Advice and “Chance” Status as a HS Junior

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

Hello everyone, I am a junior in high school at the moment and would love input on my “status” concerning University of Chicago admissions. The University of Chicago is probably my top choice and heavily considering doing ED1.
Overall, I would say I am quite a “unique” person and applicant as I have a quite different situation than many other applicants to these schools. I live in a rural town in South Carolina with 315 people in it. My family situation has been awful throughout my whole life (alcoholism and “hard” drugs). Also, being the gay kid from this deep in the bible-belt is quite… awful. My parents are extremely conservative and do not know so I constantly have to have people available in case they were to find out (I would be kicked out). Of course, this all does not matter very much and will be minuscule in my application. All of this made me mature extremely fast and happy it all happened. Also, all of my teachers close to me have always said my essays and interview are going to be the real “shining moment” for me over my other statistical qualities.

GPA: (Note: Last updated at the end of sophomore year)
SC Weighted: 4.85
Unweighted: 3.9
Overal, I have made a total of 2 B’s pre-junior year. As a junior, I have much better grades (high A’s). Definitely would say my transcript has an “upward trend”.

ACT: Have taken it once last summer and received a 28. However, I would disqualify it as I was extremely sick when I took it. Already planning on requesting for score deletion.
Waiting on school-administered ACT results (predicting 31-34 based on practice attempts). Planning to take again to get up to around 34-35.

Rank: 12 out of 260 (Note: I have been playing catch-up since my earlier grades weren’t the best. For example, I went up 15 places last year alone and guidance counselor predicts I will be around 6-8 after this academic year (before summer Dual Enrollment classes).

AP:
Grade 9: Human Geography (4)
Grade 10: Biology (3) and European History (3)
(Note: the week of AP exams in grade 10 I had an extremely special situation where an intermediate family member was terminally ill and passed two weeks following. I drove 2 hours a day to help with that family member that week and had a lot on my mind. Planning on taking Biology SAT subject test for redemption).
Grade 11: Seminar, US Gov, US History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, English Language and Comp, and Microeconomics.
(Note: I took these classes at 4 different schools due to my location. I was at one high school (3 classes) in the morning and one in the afternoon (2 classes) with 2 online schools (one public and one private)(2 classes).
Scheduled Grade 12: Statistics, English Literature, Macroeconomics, Comparative Gov, Calculus C, Research, Psychology, and Music Theory (possibly)

Other class info:
I will have 3 foreign language credits (all that my school offered)
The summer of this year I am planning on taking 2-3 classes at the local technical school.

Extracurriculars: Please note that I live in a rural town in South Carolina with a population of 315. There were very few opportunities for me to do much at all or even create things
Beta Club, National Honors Society, Junior Rotary Club (Interact), Junior Lions Club (Leo), Mu Alpha Theta, Competitive Math Team, Model UN, Prom Committee, Cookies for Cops (annual local service project between multiple service organizations/companies), active in county Democratic Party, Volunteered for numerous politicians in 2016 and planning to this year, going to start working in 2 months, I am really into digital currency, and play the oboe recreationally and for school symphonic (for 5 years now).
Treasurer of Junior Lions Club and Junior Rotary Club
Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta
Founder and captain of Competitive Math Team
Restarted and captain of Model UN
Founder and organizer of Cookies for Cops
Attempted starting a GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) but school rejected it as a “sex-encouraging organization” (may or may not be discrimination)

Potential Recommendations:
Counselor’s - Should be pretty good as they always tout me as being the student with the hardest course load the district has ever seen.
AP Calculus AB/BC Teacher - I think it will be pretty good. We have a quite good relationship and I often help her with figuring out BC curriculum as it is her first year teaching it.
AP Seminar/Comparative Gov/Macroeconomics Teacher and guided me through microeconomics independent study - I know this one will be excellent. We are very close. We fought for GSA/Model UN together and petitioned for the school to offer Comparative Gov and Macroecon.

Thanks for your advice/input in advance!

2

TheNerdyOboist - Good luck with your re-take of the ACT. Getting a good score will definitely help. I’m curious on how you’ve settled on UChicago. Looking at the information you provided, I think you could be a good match, but I am just curious. Speaking of curiosity, continue to be so yourself, work hard and continue to get good grades. Keep taking challenging courses. I think the challenges you’ve faced at home could be weaved effectively into a distinctive essay. Speaking of a distinctive essay, these are very important to your UChicago application, as you probably know. Take some time with these yet try to let the true you come out in them. Best of luck to you.

3

Try applying through Questbridge (unless your family makes more than 60k a year).
Yes you have a shot but for a school such as Uchicago it’s always a long shot.
Where else are you considering applications ?

4

@kaukauna I was very drawn to UChicago because of their reputation in the areas I’d like to study. I (optimally) would like to dual major in political science and economics. They’ve always seemed to be a hub for those two things in general. For example, in countless research papers or even recreationally on things like podcasts I’ve seen them viewed as a very prestigious institution. After all this, I started doing some deep research and kinda “fell in love” with it the more I did. I am still extremely undecided for sure but this has been at the top of my list. Could potentially change after visiting UChicago and others this summer.

