Do I have a chance of getting into the U of I?

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

<p>Going into my senior year of high school, I guess I have some serious faults on my application (really bad rank, out of state status), but I think Illinois remains at the top of my college list regardless. I have triple legacy status at this school (parents went here, sister currently attends), so I have a lot of pressure on me to get accepted and to attend. (I have every intention of going here if I'm accepted)
I'm debating whether or not to apply to the College of Media. While I'm pretty sure that's the career path I want to take, I fear getting rejected from the school because I selected Media instead of DGS. So, for now, DGS it is.</p>

<p>So, what are my chances?</p>

<p>White Male from Southern California (Born in Illinois, moved in 2002)
Attend pretty good public school
Not First Generation
GPA (Unweighted): 3.45
RANK: 212/501
ACT: 29 (29 E, 32 M, 28 R, 30 S)
ACT WRITING: 10
SAT: 1850
Major: Media/Film or related</p>

<p>Grade Trend: Freshman 3.4ish, Sophomore 3.8ish, junior 3.0ish</p>

<p>Honors/AP Classes: Algebra 1 HONORS, American History HONORS, Physical Science HONORS, English 9 HONORS, English 10 HONORS, AP Biology, AP US History, AP Psychology, Geometry HONORS, AP English Comp., AP Chemistry, AP European History, AP Environmental Science, HONORS Spanish III, AP Spanish Lang, AP Statistics, HONORS Physics</p>

<p>Senior Year Dual Enrollment (local cc) Classes: English 1201 (College Writing I), Principles of Macroeconomics, General Psychology, Healthy Living (HS grad requirement) Political Science 112 (Intro), Film and Graphics A</p>

<p>AP Scores: AP Biology (3), APUSH (3), AP Psychology (4), AP English Lang (4), AP Chemistry (1 (atleast I tried) )</p>

<p>^^ In regards to my poor AP Chem Exam score, my semester grades for AP Chemistry were B/A-. </p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:</p>

<p>Part Time Job @ Seattle’s Best Coffee; August 2008-Present; Typical 25 hours a week during school, and up to 40 during the summer</p>

<p>Part Time Job @ Target; March 2008-July 2008 (Left because they wouldn’t approve my availability changes and scheduled me during school)</p>

<p>2 Month Internship at Arclight Productions in LA; Focused on Entertainment Marketing and became somewhat familiar with basic image alteration software; 20 hours per week</p>

<p>3 week internship at Rogue Agent Industries in LA; assisted with lower-level commercial marketing and advertisements; 10 hours per week</p>

<p>Varsity Cross Country; 9th Grade-12th grade; Captain Position 2 consecutive Years; personally host several team events; lettered</p>

<p>Varsity Swimming/Diving; 9th Grade-12th Grade; Captain Position Senior Year; District Champion in 200 I.M., Voted “Best Teammate”; lettered</p>

<p>Varsity Track & Field; 10th-12th Grade; 4x400 m. relay/200 m. dash; will likely NOT letter</p>

<p>Band; 9th-12th; First Chair Percussionist</p>

<p>Marching Band; 11th-12th; Drumline; 4 hours per week; co-section leader senior year</p>

<p>School Technical Support Specialist (Our morning announcements are broadcasted over the TV and I double up on camera/audio.)</p>

<p>Started & am President of school’s Video Club; 10th-12th Grade; 10-15 hours per week; produce a full length video each school year; one of our videos (I wrote the script) was featured in the community at a volunteer banquet</p>

<p>Started (with 2 friends) school’s Stand Up Comedy Club; Founder; 3-4 hours per week; school sanctioned club,; recruited 17-20 members; host of several events</p>

<p>School Newspaper Publication; Co-Editor; 11th-12th Grade [possibly editor in chief this year], 4 hours per week</p>

<p>National Honor Society; 11th-12th grade; “Treasurer”; 40 community service hours from May 2009 to present</p>

<p>Key Club; 10th-12th; Solely a participant; may be elected onto the executive board this following year</p>

<p>Fall Musical; 10th Grade; 20 hours per week; had role of Will Parker in “Oklahoma”; hosted 3 cast events at my house; unfortunately can no longer participate due to my job
- considering being a part of the technical crew for this year, most likely with lighting or audio; assuming I can find time when I'm not at work and my course rigor allows time for it.</p>

<p>Speech Team; 8th-12th Grade (started early); Co-President; Received an award for being “most animated”; 4-5 hours a week
- Am getting a recommendation from this coach (who was also my AP English teacher)</p>

<p>School Camera Specialist (as part of Video Club); I’m in charge of video taping at important school events such as pep rallies and varsity football games; receive volunteer hours for this</p>

