The University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign

“The university is very numbers-orientedMar 14 2004Electrical Engineering
The university is very numbers-oriented. They have to be; too many applicants to review everything in great detail. My guess is that above certain GPA/ACT cutoffs you are more or less in, and below certain GPA/ACT cutoffs you are out. There is probably a narrow range in between these two sets of numbers, a 'bubble' category, where things like rec letters, essays, etc count. The best thing you can do - aside from getting good grades and studying your butt off for the ACT - is pick up a statistics sheet showing the top 25%, middle 50%, and bottom 25% ranges for GPA and ACT for the entering class in each college.

One other thing -- if you want to do (for example) Engineering but your numbers are only good enough to get into the LAS college, apply to the LAS college. Once you're here, you can usually transfer between colleges without much problem, so long as you get decent grades (if you want to know what grades you need specifically to transfer, call up those administration offices TODAY, tell them you're an LAS student looking to transfer, and ask what grades you need.) And as you can usually register for most classes in most departments without a problem - and considering that everyone has to take a bunch of gen-ed requirements anyway - you can take a first year of mostly gen-eds, transfer afterward, and still get out in 4 years.
ACT: 33 Male

“Be involved in your academic studies, take things beyondFeb 26 2004Physics
Be involved in your academic studies, take things beyond the classroom. Also study hard for those SAT's.
SAT: 1570 Male

“I got a 31 on theDec 30 2003Computer Science
I got a 31 on the ACT and was ranked 6th in my class of 200. It was the only school I applied to because I knew I'd get in since they explained their system when I visited the school. It is easier to get into the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences than Engineering.
ACT: 31 Male

“If yourDec 24 2003Civil Engineering
If your scores beat their formula your in.
ACT: 32 SAT: 1380 Male

“Too many Ta's teach the classes, no access toDec 11 2003PreMed and Medical
Too many Ta's teach the classes, no access to professors, lots of Ta's who can't speak good english, many professors who don't speak english, bad social life, social life is based entirely on alcohol, there is nothing to do. You will be amazed and disgusted at the public drunkeness and underage drinking here, students vomiting on public buses at night, and immoral activities. There is nothing to do here so everyone drinks.
ACT: 28 Female