Hello, I’m currently waiting on my Early Decision application to the University of Chicago and have prepared for the worst by writing the majority of my regular decision schools. I know it’s essential to have “safety”, “match”, and “reach” schools, however, I feel like my case is somewhat different.
The “match” and “safety” schools my counselor and I have drafted do not offer much financial aid and I CANNOT apply for FAFSA (or Federal Loans) as I am a DACA recipient; My divorced father makes NO INCOME; how we get by is through my brother who is in the US Army and getting a bonus income to send remittances ($24,000 annual) for when he is in Korea. The problem is starting next year, he will be stationed in the US and will no longer receive that bonus and the maximum he will be able to send to us is going to drop to around $12,000-$15,000 annual, barely covering living expenses; my father is currently looking for a job. With this, even my community college is beyond our financial possibility.
That said, I have made a list of “reach” schools which will offer 100% need meet if I am miraculously accepted in the regular round, assuming my UChicago application gets rejected. I have a mix of “low reach”, “middle reach”, and “high reach” schools in my list and would like to know if this list is reasonable and would greatly appreciate your help. Disclaimer: I apologize if I sound pretentious with my list, that is not and has not been my intent with these kind of posts.
-Brown University
-Colgate University
-Columbia University
-Cornell University
-Dartmouth College
-Duke University
-Harvard University
-Johns Hopkins University
-Northwestern University
-Princeton University
-Rice University
-Stanford University
-University of Notre Dame
-University of Pennsylvania
-Washington University in St. Louis
-Yale University
My statistics/hooks/etc:
Demographics: South Asian Male
Status: Undocumented DACA, Divorced Father is Green Card, Brother is a US Citizen in the US Army.
Income: 0k for the past two years, going on with around $24,000 from my brother abroad who provides money. Before my father became unemployed, he was earning around 40k and we were still low income.
Stats: GPA: UW ~3.75 Weighted 4.9/5.33
Lives in: Suburbs of Chicago
ACT: 35 SAT 2: Chemistry 760, Math II 800, Biology E 720 (oof and not sending)
Senior AP Courseload:
-AP Physics C E/M and Mechanics
-AP Economics Micro and Macro
-AP Calculus BC
-AP Spanish 6
-AP Literature and Composition
**My school does not offer AP until Junior Year, but I will have taken 11 AP courses and 12 AP tests by the end of the senior year with all my other classes that aren’t AP being High Honors courses. These are THE MOST rigorous courses/schedule one can take in my high school.
EC:
-Symphonic Wind Ensemble
-Played at Carnegie Hall this Spring
-School Pep Band Leader (basically musical cheer team for 3 years)
-Korean Culture Club Leader
-200+ Hours at a University HealthSystem Hospital
-Aquarium Fanatic. I breed and sell aquarium fish and plants as a hobby
-Neurology research at Feinberg (Northwestern) for a whole summer and continuing
-Published medical research case on fistulas as the first author
-Worked at my aunt’s Cafe for around 24 hours a week during the past two summers
-Host the official community server and work with the game developers for a popular game (Rusted Warfare)
-Co-manage part of the Chicago aquatic plant society where I do my aquarium stuff
-Solo Drone photographer and an avid member of Sky Pixel.
-Fluency in three languages: Korean, English, and Spanish. Semi-fluent (able to hold a conversation, however) in Japanese
Awards:
-Youth Volunteer recognition for Northshore Community Hospital
-Premio de Bronce for the National Spanish Exam
-Honor Rolls all 4 years high school.
Hooks:
-DACA
-Low/No income (from parents)
-Divorced parents
-First generation student in the US and will be the first to complete college in the US in my family.
I apologize in advance if this should be in the “Chance Me” category, but I put it in the “Admissions” category as the original intent was to see if my list was reasonable given my circumstance. Again, I sincerely thank you guys!