UnhappyMeal

Well, I just got my first denial letter fresh in the mail today. The worst part is that I considered Valparaiso University to be one of my safeties/low matches. I'm not particularly upset that I got denied to this particular college, I'm now just thrown off on my chances of admission to my top choices, some of which had even higher standards than the one I was just denied to.

ACT: 26

32 English, 25 Math, 23 Reading, 25 Science

Try not to get too jealous of my GPA, please: 2.78 out of 4.0

Community service, Career oriented volunteering.

Here's the colleges I've applied to: (In order of top choice to least perferrable)

-University of Illinois @ Urbana-champaign (I know what you're thinking, I know.)
-Miami University, Oxford, OH.
-Ohio State University
-Ohio University, Athens, OH.
-Bradley University, Peoria IL
-University of Illinois at Chicago
-Southern Illinois University

My recent denial letter just brought the whole reality of "I might not go to a university".
What do you guys think?

Okokokok

You still have 7 more chances. You'll probably get into at least one. Also, if you don't, you can still continue your education at a community college and then transfer.

UnhappyMeal

*Preferable, YIKES... no wonder colleges don't want me.

Classof2015

Don't worry -- it's not a logical, linear process. My daughter was rejected at GW, waitlisted at Conn Clg, but accepted (off the WL) at Emory. It could be yield or financial aid or just random. Hang in there.

allyphoe

Valparaiso's Common Data Set (http://www.valpo.edu/registrar/assets/pdfs/cds11-12.pdf) says GPA is very important, and that only 8% of entering freshmen had GPAs in your range or below. Your ACT scores are pretty much average for that school, too. Assuming a low class rank ("important"), I'd have called Valparaiso a reach for you.

You've still got time to apply more places. FWIW, I'd call SIU (the bottom of your list) a low match - your ACT is >75th percentile, GPA is ~50th percentile.

UnhappyMeal

I'm not sure where to apply, If anyone could make a suggestion of a university in the midwest region I would be so thankful.

Virginia718

Are you in state in Ohio? Miami would be doubtful either way, but Ohio U. a probable.

UnhappyMeal

I'm in Illinois, I also received a special advantage application for Ohio University, does that make a significant difference?

allyphoe

SuperMatch suggests Northeastern Illinois University as a good in-state match for test scores / GPA / desired major (CS).

Will you need financial aid to go out of state or private?

cardinals11in11

What about University of Missouri-Columbia? It's a great school and you would get in automatically with a 26 act (not necessarily to the journalism program though). Good luck!!