<p>Looking for an opportunity to study at UIUC this upcoming fall as an aspiring programmer. I applied for priority filling (11/1 deadline). Please give me your feedback!</p>
<p>UIUC:CE-CS is my top choice.
Currently residing in state.
No class rank (but probably in top 10% at least)
UIUC doesn't take recs, but I have one from my CS teacher for other schools to apply with
Ethnicity : Asian American
GPA: 3.46/4 UW ; 4.38/5 W
ACT : Composite(33) - Math(34) English(33) Reading(33) Science(31) Combined English/Writing(30) Writing(8) </p>
<p>Junior Year Courses*
AP Calc AB
AP Composition and Language
AP Chinese
Economics
Ceramics
CS 1</p>
<p>Senior Year Courses
AP Stats
CS 2
Digital Imaging
Forensics Science
PE III **
Creative Writing</p>
<p>*It should be noted that before my senior year (the years prior to 2014), the grading scale at my school was 93-100(A), 85-92(B), 75-84(C), 68-74(D), 0-67%(F), versus the traditional 90-100(A), 80-89(B), 70-79(C), etc. that other schools used. The grading scale only shifted to the lower one during my 2014-2015 school year. Long story short, technically a couple of my Bs should have been As and what have you. I noted the grading scale change in my application.</p>
<p>**CPS mandated three years of physical education for seniors graduating in 2014-2015, therefore I was forced to include PE in my course schedule instead of a science (AP Physics was what I wanted). Myself, along with many other students, were denied a seventh course, and instead had a study hall period due to lack of classroom space/teachers etc. I also included this note in my application. </p>
<p>Extracurriculars
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Computer & Web Design Club
Robotics Club
Volleyball (Club and school program)
Key Club
Asian American Club
Teacher's Aide for Mandarin Chinese program
Tutor at local learning center
ASM:JRS (basically an afterschool program where I interned at and learned about alternative energy, particularly solar.
Included a lot of stuff about electrical engineering and the mechanics behind solar technology)</p>
<p>Extra Information:
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My grades overall are good, the reason for the significant drop in GPA was because I messed up in AP Calculus during my junior year. I dove into the course without any real preparation beforehand (having taken pre-calc sophomore year) and wasn't expecting the rigorous courseload (really bad mistake). I got a D first semester but brought it up to a C as my final grade with tutoring/after school help. Besides this one bad grade, the rest of my transcript is all As and some Bs.</p>
<p>In regards to my courseload for senior year, I fulfilled 26 of the 24 required credits after my junior year, so I was mostly looking for things that would help me in the field of CS during my senior year. This includes CS 2, and AP Stats. Creative writing was a choice I made to help me become a stronger writer, Forensics was an elective I was curious about, and Digital Imaging because I wanted to learn how to use Photoshop. PE was mandated, and I was denied AP Physics.</p>
<p>I included in my essay a lot about my passion for CS and why it's important to me (both my brothers studied it too, in fact, one of them also went to UIUC) and I feel they are very strong essays. My hope was that they would look more-so at my background coming into CS. This includes my self-learning, two years studying it at school, a web design club I took part in leading, as well as robotics club.</p>
<p>I appreciate any feedback!</p>