Chances for a low GPA student

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Asian Male from competitive suburban school of Twin Cities (Minnesota) applying UChicago Regular Decision:</p>

<p>SAT: 800 Math; 710 Verbal
SATII: 800 MathII; 800 Physics; 800 Chemistry
AP Testing (* denotes self-study):
Freshmen Year:
5 Stats
5 CompSci
5 Calc AB*
Sophomore Year:
5 Calc BC*
4 Biology
4 European History

Junior Year:
5 Chemistry
5 Physics B*
5 Physics C Mech*
5 Physics C E+M*
5 Music Theory*
5 Comparative Government
4 US Government
4 Macroecon*
4 Microecon*
4 US History

Senior Year: (planned)
English Literature
English Composition*
Chinese*
Environmental Science*
Human Geography*
</p>

<p>At some point in Junior year, self-studied Multi variable integral calculus.
Senior Courseload; College classes are at University of Minnesota:

AP Literature
Senior Required Sociology class
MATH 5615 Honors Introduction to Analysis I
//
MATH 5616 Honors Introduction to Analysis II
MATH 5286 Honors Fundamental Structures of Algebra
ECON 3102 Intermediate Microeconomics
CHEM 3502 Physical Chemistry II
PHYS 4002 Electricity and Magnetism
</p>

<p>GPA: Abysmal - 10.0/12.0 unweighted; 11.5/12.0 weighted
School does not give rank. Probably in the bottom 20th percentile (or the top 80th percentile, as I’d like to call it).
This GPA is bad due to several reasons:

  1. Compared to other students, I tend to self-study AP tests, which does not take advantage of weighted grade points.
  2. I have B’s in most classes.
  3. I have a D in non-AP/Honors composition, due to bad teacher; C in AP Chemistry; and C in AP Comparative Government.
  4. The median grade is an A- at this school.</p>

<p>Activities:
Math Team:
(team) 1st place (9th, 10th) 3rd place (11th)
(individual) 2nd place (11th)
Invited to Minnesota Gold ARML Team
Piano: random state-wide awards
Violin
US National Chemistry Olympiad: 4th in state - Failed to move on to nationals due to citizenship requirement
AMC12: 133.5
AIME: 7 - after 3 dumb mistakes :frowning:
Attended Mathcamp 2006
Debate; semifinalist at random local tournaments
Quiz Blow
Minimal Volunteering/Leadership/Work Experience</p>

<p>Essays: average
Counselor Recommendation: Very bad; new counselor on the job for 3 months
Math Teacher Recommendation: Bad; teacher can’t write
English Teacher Recommendation: Bad; I don’t think she regards me highly</p>

<p>Skills:
Works regularly with C/C++, Python, LaTeX, and UNIX environments.</p>

<p>If accepted, I will major in math.</p>

<p>What are my chances, with the low GPA?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Chicago has a reputation for valuing course load more than GPA. The classes you’ve taken (along with your SAT scores) show incredible potential and academic passion. </p>

<p>Essays are, and will always be, the end-all of the admissions process. If your essays are good, I imagine that you’d have a good shot. However, I’d be a little worried about mediocre recommendations.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the quick reply!</p>

<p>About the essays- I see that UChicago does not post a word limit. Does this mean UChicago wants a essay slightly longer than the standard 500-word one?</p>

<p>BTW, UChicago is the only school I’m applying other than U of Minnesota, which I already got accepted. Is this a good choice? Or should I apply to other schools similar to UChicago? The reason why I previously never cared about any other schools is because I can transfer tons of credits to U of Minnesota.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

4

<p>They’ve said before that they don’t impose a word limit because they really just care about content. More or less, it doesn’t matter, as long as its got the right stuff. </p>

<p>It would never hurt to apply to a few more schools. Most of the other schools similar to Chicago [in terms of intellectual atmosphere] are liberal art colleges (like Reed), which often have slightly weaker math departments. So, whatever that’s worth to you.</p>

5

<p>holy ****</p>

<p>are you an ap state scholar?</p>

<p>you have to be ap national scholar right?</p>

<p>im sure there are better schools than minnesota that you can transfer alot of credits too, such as berkeley.</p>

6

<p>

</p>

<p>Thanks for the suggestion! Do you know of any other schools similar to Reed/UChicago, by this criterion? </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>No, I’m not AP state scholar. (minnesota)</p>

<p>It’s the



MATH 5615 Honors Introduction to Analysis I
MATH 5616 Honors Introduction to Analysis II
MATH 5286 Honors Fundamental Structures of Algebra
ECON 3102 Intermediate Microeconomics
CHEM 3502 Physical Chemistry II
PHYS 4002 Electricity and Magnetism

classes that only can be transferred to the U of Minnesota (since i’m taking them there :P)</p>

7

<p>I have an expression that Chicago is a school which does not pay much attention to GPA or test scores. Essay is very important, also show your strong interest and you may get in.</p>

8

<p>Nonsense. The OP has a good shot, but I’ve seen people with better profiles get rejected. </p>

<p>

Taking hard classes is all well and good, but Cs and Ds are NOT good.</p>

<p>For math, also check out Lawrence U, Oberlin, Kalamazoo, Knox, Kenyon, College of Wooster, Reed, Beloit, Grinnell, and Carleton. Chicago is becoming exceedingly popular, especially since they’re trying to boost their image.</p>

9

<p>out of curiousity, in your best estimate, what does a 10/12 translate to on a 4.0 scale</p>

10

<p>looks like somewhere around a 3.0?</p>

11

<p>

</p>

<p>about a 3.33. Straight up conversion.</p>

12

<p>This delegate is clearly brilliant and passionate about math.</p>

<p>But if recommendations are as bad as you say they are and your rank really is that low, it’s a tough call. How were your essays?</p>

13

<p>Omg… I can’t believe I just called you a “delegate”. I’m so sorry; I just got back from a Model UN conference.</p>

14

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<p>If essays are that important, let’s just fiat them to be really great. What happens then?</p>

15

<p>hahaha nice chaotic.</p>

<p>where was the conference?</p>

16

<p>how is does a 10/12 put u in the bottom 20th percentile, unless your high school has EXTREME grade inflation? And couple things…(1)English Lit and Comp are the same course;(2) I thought you couldn’t do both Physics B and C in the same year???</p>

17

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<p>English lit and comp might be the same course at certain schools, but are two different ap tests.</p>

<p>There’s nowhere that says students aren’t allowed to take physics b and c in the same year.</p>

<p>yes, my school has extreme grade inflation. A- is the median grade.</p>

18

<p>Actually, the two English tests are English Literature and Composition and English Language and Composition. Comp is part of both. At my school we call them Lit and Lang.</p>