<p>So, I come from a high school that is in the middle of NOWHERE. Does anyone have advice for me when applying to high-tier universities, specifically Chicago?</p>
<p>Goldysocks - it would help if you told us where you are from. For instance, my S a current 2nd year at UChicago had very good stats but was probably also helped by the fact that we live in Connecticut, an under represented area for UChicago applicants.</p>
<p>North Carolina</p>
<p>I’m not from the middle of nowhere, but I’m from Maine; I think there are 10 or so of us in the class of 2013. 
We might make up 1% overall of the student body. That said, my school was a thousand kids and actually one of the better public schools in the state, not that Maine public schools are particularly bad; I’m from the southern part of the state, basically an extension of Massachusetts with a little more breathing room, not the rural north.</p>
<p>I think NC is relatively underrepresented here; I never seem to encounter anyone from that area of the country. If your stats are pretty strong, they might jump at the chance to take you.</p>
<p>I’m from nowhere. I’m not really from the MIDDLE of nowhere, but just plain old nowhere probably qualifies me to post. I graduated in a class of 50 at a small rural public school that doesn’t really send people to good colleges (read: top 100 colleges) with a few exceptions.</p>
<p>In any case, I’m currently a student at UChicago, so whatever I did happened to work. What’s really going to set you apart is your recommendations and essays. I wasn’t really that impressive as far as UChicago applicants go. I’m not really a genius in anything, I don’t really have any national awards, I didn’t cure cancer in a sweet research lab, and I didn’t spend a year as an exchange student in sub-Saharan Africa. But my teachers stressed my desire to learn, and that I had performed well for a student in my school.</p>
<p>You probably already know why recommendations are important. And essays are always important for UChicago students. But I think these things are even more important for rural students, where your course transcripts and ECs just aren’t going to look as good as your suburban and urban competition. The admissions office won’t really punish you for that, but you’ve got to give them a reason to admit you. Show your enthusiasm for learning and for being in Chicago. That said, also stay away from whining about your situation too much. Use it in a more positive way, saying that you’ll build on your experiences in the middle of nowhere.</p>
<p>For some more general advice: If you’re applying to HYP, you might want to start studying up for those SAT Subject Tests. I found that my high school courses were not sufficient preparation for them AT ALL, specifically in the sciences. I remember looking through a sample physics test and understanding maybe 25% of the questions, and I doubt I could have answered those all correctly. I’m hoping that you won’t be in that situation, but be aware that the standardized tests are designed for schools with large budgets and the course offerings to show for it.</p>
<p>Next, don’t expect too much out of your counselor. If he or she doesn’t have experience in sending students to top colleges, your counselor won’t really have any idea what to tell you other than to get things in on time, to visit the college, and to keep up your GPA. Those things are all important, but you might need to fill in the information gaps with CC, the CollegeBoard’s site, etc.</p>
<p>Finally, don’t underestimate yourself. I definitely did, and I now realize how silly it was. Yes, you’re going to be competing with geniuses when you apply to top schools. If you go to info sessions with people from competitive schools, you’re going to feel completely out of your league. You’re going to meet fancy rich people who are afraid to leave their urban bubbles. But that doesn’t mean that those people are any more capable than you are. This sounds cheesy, but after getting to know people here at the U of C, I can tell you that there’s nothing that makes a Long Island student better than a Wyoming student.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the advice, everyone, I really appreciate it. I’ll be returning with more questions in a little while!
Yeah, I’m really intimidated by the idea of applying to schools that are actually high tier, as people usually don’t get into them where I’m from. I feel really underqualified compared to everyone else already, but I’m going to try my hardest anyhow.</p>
<p>Another concern I have is that my parents won’t let me go, even if I do manage to get in, as they think Chicago is far too violent. Has anyone else had this same problem and worked it out with their parents?
Oh, and would applying EA be a good idea? It seems like it could be, but then again, I’ve been told that the most qualified applicants apply EA, and I’m worried that I may look even more underqualified in that round. But, I’m also thinking about using Questbridge, so perhaps that will help.</p>
<p>^Haha. I had the parent problem too. I got in EA (which I recommend that you try), but it wasn’t until I got the financial aid letter on April 1 that my parents finally gave in. They thought of every reason possible for why I shouldn’t go to UChicago, wanting me to go instead to rural schools where I could get scholarships. My parents didn’t really understand the concept of need-based aid until it was spelled out for them in a financial aid package.</p>
<p>If they think it’s too violent, the best thing is for them to come and visit. Once they see all of the leafy green trees and beautiful townhouses, they’ll probably think more highly of Chicago. I’m not really sure what will work with your parents. Mine still aren’t that comfortable with me being here, since neither of them has spent considerable time in a large city. I guess the best thing you can do is to convince your parents that you’re mature enough to handle it. For my mother, I did it by showing that I have good navigation skills, as random as that sounds. She thinks I’ll be safer if I always know where I am, which is probably true. Just try to get a feel for what would convince your parents by bringing it up casually at dinner or something. It might not be easy, but with some prodding you’ll be successful.</p>
<p>As for applying, go for EA. It relieves so much stress if you’re in on December 15 instead of March 15. Also, if you qualify for Questbridge, go for that too. I get the feeling that UChicago loves Questbridge students because they shake up the traditional demographics of this school. About 50% of the students here don’t receive any financial aid, so you’re an attractive applicant if you’re Questbridge.</p>