Chances for UChicago? Low GPA high SAT

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Hey, I’m really interested in the economics and poli sci at chicago, but i don’t know if I can make it. </p>

<p>About the school:I don’t know if this makes that much of a difference but I go to the SC governor’s school for Science and math, which I guess could maybe account for the low GPA. I used to have a 3.96 and was in the top 10 of a pretty competitive school before coming here, but the school here was/ is rediculously difficult. 7/8 teachers that i have this year have PHD’s in their field, and only none has ever taught anywhere other than college and my school. My school was also featured in newsweek’s “public elite” list, which are schools (like stuyvesant, bronx, imsa) which are excluded from their normal high school list bc. of high SAT scores. School usually sends 1 to chicago, but only 1 usually applies.</p>

<p>Stats:
Asian male( will it help that i’m chinese and want to go into econ and poli sci instead of oh… math, biology, or engineering?)
SAT:1470 (Math/Verbal)
ACT:35
GPA: 3.80(unweighted). I’m also unlucky to an extant, as i have like 3 “92’s” a point away from an A :frowning:
SAT II’s: should all be close to 750’s at least (i am just better at standardized tests)
Teacher Recs- should be solid. I’ve probably stayed in my teachers offices more than actual class time, mainly because i’ve had to bust my tail off this year to keep up.
Counselor Rec- will be very good. He’s my student council advisor, and I’ve built a very strong relationship with him. He’s already written a very solid rec for me, so i’m faithful that he’ll do a great job.</p>

<p>Junior Courseload- killed me( i took 8 classes, when all other juniors except 2 took 7)
Semester 1- AP calculus BC, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP US, english 101, Computer Science 101, Solving Complex Math Equations, life and leisure.
Semester 2- all the same classes, except computer science 101 was replaced with AP psychology</p>

<p>Senior year courseload-
Semester 1- Ordinary Differential Equations, AP Euro, AP Physics C, Gov/econ, AP English lit, History of the 1950’s 60’s and 70’s, Research, solving complex equations 2.</p>

<p>Semester 2- Statistically analysis of financial analysis using Diff EQ( no specific title yet haha), AP Euro, AP Phys C, Globalization, AP English Lit, AP Environmental Science, Solving complex equations 2.</p>

<p>SAT II’s: haven’t taken yet but should be good.
AP’s: took AP chem, AP Bio, AP Calculus BC, AP Psychology, and AP Us history as a junior, and i have taken stats -4</p>

<p>E.C.'s that i will list- </p>

<p>Leadership-Student Council 2 yearss-secretary (we only have a secretary and a moderator)
Beta Club President as a junior
Speech team captain as a senior
Math Team treasurer</p>

<p>Selected for the Riley Institute at Furman University’s “Emerging Program Leaders” i’m pretty sure it was pretty competitive. Maybe 20 spots with people applying from SC and the rest of the country. The program prepares you to tackle a yearlong service project aimed at improving the community that you live in. My project will aim to improve music education and musical opportunities, through training and scholarships, specifically for minorities in Darlington County. I’m hoping that maybe this could distinguish me from every other asian male applying. </p>

<p>Music-
South Carolina Music Teachers Association pre college auditions- 1st place in division 4 (grades 10-12)
Guild of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra Competition- top 10 finalist
Laurence Hamilton Scholarship winner (won in 2003, 2005, 2006)- a regional scholarship worth around $400. won in 2003 as a 12 year old and was the youngest winner in the competitions history.<br>
Limestone College young artist’s competitions- 2nd place</p>

<p>Speech and Debate-
District competition- 1st place policy debate. Nationals qualifier(but i did horribly at nats)
State Public Forum Debate Champion</p>

<p>Sports-
Varsity Cross Country - 3 years, (team was 3rd this year at state, hopefully 1 next yr)
Varsity Track- 2 years, all region 2007 in the mile, 2 mile, and 4 x 800 meter relay.</p>

<p>Summer plans-
Six week oncology research internship
1 week furman emerging program leaders</p>

2

<p>I don’t “chance” people, because I don’t think it’s fair to them. I’m not an admissions officer and I have no idea what you look like in the context of your entire application and also in the context of the other applicants.</p>

<p>You’re certainly in the range for Chicago, though, and you’re extremely accomplished. Just make sure that you WANT a school like Chicago, though, before you sit down and chew over the application-- if you’re looking for a school in which you can do well in your studies and continue your level of EC involvement, I don’t think a school like Chicago will serve you best, where school will take up an enormous portion of thought and energy and will leave you with less energy for all of your activities, as that energy gets invested in lively class discussion and Immanuel Kant.</p>

