Do I even have a chance? Low GPA, Decent Test Scores

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
1

<p>Hello, it's the summer and I'm already starting to write application essays and getting a bit nervous. Wanna help calm my nerves and give me a chance? Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Cali/Male/Asian</p>

<p>1st generation to go to college in USA
born outside USA
One of the most competitive schools in Cali (1H, 1Y, 1P, 2S this year, 6-7 to each UC, 1UPenn, 1JHU, 1Cornell)
Top 10%</p>

<p>GPA: ~3.61 UW & ~4.045 W (10th-11th) Does UIUC include 9th or 1st semes. of 12th?
SAT: Superscore 2180; 2100 (640CR, 720W, 740M), 2100 (600CR, 720W, 780M) ,retaking for 2250+</p>

<p>SAT II: MathIIc 800, Phys 750 (retaking), Bio (pending)
APs: Calc BC (5), Calc AB Subscore (5), Eng Lang. (3), Phys Mech (3), Phys E&M (3), World History (3)</p>

<p>Frosh: HGeometry, HGlobal Studies, Bio
Summer: H Alg 2. @ CC
Sopho: AP World, H Eng, H Pre Calc, Chem, Phys
Summer: H US History @ CC
Junior: AP Calc BC, AP Phys C, AP Eng Lang
Senior: AP Bio, AP Stat, AP CS, AP Gov&MacroEcon, AP Eng Lit</p>

<p>ECs: Piano - 7yrs, Marching Band - 4yrs (Instrument for 6yrs), Bio-related Research Internship - current summer, Siemens/Intel - (pending), Local Science Fair - (pending), Math Club - 4yrs, Riddle Club - 2yrs (President), Web-Designing for non-profit as well as commercial - countless hours since freshman year, very good recommendations from all the organizations I've designed for</p>

<p>Wanting to apply Bio Engineering
I will most likely be applying ED but what are my chances with ED & without?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>BioE is really hard to get in (becuase its new, or so I heard). I think you will be offered alternative choice within college of engineering.</p>

3

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Other opinions please?</p>

4

<p>I can't tell you your chances if you don't tell us where you want ot go to school. getting into a bioengineering program is not hard.. there are over 3000 schools. but do you wanna go into top 50? 30? 10?</p>

5

<p>umm im guessing he wants to go to UIUC since his posts is in the UIUC forum. just a guess.</p>

6

<p>Yea - UIUC</p>

7

<p>Some things to be aware of:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>UIUC does not have ED. It has a priority date, usually Nov 15, by which you can submit everything necessary (app, test scores, transcript), and you will get a response by Dec 15, either accept, reject, or deferred to consideration after all apps are in. If accepted you are not required to attend like it would be with ED.</p></li>
<li><p>It does not superscore multiple SAT tests. It uses that test with the highest composite (and is currently ignoring the writing section). Your score for admission would be 1380.</p></li>
<li><p>It does not use SAT IIs for deciding admission. It also does not use recommendations.</p></li>
<li><p>It does not use senior year grades for admission. It does use freshman through junior.</p></li>
<li><p>Most important factors are test score and class rank (which you do not provide). Third most importatnt factor is difficulty of your courses and your APs will help there.</p></li>
<li><p>Bioengineering is most difficult major to get into because it is still in its infancy and they are slowly raising number that enroll as freshman each year and started with a target of only 25 three years ago and are now looking at about 35. Average class rank and test score for bioengineering is top 4% and 34 ACT (about 1500 SAT not counting the writing section). They usually give those with high rank/test score who are not accepted in bioengineering an alternative choice to other engineering.</p></li>
</ol>

8

<p>Class rank: 68/646 until 1st semes Junior year (10.5%).. awaiting 2nd semes. rank (will go up into or very very close to 10%)</p>

9

<p>Why Bioengineering? Its a rather new program and there are other colleges with more solid offerings. Its a very small program so they dont accept many. I foolishly applied Bioengineering last year since I was thinking of doing either Biology or Economics at the time. UIUC wasnt the top choice for me. Anyway I wasnt rejected but I wasnt accepted either. They told me the program was full so I could choose any other major. I decided to go with CS instead on a whim. Before hand I was all set on going to UChicago but I didnt like the city, the cost and had a change of heart as to pursuing a "hard science".</p>

<p>p.s. They try to lure you into Agriculture Engineering as well lol.</p>

10

<p>4.0 is a low GPA these days? Jesus Christ.</p>

11

<p>^what are you talking about? I think you need to read more carefully...</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
~4.045 W

[/quote]
</p>

<p>maybe you should...</p>