The University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign

“Getting in was a breezeDec 05 2005Undecided
Getting in was a breeze. The application took me like 5 minutes to do. There was a short essay, but I just wrote a little stupid paragraph...it really doesn't matter what you put for the essay as long as you've gotten good grades and a good ACT (like 30+).
ACT: 30 Female

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

“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

“Well, I had test scores and a GPA thatDec 10 2003English
Well, I had test scores and a GPA that fit into their mean range; other than that, I was pretty active in high school (2 sports, 2 clubs, 2 honor societies) and also worked at the local YMCA. Your best bet is to do your best on tests and classes in high school, participate in at least 2 extra curriculars, and be very energetic in your essay. I would suggest, when you write your essay, write about something that is important to you, and how it either reflects on your desire to get into this University or how it represents something about you that would be of value for your University (sports, music, photography,writing, whatever your interest). The application varies depending on which school you apply to, but they all have the basic essay.
ACT: 31 SAT: 1380 Female