Chance me Chicago ED2 please!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
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I would be grateful if anyone could say roughly what my chances are for an ED2 application to Chicago. I’m applying from the UK, as an international student, “test-flexibly”.

GCSE: 12 A* (and equivalent)
A level predictions: AAA*A (Economics, Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics)

ECs:

  • Chairman, (my school’s) Economics Society (previously an attendee); have delivered talks and invited prominent speakers
  • Tutor of mathematics to socio-economically unprivileged students (2 years)
  • Co-founder of and writer for an Economics blog
  • Duke of Edinburgh Bronze/ Gold awards (EC/ Honor?)
  • Director of Finance, an environmentally-oriented enterprise; Young Enterprise company programme; won a number of awards.
  • Rugby squad player; prefect at school; attendee of a number of other societies (namely Politics and Mathematics)
  • Skiing (have received various qualifications and introductory mountain rescue training)
  • Model UN (might leave off - haven’t done much of it truth be told)
  • Work experience at a prestigious financial services firm; some other work experience
  • Participant, Knowledge@Wharton High School equity research competition (again, might leave off given that its only been going on for a few months)

Honors (not a very big thing in the UK):

  • Academic scholarship at my school
  • Prize for Economics (internal school award, however, sponsored by a prominent bank) (we also have 100+ Econ kids in each year group)
  • Prize for achieving top GCSE grades
  • Economics paper published in school publication/ journal
  • Aforementioned awards in Young Enterprise competition
  • Is Duke of Edinburgh an honour?

Intended major/ future plans:
Major: Economics (BSc) / Mathematics with a Specialisation in Economics
Plans: Economics PhD; Economist (academia or World Bank/ IMF)

Essays:
Common App: Focusing on (i) my international upbringing in many countries (ii) slight detachment from my parents (mainly dad) as a result (he spent a lot of time abroad and away) (iii) my consequent enjoyment of aviation and “mile-hacking”/ clever flight-booking (just for fun; I don’t actually, yet, fly on much of what I find) (iv) passion for Economics (8.5/10, I hope!)

Why Chicago: Well researched, shows clearly why I want to go, concise, reads/flows nicely (again, 8 or 9/10)

Un-Common essay: Response to the falling of the edge of the world prompt; very Economics based (don’t want to share my idea on the internet - sorry!); clearly shows my depth of knowledge/ interest; definitely a unique response (no idea/ 10)

Recs:
Been told by my teachers that they’re some of, if not the, strongest they’ve written; counsellor confirmed this and said his letter was strong too (9/10?)

No hooks; white male; private high school

Are there any ECs/ honours I shouldn’t mention or anything else I could change that would make the quality of my application higher? Is applying “test-flexibly” to my disadvantage?

Sorry for how long this post is and thank you in advance!

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PLS anyone !!

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Why are you applying test optional? I would think since you are international, an ACT or SAT would be helpful. Do you have a class rank? I believe that the test optional works best for under-privileged kids that can’t afford testing or test prep and it doesn’t sound like that applies to you.

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Test Optional is not extended to International students:

“*We require some form of standardized testing from students who attend a high school outside the United States. International students may elect to submit one of several other forms of testing in lieu of an SAT or ACT score. Visit the International Applicants page for details. Students who are undocumented/DACA and attend high school in the United States may choose to use our test-optional policy.”

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@caymusjordan @JBStillFlying Thank you.

I am applying “test-flexible” - my other form of standardized testing is predicted A-levels (although in truth I reckon they’ll look heavily at GCSEs as well to verify that the A-level results I have predicted aren’t inflated).

UK schools don’t rank, and at our school, it is very difficult to rank yourself against other people who also got the best possible standardized test (GCSE, A-level) results. I think I would lie somewhere in the band of top 20 out of approx 260 (i.e anywhere between best and 20th best); I’m sure top 20 out of 260 doesn’t sound that great compared to some other CCers with 1st out of 700, but our school is very high performing and also has a lot of Hong Kong/ Singapore boarders who achieve very strong (similar to me) results.

Thanks for your advice though, I don’t like ACT/SAT and simply don’t have the time to commit to prepare/ revise and get a 1550+/ 35+; I probably would have been able to get a 1450-1500 or 33 in the Dec test with a couple past papers, but I think sending in such a score would do more harm than benefit.

NYU and U Chicago are the only schools I’m applying for in the US as a result - do you believe I’ll be at a significant disadvantage?

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@LDNapplicantUS - No. Not in terms of the test you are submiting. If anything they will be able to gauge your true abilities much more easily than someone who submits four ACT’s for a super score LOL. Predicted A Levels should be fine. Good luck to you!

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3 A*s and 1A at A level is not too shabby. I’m sure the admissions people will understand how to interpret these results. Best of luck! Please post back here if you are accepted!

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@JBStillFlying @sgopal2 Thank you both!

I have never understood the people who take the standardized tests 3/4/5 times (frankly, I hate the idea of doing a 4.5 hour test even once!) and I agree that it wouldn’t really show much.

I’m not overly hopeful given that it is Univ of Chicago but I guess I’ll see… will post back for sure!

Thanks again, and good luck to you (or your children) if they’re applying to U of C or elsewhere this year too!

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@LDNapplicantUS - many don’t understand this but some college admissions committees might be wondering the same thing about multiple re-takes. A 34 superscore with four ACT’s of 32C means you are a 32 tester, not a 34. That has to come out during the admissions committee review. Sorry to get off -topic.