Chances at UIUC

[memo]

Originally posted by: sm8000
760 and 670 add up to 1430.

well said.

 

[Anonemous]

I think you should just talk with the admissions ppl and tell them this information and how you are interested in their program. Just call their office or email and ask them straight up. Of course they'll probably just tell you that you are going to be reviewed. But at least ask them if you'll be considered.

 

[timosyy]

Just applied for Purdue. Talk about an easy app .

And yeah, 760 & 670 add up to 1430. See why my math score is so low ? Changing now ...

 

[timosyy]

Oh yeah - do they see first semester senior year grades ?

 

[timosyy]

^ bump

so how screwed am i if i apply two weeks before their rolling admissions deadline ?

 

[MrBlahh]

If you want Engineering dont apply for LAS and hope to get into Engineering eventually. I had a friend that spent his last 2 years trying to transfer into CS in the Engineering school and never got in. He ended up graduating with something like a math or psych degree and a minor in CS. Im not saying its impossible just harder. Youd probably have to kiss a ton of ass.

You should be able to get in with those grades. Try and get a Letter of Recommendation from someone at your school...that ought to help.

Its a good school...I got my CS degree from there but its not really helping me find a job
^^ actually that sounds bad. I really did like the school and I learned a lot. The ECE & CE department is run really well....way better than the CS department. Im just saying its hard to find a job these days.

 

[memo]

Originally posted by: MrBlahh
If you want Engineering dont apply for LAS and hope to get into Engineering eventually. I had a friend that spent his last 2 years trying to transfer into CS in the Engineering school and never got in. He ended up graduating with something like a math or psych degree and a minor in CS. Im not saying its impossible just harder. Youd probably have to kiss a ton of ass.

You should be able to get in with those grades. Try and get a Letter of Recommendation from someone at your school...that ought to help.

Its a good school...I got my CS degree from there but its not really helping me find a job
^^ actually that sounds bad. I really did like the school and I learned a lot. The ECE & CE department is run really well....way better than the CS department. Im just saying its hard to find a job these days.

this man speaks the truth

 

[BornStar]

Purdue engineering is surprisingly easy to get into; they took me! I applied to UMich, UIUC and Purdue and UMich said no outright (frustrating because they were the only in-state school), UIUC said they would let me into science but not engineering and Purdue let me into engineering. Granted, I'm not in engineering anymore, but that's a seperate issue.

 

[SchrodingersDog]

Why would anyone go to college these days?

 

[AsianriceX]

Way back when I applied (around Nov. 2000, Early Decision) I had a 3.8 GPA, top 5% of my class, 32 for my ACTs and I was accepted into the Computer Engineering program at UIUC. From what I've heard, they've become very selective and it's much harder to get admitted into the College of Engineering.

I don't know where this would place you in today's admission process, but if you do have the opportunity to be an engineering student at UIUC, I've got a few bits of advice. Don't screw around and waste this chance at a great education. Do your work, go to class, and have fun when you can, but always put class first.

Otherwise you'll end up like me and wonder why they hell they keep you enrolled in such a prestigious program when everyone around you has a GPA that kicks yours in the ass. It's not a good feeling.

 

[memo]

Originally posted by: AsianriceX
Way back when I applied (around Nov. 2000, Early Decision) I had a 3.8 GPA, top 5% of my class, 32 for my ACTs and I was accepted into the Computer Engineering program at UIUC. From what I've heard, they've become very selective and it's much harder to get admitted into the College of Engineering.

I don't know where this would place you in today's admission process, but if you do have the opportunity to be an engineering student at UIUC, I've got a few bits of advice. Don't screw around and waste this chance at a great education. Do your work, go to class, and have fun when you can, but always put class first.

Otherwise you'll end up like me and wonder why they hell they keep you enrolled in such a prestigious program when everyone around you has a GPA that kicks yours in the ass. It's not a good feeling.

this man speaks the truth

 

[timosyy]

Could very easily get a letter of recommendation from my AP Physics or AP Computer Science teacher if that would help.

