Hey so I was admitted to U of I but rejected from computer science, only got general admission. These are my stats:
35 ACT
5.65/5 GPA
Basically all AP and Honors course
Hold multiple board positions in clubs
2 varsity sports
Many other things (5s on all but one AP test)
Also instate student
I am wondering why I was not admitted and would like an opinion on what to do. Appeal or email admissions, etc. I have been admitted to Georgia Tech and Michigan engineering and such but not U of I for some reason. By brother got in with a lot less than I have so I am confused. I have been told maybe they rejected me because they do not expect me to actually go there (go Ivy or whatnot) but it is instate so it is a lot cheaper and there is a good chance I will choose it. I do not want to have to transfer in later on and was expecting auto admit. This is also making me question what merit scholarships I will receive as I expected to receive a decent amount. Any input is much appreciated, thanks in advance!
No one is overqualified to get into any competitive computer science or engineering program. Only gets more competitive every year, and state schools are getting hit with more serious applicants than ever since they are so much cheaper than a comparable private or OOS public option.
UIUC is a nationally ranked school likely (I do not follow UIUC) with lots of OOS or international (aka full-pay) applicants.
Likely no one is overqualified for merit aid either. And why do you need merit at an already subsidized in-state school?
You could maybe ask nicely why, just in case there was an error in your admission materials … but be glad you have 2 good schools with admissions already.
You could investigate other in-state options or maybe some neighboring states will allow you to attend with in-state tuition.
First, UIUC is a great university. Many people would gladly go there as their first choice.Second, Perhaps your superior feeling of being “overqualified” came through in your application. Let this be a lesson in humility and being humble. There’s no such thing as being overqualified. There is always a lesson to be learned from any situation or person.
Seeing as I have a direct comparison to what was admitted two years ago I know I am over qualified. And no, that did not come across in my application. I took time and answered the essay very modestly and legitimately. So does anyone have any interest in giving some advice on a next step to take? It gives me the option to appeal and I am wondering if that is the way to go. I know the work I put in and I know where I stand. Anybody else who wishes to reply by saying I’m not overqualified when I have exact numbers and such to prove it need not reply. I would really appreciate some advice on what to do, as that was my original question. Thanks in advance guys!
How about your recommendations? You never know what might come through there. You really have no recourse. I’d go to a different college if you are committed to a CS major. UIUC’s CS major is often discussed out here as a very difficult program to be admitted to – it is nobody’s safety no matter what your qualifications.
It can’t hurt to appeal I suppose, so why not? I wouldn’t call you overqualified, but you seem qualified. Also, I would probably not expect any merit. U of Illinois is not well known for that, is it?
@akanrbggnf, my child didn’t apply to IL schools, given the current budget debacle, so I don’t know U of I’s policies but can you call the Admissions office and ask about the decision? Some schools will let you know what the weakness are in your application. Maybe it’s as simple as they are looking to take more international full pay students this year to fill the hole left by Springfield (although I doubt they’d tell you that outright). I mean, it’s not like IL hasn’t done hinky things with their admissions in the past and all the IL schools are bleeding cash right now without the MAP grant funding.
Do you have the option to apply to CS later if you meet GPA requirements, etc. or are you basically closed out of the program at this point? That would be a good way to start the conversation; tell them you are trying to understand your options so you can weigh U of I against your other acceptances. Good luck!
It is rarely a good idea to attend a university where you didn’t get admitted into the major as a frosh in hopes of geting into it later, even if they allow it. That is a good way to get shut out of the major you want altogether (there was a lively discussion about this going on over on the Michigan forum about Ross business school admission earlier this week).
Are you in state for UIUC? Then you may want to appeal although I doubt your outcome will be different. If not, then let it go and move on to a school where you have been accepted.
OP is not really “over-qualified” for UIUC CS, just as no one is “over-qualified” for Ivies. The admission statistics for CS at UIUC can easily be higher than most Ivies.
“Seeing as I have a direct comparison to what was admitted two years ago I know I am over qualified.”
Even if you were over qualified two years, that says nothing about this year given the skyrocketing popularity of CS. The sooner you accept that this wasn’t a mistake and move on to focusing on the schools you were accepted to, the better.
No surprise; CS is one of UIUC’s most popular majors.
If you enroll in UIUC, you need to maintain a 3.67 GPA with at least A- grades in the two introductory CS prerequisites in order to be eligible to apply to the CS major (which is competitive admission; the admission threshold may be higher than the minimum eligibility): https://cs.illinois.edu/prospective-students/undergraduates/transfer-students/transferring-another-university-illinois-major . If you have direct admission to another affordable school’s CS major, or admission to another affordable school where entering the CS major does not require an extremely high GPA or highly competitive admission process, it may be a safer choice to choose the other school.
Two years ago, CS was not as popular as it is now. The admission threshold is almost certainly significantly higher now.
Hello. Im sorry you were disappointed. But did you choose a second choice major? If you didnt choose a second choice major, they determined that other candidates were a better fit for cs, but thought you were worthy of admission. There are other engineering majors that were less competitive that you would have been likely admitted, had you applied.
You had a 5.65 out of a 5. That is very good, but many students have above a 5 out of a 4. What was your rank? 25% of students in engineering have historically been in top 1% of their class. Although a 35 is excellent, remember that 25% of engineering students have a 35 or 36. And that stat is for all if engineering, not just for the most competitive majors.
Son #1 (7 years ago) was initially admitted to his 2nd choice major with a top 1% of class and a 36 ACT. He was eventually offered a spot in bioengineering at uiuc and he took it.
I agree that talking to the school you might get offered a spot in another engineering major. Perhaps you could then wait list to CS. However you were not overqualified…Just one of many qualified students with not enough spots for all of them.
I would just like to point out that it is not possible to get above a 5 on a 4 point scale…at least not at any school I know of so post #14 is wrong. But look at the results thread. You are not overqualified at all. People with similar stats were rejected.
@BStoney21 depends on the high school. If honors or AP level is weighted higher than accelerated, then >5.0 is possible. Not uncommon at Illinois high schools. What matters is rank.
@akanrbggnf It’s statistically impossible to be “overqualified” for UIUC CS. Last year, the average ACT was a 34 and the average GPA was probably close to a 4.0/4.0. The only way to stand out, it seems, is to a) have amazing CS-related EC’s, or b) be a woman. At least that’s what the decisions thread tells us.
I got waitlisted for CS, so I understand how you feel right now. I think you have amazing stats… but I saw few people who got waitlisted even with perfect standardized test scores and perfect GPA. I also saw few people who got accepted with stats that are not as impressive as yours. Apparently, there are more than grades and scores in a process of college admission.