Have I got a prayer?

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>I’m a junior in high school right now, and was considering applying to U of Chicago. I’m the first child in the family, so I’m plotting my own course here, pretty much. </p>

<p>Weighted GPA: 3.8 out of 5
Unweighted: Not sure, but 3.3, 3.4-ish
SAT’s: Waiting on scores, should be here soon, will update when I get them
Courses this year: AP English Language/Composition, AP US History, Honors German 3, Academic Chemistry, Honors Wind Ensemble, Academic Trig & Pre-Calc,
Courses next year: AP English Literature/Composition, AP European History, AP German, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Honors Foreign Policy, Honors Wind Ensemble, Academic Calculus, Economics.
Extra-curriculars: 3 years marching band, 3 years speech and debate/forensics, with a likely presidency next year, (i’ve placed 2nd in my state and as a quarter-finalist nationally), JSA School program at Georgetown this summer, (I will be taking AP US Government and Politics), I was a semi-finalist in a state-wide essay contest for Penn State, german club, volunteering with the Obama campaign, i write, draw, dj, and produce music in my spare time, and i’m also a voracious reader of fiction and philosophy.</p>

<p>About me: My friends know me as being pretty intellectual and cultivated, if somewhat strange. I tend to slack off a bit in the classroom, as my GPA shows, but I’ve gotten high test scores consistently, and a simple conversation with me shows I know my stuff, at least.</p>

<p>So, based on this, can you guys give me your best guess as to whether I’ve got a chance?</p>

2

<p>As you know, your GPA is very iffy. One of my friends with a 3.6 uw, 3.9 w, 30 ACT was rejected. (Compared to you, he had a lot less e.c. involvement, though.) I would say if you had really good essays, amazing test scores, great recs, etc…it’d be a reach.</p>

<p>Can you do anything to raise your GPA in the last bit of junior year and the first semester of senior year? And as for the “simple conversation shows I know my stuff”…the problem is that Chicago doesn’t give too much weight to interviews, especially since most people don’t even have one…</p>

<p>eh. sorry about the nay-saying…but good luck!</p>

3

<p>Hmm… I guess applying Early Action would be kind of a disadvantage since the semester of Senior year (which would help your GPA) wouldn’t be counted. My opinion’s the same as above, but you never know since admissions for the top schools have certainly been arbitrary…</p>

4

<p>get your gpa up, write a killer essay.</p>

5

<p>Hey me and you are in the same boat. Similar gpa (trying to raisie to at least a 3.5 uw (from 3.4) by the end of the year. Granted this is all honors/ap + plus a host of other factors like im a year ahead in three subjects (freshmen class in 8th grade) as well as family issues (domestic violence with dad who is now lives across the country in cali. Got a 33 on my first act but i can raise it to at least a 34 maybe 35. Also got a ton of good ec’s one killer one in particular and hopefully my essay will be good enough. Well good luck to you hope we both get in although chances are slim.</p>

<p>cheers,
Mike</p>

6

<p>Yes you have a chance, but a lot will depend on your SATs. My child, who is now finishing her second year, got in with a 3.57 unweighted GPA from a suburban public school, taking some honors courses. She had strong ecs in music and community service. Her SATs were in the 1400 range without the writing score factored in. The last couple of years have been pretty brutal for admissions, so it is hard to tell how much more rigorous admissions have gotten, but I would say that you definitely have a chance. Let the school know why you are a fit and work on your essay.</p>

7

<p>I think U Chicago is a high reach with that gpa, unless you dominate the SAT. Best of luck.</p>

8

<p>as long as you write a good essay, you will be fine</p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>You could say this 10, maybe even 5, years ago when our acceptance rate was so high, but nowadays? You can’t say that. It’s going to be a high reach. Look for next year’s acceptance rate to dip below 25%.</p>

10

<p>I got my SAT scores today. Maybe this will change things some:</p>

<p>Critical Reading - 800
Math - 610
Writing - 710</p>

11

<p>Try to retake and up that math score. It really is a bit low. Congrats on the critical reading though, that’s really impressive.</p>

12

<p>Yeah, definitely retake the SAT and get your math score up. Then write a killer essay.</p>

13

<p>doug. try taking the ACT too. The GPA has to go up. Write a great essay, and being a semifinalist in a state-wide competition, that’s probably one of your best skills. U of Chicago always comes up with these very interesting essay topics for their application. You should check the accept percentages when they come out. This year was a very competitive year, and I’m not sure if applying EA is an advantage anymore. Most got deferred to RD this year. and just for comparison sake, a good friend with very high unweighted gpa (almost 3.9) in the hardest courseload (all AP, Honors) with a very very high ACT score, solid but not great EC’s (no awards like you though), strong recs, and NMF, got waitlisted this year. Not sure how his essays went, but he’s a pretty strong writer. Good luck. :)</p>

14

<p>Just fyi, my son got in after getting a 670 in math. That was the second time he took it; the first time I think it was a 590. (800 in critical reading both times; 730 and 760 in writing.) So you don’t have to get over 700 in everything!</p>

<p>Donna</p>

15

<p>^ that’s so comforting. I was really bummed about getting <700 in math.</p>

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<p>Math is the easiest to improve: practice, practice, practice</p>

17

<p>More encouragement for you: Last year, my S was accepted with a 580 in math (which he couldn’t seem to improve regardless of “practice, practice, practice.”) Seems like UChicago is more forgiving of weak math scores for those who are strong in other areas and who write killer essays.</p>

18

<p>Yeah, J’adoube-- I practiced, practiced, practiced for the May SAT and I went from a 670 to a 680-- a measly ten points.</p>

<p>Thanks for the extra encouragement rap_mom!</p>