Another Chances...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I know I asked for my chances a couple of months ago, but since ED is approaching, I figured I would ask again.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance:</p>

<p>White 17 year-old male from a Catholic School in New Jersey.</p>

<p>I want to major in history.</p>

<p>SAT I: May 2005
630 CR
610 M
620 W (64 MC, 8 E)</p>

<pre><code> Oct. 2005
650 CR
600 M
570 W (52 MC, 11 E)
</code></pre>

<p>SAT II: US History 760
World History 680
Math 1 590</p>

<p>APs: US History-5
Taking Environmental Science, World History, and English Lit. this year</p>

<p>4.0 through Saint Peter's College, Jersey City, NJ
3 Credits- The Western Civilization
3 Credits- World Perspectives in History</p>

<p>Rank: 22/245 (upward trend, ranked 44 beginning of Junior year)
GPA: 100.03 W</p>

<p>Awards:
Academic Medal for highest average in Astronomy Honors; HS Scholarship for dedication to service; National Honor Society; Principal’s Honor Roll; Academic Decathlon: Team MVP, Honor Mentions in Speech and Social Sciences (regional), Gold Medal-Essay on Astronomy (regional); Humanitarian Award-For fighting hunger in my community; various bagpiping awards; white award-service to the school; accepted into Independent Study Astronomy and Electronics Honors courses, and into College Level Western Traditions</p>

<p>Volunteer Experience:
American Cancer Society-Relay for Life; Mission Club; Healing of the Sick Mass; Christmas Caroling; Project “Go”: Assist homebound elderly; Christian Service; United Nations Millennium Campaign-Student/School Representative; Co-founder of service project to fight hungry in community, Eucharistic Minister-Church</p>

<p>ECs:
School Newspaper-Editor in Chief; Academic Challenge-President; History Club-President; Mock Trial Team-Attorney/President; National Honor Society; Science League; Classic and Modern Cultures Club; Academic Decathlon; Project “Go”; United Nations Millennium Campaign-Student Representative; Eucharistic Minister; Mission Club; Student Ambassador; Philosophy Club</p>

<p>Community Activites:
“Spare Change Project”- Co-founder, collects money to fight hunger; Watch seven year-old brother everyday after-school; play the bagpipes in the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Pipe Band (band has won national and international contests- NYC, Florida, Ireland); Member of the Eastern United States Pipe Band Association (EUSPBA)</p>

<p>Misc.
Mother deceased- Dec. 2001
Watch 7 year-old brother everyday: has ADD
Guidance Coun. is going to explain how I watch my brother, clean my house, cook dinner, to show why I don't have work experience etc.</p>

<p>My recs are great, and my essay should be as well (working on them now, almost done!) I know my SAT/GPA is low, but what do you think my chances are?</p>

2

<p>at least you're asking nicely, not like the other kid who assumes uchi students have nothing better to do than to just post their resumes on line for him/her to peruse.</p>

3

<p>Raise your SAT's! Studying can make a difference - I studied over summer and raised 290 points!</p>

4

<p>the problem here is that the problems with your family will not be able to explain away a low sat score. it will offset to a degree a low gpa, but sat's are used to measure something altogether different. as you can probably see, your scores did not vary widely from each other, which indicates that you have reached a certain level and that the first test was not a fluke. raising your score 290 points by studying is easier said than actually done and is unrealistic. you will need extraordinary essays to overcome your sats and even with that, you will probably need the first reader to really fight the committee to have you accepted. i wish you the very best, and am sorry i can't be more positive for you.</p>

5

<p>I agree with BnB's assessment of your chances - but I do get the feeling that you haven't maxed out your SAT scores. If you can nail the MC and E parts of the writing at the same sitting, you will be well over 700 on that section. It is also my feeling that many of the skills tested in CR tend to be honed in senior year english, especially for public school students.</p>

<p>I think that you may wish to ask yourself if your application might not be stronger RD with an improved SAT and a continued upward trend in grades. The admissions rate is not all that different AE and RD.</p>

