Hello and Welcome to the University of Illinois!

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and your invitation to the Merit Program!

For students participating in New Student Registration in person this summer, please visit us in the Illinois Street Residence Hall at 11:45 am on your registration date for more information about the Merit program and how to sign up for courses.

For students participating in New Student Registration online this summer, please read the information below before your meeting with your academic advisor.

We encourage you to look carefully at all the material here several days prior to your online New Student Registration date and take the following steps in order to be part of the Merit program.

Step 1:  Watch the Merit Informational video below.

This video explains more about the Merit Program and how it fits in with the classes incoming students generally take their first semesters on campus.  It also allows you to “meet” each of the Merit Directors and hear from some students who have participated in the program recently. 

Step 2: Look through the Fall 2024 Merit Course offerings to see what options you might have for participation (depending on your major and/or interests).  Again – it would be very helpful to do this prior to your individual conversation with an advisor on your New Student Registration date.

Step 3: If you have a questions prior/during your New Student Registration day, email us at meritprogram@illinois.edu.

Step 4: Talk to your advisor about signing up for Merit during your New Student Registration advising appointment.  If all Merit sections in the course(s) you are taking are full on the day you register (or if none of the open sections will fit with your other classes), you can add yourself to an online Interest Form (coming soon); then we will contact you at the start of the fall semester if some Merit seats have opened up in those courses.

NOTE: Merit is also offered for students enrolled in the introductory ECE courses (ECE 110, ECE 120). Students invited to ECE Merit will be contacted by an advisor close to your New Student Registration day with more information and instructions about how to register for the class. If you are interested in ECE Merit, but did not receive an email please contact Molly Helgesen at mhelgese@illinois.edu