Dream about UChicago?

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Can I let myself even dream about UChicago?</p>

<p>Basically, my senior year /was/ last year and I am going to go abroad to Senegal to work with a sustainable forestry organization for the year and I am apply to schools while I am away. I want to improve my French and have experience with a different culture. </p>

<p>Objective:
•SAT I (breakdown): Not sending
•ACT: 35C (35E 31M 36R 36S)
•SAT II: 760 Math II 800 Biology
•Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.96
•Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 14/409
•AP (place score in parenthesis): Calculus AB (5), World (5), Psyics (4), U.S. History (5), English Lit (5), English Lang (5), Gov (5), Spanish Lang (5), Biology (5), Environmental Science (5)
•Senior Year Course Load: Public Speaking, International Relations, AP Environmental Science, Honors Band, IB HL Math, and an internship working with making sustinable forestry an economically viable option in the Pacific NW
•Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National AP Scholar, National Merit Commended, All-National Orchestra, Nationals Orchestra All-State Orchestra</p>

<p>Subjective:
•Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): JV Cross Country, Youth Symphony (Highest Division, principle), music competitions (All-State for solo, All-State for Orchestra, National for orchestra, etc.), video game youth panel, non-profit event founder, service club president, NAMI Speaker, Girl Scouts, etc.
•Job/Work Experience: 20 hours a week since Junior year
•Volunteer/Community service: 500+ hours mainly volunteering at Children’s Hospital, volunteering as a summer camp counselor, and performing at charity events
•Summer Activities:Work, volunteering, research
•Essays: Either I plan to write about my journey overcoming the eating disorder OR I will write about my decision to go to Senegal to work on my French
•Teacher Recommendation: THROUGH THE ROOF AMAZING
•Counselor Rec: Stellar
•Additional Rec: Not sure, maybe my boss who LOVES me?
•Interviews: I am very, very good at interviews. But I’m not sure that they count for much.</p>

<p>Other
•State (if domestic applicant): WA
•Country (if international applicant): N/A
•School Type: Public
•Ethnicity: Other
•Gender: Female
•Income Bracket: $65,000
•Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): going abroad?</p>

<p>Reflection
•Strengths:Standardized Testing, ACT anyway.
•Weaknesses:ECs</p>

2

<p>Yes, you have a good shot. I think in admissions speak, you are a low reach. And I’m saying low reach only because it’s hard to grade anyone’s chances better than that when the acceptance rate among a lot of really qualified candidates is < 10%. The year away could help you depending on how you relate it to what you will do at UChicago.</p>

3

<p>You look like you have a chance to get in. Apply EA, of course. And you need two teacher recommendations (academic core courses, not choir/etc.). You can get an additional rec if you want to, but you must have the two teacher recs. That is going to be the case for most colleges you will probably be considering. I think you ECs look okay, especially with the Senegal/forestry experience you are embarking on.</p>

<p>I would suggest you do the common app essay on your Senegal experience. Be sure you have someone help with editing (might be challenging if you are IN Senegal while doing this, but maybe you can line up someone to email with here before you go). But if you are in Senegal, that could definitely add some depth to your essay. I assume you know about U of C’s additional essay prompts – they have been released, so if you haven’t yet start thinking about what you will do for that essay as well.</p>

<p>And… just going to say, NAMI speaker may raise a red flag – consider carefully whether you want to disclose if what you are speaking on was your own issue (eating disorder)? Top colleges have so many applications that they are looking for reasons to move apps to the “do not admit pile” – it is a numbers thing, they just have to look at it that way. As important as this issue has been to you, it is not a positive to an admissions committee.</p>