Chance for UIUC, Desprate Waters

<p>Currently a high school graduate, tried attending UIS (University Illinois Springfield) this Fall, ended up being denied financial aid a week in due to a error on my green-card so had to come back home . Getting ready for applications again for next fall (by which the green-card problem should be fixed). </p>

<p>Please chance me for University Illinois Urbana, and ED for either Kenyon or Northwestern (still considering).</p>

<p>Attended Chicago Public School
GPA UW- 3.3
GPA W- 3.9
ACT-34
Rank: Top 40%</p>

<p>AP:
Biology 4
English Comp 4
English Lit 3</p>

<p>EC:
4 years poetry club
3 years school newspaper
3 years science club
president/founder- Dance Club</p>

<p>Jobs:
Freelance writer various companies
Remilon.com paid writing employee (maybe)
2 years retail service
Ethnic Newspaper English columnist</p>

<p>Awards/Recognition:
AP Scholar
Principals Award (straight A's)
Third place Egyptian poetry contest
Featured poetry on poetrysoup.com
Higest ACT score in junior class
Young Author's Finalist
Published Poetry in Lamp literary magazine</p>

<p>Nationality: Pakistani</p>

<p>Applying as: English Major, Neuro Minor (or double major if possible)</p>

<p>Essay: Focusing primarily on drug problem during freshman sophmore year that lead to low GPA, and gave rise to my interest in my majors.</p>

<p>In my freshman year my GPA was averaging about 2.2 and I failed a math class which I made up in summer school, and went up to 3.3 senior year (straight A's senior year, A's+B's junior). I'm really determined to get into UIUC, I applied last year and even appealed, but was rejected; my girlfriend was accepted and many of my friends.This year my application is much stronger (higher GPA + awards) but still not the most appealing on the board. Also looking at Northwestern for ED since it's only a few blocks from my house, but unlikely to get in prob.
Any tips for application and chances welcomed.</p>