<p>Just as you thought questions on these boards can't get any more obnoxious...</p>
<p>As a high school senior graduating in a couple of months, I just received my first admission decision a few days ago, a blunt rejection from UIUC. "You have not been selected for admission," the small gray rectangle says, linking to a very helpful Denied FAQ section:</p>
<p>1.What does being denied mean?
-It means that you have not been selected for admission to the University of Illinois.
(copied directly from the page)</p>
<p>I was briefly let down, because I really did believe my chance was not bad. But now here's the big problem. Four months ago, while conducting my college search, I was somehow convinced (by parents, relatives, teachers etc.) that I should aim for top-tier schools, despite the fact that I am quite an average student with non-existent accomplishments. It was a terrible mistake.</p>
<p>A worse mistake was that I missed the deadline for Rutgers. I was supposed to apply it as "Safety". In 3 weeks or so, I'll be getting a row of rejections from the 5 other schools, of equal, if not higher, selectivity with UIUC. </p>
<p>But before I eat the bitter fruits of my own mistakes, CC, are there actually any colleges still accepting applications at this time? Are there any options for someone with faulty estimation?</p>
<p>Your default safety is to attend community college for two years, taking courses needed to prepare to transfer as a junior in your desired major to one of the state universities in your state.</p>
<p>Note that many lesser known and less selective state universities have relatively late application deadlines. For example, UAB’s deadline is May 1, although the large stats-based merit scholarships are given to those who apply by the previous December 1.</p>
<p>Some schools also allow applying for the spring semester.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your denial. Chalk this up to experience and you’ll be all the better for it - even if it doesn’t feel like it now. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Iowa State and U Iowa both have rolling admissions. Both have excellent engineering programs. Iowa State is probably better overall for STEM. Iowa State has an excellent placement record for STEM graduates.</p>
<p>Both offer a traditional college experience with few commuters. Housing at both schools fills up fast (and at all similar schools). You need to apply ASAP or you may not get housing.</p>
<p>Ahhh. Sorry for the confusion, forgot to mention I am an international student from a local high school in Hong Kong.</p>
<p>I should have no problem getting in a university in my country, granted that I cram enough these weeks for the university entry exams held in March/April. And we have our equivalents to American’s community colleges here, too. Interesting enough, they are called Institute of Vocational Education, IVE, pronounced ‘Ivy’! </p>
<p>In fact, one of the newest IVE campus is literally just a stone’s throw from where I live. I can get there in 5 minutes by foot, or in 3 minutes if I sprint.</p>
<p>I imagine such college life would be far from ideal, bursting out of bed every morning in shock, run to school, arriving in class just in time… like what I had been doing in the past 6, no, 9 years. Lol. The school I go to is 7 minutes more of walk.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the suggestions, everyone! I looking up the details of the above universities.</p>
<p>And yes, housing is necessary (I’m international). I’ll see if I could choose the right school(s) and finish the applications within today or tmr.</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>Oh and I’m kind of leaning towards ECE, as I don’t have some crazy affections for trains, airplanes, or skyscrapers. Circuits and programming are fascinating though. If engineering doesn’t work out, say I find out I don’t like engineering at all, it’d be great if I could switch back to Physics, or Math. Do you guys have any suggestions on universities that offer good programs in these disciplines, and, of course, still accepts applications? Thanks.</p>
<p>Rose Hulman Institute of Technology accepts applications until March 1.</p>
<p>USNWR ranks Rose Hulman’s engineering programs #1 among schools that do not grant doctorates. Fall 2010 admit rate was 66%. Median SATs: 570-670 CR, 630-740M 550-650W.</p>
<p>Since your interests are STEM, and you need a school that will still accept you, I suggest UA-Huntsville. UAH is still accepting apps and is quite strong in Engineering, sciences, pre-health, etc. </p>
<p>ECE is your major? Good!</p>
<p>The flagship, UAlabama, might also still accept you if you have good stats…however, they’ve gotten a record number of apps…that said, you’re an int’l, so you’re desired for diversity…I could get you the name of a good contact person.</p>
<p>you should check with uab re the scholarships also… after dec 1 the scholarships are as funds are available, so not totally impossible. Heather McKnight is the contact person you need to talk to (Heather McKnight, Scholarship Coordinator in Financial Aid, at 256-934-8223)
Entering freshmen are automatically considered for all university-wide academic scholarships as soon as they’re admitted to UAB. All scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are available (so you’ll want to apply while there’s still some left for you) and are renewable for four years. However, if as the post above says you are international, i’m not sure about merit aid. the cost of uab though is “reasonable”</p>
<p>To be eligible for an academic scholarship at UAB, you must be admitted by May 1. Apply soon—don’t miss the deadline.</p>
<p>The last scores that we will consider for scholarship purposes are the December ACT and SAT test scores from your senior year in high school.
Blazer Elite Scholarship
$15,000
Based on academic achievement (28-36 ACT and at least 3.0 GPA)
Blazer Gold Scholarship
$10,000
Based on academic achievement (26-27 ACT and at least 3.0 GPA)
Blazer Pride Scholarship
$5,000
Based on academic achievement (24-25 ACT and at least 3.0 GPA)</p>
<p>total oos cost is 20-25K (tuition, dorm and food) very strong in the sciences. (you have missed the deadline for the honors colleges, but you can take honors track in your major. tier 1 research university, urban campus, 11K undergrads. wonderful research opportunies.</p>
<p>feel free to pm for any info…S2 goes there…</p>
<p>I am not attending an American system school. My school doesn’t calculate GPA or class rank. Even if it does, the numbers wouldn’t convey anything useful as my school is very, very small. I think I am approximately one of the top 5 student in my graduating class of 40.</p>
<p>I scored 1850 on my SAT last december, CR 550 M 740 W 560. not so good in the reading and writing part, I’m ESL after all.</p>
<p>I got 800 for both SAT Subject tests Math II & Physics, like everyone.</p>
<p>Budget, very fortunately, is not too much of a problem.</p>
<p>Try Purdue. Given that you are rejected by UIUC, you may have problem getting admitted to Purdue engineering. However, you can do an internal transfer later if your grades are good enough.</p>
<p>
No, the IVE’s are vocational schools. Community colleges in Hong Kong are like SPACE, CityU community college, etc.</p>
<p>== I applied for Purdue Engineering. I’m even more discouraged now.
Anyways, I just found out Penn State has a rolling deadline. Although its priority deadline is Feb 1, they still accept applications until class is full. Do you think I have any chance being admitted to Penn State?</p>
<p>I was somehow convinced (by parents, relatives, teachers etc.) that I should aim for top-tier schools, despite the fact that I am quite an average student with non-existent accomplishments. It was a terrible mistake.</p>
<p>===============</p>
<p>Well, it is unfortunate that you were so poorly advised, and they were wrong not to also have you apply to some match/safeties. Applying to some reaches is fine, but to mostly apply to reaches when stats are not high is just not understanding the system. </p>
<p>You might have a chance to get into Penn St if they highly desire some full pay int’ls. However, does PSU have any minimum SAT scores for eng’g? Some schools do.</p>
<p>How did you do on Toefl? </p>
<p>Anyway…you can’t only hope for a PSU acceptance…time is running out. You need to quickly apply to a few more schools…especially some with rather easy apps…no essays…no LORs.</p>