Any Chance of acceptance?

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Hi! I just want to know if I should apply to University of Chicago? Is there a chance of acceptance? </p>

<p>immigrant from Turkey (been here for 8 yrs)/first generation college student</p>

<p>intended major: International studies/journalism
Sat: 2100
SAT II Math: 800
SAT II CHEMISTRY: 800</p>

<p>competitive high school, 40 students
3.0-3.2 gpa its low…</p>

<p>INTERNSHIPS
Star Ledger (newspaper)

  • Work with Director of Marketing
  • Utilize InDesign, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, and Microsoft products
  • Marketer for Jefferson Awards (prestigious national recognition system honoring people who volunteer their time to make a difference in their communities)
    Radical Parenting
  • Online parenting site written by teens
  • Teen Writer and Marketer
    Home News Tribune (newspaper)
  • Police Blotter
  • Staff Writer</p>

<p>SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Co Editor-in-Chief/Reporter of School Newspaper
Founder/Elected Editor-in-Chief of School Magazine
Editor-in-Chief of Cultural Magazine
Founder/Elected President of Art Club
Yearbook Writer/Designer
Spanish Honor Society
Debate Club
Model UN
Interact</p>

<p>VOLUNTEER WORK
Public Library - 250 hrs
Care Center - 50 hrs
Clinic - 100 hrs
Interact - 25 hrs
Head of American Red Cross Chapter in School - Senior

  • Clothing Drives
  • Blizzard Bags for the homeless
    AmeriCares - 150 hrs
  • Sent 130 health kits to children in developing countries
  • Raise money to send emergency supplies to refugees in Chad
  • Raise money to help fuel airplane (sending medical supplies to Darfur)
    Step Up! Community Leadership Program
  • Team recruitment and fundraising coordinator for Arthritis Foundation of NJ
  • Head of the Jingle Bell Run/Walk committee which raises money to help fight against arthritis
    Founder of Academy Cares (In progress)
  • Will send school supplies and other essentials to needy children in a small town in Turkey</p>

<p>AWARDS and ACHIEVEMENTS
Chemistry League
Freshman Year Vice President
Member of Youth Journalism International
Junior Reporter for the Tattoo Magazine
September Student of the Month 2009
Green Tech Expo 2008 Second Place Winner
Community Spirit Award 2009
Nontraditional Career Resource Center at Rutgers University
Several articles featured on Teen Ink
Speaker at NJEA Fair</p>

<p>OTHER
Bilingual (Turkish/English)
Frequent Blogger Teen News
Draw and Paint
TurkishGirl is online now</p>

2

<p>I would need more information on your school to adequately comment on your GPA, but by looking at the rest of your information all I have to say is: Wow! That extracurricular activity has to be one of the most diverse and impressive that I have seen and your SAT scores are not too shabby either. I would say that (but I’m not 100% sure) you have a decent shot at getting in if you write creative and original essays. Otherwise, the low GPA may be the reason you get in. But hey, I would definitely apply as you probably have a better shot at getting in then myself >_>.</p>

3

<p>That’s a really low GPA for a person with those scores – what’s the deal?</p>

4

<p>If she’s in the top 10-20% of her class it may just be challenging courses in the school</p>

5

<p>thanks so much! my school provides challanging courses (all taught at honor’s level). there isn’t a rank because of the low number of students (only 40 in the entire senior class). </p>

<p>my low gpa can be attributed to the engineering course here. i am not very tech savvy. but i am doing a lot better this year. </p>

<p>I plan on retaking the SATs and I will most likely take the ACTs also. this time I am shooting for something over a 2200. hopefully! ;)</p>

<p>My essay will be creative. I can gurantee that.</p>

6

<p>I’m hoping your gpa is a 3-3.0/4.0, if its like a 3.2 weighted then I don’t think you have much of a chance.
Yours extracurriculars are pretty solid, although I would not put something like “September Student of the Month” because it seems a bit trivial (unless of course you did something really important/unique, in which you should explain on your app).</p>

<p>Retake the SAT and aim for a 2300+, if you can get 2 800’s on the SATII you shouldnt be having trouble with tests.</p>

<p>With current academic stats, I’d assess you as a “reach”, thought i think it helps a ton that you’re a first generation college student</p>

<p>I’m at uchicago right now and theres all kinds of people here- from foreigners that have one of the top 10 IB total scores in the world, to a few kids that I still question how they got in. </p>

<p>One word of warning though, graduating from chicago with a decent grade is MUCH harder than getting in university of chicago. I’ve only been in school for 4-5 weeks and its been the most rigorous weeks of my life academically speaking.</p>

7

<p>September Student of the Month (was for the amount of time/effort i put into AmeriCares)</p>

<p>‘first college generation student’ -> explain the importance (how it helps)</p>

<p>also i mostly likely will get a recommendation letter from my boss (at star ledger). i hope that it will help.</p>

8

<p>just a quick questions does an act score of 29 have a shot at getting in to UoC?</p>

9

<p>feinyNY- I believe that a score of 29 makes up the lower 25% percent of students. So yes students in the past have been accepted with a 29.</p>

10

<p>I’d say yeah, and don’t worry too much about the low GPA. If your school is super competitive and you’re in the hardest classes they offer, that will make up for it. I’ve been to a couple U of C info sessions where somebody asked something like “If I have GPA x, what are my chances?” The U of C reps said that Chicago pays more attention to curriculum rigor than letter grades/GPA.</p>

<p>Your ECs are GREAT… you clearly take the initiative to pursue your passions outside of school, and that says good things about your commitment to learning.</p>

11

<p>i do take the hardest classes available :stuck_out_tongue:
thank you very much!</p>

12

<p>anyone else?</p>

13

<p>The list of majors at UChicago does not include a journalism major or minor if that is an important consideration.
<a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/academics/majorsminors/[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/academics/majorsminors/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

14

<p>yes i know. the university offers international studies :P</p>

15

<p>I think that you have a very good chance. You obviously do not attend a normal public or private high school. They will probably want to know more about your school and your GPA, but I do not think that they will reject you for the GPA. You have evidence of strong math, science, and writing ability, and a really strong record in community service. Your background is different, and they like that. First generation college student does help at most top colleges. It is assumed that you had to do your studies with less help from home than if your parents attended college. Colleges also want to be accessible to the wider pool of people, and not focus only on the segments of society that are already educated.</p>

16

<p>thank you very much. i appreciate your input</p>

17

<p>anyone else??</p>

18

<p>hey i’m a turkish-american student too, moved here when i was 11.</p>

<p>My SATs are higher than yours (2300ish) and my UW GPA is around 3.6
but my ECs pale in comparison.
You show a perseverance and the dedication of a turkish girl, and you should definitely apply and you definitely have a good chance to get in!</p>

<p>College Adcoms also know GPA slip-ups can happen, continue on with your challenging curriculum and you will be just fine!</p>

<p>Those extra-curricular count for a lot more than you think, and a 2100 SAT is perfectly acceptable score for Uchicago (based on their mid 50%) However you should know i’m pretty sure uchicago doesnt place great/any emphasis on the writing section. Therefore your other 2 should be high enough.</p>

<p>lastly being meticulous about the awards you received and listing all of the important ones is good, don’t change that.</p>

<p>hopefully i’ll see you a Uchicago, Kolay Gelsin, bol sanslar.</p>

19

<p>Aww Thanks! </p>

<p>Sanada Kolay Gelsin :)</p>