Do I have a shot?

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Chances/how to make myself a strong applicant to UChicago??</p>

<p>:D Thanks much.</p>

<p>Stats…
Female from Tucson, AZ.
GPA - 3.8 maybe (they don’t tell us UW), 4.3 weighted. Upward trend.
ACT - 29 (30E, 28M, 31R, 25S)
SAT - 1890 (700CR, 570M, 620W)
Class Rank - No clue. Probably between top 15-20%.
Class Size - 75.</p>

<p>I think my ACT is stronger by a little–should I retake it?</p>

<p>Freshman year: Honors Biology, Honors English, Honors World Geography
Sophomore year: Honors English, Honors Geometry, Honors World History
Junior year: AP English, AP US History, and Honors Algebra II
Senior year: AP English, AP US Government, Honors Physics, and Honors Bible (not weighted as honors course)</p>

<p>AP Scores: APUSH - 5, AP Lang/Comp - 4.</p>

<p>ECs, Awards, Work, Volunteering, etc.

  • Freelance graphic design and web development for private websites.
  • Director of Design for 2007 Dance Show.
  • 2 years of Yearbook, and I’ll be an editor this year.
  • National Honors Society
  • 1st Place in Southern Arizona Language Fair for a Sign Language Dramatic Interpretation.
  • High honor roll every semester
  • Honorable mention in the science fair
  • Award for Excellence in Beginning Dance</p>

<p>Intended Major: Computer Science</p>

2

<p>hmm…yeah u have a shot…but i heard that NhS doesn’t really count for anything…what else do u do? DO u volunteer? Play sports? I mean u could write about the sciences…but i dunno if that’ll stick out in the crowd…coz what’s gonna probably make/break u is the essay and recommendation letters…oo note that if u really like computers, u of c has no computer engineering program</p>

3

<p>oo…and what type of high school do u come from? is it really competitive or is it located in an urban setting with not enuff funding…because if it’s the former, then you’re in trouble…but if it’s the latter, then u have a really good shot…yea i kno this concept seems backwards, but it’s the truth</p>

4

<p>Yeah, I volunteer at the local library, church, and at my school. And my school is a small, private school and it’s pretty competative at least for the top places. And it is college prepatory. And I know that my recs and essays will be really good…</p>

<p>I’m going into computer science, not computer engineering, which UofC has.</p>

<p>Is demonstrating interest important? And how could I do that since I can’t visit the school? =&lt;/p>

5

<p>Yes. Ace your “Why Chicago?” essay. Other things that may or may not “count” would be contacting your admissions rep with honest questions you have since you can’t visit and trying to get an off-campus alumni interview.</p>

6

<p>I think your sign language thing could really work in your favor. Do you have a video of it? Send it!</p>

7

<p>Yeah, I know my essays will go well. And no, sadly I don’t have a video of my sign language. My teacher has some, but she left to get her masters in ASL interpreting, so there’s no chance in getting a video. </p>

<p>How exactly do alumni interviews work? I did some regular college interviews over the summer, so how would these differ?</p>

8

<p>You look really cool on paper and it looks like you have a lot of interests and a lot going for you.</p>

<p>Chicago does offer ASL classes, but I don’t think anything much beyond that. A friend of mine who’s a grad student in linguistics is huge on ASL.</p>