<p>You never know why one qualified student is admitted and another denied. I know that UIUC has the option of appealing an admission denial online. Are you within driving distance from UIUC?? If so, contact them and ask if you can make an appointment with one of the admission officers. If they allow you to come in to speak with an admission officer, you could bring with you a notebook of your accomplishments so they can see your research proposals and grants and other accomplishments. If your essays did not do a very good job of showing your true interest in attending UIUC, then show this interest thru the appeal process. In the process, stay positive, not boastful. Be yourself and ask for a chance at DGS to prove yourself. They might not allow you to have an appointment, and if they do, you might still have to appeal online. If you have to appeal online, take a good look at the entire application to see where you might have made a mistake or made a wrong impression. (Be sure to write a thank you note to any admission officer that you have contact with. Being able to speak with an admissions officer, even if only on the phone, would give you the name of someone who you can contact and with any luck will be on your side when it comes to making the final decision.) Good luck to you.</p>
<p>The following is cut and pasted from the UIUC application website (to give credit where due).
“Important factors considered by the review committee when evaluating the essays are:”
" How the applicant ties his or her academic interest to the desired major or, if applying to the Division of General Studies, how the applicant explains his or her varied interests and need for exploration. "
"How the applicant showcases his or her passion through chosen activities, work experience, research, or course selection in high school."
"How the essay reveals maturity and growth through past experiences, evidence of character development, cultural insight, community awareness, and/or leadership."
“Strength of writing is carefully considered throughout all the application essays.”</p>