5

@MYOS1634 I definitely wouldn’t be able to apply through Questbridge as my parents are doctors and make a nice income (now). 5 years ago i could have. That is another can of worms as my parents will not be assisting me in college expensises and I will have a relatively high EFC. And to be honest, I am not 100% sure! I definitely would love to apply to a couple Ivys just for the heck of it and see what happens(I don’t feel I have a great shot at the “higher” Ivy’s however). I also am looking into Georgetown as I do intend to have a “pre-law” course structure. I would love to dual major in poli sci and economics but probably would major in poli sci and minor in Econ. If you have any suggestions on other schools that might fit me I would be very open to it!

6

Thanks for the reply TheNerdOboist – I’ve responded to a number of these chances posts over the years. You seem motivated and quite mature for your age. As someone with a son who just graduated and who also lives in the South, I wish you best of luck.

7

If you qualify for Questbridge, going through that and ranking Chicago #1 instead of going through ED1 may be a better idea because of guaranteed funding. Edit: Oh, I see this was already discussed… if your parents can afford it and refuse to pay you may be in some hot water - you aren’t going to get any financial aid and if your parents won’t co-sign loans (and taking out $75k loans a year is a terrible idea regardless) you will literally have no way to pay. Start looking at merit scholarships.

Regardless, your EC list is certainly more impressive than mine was and I lived in a wealthy suburb of a major east coast city. So dw on that front.

8

“I would love to dual major in poli sci and economics but probably would major in poli sci and minor in Econ.”

Currently UChicago doesn’t offer a minor in Econ. or Poly Sci. But you wouldn’t be the only student double majoring in those two. Here is the current link to majors and minors - keep an eye on it because it can always change. Also linked is the current course catalog - that changes too, each year.

https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/academics/majors-minors

http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/programsofstudy/

You are correct in your research about UChicago and the institution has a great reputation in the social sciences at the graduate level. While that also impacts the quality of both the undergrad. major and the students attracted to such, the College also has a distinct advantage (IMHO) in terms of its mandatory three-quarter social science core sequence. Here is the link to those. These are not Econ or Poly Sci. 101 (those come later on) - rather, they are more about training you to think deeply as an observer of social phenomena and to write well.

http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/thecollege/socialsciences/

Good luck to you!

9

@HydeSnark yes I am going to be heavily looking into merit scholarships. My parents and I have a very odd relationship. I do know they will not be able/willing to directly fork out significant cash for my college. However, they have shown signs they are willing to co-sign on students loans if the school is worth it. According to the EFC calculator, I will be getting some financial aid. It may not be an incredible amount but it will help. I hope for it to assist if I indeed get accepted/attend. Overall, my financial situation is odd but I believe I can make it work without selling my soul to debt.

10

@JBStillFlying Thank you so much for your info about how UChicago does their curriculum! I have researched a bit about it before but haven’t completely immersed myself. Yes if I attend UChicago I intend on dual majoring. The major/minor plan is more for a situation if I went somewhere else to be honest because I know it is very common to dual major at UChicago. I do love the way UChicago does their core curriculum (from what I’ve heard at a local info session) and the idea of “higher thinking and analysis. Definitely one of the most attractive aspects of the school for me.

11

@The NerdyOboist: what’s your parents’income, roughly?

If they’re both doctors, you MIGHT get a little bit in financial aid from Uchicago or an ivy because they give ‘super aid’ but most don’t.
You will NOT be able to go to Uchicago or any Ivy. Run the NPC and ask them point blank, if you get into one of these, will they be able to pay out of income and savings? If the answer is no, don’t make them take Parent PLUS loans for you. There are no merit scholarships for universities such as Ivies or Uchicago. Merit scholarships are designed to attract top students to the school and Ivies or Uchicago simply have no such need.
Therefore, regardless of your odds of admissions, forget about Uchicago, Georgetown, and Ivies.
Build a new list, focusing on merit.
You need to know how much they can provide you.
Find a job. What state do you live in?

12

@MYOS1634 The financial situation is incredibly difficult for me. My parents have answered differently on about every time I’ve discussed it with them. Their most consistent answer has been that they are going to contribute as much as they can in cash; however, I worry how much that will be exactly. It is very possible they will jump into action if I get in. Especially because my mother would love for me to attend such an institution. They are self employed and their income changes heavily each year. They also have enormous amounts of student debt (not sure just how much that matters considering EFC) (they have great credit though). They cumulatively make about $200,000 a year on average. ALSO, my grandfather left me with couple $10,000’s invested for my schooling (the money is not in my or my parents’ name). I live in South Carolina. Most of our public schools are… not the best. Especially for social sciences. That’s why I’m trying my best to work out the financial aspect.

13

UChicago does give merit scholarships and so does Georgetown I believe. But obviously getting a merit scholarship at an elite university isn’t an easy thing.