6

<p>Your love of history is displayed in your e.c./interests. U of C prides its students for having ::gasp:: intellectual interests outside of school. As a fellow U of C applicant, your e.c./interets were the only ones from reading on this wed site that actually INTERESTED me.</p>

7

<p>Motormouth here are my humble recommendations:</p>

<p>B&B and ohio_mom just gave some excellent advice, but my advice here again is to raise your SAT scores.</p>

<p>I studied very hard over two months, and it did make a difference.</p>

<p>Here's how you can do it:</p>

<ol>
<li>Purchase The Offical SAT Study Guide by the CB, and take all 8 tests.</li>
<li>Sign up for CB's online tutorials (6 practice tests, quizzes, and explanations for the 8 SAT tests in the blue book).</li>
</ol>

<p>Take the test as much as you can, and "understand" the questions you miss. This "understanding" is imperative! Go over explanations over and over, and hire of tutor if really needed.</p>

<p>Just by looking at your awesome GPA and EC's, you have potential for so much higher IMO - raise those scores and hopefully we both can receive the fat packets in December. :)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

8

<p>kimfuge: the poster doesn't have two months to study to retake the sat and get a fat packet in december. the next sat is in early november. if he takes it, goodbye ea. apps need to be in for rd by jan1 (?), if there is a dec sat, he still won't have two months to study. historically speaking, after taking two sat's, the likelihood is slim that there will be a change anyway on a third retaking. it's just not likely to happen in this case. uchi is a major reach. with those stats, we're talking rochester, usc, penn state, maybe nyu, tulane, syracuse, not uchi. sorry</p>

9

<p>ye ye: do you understand how this process works? ec's augment an application. if you don't have the numbers, ec's, at best, may get you on the waitlist and then you just fade away after that.</p>

10

<p>I see my mistake there BnB - but still worth applying I think. Sure, possibilities are slim as you say to get a higher score on a third taking, but I think it's still worth a try (especially given his high gpa). Btw, he could take the January test I think. </p>

<p>BnB, are you a current student at Chicago? It seems you have an authoritative knowledge regarding Chicago and its admissions process.</p>

11

<p>Another advantage of taking, say, the December SAT is that even if the OP isn't accepted at UChicago, better scores are going to going to help with merit scholarships at other fine universities. Back when it was just a subject test, my son raised his writing score by 110 points from the October to November administrations - he used the princeton review book for the grammar, and suggestions from the cc board for the essay (which amounted to, write long, use big words). There is an element of luck in critical reading (partially having to do with one's ability to stay awake through the readings). As far as the math goes, I would guess that there is a topic or two that the OP could brush up on. </p>

<p>The other thing with those miserable tests is that it really matters if you are awake and energetic. Getting enough sleep not just the night before - but the three nights before - will help you to avoid being in sleep deficit. The test is so long at this point that it is the rare student that can rely on adrenelin to carry him through it.</p>

12

<p>I tend to agree with the others who have posted advice. Studying and retaking the SAT may be the best route and applying RD (the EA acceptance rates are only marginally better than RD). </p>

<p>Have you thought about trying the ACT? The SAT is not required by Chicago. Chicago also does not require the optional writing section of the ACT. Some do better with the ACT, and you can send only the best score, all past sittings are not sent (though it may be too late to take it more than once). </p>

<p>As noted by BnB, for a student to be accepted with lower scores and GPA that student must write exceptional essays. But what does this mean? It means that the essay needs to show that the student can understand, manipulate, and concisely express complex ideas. It will take more than being an interesting read (this is true for higher scoring students as well, but especially important for those with lower scores).</p>

13

<p>idad: i forgot about the act's. good call. i thought i knew everything, but i guess i only know most things. excellent suggestion.</p>

14

<p>I am going to sign up for the December ACT. I really want to apply EA to Chicago. However, I understand what everyone is saying. I think everything is going to be great except those darn SAT scores (I read my rec letters and I think they are awesome). I don't know if my guid. already sent in my transcript/letters of rec, in which case I guess I will apply EA. I am trying to stay positive.....lol</p>

15

<p>Definitely stay positive - that's what I am doing too. :)</p>

<p>Good luck with your ACT's!!</p>