The time has come!

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>“The time has come,” davnasca said,
“To talk of many things:
Of scores–and stats–and chances threads–
Of A-C-Ts–and things–
And if my chances are hot or not–
And whether I’ll get in.”</p>

<hr>

<p>STATS:</p>

<p>Gender: M
College Class Year: 2012
High School: Public
High School Type: rarely sends grads to top schools
Will apply for financial aid: Yes</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>GPA - Unweighted: 96.30 (4.0 on a 4.0 scale)
GPA - Weighted: 98.60
Class Rank: 12/180 (7%, will try to get into 5%)</p>

<p>Scores:</p>

<p>ACT- 33 composite (might retake for a 34)
Will not take SAT: reasoning
Will take SATIIs this June (my scores aren’t looking great, I might not send any)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Student Senate all 3yrs (Treas. Soph. ,VP Junior, I am officially the President Elect!!!)
MUN all 3yrs (have won minor awards at some conferences)
Peer Leadership all 3yrs
Band all 3yrs (all county band on french horn)
Musical Theater since the beginning of time (have had many lead roles)
President of Drama Club Junior yr.
Principal Advisory Council soph and junior
Building Planning team 11th (one of only two students selected to participate)
Interned at the county legislature
Was recently inducted into NHS
Have won a few essay and poetry contests
JV Soccer fresh. and soph.
Varsity indoor track junior (won a NYS scholar athlete award)
Worked at a camp summer between soph-junior yrs
Was a delegate to the National association of student councils fresh yr
Will be attending Boy’s State!!! Yay!
Will also get another summer job this summer
Have been very active in my church (alter server, lector and eucheristic minister)
Have done <em>some</em> community service through the church youth group
Will do (a lot) more community service this summer</p>

<p>A few explanations:</p>

<p>Class Rank: Would be much higher but I’ve taken a lot of UW extra courses which severely lowered my GPA. Our Val takes like 5 courses in a 9per day, no extras. If only core academic classes figured in I would defiantly be in the top 5. </p>

<p>Course Load: Our school doesn’t offer AP/IB. Instead, all of our upper level courses are dual enrollment through the local community college. I have or will have taken all available upper level courses except for Calculus (due to scheduling) and Spanish (because I take French). This means that when I graduate I will have about 8 or 9 college credits (if they transfer!). I have taken the most demanding course load possible. We have a nine period day and I have 8 credits a year plus a required gym (no sh or lunch period). I have taken all possible honors and lots of electives. </p>

<p>Essays: Should be great, I’ve already started working on a few, lol.</p>

<p>Recs: Also should be great, I’ve had my principal write me a rec. before and he writes a really good one!</p>

<p>Interview: Already had one! Had one at my AMAZING campus visit! I though it went pretty good. Though, it was kinda short 30-40 mins. but is was with an the admissions person not an alum and I think she had a second interview right after me. Is this normal?</p>

<hr>

<p>Heh, thanks!!!</p>

<p>Also, what can I do to improve?</p>

2

<p>Looks good. Nothing short about 30-40 minute interview for any school.</p>

3

<p>

</p>

<p>somebody please correct me if I’m wrong, but UChicago doesn’t take college credits if the courses were taken to fulfill requirements for a high school diploma.</p>

4

<p>I think that’s right, MBP.</p>

5

<p>yeah most privates don’t, I just hope they view them similar to an AP course, so they know I worked my little tail off in school.</p>

<p>Anybody else?</p>

6

<p>Davnasca, </p>

<p>I can’t really comment on your “chances,” but you seem like a true UChicagoist. It’s cool that you’ve started your essays already (same here!) :slight_smile: Will you be applying Uncommon?</p>

<p>Don’t forget, Chicago requires 2 recs: 1 in math/science and 1 in the humanities. So make sure you have those, too, not only your principal’s.</p>

<p>Everything else looks pretty good. Try not to worry about rank all that much. Maintain a rigorous courseload, even and particularly in your senior year, and continue to do well in them. If you’re interested or have the time, you could also self-study for a few APs and maybe earn credit by taking the exams in May…</p>

7

<p>Looks good, and your post makes you seem like a creative, original guy. I’ll be applying too, so good luck to both of us.</p>

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<p>Thanks! And yeah, even if they go common app… I’m still applying with the uncommon app! On paper too, 'cause I’m an old school bad-ass.</p>

9

<p>It’s funny that some of us have already started on the essays. I haven’t officially started anything yet, but in my spare time I often think about what to write for the “Why Chicago?” short essay. I’m also working on a hook that I think Chicago will really get a huge kick out of. I like the idea of it so much that I’m afraid to post it on the internet!</p>

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<p>lol, me too! I had a genius idea on how to write the Why Chicago essay, so I started it… And I though of a killer hook that they might like too… weird!</p>

11

<p>Davnasca, I just wanted to say that your post made me smile–the second I saw ‘The time has come’ I started quoting ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ to myself, and so when I opened it I had a good laugh :)</p>

<p>I will be joining you all in UChicago essay writing soon…</p>

12

<p>The time may have come,
But hath not yet passed.
Tell me, am I dumb,
Or my chances vast?</p>

13

<p>Good chances. Make your essays awesome and you can definitely get in.</p>

14

<p>I would like to start my Why Chicago essay as well but the prompt is not on the U of C website. Is it simply “Why do you want to attend the University of Chicago?” Is there any thing else in the prompt?</p>

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<p>yeah is the uncommon for class of 2008 out yet?</p>

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<p>Uncommon app should be up around mid-July, that’s when it was up last year.</p>