<p>I am in no way familiar with most of your schools, so I will just do for the ones I know.</p>
<p>U Chicago: Reach (High reach if not for URM status)
Columbia: Reach (High reach if not for URM status)</p>
<p>Your SAT score is holding you back from an easier chance at acceptance. You have a good score, but for those two schools, it is far too low. Your GPA isn’t terrible, but could be better. U Chicago focuses a ton on the essay, so you had better hope that your writing is at the standard you think it is. </p>
<p>As for your question about the essay, there is no one clear answer. Saying that you are a “great leader” may come across as arrogant. That is more the sort of thing that teachers and coaches should explain in their essay. While it is a great idea to write an essay about your extracurriculars, refrain from being arrogant. Additionally, be careful with the essay about your minority status. While you may well have had challenges relating to race, if taken the wrong way, your essay could seem like you are whining about it. Make sure that your essay in no way implies that you are trying to use your race to gain an unfair advantage. Basically, if your race has made things hard for you, write about it. If you are stretching in saying that it does, don’t write about it.</p>