Skeptical about the advice..

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>I'm everything but a typical Indian. My gpa is very low, my ec's are extremely poor, but I have great test scores and a rapidly rising GPA. My main question is about the advice I've been recieving on these forums. Several people said I have a great shot at all of these schools, but when I talk to people I know in person, they say that these schools are very tough to get into. Are they right? I'm feeling doubtful that I have a good chance at schools like the ones I listed, mainly Purdue and U of Illinois. I believe my school is fairly competitive; it offers around 12 AP's. Without further delay, here are my gpa's, classes, and ec's. I've estimated my senior year grades as well as recs/essays, which I'm confident I will accomplish. Please help me out.</p>

<p>Freshman Year- 2.46 GPA | No EC's | No advanced classes
*Sophomore Year- 3.54 GPA | No EC's | No advanced classes
*Junior Year- 3.75 GPA | JV Tennis | Honors Alg II
*Senior Year- 4.66 GPA | V Tennis | Precalc, AP Lit, AP Chem, AP Bio
*Cumulative- 3.4 by the end of this year, 3.55 by the end of senior year.
*Class Rank- Top 30-35% by the end of this year, 20-25% by end of senior year.
*Sat I- 2250
*ACT- 26
*Sat II: Math IIC: 720
*Sat II: Chemistry: 720
*Sat II: Literature: 670
*Will have good recs
*Will have good essays</p>

<p>I plan on majoring in chemical engineering or pharmacy. I've narrowed it down to some of these schools in order of preference:
*Purdue University
*University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
*Washington University
*University of Missouri at Rolla
*Ohio State University
*Pennsylvania State University
*Rolla Technical Institute
If there are other colleges with my major, can you guys please list them? Thanks in advance</p>

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<p>What state do you reside in?? Your chances decrease significantly if you are apply out of state.</p>

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<p>Assuming you mean you are applying as an International, I think your chances are good at Missouri. As to Rolla Technical, I have no idea why that one is on your list since it is only a 2 year technical institute (that virtually takes anybody). All the others are possibilities with varying chances. Your grades/class rank through junior year are definitely low end for Washington U St Louis and Illinois for engineering and somewhat low for Penn St and Oh St for engineering and in the middle with Purdue but your SAT is high giving you a chance (and you should submit your SAT and not ACT as the score to rely on) Be aware your potential senior grades won't mean anything at Illinois, Purdue, Missouri, Penn State and Ohio State which all follow rolling admissions and make decisions based on grades through junior year. Also be aware that for all the schools you list, SAT II's either mean little or are ignored entirely except for Washington U which recommends (but does not require) them.</p>

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<p>Drusba.. thanks for that insight. Currently, I know that Wash U is and University of Illinois are reaches, but I was thinking of Purdue as a match, and Ohio state/Penn state/ Missouri university @ Rolla as safeties.. And I live in Missouri btw. I REALLY want to go to Purdue..</p>