<p>Currently a sophomore.</p>
<p>Objective:
To enter the scientific research field. </p>
<p>Education:
2001-2004: Northshore Junior High
2004-2005: Inglemoor High School
Summer 2003, Summer 2004: University of Washington Summer Stretch
3.98 GPA unweighted. No class ranking.</p>
<p>Test Scores:
SAT I: 1330 (690 Verbal, 640 Math)
PSAT: (76 Math, 67 Verbal, 70 Writing)
ACT: 31 (27 English, 34 Math, 33 Reading, 29 Science)
SAT IIs: 800 Math IIC, 790 Chemistry, 690 Writing</p>
<p>Extra-Curriculars:
Member of Math Team and Science Olympiad
Self-studying AP Chemistry, AP Calculus BC, AP European History
Participated in DuPont Science Essay Contest
2004 Washington State Math Championships: 7th Place Team award for 9th/10th graders.
2005 Washington State Math Championships: 4th Place Team award for 9th/10th graders.
25 USAMTS first round.
AIME Qualifier</p>
<p>Integrated I: A/A
Integrated II: A/A
English 9: A/A
Pre-IB Advanced Algebra/Trig: A/A-
Physical Science: A/A
Washington State/Pac Rim: A/A
Library Assistant: P/P
French 100: A/A
Geometry: A
Pre-Calculus: A
CTY Distance Writing: P
Computer Graphics (in progress): A
Honors English 10 (in progress): A-
IB Math Methods II/Calculus (in progress): A
Pre-IB Chemistry (in progress): A
Pre-IB World History (in progress): A
C++ (in progress): A
French 200 (in progress): A</p>
<p>Hmmm . . . you’re scores are very mixed. Makes it difficult to shine, despite your other, very impressive accomplishments.</p>
<p>Yeah - I’m a sophomore though - what if I get them up?</p>
<p>If you get them up, it will improve your chances but chicago doesn’t give very many scholarships. Usually the big scholarships come from schools that are a tier below and are looking to woo students away from schools like chicago and the ivies by offering them money. Chicago does have a fair amount of financial aid to dole out which for all intents and purposes is a lot like a scholarship (just more likely of happening).</p>
<p>Good stats though and IB rocks (well…I personally think that the full diploma is way more work than it is worth considering colleges have accepted you a long time before you find out if you actually get the diploma).</p>
<p>Bump up your scores (and get ready to WRITE on your tests now…no more straight multiple choice) and you should be in fine shape to at least get accepted at chicago. You have probobly learned all of the SAT and ACT math and not improve by learning new things–though you might get better simply by doing more advanced math. The verbal sections do stand to be improved through more english classes/papers/some basic SAT prep.</p>
<p>Thanks - my parents are only willing to pay for UChicago if I get a scholarship, even though I’m sure I’ll be accepted. Does anyone know aboutthe applicant profiles of those who get merit scholarships? Do they have to qualify for USAMO or attend a national science olympiad study camp, frex? (for me, that’s the only path I can take to be exceptional).</p>
<p>ANd of course it’ll be near impossible - but I’ll try anyways as I’m inspired by people whose AIME scores improved substantially over one year.</p>
<p>A scholarship or good financhial aid? UChicago scholarships consist of a few full tuition and a handful more half tuition and really not much else.</p>
<p>The departments are very seperate but both provide money to the students. EA people have not yet recieved FINAL financial aid statements but from my estimated aid, I am looking at around 50% of the costs to be covered by federal and university aid which is almost the same as having recieved a half tuition scholarship (though I expect to recieve less next year because of the way the advertizing business was in 2004).</p>
<p>Scholarships are really pretty random but you can usually predict financial aid via the FAFSA or CSS Profile.</p>
<p>Problem is, my family’s making $150,000/year around. It won’t qualify for need-based financial aid and I have a younger brother too. M<y parents are also saving up for retirement. So then, my only chance is through merit-based aid scholarships.</p>
<p>I know for a fact that you could still qualify for aid from chicago but if its where you want to go, definately apply and see what happens.</p>
<p>Also, check on external scholarships. As seniors, we get new and updated copies of a packet that lists scholarships in my IB english class every few weeks and we have noticed that there are a good amount of fairly large sized scholarships that must be applied for as a JUNIOR. The odds of winning these are much better as there are fewer applicants. Combine that with the chance of other external scholarships your senior year and you can actually have a good chance of getting an external scholarship. </p>
<p>Keep your stats up and hope for scholarships/need based aid because chicago is definately worth it. Its worth the entire 40k if thats what it takes–look for some other threads with parents and students who waived full scholarships to other schools to attend chicago with 0 aid.</p>
<p>Thanks - oops - I forget to mention that I did discuss the issue with my parents. They’re not going to pay for CHicago unless I can get the dollars to 15,000/year, or the tuition of the UWash, the local univ. They don’t think Chicago’s worth it since they think it’s not much better than the Honors program at the local U. They also tagged me as selfish when I insisted. So I’m really in a dire situation. I think there’s an OK chance for me qualifying for the 1/3 tuition reduction for the top 10% but it’s highly unlikely for me to qualify for the full tuition discount at the top 1%.</p>
<p>But yeah - I probably should try for external scholarships. 
Gosh I’ll have to write so many essays next year, both for summer progs, essay contests, and scholarships.</p>
<p>do they think that chicago is a state school? That would be University of Illinois: Chicago. Make sure they realize that chicago is essentially an ivy in every way except for being a part of the football league</p>
<p>My parents have said “no schools other than Caltech or the local state school.” so it unfortunately won’t work. 
I’ll have to rely on scholarships. I cited Nobel laureates, research facilities, none worked.</p>
<p>Thats a really weird approach. Why only caltech?</p>
<p>If california is ok…what about UC Berkely?</p>
<p>I don’t know…my parents make around the same as you, simfish, and we didn’t qualify for anything. Get ready to take out loans.</p>
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<p>Well, they think that Caltech is the only one worth it because students have so many opportunities they can’t pursue at let’s say… the local state university (almost all students get research if they want some, very small environment, low student/faculty ratio, etc…). Plus I have relatives in the LA area so they’re not as concerned about me getting a mental breakdown there. They don’t think the same for Chicago.</p>
<p>I know kids who have gone to caltech and hated it. Basically Caltech kids can’t or don’t want to have a life.</p>
<p>simfish, what are you interested in majoring?</p>
<p>tell them the university has a great economics program. a great physics program. and a great history department.</p>
<p>if your parents are anything like my parents, you still have time to convince them that the university of chicago is the place for you to be.</p>
<p>Visit the college and make sure you take them with you.</p>
<p>I think you’re definitely smart enough to get into the University. Whether you’ll get a scholarship or not, I do not know.</p>
<p>I would definitely pull up the SAT I score. But I suspect that’s your 7th grade score.</p>
<p>I would learn grammar thoroughly, because it will help you with your essay and the writing section on the PSAT and the SATII.</p>
<p>Your averages are great.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply. Telling them that the programs are “great” won’t persuade them - it’ll only persuade them if Chicago has facilities that clearly stand out - that other schools dont have. From their impression, Chicago is very similar but no better than an Ivy in its departments and my parents aren’t sending me to Ivy either. They think that 15th place (my university in physics) is almost identical to 8th place (Chicago’s ranking in physics if I can recall correctly) I just considered Chicago because I don’t think I have any chance of scholarship at an Ivy.</p>
<p>I’m interested in majoring in one of the hard sciences (particularly physics and probably taking a math degree since I’ll have completed much of the math by the time I matriculate already). But my parents think the local university is perfectly adequate.</p>