Chance me for University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Indian Student)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Class 12 Indian student living in UAE

Grades:
Class 9 CGPA : 9.8
Class 10 CGPA : 10
Class 11 percentage ; 80% (How do I convert to GPA? Should I convert to GPA?)
Class 12 : Internal exams next week - I won’t do so great (but I heard UIUC doesn’t need internal marks/). I’m confident of doing well in final exams next year though.

Tests:
SAT: 1320/1600. I know it’s low. But I’ll be writing again in October and hopefully it will raise.
SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry: 800, Maths II : 730

2 really good letters of recommendation although I’m not sure if UIUC accepts them.

EC:
Not all that great.Won a lot of quizzes both in school and nationally. Founder of a quiz club in our school.
Member of Operation Smile club in school for a year.
Was an active member on 7cups.com - an online service where you help other people emotionally (Should I mention this?)
Tutored my younger sibling.
Active writer on www.quora.com (Should I mention this too?)
Participated in class and school plays. Won a prize.
Plays chess a lot. (Does that count? How do I write about it?)

Honors:
Received a lot of awards for getting a perfect CGPA in class 10.
High Distinction in Maths, English and Science in IBT (International Benchmark Tests)
83.5% in DELF (Diplôme d’études en langue française) exam - A2 level.

Is it a good idea to apply to UIUC? What other universities should I apply to?

2

Well… Your ECs are on the low side for an international student. I suggest that you get a good grade on the SAT. Btw can you afford it?

3

UIUC does not accept recommendation letter. Also, the admission stat varies with major. What is your intended major? What is the reason for you to pick UIUC?

4

Intended major is engg.

Well my parents set the condition that I need to get into a top ranked university and as I researched more, UIUC seemed like the perfect option (based on location, the big campus etc.)

5

What range of grades would you suggest on the SATs? Yea, I guess my ECs are really very low.

Well, cost is turning out to be more of a problem than I’d originally thought. I am going to try for scholarships of course, but I’m not keeping my hopes too high. I’m pretty sure I can afford the cost though.

6

Well, if you can afford it, that’s one huge problem put aside. I can’t tell how good your GPA is without conversion, but I say that you need an SAT higher than the 75th percentile.

7

Thank you!

8

Forget about UIUC if you need final aid.
Again, what is your SPECIFIC intended major?

9

Undeclared. Maybe mech eng or computers. It’s undecided.

What other universities should I apply to?