<p>I’ve gotten a lot of mail from Chicago saying things like “you’re more than your test scores,” etc. I’m very very interested in Chicago, I feel I am a very good match for the type of school and the atmosphere it has, but I’ve got below average stats (for Chicago and top-tier schools). So, my question is: roughly how much do numbers really play into admissions? I feel I’ve got good ECs and great essay writing skills, but the numbers I think are my eternal Achilles’ Heel.</p>
<p>Of course, no one here really knows how the admissions team works, but I’ll tell you what I think.</p>
<p>I think that Chicago wants good statistics to prove that you can take the work here. The workload here really is very difficult, and if you don’t have the ability to handle it, then you shouldn’t come here. This is why they sometimes reject people for their statistics alone.</p>
<p>Otherwise, if you have statistics that prove your potential to succeed here, THAT is when they start looking at how well your personality fits into the school.</p>
<p>I agree that in general you need good stats to start off if you are considering applying to the U of Chicago. Check their admitted students statistics to see what the scores of admitted students are. You will note that a vast majority of students have SAT scores in the 1400 range and 3.8 grade point averages. However, you will also note that somewhere in the 25% range have statistics below these figures, so Chicago will consider students who do not exactly score in this range, but there must be something else there to convince the school that you will fit in and succeed. So for some students the school will take a more holistic view. For example, my child, who his going into her third year, had 1340 on her SATs and when superscored, 1400 and a 3.6 cum. She is a talented singer, with leadership roles in a reknowned choir, some volunteer work with the developmentally challenged and a passionate desire to learn as evidenced by the quality and variety of her high school courses. She had a great on campus interview, let the school know why she fit in and her passion to attend, and despite the school’s initial stated concern with her stats, she was accepted. She is an honor student now, involved in several choirs and martial arts, so the school must know what they are doing when admitting students who don’t always meet those perfect standards. Still, it is the minority that is accepted without those high stats, but it is still worth a try.</p>
<p>S1 had a GPA of about 3.46 (3.25 in HS core courses) and decent test scores from a single sitting (about 1500 if I recall), took a very challenging curriculum in HS and courses abroad as well as a distance learning course from UC Berkeley. His EC’s were very good as well. When I ran into an admissions official I was told that what got him admitted was none of those things (especially the GPA), what did it were his essays. They loved them and told me so. Don’t underestimate what the essays can do for you.</p>