<p>I'm hoping for some imput. How would I look as a candidate for admission to the University of Chicago?</p>
<p>My GPA is approx. 3.4. I just finished my junior year. My GPA took a bad dip in the first semester of sophomore year, but is now slowly coming up. I've taken math through calculus, chemistry, physics, accounting, two years of Spanish, and other classes.</p>
<p>Next year, through my high school's Running Start program, I will be attending full-time at a community college, where I will be mostly taking calculus and economics classes.</p>
<p>My SAT scores (taken June 4th) were 670 Math, 730 Writing, and 800 Critical Reading.</p>
<p>In the last three years I've been involved in Drama Club for one year, Computer Club for one year, Cross-Country for two years, Knowledge Bowl for two years, and FBLA for three years. My K-Bowl team took 5th in Washington State at the 2A level. I'm very involved in my school activities, and especially so in FBLA. I took 2nd at State and 8th at Nationals in Intro to Business last year. This year I took 2nd at State in Economics and Banking & Financial Systems. This week I'll be competing at Nationals in Banking & Financial Systems. I have been elected President of my FBLA chapter for my senior year.</p>
<p>My family is firmly in the welfare class. I just got a job as a dishwasher. The last few years, I've been very active with volunteering with my youth group. I fervently hope to study Economics at U of C.</p>
<p>Dude, your stuff looks good. In terms of your GPA, that does seem a bit low, but I think that if you push yourself hard in your first semester senior year (which is tricky to do with a job) and you take a challenging course load at the community college (if they have honors courses, try and take at least 1 or 2) then you should be able to combat the 3.4 in the eyes of U of Chicago. </p>
<p>I say keep up with the extracurriculars and schoolwork, line up a couple of your teachers that love you for teacher recommendations, and start looking at the application now to get your essays ready and to decide which application thing (early decision, early action, regular decision) you want. </p>
<p>Good luck in your senior year, and I hope that this helps (BUT keep in mind that I am currently not enrolled at the University of Chicago, nor do I know much about their specific enrollment and admission policies). Peace</p>
<p>RRB:</p>
<p>Adcoms just love 800 on verbal, more so than math. Get some practice books for sat-math. If you are thru Calc, you probably just forgot all the little anal rules about numbers, etc. With a little studying this summer, you should be able to boost that math score over 700 relatively easily. Also, consier taking SATII Math 2. Harder test, but more favorable curve.</p>
<p>Download the uncommon app this July and get to work drafting -- UoC loves great essays. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I'll take a close look at my budget over the next few months and think about retaking SAT Math...and/or taking SAT II Math. Next fall I'll probably only work part-time, or not at all, so I can concentrate on schoolwork and my extracurricular duty.</p>
<p>And I'll get the out-of-the-box part of my brain to work, thinking about those essay questions...</p>