Recommendations for applying early action!

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>Hey all! I’d just love some advice on what to focus on/improve upon while applying early action.</p>

<p>Objective:</p>

<p>I am a white male, rising senior, from North Carolina. I intend to double major in physics and mathematics. I go to a public, residential, competitive high school with selective admission for junior and senior year. All classes are at a minimum, honors level. GPA’s are not given, nor are class ranks. I had a 4.0 GPA for freshman and sophomore years at my previous high school, and was ranked at the top of my class.</p>

<p>SAT:
CR 760 M 700 W 690 = 2150 Total (one sitting, math going to be improved in fall)</p>

<p>SAT II’s:
Not taken yet, probably going to take Math II, Physics, US History.</p>

<p>APs:
I’m not a fan of AP courses at all- I value pure learning, not memorizing facts for a test. I’ve taken three:
Chemistry (5), US History (5), Physics B (4)
It is interesting to note that I got a B/B+ in both Chemistry and US History, which shows the grade deflation at my school compared to other high schools. In addition, I self-studied for Physics B.</p>

<p>**GPA: **
Weighted: 4.975 (but will go up after these next two trimesters)</p>

<p>Junior Schedule (we have a trimester schedule, so I’ll just list the class I’ve taken):
A-: Precalculus and Modeling (unfortunately, my school would not allow me to move up to a more advanced class) (year-long)
A-: Physics with Advanced Topics I (one trimester)
A: Physics with Advanced Topics II (one trimester)
B: AP Chemistry I (two trimesters)
B: AP Chemistry II (one trimester)
A: Neuroscience Seminar (doesn’t affect GPA)
B+: American Studies (two trimesters)
B+: Hispanic Literature I (college-level) (one trimester)
A-: Hispanic Literature II (one trimester)
A-: Hispanic Literature III (one trimester)
B+: APUSH (one trimester)
A: Classical Piano and Guitar (one trimester-long independent course, all three trimesters)
A: Introduction to the Research Experience in Physics (one trimester)
A: Leadership Seminar (doesn’t affect GPA)</p>

<p>Also, during this (third) trimester, I’m “overloading,” which means I am taking an extra core class, above the normal five core classes. I don’t know how exactly that would figure in on my application, but I just wanted it to be known.</p>

<p>**Senior schedule: **
AP Calc BC with Advanced Topics (year-long)
AP Physics C: Mechanics & E/M (year-long)
Astrophysics (college-level) (one trimester)
Climate Change Biology (college-level) (one trimester)
Galaxies and Cosmology (college-level) (one trimester)
Modern Physics (college-level) (one trimester)
Molecular and Cellular Biology (college-level) (one trimester)
Number Theory (college-level) (one trimester)
Western European Cultural Studies (year-long)
Advanced Mathematical Problem Solving (one trimester-long independent course, all three trimesters)</p>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<p>ECs/Awards:
I have been a member of the Boy Scouts since the first grade, and I have my Eagle Scout award. I have served as Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and now that I live at a residential high school on the other side of the state, webmaster. I was crew leader on a 100 mile backpacking trip through Philmont Scout Camp in New Mexico.
My group, of which I am the team captain, was selected as finalists for the NASA BHALF competition ($1000 grant from NASA to perform experiment).
Doing research at top-ten university with professor studying neutrinos.
Based on my PSAT score, I should be qualifying for National Merit in September.</p>

<p>Previous School:
Science Academic Team- 2 years (captain as a sophomore- all other captains were seniors)
General Knowledge Academic Team- 2 years
Debate Team- 2 years
Book Club- 2 years
Crosby Scholars (college prep program, since middle school)
Student Government- 1 year</p>

<p>Current School:
Secular Student Alliance (president, founder)
SPECTRUM (Gay-straight alliance, president next year)
Geocaching club (president/founder, next year)
Photography Club (president, member)
NHS (Member)
ScienceDays Volunteer (we go out to local elementary schools to teach them random things about science, from fingerprinting to anatomy)</p>

<p>Hooks:
I am a first-generation college student. Attend highly selective residential high school.</p>

<p>**Recommendations: **
Precalculus teacher, with whom I had a very good relationship. American Studies teacher, should also be a good recommendation. I’ve met with my guidance counselor several times so that she actually gets to know me. Also, I’ll hopefully be getting an extra recommendation from a teacher at my school that is an alum of UChicago. I did work service for her for one trimester, and she is the sponsor for the SSA I founded. </p>

<p>Any advice on what to improve upon/focus on would be much appreciated!</p>

2

<p>At least to me, you sound like the ideal student! Of course, I’m sure you’ve heard that Chicago is looking for something more than the perfect grades/test scores/ECs…but those will always help getting you in the door. Since it seems like you’re all set academics-wise, my biggest tip would be to write your best essay ever. Make sure that it’s entirely authentic, and that your passion for what you said was “pure learning” comes through. Show them who you are, and what kind of person is behind the grades.
Also, try to get an interview. That will give the university another good indicator of who you are and if you’re a good “fit” for the College.
But again, the essay! I definitely think it’s the most important factor in getting in to Chicago…I know that’s what got me in!</p>

3

<p>Your application looks really good, especially some of the extracurricular activities that you have. The only weakness that I see is your SAT score, which is OK, but not amazing in terms of those accepted to Chicago. For your next test, I would focus on the writing section the most because I personally feel like it is the easiest section to improve on. If you raise your superscore to 2250+ and do a good job on the essays, I think you have a really high chance of getting in.</p>

<p>This isn’t related your question, but what strategy do you use on the CR? I’m basically the opposite of you on the SAT because I suck at CR (got a 650), but I’m good at the writing (800) and math (760) sections.</p>

4

<p>For UChicago, improving your Writing score will be pretty pointless. They only look at the combined Critical Reading and Math score.</p>

5

<p>^It said on their website that it was considered “supplemental,” but I assumed they would at least take a glance at it. If they actually don’t look at it,that really sucks for me.</p>