CARBONDALE – High school students from the Southern Illinois region can take advantage of a free, streamlined application process for Southern Illinois University Carbondale, if they start their senior year with a GPA of 2.75 or better. All they need to do is check their email, click a button and answer a few simple questions.
With the Say Yes initiative, students who have met admission criteria will automatically be pre-admitted to SIU Carbondale – that is, their application will be filled in about a third of the way on their behalf, and if they finish the application, they will be admitted after required documents are received, said Wendell Williams, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management.
“Today’s students are busier than ever,” he said, “and we want to reduce paperwork, eliminate barriers and make access to their education and the transition to college as easy as possible.
“We’re excited to partner with our local schools in Southern Illinois region to increase opportunities for the students, and we are dedicated to making sure that students in Southern Illinois have the first opportunity to take advantage of the wonderful university in their own backyard.”
Southern Illinois high schools in 17 counties are collaborating with SIU Carbondale, said Sarah Jiter, director of admissions. Students who meet the criteria will receive direct communication by email from the university.
“All prospective students need to do is click a button that says, ‘Finish Your Application’ to say yes and let us know they are interested,” she said. “We also know that many high school students have already decided to become a Saluki, and they can tell us that as well.”
All students maintain the right to make their final decision on the traditional College Decision Day of May 1.
Students who have decided to attend SIU Carbondale will receive an official SIU Carbondale Saluki cap. Williams said the idea came from seeing the future college athletes proudly don the headgear during National Signing Day ceremonies.
“We are ready for our Salukis to put a lid on it,” he said. “Whenever they let us know, we want them to proudly wear their lids. Students who say yes to our pre-admission offer will be able to complete a few basic questions that will allow SIU Carbondale staff to fully process their applications.”
Students who indicate SIU Carbondale their first choice will be moved to our ready to register status, he said. This expedites their transition to college by allowing earlier access to housing opportunities, completion of a degree plans based on their choice of major, financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and registration access for classes when it becomes available.
The Southern Illinois region was the logical choice to launch the initiative, Williams said.
“We want students in our community to know they are welcome,” he said. “As we expand the program next year to other students in the state of Illinois, and around the nation, we are sure that this will provide easier access for students.”
As part of this new program, SIU Carbondale is a Slate.org participant school, which will help high school counselors with uploading high school transcripts directly and checking admission status in real time. This functionality facilitates the admissions process for both the high school students and the high school counselors.
Participating schools are in the following counties: Alexander, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Union, White, and Williamson.