<p>And chances/information would be appreciated!</p>

<p>-cody</p>

2

<p>Excellent list of EC’s, solid ACT score, and hard rigorous courses that you’ve taken. Honestly, I think you have a pretty good chance of getting into either Media or DGS. However, if you list the two majors in your application for UIUC by saying that you want Media as your first, then DGS as your second…they might not accept you for the first one, but that doesn’t mean you’re rejected from that specific college. It means that they will put you in your second major no matter what. I went to the U of I Urbana-Champaign tour, and listened to the admission adviser talking to a large group of people, so I think it’s a safe bet.</p>

<p>Disadvantages:</p>

<p>Average rank and you lost some of your good grades going in Junior Year. You need to step it up your senior year. Nonetheless, you should be fine.</p>

<p>A large myth is that UIUC is a hard school to get into. DEFINITELY INCORRECT. You just need to show yourself that you’re capable of writing a VERY good essay and how you will make a difference to their institution. </p>

<p>It’s not all about test scores! Even one of their admission people said that!</p>

3

<p>UIUC is not that difficult to get admitted outside of Engineering, Business, and certain LAS majors.</p>

<p>Nonetheless, your class rank puts you at a quite of disadvantage. You will need to write good essays and convince the adcom that your qualified. Improving your ACT score will also likely offset your low class rank.</p>

4

<p>Thanks a lot guys! The information is very helpful.</p>

<p>Do you suggest I apply to DGS or Media as my first choice? I’m scared that applying to Media will get me rejected. (nikeACT implied that you might still get into your second choice?) And if I do apply to DGS and get accepted and attend, is it going to be hard to get into the college of media during sophomore year?</p>

5

<p>^^Depending on well you do in your classes first semester and second semester, it shouldn’t be that hard to transfer. Just study and form study groups, very sufficient to become a better all around student.</p>

<p>I think you should apply to Media first, because your ACT is solid, and it should balance it out from your rank.</p>

6

<p>You’ll get in for sure. I’m from out of state also, I probably did one fourth of the amount of e.c. you’ve participated in. My GPA was much higher, but our SAT scores are about the same range. So I guess your e.c. kind of balances out with your GPA/ranking.</p>

7

<p>GPA/Class rank has a lot more weight than EC. It shouldn’t be a surprise that you got in if your GPA was much higher.</p>

8

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<p>Sorry, but I lol’d reading that after I was, infact, rejected.</p>

9

<p>^ I am sorry :(</p>

10

<p>^ All is good. But thanks.</p>

11

<p>just an fyi. that act breakdown is a composite of 30 not 29. its a 29.75 and that rounds up as i’m sure you know</p>

12

<p>omg, you got rejected? I don’t get it! Your status is perfect except for the GPA… it’s not fair… isn’t UIUC acceptance rate 70%? wow…</p>

13

<p>My friend got rejected with extremely similar stats (30 ACT, near that GPA). I got deferred with around the same GPA and a 32, so its not like UIUC is a shoe-in for somebody with a decent GPA and a high-20s ACT score…Telling somebody they’ll get in for sure with that score (not that its bad in any way) is just irresponsible.</p>

14

<p>UIUC is in fact a competitive school. While they do accept many of their applicants, they also reject at the same time (and defer). So yes, you have a chance of getting in, but no it is not guaranteed. I know someone who has probably the same GPA, less ECs, but a 33 on his ACT who was deferred. He also had probably the same high school course rigor. So I can’t be positive how you’ll do. I am happy that I was accepted, but my stats are different than yours so it’s hard to say. Good luck with your application!</p>

15

<p>He already got rejected… I think the major reason was the class rank… it’s top 42% in his school (I bet his GPA doesn’t harm the application, but it’s all about class rank I think)</p>

16

<p>Class rank is definitely low, but to say his GPA doesn’t harm his application is not correct. His GPA trend is also a major factor in that it is a definite downtrend. His ACT is fine. School profile (avg ACT, course rigor) is unknown too. It truly is a holistic review of the application. To pin it on any one thing is just wrong.</p>

<p>Having said that, I’m sorry you got rejected Cody, but I’m sure you’ll find (if you haven’t already) a college where you can develop what look to be considerable talents in the area of media.</p>

17

<p>Yeahhh Salve!, I was already rejected. I was not a happy boy. Three-generation legacy out the window. My parents were so proud of me =/</p>

18

<p>I’m sure they’re still proud of you. Think about transferring in to Urbana after a year or two at another institution.</p>

19

<p>^ I’m considering that but I probably won’t do it. I’ve gotten into other schools that are just as good.</p>

20

<p>Sorry to hear that you got rejected. =( I don’t understand why you got rejected other than your class ranking. I’m from out of state and I thought you would get in for sure. Considering you had a lot more E.C. and AP classes than I did.</p>