At a Loss of Words

It’s not about other kids you know. Its about the pictue you present. That reflects your knowledge- or not- of what those schools look for. And your willingness to try to get a read on what matters, that thinking and energy. They do filter for kids who seem to know them and their values, the opportunities the college presents.

This does not boil down to your stats were better or that it “must be” the fin need. Nor that you’re Asian. You have work to do, to make the best app and supp you can. That needs a good knowledge of what those colleges want to see.

Adcoms will see you have 12 AP and for stem, only present the chem AP score. That two others are 4’s. That you have research, but apparently NO in-school stem ECs?

And this is New Trier, not some struggling high school without goals and guidance.

If you take a gap, imo, it should be to work for income. You can research on the side. We wish you the best, but it takes some savvy.

@lookingforward 12 AP Tests have/to be taken as AP Econ doubles (Macro and Micro) and Physics C (M and EM) and AP Geography which I have self studied. For in-school STEM I’ve just only done Scioly for a year and didn’t really commit to it as the tournament/schedule really dodn’t work for me. Besides that, there really arem’t many “STEM” classes besides Math Team which is also not great when you’re only in BC Calc and everyone else takes Multi-Var lol.

The question is really how much, if at all, I should talk about my circumstance (DACA and low income) for some of these colleges as a really important factor is them being able to help me obtain very good education and of course the opportunities I can make out of it.

“The question is really how much, if at all, I should talk about my circumstance”

I really think you need to get it out there. Colleges will see “New Trier”- or even just read the school report that goes with your transcript - and they are going to make assumptions about your SES that in your case aren’t true.

The problem with prestige or bust is dealing with the bust. The schools on your list may be full needs met, but they are inundated with great stats for requiring needs met. You need to really take on board @lookingforward ‘s advice about presenting an app that speaks to them - to be blunt, my impression is that even after 4 pages of this thread, you are still focusing on “prestige” rather than understanding that different colleges look for different things behind stats.

I’m not really understanding your parents’ perspective on “if you can’t get into university”. You can, but you need to figure out which one. Not to be judgemental, but they are the ones who got you into your DACA predicament in the first place, they should be trying to help you navigate this best they can rather than (unless I misunderstand what you say) giving you such difficult-to-meet options.

And a curve ball: is going back to Korea for university an option? Again, prestige or bust is not a great option when the outcome is bust.

I think you need to be clear about being DACA in your applications. You can’t hide from it.

Tell us what major you want. On your transcript, they’ll see the 11 or 12 AP. If you’re taking 5 now, it seems you could report 7 AP scores, courses prior to now. Not every kid reports every AP score, but the most important would be other math or science courses.

(AP tests next summer won’t be considered for the spring admit date.)

You listed only 4 scores, two of which are 4’s, and only one of them is stem. It “looks” like you omitted some here that were lower than a 4 score. Did you take other AP science or math?

Yes, you can explain the DACA situation. But that alone isn’t it. You can use Addl Info on the Common App, be brief. But circumstances alone don’t drive an admit. Any explanation (Addl Info, the essay, or any Why Us) can’t rest on, “being able to help me obtain very good education and of course the opportunities I can make out of it.” They know nearly all kids have that goal. and that many other colleges can offer that. It’s generic. So aim for something that goes further.

They want to see how you match their expectations, how you know them, how you see your match to the four years, and to what they look for.

@HKimPOSSIBLE You said “my parents” in this post http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/21877891/#Comment_21877891

so wondered if your dad had remarried or who you were referring to.

I agree with what others have said - prestige or bust is usually a bad strategy. Also, it’s December 21st. Isn’t it a little late in the day to be finalizing lists and figuring out what you are going to write about in your applications?

You should have if you did not already let your counselor address this in his/her letter

OP’s citizenship status and what his parent does for a living will be front and center on the Common App (and let’s not forget Op is most likely using a few waiver). The school will know that he is undocumented when he selected "other Non-US and stated that he was not in U.S. on a visa (still being undocumented).

“This does not boil down to your stats were better or that it “must be” the fin need. Nor that you’re Asian. You have work to do, to make the best app and supp you can. That needs a good knowledge of what those colleges want to see.”

Needless to say, I really disagree with this. I just did a quick google search and looks like 80% of DACA is from Mexico, meaning that adcoms would have difficulty figuring out what to do with a DACA from Asia who’s poor. Adcoms are human, they have biases and a Korean DACA is serious cognitive dissonance for them.

What if UChicago wanted to see a wealthy Korean in a stable family, with high stats, here legally? There are very few reasons to be rejected outright ED, it’s either stats or a red flag (political), not ability to pay. They would defer or waitlist and see how the rest of the class shapes up. I’m not sure he’s going to get in to the other places, but I do think the adcoms there will be more compassionate.

