Will I be competitive, at all (early action)?

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
1

<p>I realize it’s a “reach for everyone” school. So I guess my question is more of whether I’ll be really easy to reject right away, or if they’ll have to think about it for thirty seconds or so. :)</p>

<p>White, female, first-generation, Ohio resident, rural public school, intended major is math.
I can’t visit, but I’ll do an alumni interview if possible. I’m not an especially interesting conversationalist, so I’m not sure how that will turn out. </p>

<p>Numbers:
GPA: 3.99 UW
Class rank: 3/147 (top 3%)</p>

<p>SAT: 2340 (790 CR, 750 M, 800 W)
ACT: 35 (35 E, 36 M, 34 R, 33 S)
PSAT: 227</p>

<p>SAT II:
Chemistry - 740
Literature - 780
Math II - 800</p>

<p>AP:
4 - Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, Calculus BC<em>, US History</em>
3 - Statistics<em>, US Government</em>
*self-study
This is all my school has. </p>

<p>Other:
I’ve taken only two years of Spanish, but I’ll probably get a third year through independent study next year.
I tested out of pre-calculus and the regular calculus class at my school. I also tested out of physics, and I have a pass/fail credit for it. What will they think of this?</p>

<p>Senior year courses (dual enrollment at university):
First semester: Intro to Ethics, Linear Algebra, Intro to Differential Equations, Intro to Number Theory
Prospective second semester (assuming first semester classes don’t kill me): Multivariable Calculus, Intro to Discrete Math, Numerical Analysis, Abstract Algebra</p>

<p>Please note that I’m severely ahead of myself trying to list my second-semester courses at this point. I might turn out to suck at math.</p>

<p>Awards:
National Merit Semifinalist, at least (12)
AP Scholar with Distinction (12)
Yale Book Award (from school, 11)
Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award (from school, 11)
Student of the Month (from school: Language Arts 10, Science 10)
Community Service Award (from school: 10, 11)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars (this is where I’m lacking, by the way):
Local chemical engineering mentorship (11)
Piano lessons (9, 10, 11, 12)
Working at McDonald’s (11, 12)
Editorial internship with online magazine (12)
Published in Teen Ink magazine (twice, 11)
Cofounded book/filmmaking club at public library (10, 11)
Scholastic Bowl (11)
Environmental club (11)
School musical ensemble (10)
School science fair (10)
Alateen (9, 10, 11, 12) ==> Not sure if appropriate, but it’s given me a couple public speaking opportunities. Which I screwed up, but it still counts.</p>

<p>Summers:
Physics of Atomic Nuclei Program at NSCL (12)
Volunteering at public library children’s program (9, 10, 11, 12)
Two local non-selective science camps (12)
Volunteering at local arboretum (12)
Volunteering at Safety Town (10, 12)</p>

<p>Other:
My essays are probably not going to get any better. I wrote the first draft of my Common App essay last fall, so I’ve been editing it for twenty million years. Some people (strangers on this website who have read them for me…not my mother) say my essays are awesome and some people say they’re horrible and “subpar.”
My teacher recommendations should be flipping amazing if everything turns out how I want it to. :)</p>

<p>Additional information:
I was in foster care from when I was 9 to when I was 12, after which my 80-year-old grandmother became my legal guardian. She died the summer after my freshman year and I live with my mother (parents are separated). I’m not writing an essay about this but I think it gives some perspective on my life so I plan to include it somewhere.
Next year I’m going to be a full-time dual-enrollment student at a university that isn’t particularly local, so I’m moving in with my cousins (who live closer). So I can’t do ECs at my high school during senior year. </p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Highly competitive stats, maybe 40-50% chance if essays are good and interview isn’t bad (it’s actually not irrelevant.). Try to get a leadership position in an extracurricular. Good luck to you, it’s a fun place to attend but it can be very random so just apply to all the either top 10 schools or top 20 if you feel worried and then just a spread of a couple of your in-state flagships.</p>

3

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>I cofounded the book club at the library, which ended up sort of failing after junior year because the other people were a little older than me and moved on.
I can’t do clubs at my high school next year, and it seems like it would be hard for a high school senior to get a leadership position in a club at a college (though I intend to join one or two). Are there other ways I could show leadership?</p>

4

<p>Don’t sell yourself short on your EC- working at McDonalds may not be glamorous, but you learn a lot of real life lessons like punctuality, hard work. Interaction with others. You don’t always have to be a leader- showing passion counts too. You seem very accomplished and should get accepted at some great schools.</p>

5

<p>^^that. “working at McDonalds” speaks volumes (in a very positive sense)…schools like Chicago look for students with GENUINE CHARACTER…best wishes.</p>

6

<p>It’s usually only around five/six hours a week, though, which I think is because they have all these older people working there who need the money more than I do. But I always try to get more hours. Is that okay?</p>

7

<p>yes…just trying to work as many hours as you do as a high school student will be strongly acknowledged by the admissions office…</p>

<p>…remember, many of the staff working in the admissions department are young recent grads who grew up with MODEST means…and, in general, they root for underdogs…students who have accomplished a lot despite their upbringing/environment…despite what cards they were dealt…</p>

<p>…your story is compelling and inspiring…</p>

8

<p>I still maintain that working at Wendy’s 30 years ago taught me some valuable skills (in addition to learning how to make a nice burger)-I echo the previous poster that many admissions officers are younger and know what it’s like to be a teenager.</p>

9

<p>Halcyon: you have an excellent resume. Your objective measurements are outstanding. Your background is a strength also. It’s puzzling that there is such a divergence in the opinion of your essay(s). The main thing with your essays (beyond being grammatically and syntactically correct) is that you be honest about your desire to go to UChicago. Say what you feel even if you think its not what others want you to write. What you are trying to express is your love of learning and your love of UChicago. If you can do that, I think you have an excellent chance. Good luck and congratulations on your outstanding achievements so far.</p>