Mr. Doug

I'm a junior in high school right now, and was considering applying to U of Chicago. I'm the first child in the family, so I'm plotting my own course here, pretty much.

Weighted GPA: 3.8 out of 5
Unweighted: Not sure, but 3.3, 3.4-ish
SAT's: Waiting on scores, should be here soon, will update when I get them
Courses this year: AP English Language/Composition, AP US History, Honors German 3, Academic Chemistry, Honors Wind Ensemble, Academic Trig & Pre-Calc,
Courses next year: AP English Literature/Composition, AP European History, AP German, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Foreign Policy, Honors Wind Ensemble, Academic Calculus, Economics.
Extra-curriculars: 3 years marching band, 3 years speech and debate/forensics, with a likely presidency next year, (i've placed 2nd in my state and as a quarter-finalist nationally), JSA School program at Georgetown this summer, (I will be taking AP US Government and Politics), I was a semi-finalist in a state-wide essay contest for Penn State, german club, volunteering with the Obama campaign, i write, draw, dj, and produce music in my spare time, and i'm also a voracious reader of fiction and philosophy.

About me: My friends know me as being pretty intellectual and cultivated, if somewhat strange. I tend to slack off a bit in the classroom, as my GPA shows, but I've gotten high test scores consistently, and a simple conversation with me shows I know my stuff, at least.

So, based on this, can you guys give me your best guess as to whether I've got a chance?

SomethingSilly

As you know, your GPA is very iffy. One of my friends with a 3.6 uw, 3.9 w, 30 ACT was rejected. (Compared to you, he had a lot less e.c. involvement, though.) I would say if you had really good essays, amazing test scores, great recs, etc...it'd be a reach.

Can you do anything to raise your GPA in the last bit of junior year and the first semester of senior year? And as for the "simple conversation shows I know my stuff"...the problem is that Chicago doesn't give too much weight to interviews, especially since most people don't even have one...

eh. sorry about the nay-saying...but good luck!

alex994

Hmm... I guess applying Early Action would be kind of a disadvantage since the semester of Senior year (which would help your GPA) wouldn't be counted. My opinion's the same as above, but you never know since admissions for the top schools have certainly been arbitrary...

chicagoboy12

get your gpa up, write a killer essay.

miktau

Hey me and you are in the same boat. Similar gpa (trying to raisie to at least a 3.5 uw (from 3.4) by the end of the year. Granted this is all honors/ap + plus a host of other factors like im a year ahead in three subjects (freshmen class in 8th grade) as well as family issues (domestic violence with dad who is now lives across the country in cali. Got a 33 on my first act but i can raise it to at least a 34 maybe 35. Also got a ton of good ec's one killer one in particular and hopefully my essay will be good enough. Well good luck to you hope we both get in although chances are slim.

cheers,
Mike

newenglandparent

Yes you have a chance, but a lot will depend on your SATs. My child, who is now finishing her second year, got in with a 3.57 unweighted GPA from a suburban public school, taking some honors courses. She had strong ecs in music and community service. Her SATs were in the 1400 range without the writing score factored in. The last couple of years have been pretty brutal for admissions, so it is hard to tell how much more rigorous admissions have gotten, but I would say that you definitely have a chance. Let the school know why you are a fit and work on your essay.