The University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign

“I was a pretty good HS studentDec 27 2007Other
I was a pretty good HS student. I had a good GPA and was involved with community activities. I also had a pretty high ACT score. Thus being so the University basically catered to me as far as acceptance. I didnt have to try hard. If I remember right, there wasn't a essay that needed to be submitted. That may not be true anymore. The university accepts a wide range of students. I think if you were a pretty bright kid in HS, you have a good chance of getting in. I also think that little things like clubs, sports, and community service really impact this university's decision making process.
Female

“Get a good letter of recomendation from a teacherOct 27 2006Psychology
get a good letter of recomendation from a teacher. a well rounded high school or prior college experience (clubs, sports, honor societies, community service).
ACT: 27 Female

“A good application essay, hard classes in high school,Apr 14 2005Aerospace Engineering
A good application essay, hard classes in high school, above average SATs, above average extracurricular involvement.
Male

“I didn't do muchFeb 28 2005Undecided
I didn't do much. UIUC doesn't allow teacher reccomendations, so pretty much its all about numbers and test scores. I know I got in by passing off Music as a foreign language, but my college won't buy it and is making me take a foreign language.
ACT: 30 Male

“Funny story! Once again, you are nothing but aDec 08 2004Education
Funny story! Once again, you are nothing but a number to them. Based on your ACT and class rank, you get a number. If you're above a certain cutoff, you're autmatically in. If you're below a certain cutoff, you're automatically out. Everyone else hangs out in no man's land depending on availability.

I was rejected from U of I originally. I had a 25 ACT and a class rank in the top 10% of my high school class. I knew I was being rejected based solely on my ACT score. I was in honor society, band, volunteered, had a great essay. NONE OF THIS STUFF MATTERS TO U OF I. All that matters is your ACT and class rank.

So I wrote them saying that I knew why I was being rejected, but I really wanted to go. A month later, I get an acceptance packet, no explanation. I guess they went back, read my essay, and realized that huh, maybe an ACT doesn't tell us everything worth knowing about a person.

This should have been my first big clue. Why attend a university that didn't want you in the first place?
Female