As always, @sybbie719 is spot on. Agree entirely that the OP’s status is already clear in whatever application format they used (CA, Coalition, Universal app - if anyone still uses that-, direct application), and hopefully the FAFSA and Profile have been submitted and/or the request for waiver of the non custodial (absent) parent has been and is being addressed. There is nothing wrong with applying to many meets full need schools, but try to identify some that are not as competitive and will increase the chance that you will have some admission somewhere that is manageable.

"What if UChicago wanted to see a wealthy Korean in a stable family, with high stats, here legally? There are very few reasons to be rejected outright ED, it’s either stats or a red flag (political), not ability to pay. "

From what I’ve seen at UChicago, it could very well be lack of demonstration of fit. They are somewhat fanatical about trying to preserve their culture. It’s an interesting, life-of-the-mind type place and very polarizing. Students tend to love it or hate and be crushed by it, so the AOs are acutely seeking students who understand and will fit.

I haven’t seen any indication that OP understands UChicago culture or has demonstrated that fit (on the other hand - maybe he is a perfect fit and just hasn’t described any of that here). If that is how the app reads - no communication of understanding the culture and fit - IMO that’s the most likely cause for an outright denial.

This isn’t at all helpful in regards to the UChicago app, but should be something to learn from for the other apps. Several people have mentioned how important demonstrating fit is on an app and so far, OP doesn’t seem to be receptive to that. Some colleges don’t care but many, especially top selectives - do care about fit so this is a key piece to understand and try to get right on at least a few targeted apps.

The current strategy of shotgunning a bunch of selective colleges is not a great way to put in an app that shows fit. That really does turn the process into a lottery, with similar odds of winning.

Sorry for the miscomm but I just refer to my father as parents (even when I’m on the phone) although that may be misleading to think I have both my parents.

TM, what if they want more hs ECs related to stem (they know what New Trier offers,) incl collaborative with peers, more than a less committed year in SciOly. More AP5 in stem (especially considering he’s got 12.). A solid supp and Why Us, not generic. We know that some peers are in more advanced classes. Etc.

The research is good. The interest in fish is nice. I think OP is bright and hardworking. With some savvy strategy, he could vastly improve his shot. But it’s more than stats, research, a large # of AP, or financial aid and being Asian. Even this hang up on prestige is worrisome. The assumptions behind applying to Chi with no backup plan are risky.

A top college doesn’t say, Oh, but he isn’t Mexican. OP and others DACAs admitted to a top college don’t need their hands held constantly. They may need support navigating financial issues, but that’s not ethnicity specific.

Given your financial constraints, try not to be picky about ranking or non academic criteria. Apply widely to less reachy schools that have a good chance of need or merit full rides despite your DACA status.

Op’s challenge with UofC was, while the school meets 100% demonstrated need to DACA and Undocumented students,no where do they state that they are need blind to this population.

Other schools are definitely more transparent and will tell you straight up if they are need blind to DACA students and place them in the candidate pool with U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents or IF they are in the international pool of candidates.

for example:

While Op may be chasing prestige and looking at schools that meet 100% demonstrated need, he needs to do a little more due diligence to see where he sands as a DACA student in the application pool.

“what if they want more hs ECs related to stem (they know what New Trier offers,)”

Stem ECs can be very expensive, especially if you’re low-income like OP’s family is. It’s not joining a club and going to a local competition once or twice a year. Stem ECs that a college like UChicago wants means regional, national travel over a number of years. And of course being the OP is from New Trier, they would expect the family to have that kind of money. A low-income applicant from the bay area is not expected to have the stem ECs and awards that a higher income family will be expected to have. The kids from higher income will start a lot of these things in middle school, where the schools, parents, already know what to start doing.

@milee30 brings up a good point on the quirkiness and fit for UChicago, but again I think they didn’t know what to do with a low-income Asian, DACA, from New Trier and made it easy on themselves by rejecting him in ED.

@HKimPOSSIBLE yes–IF you get in

I mean isn’t that the point of financial aid (where it’s given IF you get in?)?Not really sure how I would afford a “cheap state school” If even community college is a struggle.

You have succeeded in so many ways, it seems, and right now you face an extremely important test - can you demonstrate the pragmatism of the adult world by making sure you have match schools? People are hammering you because they want you to succeed and it truly looks as if you are getting uninformed advice. I myself didn’t have this incredible advice you have here and in ways I did very well, but in other ways really needed guidance. If you got denied at Chicago, those other schools are far far from sure bets - any of them. Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. You can apply to some of these schools! But don’t avoid the matches that you can afford.