And hold off on the advice until I get in (if I get in)

One more thing - Checked the school records and only one person applied to UIUC last year. Does being the single (or one of very few) applicants from a high school help? Our school doesn't rank ...

Might have to pull what my friend did and write a letter to the dean (though she wrote it to the dean of Harvard)

 

[flawlssdistortn]

What about ACT scores? Your SAT is pretty good, but the engineering program at UIUC is VERY selective. You're not a shoe in by any means, esp since you're asian. They already have all the asians they need (and most are the top students from overseas). I'd say it's almost as bad to but down "asian" on the app as "white" nowadays. If you were any of the other minorites, I'd say you'd def be in.

Purdue will be just as hard to get into. Actually, your only advantage is that you are coming from out of state, so you will pay full tuition.

 

[BigJ]

timosyy. I got into UIUC College of Engineering (CS Major) last year (would've been class of 2008) with these stats:

1380 SATs (710 Math 670 Verbal)
3.8 GPA

AP Calc AB, Comp Sci AB, US History, Government and Politics: 5, 4, 4, 4, respectively
AMC 12 School Winner
Graduated with a special degree in Technology from my HS for taking a bunch of computer classes (looks nice on the resume) and with Regents and Honors
Had a steady job of at least 20 hours for 4 years (except during football season, only 8 hours a week)
Interned at Northrop Grumman for 2 months
Worked over the Summer 30hrs a week for 2 weeks teaching 5-9th graders LOGO Programming
Worked over the Summer 30hrs a week for 1 week teaching 5-9th graders GUI Programming with Legos
Honored Student Speaker at Northrop Grumman HIP Commencement Ceremony
3 Years Varsity Football and 1 year JV Football, 2 Time Game-Captain on Both Levels
2nd Place Annual Cerebral Palsy Trivia Challenge
National Honor Society (Such a waste, but colleges like to see it)
Volunteer work at various school sponsored events (Elementary Halloween Parties, Senior Citizen Prom, Italian Society Feast, etc)

Those were my general stats. What I'm pretty sure they have setup for their General Admission is a computer system that will automatically accept you if your stats are high enough. My application online said "Deferred for Manual Review" which to me seemed to indicate this. Within two days of that message I was accepted.

One thing I cannot say strongly enough is UIUC does NOT fvck around. If you go to that school, make sure you are ready to bust your arse. They have an AWESOME College of Engineering, and you should take full advantage of it if you get in. I knew I didn't have the kind of work ethic right now to be successful at UIUC so instead I went to University of Maryland: College Park, which is also a very good school for Computer Science. Not as much work so I can have a little bit more fun in my freshman and sophmore year. That and its also an 11 hour drive from Long Island to UIUC (which would be your commute). But UIUC is one hardcore school.

Best of luck,
John

 

[timosyy]

Yeah ... your stats > my stats. Bigtime.

Stupid .. straight C's in Spanish ... bleh.

If only I were hispanic ... or Inuit.

UIUC is definately my top choice ... if I got into both Purdue and VTech, it'd be a tough call between the two.

Regarding the ACTs, I havn't taken them (live on the east coast, not as readily available or advertised). Should I ? Wouldn't be in time for the app anyways but ....

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: timosyy
Yeah ... your stats > my stats. Bigtime.

Stupid .. straight C's in Spanish ... bleh.

If only I were hispanic ... or Inuit.

UIUC is definately my top choice ... if I got into both Purdue and VTech, it'd be a tough call between the two.

Oh and I'm white also. Which is worse off then you being asian for the school.

 

[ncclaw]

I don't know a single person who was ever denied admission to Purdue. And since I am originally from Indiana, I know a great deal of people who applied or went to college there. I know people who applied for admission and got their acceptance letters 3 days later. I woudn't worry too much about getting in there.

