CHICAGO – Illinois is helping to ensure that all students have access to higher education with One Click College Admit Month! Activities throughout the month are part of an ongoing campaign to increase awareness of and participation in Illinois’ new, simple and quick direct college admissions program.

Last summer, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), in collaboration with the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), launched One Click College Admit, a statewide program offering direct admissions to participating Illinois public universities and community colleges. Illinois high school juniors and community college transfer students who take advantage of the program receive direct college admission offers based only on their grade point average (GPA), without applications, essays, letters of recommendation, or application fees.

Speaking on behalf of all the Illinois education agencies, IBHE Executive Director Ginger Ostro said, “By eliminating fees and the application process for participating state universities and our community colleges, we can empower more students across the state with higher education options that put them on a path for success. We encourage students and families to learn about the program and complete the simple opt-in process.”

Throughout the month, ISAC will host activities in collaboration with high schools across the state and with the support of IBHE, ICCB, and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE):

• If you are a high school junior or the parent of one, check your high school calendar to see if a One Click College Admit Workshop is offered at your school.

• Connect with your local ISACorps member in person, by phone, or online, studentportal.isac.org/isacorps, or make a free virtual appointment with an ISAC expert to answer any questions you might have about One Click College Admit, isac.org/booking.

• If you are interested in attending any other college-going or financial aid workshop offered by ISAC, you will be sure to hear about One Click College Admit. See ISAC’s events calendar: studentportal.isac.org/events.

• In addition, high school juniors and their parents, as well as community college students, can watch quick how-to videos about how to sign-up for One Click College Admit at https://www.isac.org/OCCA-videos.

Signing up for the One Click College Admit Program can take less than 5 minutes. In their junior year of high school, students (and parents if the student is under 18) complete a short opt-in form that allows high schools to share the student’s GPA with ISAC so it can match it to GPA criteria provided by participating colleges and universities. Then the student creates a Common App account and simply waits to receive college admissions offers through their Common App account in September of their senior year.

Current community college students who are on track to complete their associate degree and looking to transfer to an Illinois public 4-year university can also opt-in to the One Click College Admit Program to receive admissions offers to universities. ICCB is sharing resources, hosting information sessions and collaborating with community colleges to ensure students are aware of this new pathway to a free and simple transfer process.

ISAC has also developed a toolkit for counselors interested in offering a One Click College Admit Workshop. Find links for the toolkit and more in the Resources section of the One Click College Admit website.

One Click College Admit is a direct admissions program for participating Illinois public institutions. The program does not limit college choices: it does not require that a student who receives an admission offer enroll in the college, does not replace the traditional college application should a student choose to apply that way, and does not replace the traditional application process for non-participating institutions. It is not a financial aid program or free tuition program. Students in Illinois must still complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year to determine their eligibility for financial aid.

Illinois e-News Release

FEBRUARY IS ONE CLICK COLLEGE ADMIT MONTH!

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