<p>From a Newsweek article about admissions at Chicago:</p>
<p>This buyer's market allows the admissions staff to consider a delectable question: if nearly every applicant is qualified, then who is most desirable? For Chicago, the answer is the high-end student who embraces complex ideas and ceaseless discussion, who reads "Anna Karenina" and can't wait to tell someone about it. "We tell people we're seeking rigor," O'Neill (Dean of Admissions) confides one brittle December day, walking through a sunlit stone quadrangle. "What we're really seeking is love." </p>
<p>My S. wrote very good essays, had atypical EC's, a GPA of 3.46 (UW) and an ACT of 33, demonstrated a sense of humor, had good recomendations, and showed the (sincere) love in what he wrote, visited often, and was accepted.</p>
<p>jpps1 : please don't bother them with this small thing for your own ego stroke/satisfaction. These are very busy ppl. </p>
<p>Also if you are the same one who asked if you should defer for a year to finish your own CAN program the answer is YES! First, you are in a program that is helping you to succeed, second you are the most immature poster here, and likely will benefit from an extra year. </p>
<p>Wondrist: that is a valid question, but you shouldn't ask THEM what to do to improve your admission status. Instead update them if you have any accomplishments to add, better grades 2nd quarter, and reaffirm your interest.</p>
<p>Edit to say: jpps maybe I have you mixed with another poster who wrote a really poor essay that had the works "for shizzle" in it, on a communications topic. If you did not, then I'm remembering the wrong person. If I'm right, them dd is reconsidering Chi for all the right reasons. lol</p>
<p>Concerning the downward trend in grades...I really screwed up my second half of junior year (I went from straight A's to one C and three B's, my ranking fell from 16 to 40, at a school with notorious grade inflation), but I was still accepted. Chicago seems to be more forgiving than its contemporaries. I would say have stellar ECs, (LOTS of clubs, but make sure you have leadership positions in them), really make your essays heartfelt, suck up to your counselor...and if you have any questions on your applications/uncertainties, email your Chicago Admissions Officer. It's a nice way to put your name in their head. (Hey, isn't this the girl who couldn't pay her application fee?)</p>
<p>My son was accepted with a 3.6 GPA from a public hs in Ohio that sends very few applicants out of state - I am reasonably sure he was the first ever to apply to Chicago. The rest of his application was good, and his essays very good. </p>
<p>jpps -
this fall, when things have calmed down, drop in and talk to the admissions officers!</p>
<p>bettina, so how does jpps1 beat out briney-whiney (or myself for that matter) for immaturity? he doesn't seem so bad, no worse than the rest of us future-freshman.</p>
<p>Ohio, similar situation here. There is one student from our town (from a private school) at U Chicago. My son was the only one to apply from his large, public high school where most kids stay in-state. He is probably the first from the public h.s. You can draw a 100-120 mile arc from our area before you hit major cities where they would have more applicants.</p>
<p>Well, I think asking about deferring for a year is a sign of maturity. jpps1, if you think you will be better set to handle UChicago's academics, taking another year is a good idea. If another year of HS is going to drive you buggy, Hyde Park it is.</p>