 

[timosyy]

Gotta love the asian (anti) affirmative action.

Course, my hispanic friend got into UVA with a 3.37 and a 1260.

 

[OulOat]

Originally posted by: BigJ
timosyy. I got into UIUC College of Engineering (CS Major) last year (would've been class of 2008) with these stats:

Prepare your ass for the 73's. CS173, 273, and 373. I heard anal lube works well.

 

[maziwanka]

wow. you rocked verbal! hahahaha

 

[raptor13]

It's so funny hearing all you guys talk about how hardcore UIUC engineering is. I mean, I know it's tough and it eats up a lot of my time but it must be different viewing it from the inside as opposed to the outside. I've always just taken whatever work I had to do as duty... I had to do it and I did. It never seemed out of the ordinary or particularly ruthless. Weird.

That said, $1 U-Call-It drinks on Sundays are an engineer's best friend.

 

[timosyy]

Yeah .. rocked the verbal, wanna go into engineering.

Think I can turn that into a diversity arguement ?

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: raptor13

Originally posted by: timosyy
.. But still wouldn't recommend applying undecided and switching in?

I don't know .. my thoughts on the issue are, I just want to declare it and get it out of the way, avoid the hassle of transfering. However, if my chances at the Engineering school are significantly less than the general college (or LAS) ... bleh.

You can do the transfer thing but, even then, you're not gaurenteed acceptance into the engineering school. Your grades looked like they're on a general trend upwards so if you got into any program at UIUC and kicked ass for your first year, you should be able to transfer to Comp.E without too much trouble, I'd think. You'd just be taking all gen eds anyway so you might not even fall behind.

I still think your best bet would be talking to admissions counseler.

I'm a UIUC CompSci graduate that transferred in to the program. Let me start you off with a little warning about transfering in.

I was not accepted in to to the Engineering program at UIUC, (I was more of a high school slacker than you ) and instead went in to the Liberal Arts and Sciences Dept. as undecided. I knew from the beginning that I would want to transfer to the School of Engineering. The first thing is that you can not transfer until you are a Junior. The requirements fluctuate, but a 3.2 GPA was needed when I did it. There were 7 people on my dorm floor in the same situation as me, (one was my roommate) LAS undecided that wanted to transfer into CompSci Engineering and by the Junior year I was the only one able to do it. It is more difficult that you think. The classes you will be taking during the first two years are definiteely "weed out" classes. They aren't exceptionally hard, but you will need to dedicate time to them to be able to pull off the transfer. Physics 111-114 and Calc are on that list. I hope you like that kind of thing. You Gen. Ed. classes will also help you keep your grades up.

With the grades you already have you will probably be accepted straight in to the program, but if you aren't it looks like you are already on the right track to be able to transfer in. The main key is putting your studies at a higher priority than the plethora of other distractions college life offers. You will still have plenty of time to party/game/whatever it is you like to do, but you have to make sure you get your work done first or you can kiss the transfer goodbye.

 

[Kyteland]

Originally posted by: OulOat

Originally posted by: BigJ
timosyy. I got into UIUC College of Engineering (CS Major) last year (would've been class of 2008) with these stats:

Prepare your ass for the 73's. CS173, 273, and 373. I heard anal lube works well.

Those were my best classes there. Those and CS 375. Then again I took them with J. Erickson and Reingold, two of the best profs in the department. Reingold is gone now, but if you have the opportunity to take a class taught by Jeff Erickson, take it!

 

[AsianriceX]

Originally posted by: raptor13
It's so funny hearing all you guys talk about how hardcore UIUC engineering is. I mean, I know it's tough and it eats up a lot of my time but it must be different viewing it from the inside as opposed to the outside. I've always just taken whatever work I had to do as duty... I had to do it and I did. It never seemed out of the ordinary or particularly ruthless. Weird.

That said, $1 U-Call-It drinks on Sundays are an engineer's best friend.

Out of curiosity, what field of engineering do you major in?