Getting in with low stats?

No Quarter · 04-26-2008, 02:31 PM

My "Stats" are kinda low esp my GPA. Do I still have a shot?
GPA: 3.45 UW
My grandpa, who was like a parent to me for 6 yrs of my life passed away during the middle of my soph year, causing me to screw up my grades.
SAT: 2230 Reg, 2270 Super, 1520(m+V) reg, 1570 mv super
ECs:
Participated extensively in LD circuit debate + Team captain

CEO of a non-profit business I founded to help teach kids to debate/improve CR/C

300+ hrs volunteering at a poor elementary school

idad · 04-26-2008, 02:40 PM

S1 was admitted with a 3.41 GPA, but that was in 2005. He also was in a very tough curriculum --finished AP calc BC as a sophomore, etc. Exceptional world class competion ECs as well.

chicagoboy12 · 04-26-2008, 06:42 PM

your other attributes should override a low GPA. do you go to a tough school?

No Quarter · 04-26-2008, 07:16 PM

hellz tough

SCOMathmo · 04-27-2008, 01:25 AM

Well, that's hellz settled then.

JoeTrumpet · 04-27-2008, 10:14 PM

If you can write a strong essay and your teachers like you, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. You have more than enough qualities to make up for GPA, and you have what I believe to be a strong reason. Don't worry about it.

ohio_mom · 04-28-2008, 01:08 PM

What's your class rank, No Quarter?

cottonwood513 · 04-28-2008, 06:34 PM

I'm sorry about your Grandfather.

Optimistic about your admission possibility. Nail the essay.

No Quarter · 04-28-2008, 06:55 PM

What constitutes a really good essay for Chicago.

omuse · 04-28-2008, 09:38 PM

A really interesting essay. I might even say a weird essay. Good weird.

My advice would be not to try to write a traditional essay to a non-traditional prompt. I made that mistake initially before I backtracked and started working with my first draft again, one that I had started for pleasure rather than something I planned on submitting, as it was rather unconventional.

Just pick up an idea and run with it, even if it sounds a little foreign at first. My mom "didn't get" my Chicago essay, so I was a little hesitant to send it in (thankfully someone at admissions "got it"), but when you're writing on questions like "Explain how you feel about Wednesdays" or an expository essay about what you would do with 500 gallons of mustard, it's going to get a little abstract. Start early, and don't scare yourself out of a good idea.

As for your stats, I think that Chicago wouldn't dismiss an app because of "low" figures - you have a lot of strong points, a lot that's working for you. I think Chicago allows some wiggle room in that respect - given your circumstances, I'm sure they'd weigh both the events of your Sophomore year as well as a rigorous curriculum heavily in their consideration.

unalove · 04-28-2008, 11:30 PM

Or just something that rings true to who you are. I've had the chance to read a lot of uncommon essays and talk to a lot of people about their essays, and it's clear that there's no magic formula.

My essay was very traditional and very untraditional. It was on a common, not inherently interesting subject and used simple words and a simple development. It was untraditional because I used one of the wackier prompts from my year and alluded to the prompt throughout the essay. It was also untraditional because instead of suggesting a direct progression, (as in "Hooray, we won the game, and now I'm a champion!"), it suggested a much more complex regression/progression. ("We won the game, but Timmy has cancer. How much did winning the game matter after all?")

Anyway, really. Write on whatever you want.