<p>So my brother is a senior in high school. A top 10% GPA (~3.7-3.75 UW, ~4.20-4.25 W), 1500 SAT (+770W), 33 ACT score, and a good amount of 700+ SAT II's (I think 4 or 5). Also, he has a good set of extracurriculars (4-year involvement in music, 3 to 4-year volunteering, tutoring, work experience, camps, etc.). </p>
<p>Recently, he got into UMICH and Notre Dame, two of his match-safeties, but was deferred from UCHicago (EA) and UPENN Wharton (ED). Obviously, Wharton is a long shot for anyone. However, I thought he was a pretty strong candidate for UChicago. Maybe his essays were weak, I don't know.</p>
<p>I don't know what to say to him to make him feel better. Many of his friends got into top schools and I think my brother is getting anxious. I'm worried that he lost his confidence and hope for the RD.</p>
<p>Obviously, Michigan and Notre Dame are two outstanding schools but I think my brother is just disheartened by the fact that he was deferred from Chicago (he thought it was a match), and thus, has no shot at some ivies, Northwestern, Duke, JHU, and Georgetown, which are the schools he is applying to. </p>
<p>I'm just trying to keep my brother from losing focus and hope. I really believe that he has a shot at all the schools that he is applying to, but I don't know if he believes in that himself anymore. I'd appreciate any suggestions/input/comments. Thanks.</p>
<p>The admissions process for UChicago is really not stat based at all (or so they claim in the acceptance letter). They did reject people, so a deferral means just that, and little more. With a mediocre essay and good stats, it sounds like some of the other schools on that list would actually be easier to get into.</p>
<p>The problem is that his "match" schools are ultra-competitive, so his rejection rate is going to be higher than with students picking match schools with lower stats. He just has to hang in there.</p>
<p>No one can predict what the colleges will want and what the application pool will be like in a given year. UPenn may not have seen a fit in your brother, but Cornell may. Georgetown's essay may allow your brother to express his personality in a way that JHU's does not. Northwestern might have too many outstanding candidates from your area, but perhaps Duke needs more. </p>
<p>I'm sure he will get more acceptances given his stats. Tell him that, right now, the most important thing he can do is pour his heart into his other applications. If they are already submitted, then fantastic! He is then free to enjoy the rest of his senior year.</p>
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the fact that he was deferred from Chicago (he thought it was a match), and thus, has no shot at some ivies, Northwestern, Duke, JHU, and Georgetown, which are the schools he is applying to.
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<p>Actually, this is nowhere near a FACT. Chicago's decision has no effect on, say, Northwestern's, or JHU's, or Georgetown's, or any ivies'. Northwestern may be looking for a student with just his profile to fill their class, while Chicago didn't need one. I've heard of kids getting into their reaches and waitlisted at their matches. </p>
<p>So while it's hard to deal with, it's not time to abandon hope!</p>
