Illinois Students Can Apply to Some In-State Colleges with Only GPA

I can't be the only one that still occasionally has nightmares related to college. Don't get it twisted: I had a very fun, enjoyable four years. What I don't miss, however, was the constant stress of academics, assignments, solo/group projects, and high costs.

And that's after you get accepted to a college/university. Getting into college is a job in itself, similar to the way applying for a job has become a non-linear nightmare. There's college essays, recommendation letters, cover letters, and naturally, because this is America, application fees that come with applying to your top schools.

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Blessed so, one program is trying to change all that and make the process more streamlined. At least in Illinois. The program, called "One Click College Admit," will allow Illinois high school seniors and community college transfer students to apply for/received college acceptance into 10 of the state's public universities by submitting only one element: their grade point average (GPA).

As of this writing, the universities that have agreed to be a part of One Click College Admit are as follows:

• Chicago State University
• Eastern Illinois University
• Governors State University
• Northern Illinois University
• Northeastern Illinois University
• Southern Illinois University
• Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville
• Western Illinois University
• Illinois State University
• University of Illinois - Springfield

Notably absent from the list are both University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the University of Chicago (UIC).

Per a press released obtained by NBC 5 Chicago, the new program is designed to "take the stress and fees out of admission to state institutions." One Click College Admit effectively bypasses applications, application fees, entry essays, and letters of recommendation for eligible Illinois students applying to in-state public colleges.

The new program was announced by the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Student Association Commission, and Governor J.B. Pritzker:

Enhancing access to Illinois’ public universities and community colleges with One Click College Admit will empower even more talented students across the state to realize their full academic potential through higher education. This program marks another step in my administration’s steadfast effort to make Illinois the best state in the nation to receive an accessible, high-quality education — one that sets students of all backgrounds up for lifelong success - Governor J.B. Pritzker, per NBC 5 Chicago

You can find out more details about One Click College Admit on the program's website.