be passed on to the Director for final determination. The Director finalizes the list and, by mid April, letters are mailed to the applicants. The letters will indicate whether the student is offered admission, declined admission, or placed on a waitlist.
• Student acceptance decisions must be returned to Uni by early May.
• The Committee and Director’s decisions are final and there is no appeal process.

What is the late admissions process?

• In late April, a deadline is established for late applications and applications from students applying for admission to grades 9-12. At this point, the entire process starts anew with another group of applications.
• Each Admissions Committee member reads all the new files and, in mid May, another meeting is held. The waitlist students from the first round are added into the late admissions pool and the final ten to twenty spots are filled.
• A final, new waitlist is generated, with students in rank-order for each class. Throughout the entire process an effort is made to equally balance the number of boys and girls. For the subfreshman class, this means 30 girls and 30 boys. At the high school level, the acceptance is by rank-order, not gender.
• For the last few spots and in cases where all else appears equal, students in seventh grade may be given priority over those in sixth grade. The sixth grade applicants have the opportunity to re-apply the following year.
• The high school applicants are also evaluated at this time and are ranked in order of preference, should a spot in that class open up.
• These late admissions and high school recommendations are then passed on to the Director. Final decisions are made and letters are mailed to the applicants. Student acceptance decisions must be returned to Uni High by mid June.
• The Committee and Director’s decisions are final, and there is no appeal process.

What happens to those students who remain on the waitlist?

• Over the summer break, if a position becomes available, the next student on the waitlist will be offered a spot.
• No additional communication is sent out over the course of the summer, other than offers of admission. The probability of being offered admission ends after the first week of school has passed. Students not admitted from the waitlist by the 5th day of school should understand that they will not be admitted. All waitlisted students and students not offered admission are invited to reapply the following year.
• University Laboratory High School is a rigorous academic five year high school. If a student accepts an offer to attend Uni High, it is important to remember that this is a five year commitment to a very challenging academic program.

What kind of special education services and accommodations are available at Uni?

Uni has a dedicated special needs coordinator who works with parents and students to design an individualized plan for students who qualify for special education services or special accommodations. Uni follows the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 rules of the American with Disabilities Act as required by the federal government. Any student admitted to Uni who currently has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan will work with the special needs coordinator in the Student Services Office to review and adjust the plan for their continued educational success at Uni.

What is the MPAG and what is its role at Uni?

The Multi-cultural Parent Advisory Group (MPAG) was created in 2006, and consists of parents of current Uni students and Uni staff. The role of the group is to increase awareness of cultural and equity issues in education. Parent liaisons from MPAG invite you to contact them with questions about life at Uni and for support with the admissions process. These Uni parents sincerely welcome your call and want to provide whatever support and help you need in considering Uni as an option for your child. If you would like to be contacted by an MPAG "parent liaison", please call and ask for the Outreach Coordinator, at (217) 333-2870.

Please keep in mind that you should contact Ms. Kovacs if you have specific admissions questions or questions the “parent liaison” is unable to answer. Ms. Kovacs is the Director of Admissions and can field any questions about the admissions process.