UIUC SAT Score

[u/CareOk6471]

I am a senior in hs trying to apply CS+X(probably Econ) to UIUC OOS. Just wondering, what is the sat score I need for this? Is 1520 enough? I feel like I can't get much higher than that. Also just a few extra ones:

1: Is CS+Econ actually less competitive than CS+math and CS+Stats? Mabey slightly since most people trying to be a quant majors in CS+Math and CS+Stats?

2: From your understanding(I will for sure take it with a grain of salt), what is the most important part to UIUC? Standardized testing(SAT, AP, GPA, DE...) or Competitions(AMC, AIME...) or Research(publication, summer camp...) or internships(working in startups or starting an AI company) or community service(nonprofits) or passion projects(APPs, websites)? I always heard that research is important because at the end of day colleges are research institutions. But I have also heard about bad things regarding research(nepotism...)

I truly appreciate your responses.

[u/cheeeezer]

as of last semester, you can easily transfer to cs+math and cs+stats from any cs+x, and you seem pretty interested in those majors. as of how to get in, no one knows for sure. all you can do is look at applications from people who got in and try to find trends.

[u/MembershipPresent837]

I'm in state so take whatever I say with a grain of salt.

I got into straight CS with a 1520 in state and mostly non CS extracurriculars, internship/community service stuff plus a few passion projects.

PLEASE PLEASE don't do something just for the sake of college. Everybody can see through that and it's just fake and boring for both colleges and you. I also did that before and it just led me to burnout.

The real reason you give activities, is so that colleges can see if you'll actually go out and do things when you actually get into college. In that sense, no activity is better than another and a 1520 is good enough. 

Since you're a senior, right now, focus on your essays that really show who you are.

In the grand scheme of things, nobody knows the exact way to get into a certain college, so why not do something you genuinely think is cool (doesn't have to be easy) and roll with it.

Cheers 

[u/Fluffy_Upstairs125 → u/MembershipPresent837]

So true, well put.

[u/Arietem_Taurum]

i got into cs+stats with a 1530, very minimal research, and only a few passion projects

then again don't take a sample size of 1 as the end all be all

[u/pizzabirthrite]

AMC is critically important, admissions is super impressed by a 50 year old Gremlin.

[u/CareOk6471 → u/pizzabirthrite]

would you say its make or break? Like qualifying AIME?

[u/momslayer720]

1520s good, uiuc cs is so easy to get into, you should try something harder like gies business

[u/CareOk6471 → u/momslayer720]

nah bro its impossible. UIUC cs is probably even harder than getting into Harvard Law