ASPIRE Illinois offers an opportunity for students with diverse experiences and goals, and who come from many educational, socio-cultural, geographic, and familial backgrounds to explore and consider graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Toward this aim, we provide preapplication supports and host a campus visit.
We provide a series of informative webinars that guide students through selecting graduate programs and crafting competitive applications. These sessions are tailored to empower ASPIRE applicants, offering early application guidance and insights into specific programs.
Additionally, many ASPIRE candidates may qualify for prestigious Graduate College fellowships, further supporting their academic ambitions.
Webinar Series
The ASPIRE Illinois Summer Webinar Series will be held weekly beginning in July 2026. More details coming soon!
The great part is that there is no fee or cost to participate in the webinars; you can join in from anywhere. Here is a tentative schedule:
- July 9 at 7 PM Central: Navigating the ASPIRE Application & Information on the ASPIRE Campus Visit Program
- Lisa Abston, Assistant Dean for Access & Engagement, Graduate College
- July 16 at 7 PM Central: Writing Effective Personal Statements
- Speaker from The Writers Workshop
- July 23 at 7 PM Central: Applying to Graduate School
- Meg Siebenhar, Senior Associate Director of Admissions & Enrollment, Graduate College
- July 30 at 7 PM Central: Funding Graduate School
- Dana Johnson, Director of External Fellowships, Graduate College
- August 6 at 7 PM Central: TBD
- TBD
- August 13 at 7 PM Central: Navigating Letters of Recommendation + Getting the Mentoring You Need in Grad School OR Funding
- Jess Holmes, Assistant Director for Career & Professional Development, Graduate College
Register for the Webinar Series
Preference for the ASPIRE Illinois Campus Visit Program will be given to applicants who attend multiple webinars in this series.
Campus Visit
The 2026 ASPIRE Illinois campus visit program offers an opportunity for students with a wide range of experiences and goals to consider graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Participants will meet with faculty in their research area of interest, interact with current graduate students, tour campus facilities, and learn about the resources offered through the Graduate College.
There is no registration fee or cost to participate in the campus visit. Applicants must be at least a rising senior or have already graduated from a bachelor’s program and must be either United States citizens, permanent residents, or approved domestic applicants.
This year, the campus visit will take place on October 8-9, 2026.
The ASPIRE Illinois Application will open June 22, 2026.