Chance me Chicago ED2 please!

LDNapplicantUS
Mon, 17 Dec 2018 16:15:26 +0000

I would be grateful if anyone could say roughly what my chances are for an ED2 application to Chicago. I’m applying from the UK, as an international student, “test-flexibly”.

GCSE: 12 A* (and equivalent)
A level predictions: AAA*A (Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics)

ECs:

Chairman, (my school’s) Economics Society (previously an attendee); have delivered talks and invited prominent speakers

Tutor of mathematics to socio-economically unprivileged students (2 years)

Co-founder of and writer for an Economics blog

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze/ Gold awards (EC/ Honor?)

Director of Finance, an environmentally-oriented enterprise; Young Enterprise company programme; won a number of awards.

Rugby squad player; prefect at school; attendee of a number of other societies (namely Politics and Mathematics)

Skiing (have received various qualifications and introductory mountain rescue training)

Model UN (might leave off - haven’t done much of it truth be told)

Work experience at a prestigious financial services firm; some other work experience

Participant, Knowledge@Wharton High School equity research competition (again, might leave off given that its only been going on for a few months)

Honors (not a very big thing in the UK):

Academic scholarship at my school

Prize for Economics (internal school award, however, sponsored by a prominent bank) (we also have 100+ Econ kids in each year group)

Prize for achieving top GCSE grades

Economics paper published in school publication/ journal

Aforementioned awards in Young Enterprise competition

Is Duke of Edinburgh an honour?

Intended major/ future plans:
Major: Economics (BSc) / Mathematics with a Specialisation in Economics
Plans: Economics PhD; Economist (academia or World Bank/ IMF)

Essays:
Common App: Focusing on (i) my international upbringing in many countries (ii) slight detachment from my parents (mainly dad) as a result (he spent a lot of time abroad and away) (iii) my consequent enjoyment of aviation and “mile-hacking”/ clever flight-booking (just for fun; I don’t actually, yet, fly on much of what I find) (iv) passion for Economics (8.5/10, I hope!)

Why Chicago: Well researched, shows clearly why I want to go, concise, reads/flows nicely (again, 8 or 9/10)

Un-Common essay: Response to the falling of the edge of the world prompt; very Economics based (don’t want to share my idea on the internet - sorry!); clearly shows my depth of knowledge/ interest; definitely a unique response (no idea/ 10)

Recs:
Been told by my teachers that they’re some of, if not the, strongest they’ve written; counsellor confirmed this and said his letter was strong too (9/10?)

No hooks; white male; private high school

Are there any ECs/ honours I shouldn’t mention or anything else I could change that would make the quality of my application higher? Is applying “test-flexibly” to my disadvantage?

Sorry for how long this post is and thank you in advance!