An admissions committee reviews applications on a name-blind basis and makes recommendations to the Director of University Laboratory High School. Each year, Uni accepts 60 students into its subfreshman class. All current sixth and seventh graders whose parents will be living in the State of Illinois as of the first day of school are eligible to apply. Students must be 11 years old on the first day of classes.

Applications for admission to grades 9-12 are considered only on a space-available basis. However, Uni encourages applications from any interested students who are or will be residents of the state of Illinois by the first day of school. Admission to Uni is highly competitive. Uni admits equal numbers of girls and boys in the subfreshman class. Admission decisions are made without regard to home school district or any affiliation with the University of Illinois. Uni strives to build a class of incoming students that is inclusive and representative of the surrounding communities. Admission is for August entry only. Admission decisions are final. There is no appeal process.

The admissions committee considers the following criteria when making its decision:

• Demonstrates a superior school record;
• Evidence of strong academic motivation;
• Secondary School Admission Test results;
• Evidence of outstanding creativity, leadership, initiative, or interests;
• Evidence of writing ability based on SSAT writing sample;
• Information on the application provided by the applicant;
• Two letters of recommendation from teachers of academic areas. (The Admissions Committee will only consider two letters of recommendation. Please submit only two.)