How can I compare my chances of admission at UIUC and Boston College?

Start by comparing yourself against each school’s most recent Common Data Set and admissions profile, but separate the comparison by program. At UIUC, look specifically at the college or major you would enter, not the university-wide figures. A student may be highly plausible for one UIUC program and a substantial reach for another.

Use your transcript in context: course rigor available at your high school, grades in core subjects, senior-year schedule, and trends over time.

Treat school-specific scattergrams from your counselor, Naviance, or Scoir as more useful than national acceptance rates, particularly when they show results for students from your high school.

Your final classification should be based on the tougher of the two comparisons: UIUC at your exact intended major and residency status, and Boston College within its relevant undergraduate school. Apply to both if each offers an academic and campus experience you would genuinely choose, but label each as reach, target, or likely using program-level evidence rather than either institution’s overall rate.