Should I apply Early Decision or Regular Decision?

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

<p>First off - should I apply Early Decision? Should I even bother applying at all? My initial grades are horrendous -> I changed school districts for high school and this high school is CRAZY competitive with an extremely rigiorous curriculum (80% asian), which is why my freshman year grades are so low (I had a 3.8-4.0 throughout middle school). I'm in California.</p>

<p>Background Info:
- High School: Extremely rigorous, top 50 high schools in the nation
- Indian (South Asian)
- Income: 150k</p>

<p>*Computer Science Major</p>

<p>I messed up really bad in high school until junior year. W = weighted, UW, = unweighted
Freshman Year: 2.5 UW/W, 2.83 UW/W
Sophmore year: 3.0 UW (3.167 W), 2.67 UW (2.83W)
Junior Year: 3.67 UW (4.167 W), 3.67 UW (4.167 W) ---> 3 APs</p>

<p>SATs (Barely prepped):
1st attempt: 1850
2nd attempt: 1980</p>

<p>Going to attempt again in October, I'm positive I will get at least a 2100, and possibly a 2200.</p>

<p>ACT:
1st attempt: 32
Going to attempt again in September, aiming for 34 or higher.</p>

<p>SAT II: Math (760), Bio (770)</p>

<p>Others:
- 150 hours community service
- DECA (Business Club):
- 3rd in Northern California for Math Marketing
- 4th for presentation, 8th overall for Advertising Campaign in States competition
- YouTube Partner with a channel on Technology (relates to my major, computer science)
- 2,800 subscribers
- My technology guides and reviews have been watched 1.1 MILLION times
- Currently building a website for an upcoming organization that raises money for charity through gaming
- 2 years JV Badminton
- Intro to Computer Science course over the summer, got an A
- Intro to Programming in C course over the summer, got an A
- Currently developing an iPhone app! </p>

<p>I have been slacking throughout high school until junior year. At the summer, end of the sophmore year, I went to India and realized I'm taking everything I have for granted. While others in India are yearning to learn but forced into crappy, mediocre schools, if any, I am slacking off, even though I am given the opportunity to attend one of the nations top 50 high schools. The vacation to India opened my eyes, and I realized I need to make the most of my fortunate situation. I tried throughout junior year, with 3 AP courses, and got a 3.67 unweighted, 4.167 weighted GPA.</p>

<p>I'm absolutely positive I will have <em>atleast</em> a 3.67 Unweighted GPA, 4.3 Weighted. My rigorous schedule next year:</p>

<ul>
<li>AP Calc BC</li>
<li>AP Physics B</li>
<li>Finite/Discrete</li>
<li>AP World</li>
<li>Regular English</li>
<li>Gov/Econ</li>
</ul>

<p>What are my chances of getting in? I'm extremely passionate about technology and would love if I could further develop my knowledge by majoring in Comp Sci at great college. Should I even apply, or forget it? I'm willing to apply Early Decision if that greatly increases my chances.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>UIUC has no early decision. It has a form of non-binding early action referred to as applying by the priority date, usually Nov 1, If you apply by Nov 1, you get a decision mid-Dec of admit, admit to alternative program (meaning you are rejected from your first choice major and admitted to something else, often Division of General Studies), declined admission, or defer until Feb decision (many in engineering get that deferral). The Sep ACT and Oct SAT are accepted for early action</p></li>
<li><p>It does not matter what your GPA is going to be after first semester senior year. UIUC uses grades through junior year to determine admission (or through summer after junior year if you take a summer course). They do not want you to even send senior year grades and if you do so the reviewers who determine admission will not get them. Senior year grades, which you submit after graduating, are used to detemine whether admission should be withdrawn after you are admitted. </p></li>
<li><p>UIUC does not use SAT IIs for admission and if sent, reviewers are not provided scores.</p></li>
<li><p>If you take multiple SATs or ACTs, you can choose which to send, sending multiple tests is not held against you, and UIUC uses that test it believes has the highest composite to determine admisison (if you send bolth SAT and ACT, it chooses the one it believes is the better score).</p></li>
<li><p>Your GPA is weak but you have an outside chance for CS engineering. Raising test score can help when GPA is weak when grades are on an upward trend, but you should still consider it a reach. ECs help. If you have testing completed by Oct SAT, there is no reason not to apply early action since applying later won’t add anything. Nevertheless, you can go either way.</p></li>
</ol>

3

<p>Alright, thanks for your advice. I might apply Early Action and hope they notice the upward trend, above average SAT, and good essay.</p>

4

<p>Early Decision. You can always take it back.</p>