<p>Hello, I am currently attending a community college in Illinois, and I am very much set on attending UIUC for Aerospace Engineering. In high school, my GPA was a measly 3.0 unweighted and I scored a 32 ACT. However, my grades had been steadily increasing throughout my high school career (I qualified for high honors during my last semester of high school, which was a first). Also, I had been working part-time for the last 2 years of my high school career as a field technician for an alarm company. During my senior year I applied to UIUC and got denied. So I went to community college with the goal of a 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>During my first semester, I have volunteered for 4 months at a museum nearby, pulled off a 4.0 GPA in Calculus II, English 121, Chemistry 121 w/ lab, and Philosophy, and have continued working 15 hours a week at a hands on job as a field technician. I have also regularly attended Math Club and Engineering Club.</p>
<p>Next semester I plan to finish up on prerequisites and to volunteer for a cause that falls more in line with my future career choice. </p>
<p>I have also been recognized as an Illinois State Scholar.</p>
<p>So.... what are my chances of getting into UIUC's engineering program?</p>
<p>Well, I don't think the school will look at 2nd semester grades if I'm trying to apply for the Fall 2009 semester. And by 'have a shot', do you mean a good chance or a slim chance? Thanks</p>
<p>Your chances are fairly low and it is a matter of timing not grades. Engineering has a preference for junior year transfers -- in fact, until this year, many of the majors would not take any sophomore transfers, and though they are now considering them does not mean transfer chances in sophomore year are that great, and that is for anyone. You also have a disadvantage. They will be favoring for sophomore transfers those who would likely have been admitted to UIUC freshman year. You were rejected; note that policy of favoritism does not apply to junior transfers. You need to meet all course prerequisites for sophomore transfer, and it looks like you are on track (although I do not know whether that English course is the required rhetoric/writing course needed and you still need another Chem and first calculus based Physics (mechanics) course), but also be aware of another preference -- UIUC eng has a language requirement, complete three years in HS of same language or third semester in college. You do not mention whether you have done that but they will disfavor those who have not completed the language requirement by time of transfer (and that applies to sophomore and junior transfers). As a sophomore transfer, your HS record (not that great) and ACT will be considered along with known college grades; for junior transfers, they rely on college grades not HS record or test score. From what I see, you are on track to have a very good chance of junior year transfer, particularly if you meet all prerequisites and maintain the stellar grades, but a low chance sophomore year, although you should give it try because your grades and other qualifications are so good. Attempting and losing sophomore year does not rule out trying junior year.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply drusba. I have completed the foreign language requirement for entry into the college, but I will be taking a refresher summer course in '09. I really appreciate the honest and thorough response.</p>
<p>Also, I have seen some variability in the foreign language requirement; I have two sheets in front of me with different requirements. One agrees with what you have said above, and the other states that only TWO years are required for entry. I have talked with a counselor and they have said that the two year requirement is correct.</p>
<p>And one more question: Should I try to apply for a different Program of Study/Major in order to better my admission chances (because Engineering is difficult to get into), and then apply for a transfer into Aerospace Engineering after my Sophomore year? Do people do this often?</p>
<p>To be considered for admission to UIUC as a freshman or otherwise, you need two years of high school language. That is not the requirement I am talking about. Once you are in college, you must complete a college language requirement to graduate from UIUC. For engineering, that means completing the third semester college level of a language. That requirement is waived if you completed three years of language in high school (one high school year equals one semester of college language). It is that college requirement they like to see completed before transfering.</p>
<p>If you want to do engineering, I do not recommend trying to transfer into something else and then try to transfer again after getting there. Though it is easier to transfer into the arts & sciences college sophomore year, it also has a preference for junior transfers (and a fourth semester college language requirement). The colleges are looking for transfers to come into UIUC in their intended major. Though they can be fooled, if they sense someone is trying to transfer to LAS as a backdoor to then transfering to engineering, you will be looking at rejection. Also, your chances of getting the high grades needed in sophomore year to transfer into engineering junior year are better at a community college than at UIUC. If you have high grades and completion of required courses, your chances of admission junior year are very good (engineering actually has one of the highest transfer admission rates for junior year transfers among the colleges at UIUC).</p>