<p>U of I is my top choice and I'm wondering about my chances...</p>
<p>Asian-American
GPA: 3.27
Class Rank: 323/800-815ish
ACT: 26 (retaking this saturday)
-decent ec's but nothing spectacular
-About my gpa: my freshman year was absoultly horrible (2.0 first semester and 1.5 second semester), 4.0 both semester in 10th grade (but i took an easy schedule to bring my gpa from utter crap to mediocre), 3.57 and 3.71 my 11th grade (2aps and 1 hrs class)...and also spanish II my 10th grade summer and pre-calc my 11th grade summer to get back on track. Right now, I'm taking a full courseload with 2aps and 1hrrs.
-I'm applying to Philosophy and plan on submitting the app by this weekend.</p>
<p>Also, are there any other decent schools in Illinois that could be a match or safety for me? I can't apply to UIC till mid-October because I'm only 15 years right now. (my guidance counselor called them because their website said the applicant must be 16 years to apply -- but can petition, but they also said I should just wait till Oct. to apply instead of petitioning right now).</p>
<p>Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>depaul in chicago is a decent school with great employment/internship prospects.</p>
<p>UIUC cares far more about class rank than GPA so I don't know if they'll take into account the upward trend of your GPA. Since your class rank is only top 40% (and 89% of UIUC's students are in the top 25%), A LOT will ride on other factors. The big thing besides class rank is the ACT score and your 26 is at 25th percentile, which will not make up for your low class rank. Less important factors are extracurriculars, work, community service, and essays. If your ACT and GPA are high, these factors mean little. But if they are borderline, as in your case, then UIUC will pay very close attention to them to see if they compensate for the lack of impressive numbers.</p>
<p>Right now your chances are slim (unless you have spectacular ECs and essays) because of the weight UIUC places on class rank and ACT. There is nothing you can do about your class rank, but you still have a chance to improve your ACT score. Your #1 goal should be to get a 30 or above on your Saturday ACT because that will put you in a much better position.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses!
My brother knows the head of the Philosophy department...so does that help anything?</p>
<p>Also, since there isn't a UIC board, are my stats good enough to get into UIC without too much worrying?</p>
<p>UIUC is a big university that handles thousands of applications so I doubt they're going to show much bais unless you were the child of a university employee or something of that degree. As for UIC, you'll get admitted very easily there.</p>