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I want to go into Computer Science.

The School of Engineering is great, I hear, but a reach for me. I have a small chance at being accepted.

The School of Liberal Arts offers a "Computer Science and Math" major. But, obviously, it's not as respected as the engineering school.

I don't think I can apply to both, so what should I do? I want to go to UIUC because it seems to be the place for a good, but still cheap(instate), education.

Any advice?

By Cru (Cru) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 11:11 pm: Edit

uh...
I got accepted to UIUC engineering...
post your stats....

yeah...
UIUC is expensive for outstates...
Jeese...

By Kad (Kad) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 11:37 pm: Edit

Yep. I'm instate, so it's the best choice for me.

I really slacked off sophmore year and went into junior year with a 3.0. With straight A's the ending semester I'll have a 3.2.

Currently I'm ranked 187/592. With straight A's I should be able to get into the top 25%.

I got a 30 on my first early ACT. I'm very confident of getting at least a 33 on the next one.

I have no ECs at all.

Yes, things are bleak for me wanting to go into the school of Engineering ;)

By Cru (Cru) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 06:04 am: Edit

Jeese............
What a happened to your grades?
Isn't 30 a really good score?
I don't
I know nothing about ACT, so I can't comment
Sorry...
Any other people willing to help?

By Drusba (Drusba) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 07:57 am: Edit

UIUC actually provides its middle ranges of class ranks and ACT scores for admitted students in each of its schools. You can find it on its site. 25% to 75% range for students admitted to school of engineering last year was top 8% of class and ACT 29 to 33. For A&S it was top 18% and ACT 25 to 29. Just from that info, you should assume your chances are less for engineering than A&S and you must apply to particular school at UIUC and cannot apply to multiple schools. UIUC also tends to be a numbers school when it comes to admission where the essay or EC's have importance only if you are borderline. You should note that, as it has a rolling admissions program, persons who apply in October and before Nov 15 for the subsequent year have an advantage for admission over those who apply after Nov 15, and thus can get in with lower scores than those who first apply after Nov 15 (that is info the school itself provides with admission materials on its site). Nevertheless, you may still be too low for engineering. Your ACT is OK but class rank is the problem.

Your assumption that computer sciences A&S is less prestigious than computer engineering is incorrect as both programs tend to take a lot of the same courses and employers don't care that much what the particular school is when it comes to computer science. Also note that there are a number of people who apply to A&S and then later try to transfer to engineering (after building up a year or more of grades that allow transfer). You may be set back a little if you do that (because of course requirements it is difficult to begin with for someone entering engineering as a freshman to graduate within 4 years there and transfering in later may assure it will be 5 years. But it is done often as the engineering school always has a larger number of students in its sophomore and junior years than it ever has for its freshman year (which are also figures the school publishes on its site).

By Kad (Kad) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 10:20 am: Edit

Thank you much for the very insightful response
You really have your UIUC information down.

Many friends have told me that it doesn't matter too much about what 'school' I enter at first, as long as it's in UIUC. Maybe they just are trying make me feel better. ;)

IIT is another school in the area, and I've heard it's a bit less selective. But it's private and costly, and my grades aren't so great to grant many scholarships... you can see why UIUC is the school of choice.

Because of this it seems I have no chance but to play it safe and apply to A&S. Maybe I'll enjoy computer science and math more than computer science and engineering.

By Kad (Kad) on Tuesday, March 25, 2003 - 03:19 am: Edit

Anyone care to check my stats to see if I can get in for Computer Science under the Liberal Arts School?

instate
3.2 GPA
top 20-25% rank
32-33 ACT
no ECs

By Ee_Uiuc (Ee_Uiuc) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 02:01 am: Edit

But it is done often as the engineering school always has a larger number of students in its sophomore and junior years than it ever has for its freshman year (which are also figures the school publishes on its site).

From my experience, this has less to do with transfers, and more to do with people dropping classes.

Say I sign up for 30 hours my freshman year. Say I fail/drop 4 of those hours. The next fall, I'm still classified as a freshman.

This phenemenon builds up to senior year, which is by far the largest "class."

I transfered into UIUC engr, but getting accepted from high school is much easier.

By Kad (Kad) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 02:24 pm: Edit

I won't get into the engineering school.
Now I'm worrying about what to even major in.

By Ee_Uiuc (Ee_Uiuc) on Saturday, April 12, 2003 - 05:52 pm: Edit

I didn't take the ACT, got an SAT of 1370, and got into LAS, not UIUC Engr.

But, I transfered in after my freshman year. It's not impossible. Your ACT is solid...you have a shot.

By Kornorgy (Kornorgy) on Thursday, April 15, 2004 - 03:00 am: Edit

Im planning to attend UIUC this fall for the math and computer science major which is through the school of Liberal Arts and Sciences.i just hope its good enough and shouldnt be overshadowed by the engineering cs program.does any one have more information on the LAS cirriculum??does anyone intend on pursuing the same??i dont wanna be alone in the school of LAS.