U of I hopefuls learn their fate by computer

At 5 p.m. Friday, with the click of a mouse, thousands of students across Illinois learned whether they made the cut at the state's flagship university.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign posted acceptance, rejection or deferral notices online Friday for all students who applied during the priority filing period.

"The past couple of days, they've certainly been talking about it," said Vernon Hills High School college counselor Scott Birtman.

Sixty-eight Vernon Hills students applied via priority filing, Birtman said. "We'll know what happened when kids start trickling in Monday."

The timing of the announcement was a departure for the university, which in previous years posted decisions earlier in the week.

"I think in the past they were inundated," Birtman said. "So the intention was, let's do it at 5, let the kids fester about it or accept it over the weekend, and then let's deal with it on Monday."

A university spokesman said admissions officials would not be available to comment on priority applications until Monday.

Acceptance season can put students through the wringer.

"Of course they're nervous," said Melanie Coffman, a college counselor at Barrington High School, where about 130 students applied to the university this year.

The good news, Coffman said, is the announcement comes after school, so parents can be there to congratulate -- or comfort.

Naperville North senior Mohammad Sagha didn't get the news he was hoping for Friday.

Sagha, who also applied to Northwestern, Georgetown and George Washington, learned he didn't get in to Illinois' college of communications.

"It wasn't my first choice, but I definitely thought it was a good backup," Sagha said.

He said learning his fate online was better than going through the drama of opening a letter.

"I don't feel too bad or anything," Sagha said. "It's not too painful."

Most students are resilient, Coffman said, drawing on 30-odd years of experience helping students navigate the admissions process.

"For the most part, kids around here are really savvy," Coffman said. "They usually have a pretty good plan B."

The next admissions notification date for U of I is Feb. 15. Students who have been deferred will be notified by that date.

Students have until May 1 to accept the offer of admission.