Big Dilemma...and I'm serious.

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Alright, here's the deal...I was accepted to the University of Chicago a year early out of my 13-year pre-uni program in Quebec. However, now I'm having second thoughts about leaving, since my deferral of matriculation was not granted, and I really want an extra year here with my friends. I need to give Chicago my decision by Monday, whether to enroll this year or reapply next year. So I'd like to know my chances at a few other schools that I'm interested in, to see if I should risk reapplying next year when I feel more ready.</p>

<p>GPA: 88.5% UW (keep in mind that this is a good mark in Canada--and my class rank supports that).
Course load: Hardest possible, 5/7 honours, most difficult electives.
Class rank: Top 5-6 out of 75 in an advanced group.
SAT I: 1420 (730v, 690m)...if I retook, which I will have to, I expect between a 2100 and 2200.
SAT II: Haven't taken, but expect to literature, math IIc and possibly French (if a 3rd is still required)...predicting low 700s in each.</p>

<p>Recs would be good; essays would be excellent.</p>

<p>ECs: School newspaper (3 yrs, editor 1 yr.), literary journal editor (3 yrs.), some other writing stuff (a couple freelance articles for big city newspaper), quiz team (2 yrs.), music (4 yrs.), part-time job for two years, Battle of the Bands organizer.</p>

<p>I'm looking at UofC, Northwestern, Columbia, Dartmouth, UC-Berkeley (Haas), UPenn (Wharton), Amherst, NYU-Stern, Yale and Stanford...I know there's a few reaches, but I don't really have a major preference of one school over another, so I'm going with volume to get in somewhere. I'd like to go into i-banking, so I formed my list with that in mind. Thanks a lot, any help is VERY much appreciated.</p>

2

<p>They are all reaches with the possible exception of Northwestern and maybe NYU Stern (Don't know their average stats). For the ivies, Amherst and Stanford, you'll need a 2250 to really be competitive and you are barely top 10% of your class. Your ECs are sound, but they won't carry you in.</p>

<p>I'd be surprised if Chicago didn't take you again, why won't they let you defer? Though keep in mind they say it will get harder to get into top school every year for several more years before the numbers begin to decline. If these are the only schools that are acceptable to you, I wouldn't risk it to hang out with friends for another year, it's time to make your college group of friends!!</p>

3

<p>Hey, I am from Canada too. I have and expect same stats as you(some higher, some lower but not that much difference)...
For me, I think Wharton, Berkeley, Columbia,Amherst, Yale and Stanford are reaches and I don't know much about Northwestern</p>

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<p>If you don't think you're ready for college, definitely wait another year. I'm pretty sure with you're stats you'll at least get into 2-3 of the schools on your list.</p>

5

<p>I think you may want to consider going to Chicago this year. I say this because I saw a number of my friends applying to the same schools you listed (namely Dartmouth, Yale, Columbia, and U of Chicago) and be rejected from them when they were in the top 1 or 2 percent of their graduating class and had SAT scores well into the 1500s. While you obviously have a very strong profile and could get into a number of good schools, you've got a great university that's accepted you. If you opt not to go, just make sure you understand that competition at some of those you mentioned will be stiff.</p>

6

<p>If you use your extra year to do some productive activities: focused volunteer work, research, thoughtful travel, working a job, you actually should be an even stronger candidate after taking a year off (even if you use part of that time hanging out with friends).</p>

<p>If all that you do is hang out with friends, however, you would be a weaker candidate as it would seem that you lack the kind of interest in serious endeavors that bodes well for success in college.</p>

7

<p>In case this is at all a factor, I would not need financial aid when applying to any of the schools. Thanks for the replies so far.</p>