<p>Second, make sure that you like the idea of the Core curriculum, and you like the idea of having a structured education. I do think that the Core is particularly great for poly sci majors, because the sosc cores are unparallel to almost any other class you’ll ever take, and of course, the econ program is incredibly strong.</p>

<p>So before you apply, even, make sure you’d be happy here, and if you’re ready for it, you certainly have a decent shot of getting in.</p>

3

<p>thanks! I definitely understand what you’re saying. my guidance counselor has been trying to tell me this forever. I know it’s hard to believe, but I think I’ve shown the passion in all my extracurriculars that colleges want, and through time management, i’ve been able to do it in several fields. It’s hard to drop them, because i’m seen as sort of a leader in most of my e.c.'s, except for piano of course, and i just can’t take the fact that i’ll be quitting on the team.In college, I do expect to drop running, because there’s no way i’ll get recruited, even for a DIII school like U of C. I do, though, intend on minoring in music performance, as I just love playing the piano. I am still very unsure about the poly sci thing, but I am guaranteed that Econ will be one of my majors. Possibly history, bio, or math for the other one.</p>

4

<p>No, I think it’s great that you’re passionate in so many things-- I guess I’m just warning you that if you are looking at a school where other students are as involved in extracurriculars as you are, you’re probably better off at a school like Harvard or other Ivies. In my not-necessarily accurate point of view, it’s the kinds of people who like to do ten thousand things (and school) who thrive at Harvard et. al. and wither at Chicago. Chicago has more of a “library-dweller” mentality, where students put a lot of time and energy into their work, maybe one or two significant EC’s, and spend the rest of the time goofing off. Would that sort of environment frustrate you, or enlighten you?</p>

5

<p>I read your title and was surprised by it once I read your stats- don’t go around thinking that a 3.8 UW is a low GPA, it’s not. You’re in the range for a lot of competitive colleges with a GPA like that coming out of challenging coursework.</p>

6

<p>They don’t account for prospective majors in admissions.</p>

7

<p>you have a resume…just write a decent essay and you’re in…i think</p>

8

<p>i think had like a 3.5-3.6 unweighted and i got in</p>

9

<p>CNI -
your SAT is just a bit above average-ish for UChicago - and will probably neither help nor hurt you. Your ACT is excellent, however, and would correspond to an SAT about 100 points higher (m+v). If your SAT II’s come in high (in the mid 700’s or better) you should sent both. If you have a bad day on the SAT II’s, you may want to consider sending just the ACT to Chicago - and possibly other schools on your list.</p>

10

<p>If I send in my SAT II’s (which should be around 750’s to 800’s), will they see my SAT I? and if so, should i take the SAT I again to try to improve?</p>

11

<p>Yes, they will see your SAT 1 still- SAT or ACT is mandatory, while sending SAT2 is always optional for Chicago.</p>

12

<p>Honey, you do NOT have a low GPA. Especially for a very competitive school.</p>

13

<p>well i guess what i’m afraid of is the downward trend, due to my switch in schools. up to sophomore year, i had like 15 A’s and 2 B’s (both of which were 1 point from being an A). Also, I doubt mamking good grades next year 1st semester will help, as i plan on applying EA for chicago. Maybe getting all A’s next year will help for other schools when it comes to showing improvement? anyone?</p>

14

<p>Adjustment for schools will be made. Every school has different expectations, so they won’t consider it ‘bad’.</p>

15

<p>All the SAT’s that are current are submitted when you send in your scores - no score choice. As far as Chicago is concerned, your ACT is fine, and I would say your standardized testing days are over (until grad school, lol). However, if you are applying to other hypercompetitive schools RD you might have some small advantage by submitting strong SAT’s and ACT’s. Remember, though, that there is only so much time, and all the college stuff (visits, testing, essays, CC …) is like an extra course in HS. Unless one or more of your other schools requires SAT II’s, you could just stand on your ACT score. Having enough time to properly address your essays, classes - and have some fun senior year is important. Your first semester senior grades will be considered by your rd schools and by Chicago - if you are deferred.</p>

16

<p>If you think 15 A’s and 2 B’s is bad you wont get into Chicago :). That said you’re stats are solid but Chicago cares about the essay quite a bit. If you write a great essay I would say you’re in.</p>

17

<p>Yeah, but that was middle school and the first two years of high school. junior year was not good.</p>

18

<p>wow i think i had a 3.3 gpa</p>