I’d say look at the price you have to pick up after the NPC calculated financial aid, and only get student loans amounting to your first year’s salary. If you are going to graduate school, then you should be more allergic to debt. Hopefully local scholarships can fill the gap. But take into account getting a job on campus and summer internships to help fund college.

But are your parents literally not going to pay a dime?

14

@SupremeRussian Yes I plan on working throughout college as well to help. My parents cannot give me a consistent answer. They say they want to help but being self-employed, it is hard to say how much EXACTLY that will be. I have money saved away from other parts of the family. I think they will try to pay for some but it will be FAR less than the EFC. Possibly scholarships and my own work MIGHT help fill that gap. It’s truly up in the air. I am going to sit down with them this summer with their financial advisor and we are going to get a more definitive answer.

15

You simply can’t assume you’ll get a merit scholarship at UChicago. Those should be considered as non existent. (Yes they exist, but anyone’s odds are so low that they could just as well not exist).

You have to internalize that with your parents’ refusal to provide consistent answers and their fluctuating finances you’re probably not going to Uchicago or an Ivy.
(You can apply but only once you’ve applied to your affordable safeties, affordable matches, and possibly affordable reaches. Affordable is likely to mean ’ half to full tuition merit scholarship’ .)

You need to build your list assuming no scholarships at G’town, UChicago, etc.
Look at the threads pinned at the top of the financial aid forum for automatic and competitive merit scholarships.

Build from the ground up.
South Carolina has a nationally recognized honors college at USC and College of Charleston has a great honors college too, so, apply as soon as the apps are available. That’s your start.
Go from there.
Honors colleges and thus scholarships at UAlabama, UTD AES, Miami Ohio, UMN are all possibilities depending on what you want for an environment (college town or city).

If all you have is your grandfather’s fund, your savings, and a federal loan, how much do you have per year? (Don’t forget to divide your grandfather’s generous gift into 4.) That’s your basic budget and you need at least two schools that come under that amount.
Add 5k, as your parents may be able to cutting that from their budget. That’s your likely budget. Most schools should be within that amount.
Add 10k to your basic budget: this is likely an optimistic budget.
Can you post these three budgets on your thread?

Also, start working now and save. When you’re in college, the money you earn will go toward daily expenses, but won’t help with tuition. You’ll need money in July before you start college and the more you start saving now the better it’ll be.

16

@MYOS1634 Yes, I for sure have a plethora of safety schools in case something were to happen (especially financially) that I’m planning to apply to. I posted this thread mostly concerning admissions purpose solely because I know how complex my financial situation is and didn’t want to plague it with those complexities. I do not have all of my financials in line and how much exactly I will be getting help from my largest likely source. I do not even have a projected total for my “gift” as it is in investment account. All that I have done so far is provided my parents with the UChicago EFC calculator for an idea and they passed it on to their advisor. Then, they came back and said “it would most likely work out somehow”. For this reason, mostly because of their advisor’s encouraging tone, I believe and hope that my parents will surprise me. The details have yet to be figured out. With my financials being up in the air, I’d prefer to keep this thread as a admissions-centered one with the assumption my financials come together in the end. I am very thankful for your advice and I definitely will come back to this and calculate the 3 budgets at the end of summer after I have more certainty regarding my finances.

17

The combination of 1° evasive answers and 2° “we’ll figure it out” typically results in bad news in March senior year. The parents don’t want to talk about it because they don’t want to say no and they hope something will happen, a scholarship will be given or they’ll have a financial windfall or with time they’ll be able to figure it out. THey don’t want to crush you or sadden you.
You really need to have financial safeties that will give you full tuition and half tuition scholarships as well as a full ride.
No one can tell you more than “you have a shot” for the universities you listed. They’re all “reach for everyone”. It means you need some reachable reaches and matches you can afford. Thats where your real work is, and I understand your financial situation is complicated, which means it ought to be your first job.

18

@MYOS1634 I assure you that I am taking every precaution I can when thinking about the finances. I have seen what can happen if one does not. For that reason, over half the schools I’m looking at a certainly more “safe” money-wise. That process is just starting for me in determining details. My parents are hard realists and highly doubt they would be encouraging me to peruse such a school so adamantly if they knew it was out of the question. For that reason I still want to include these type of schools on my list as it has always been my goal. I mostly posted this to get an idea of my “status” because my counselors are quite bewildered in selective admissions and cannot provide me with any idea of possibility. Again, thanks for the advice!

19

Yes, you DO have a shot, but all colleges with a 20% and under acceptance rate are “reach for everyone” schools.
Other intellectual schools like Chicago would include Bryn Mawr/Haverford, Carleton, Pomona - all extremely hard to get into obviously but I don’t know if you know of them.
The fact you live in a rural area is a boost to your application (ie., all other things being equal the fact you’re from SC and from a rural area will help). The fact you couldn’t form a GSA because it was considered as encouraging sex (? o_O) should be mentioned in passing in your essay somewhere.