I’m deferred too. I’m not concerned (just got a full ride from one of my top schools), but I’m a bit stressed about it. Could anyone chance me? I’m trying to decide if I should withdraw my application.
Major: Political Science
SAT: 1430 (700 Reading, 730 math) - I know it’s not my strongest suit.
GPA: W: 4.01 UW: 3.87 (I have one B in Algebra II my sophomore year, but I currently have over 100% in AP Calculus)
APs: APUSH, AP GOV, AP Physics, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, AP English Literature & Composition
My Schedule this year: AP English Literature & Composition, AP Calculus AB, French 3 & 4, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, Chamber Singers (highest-level choir at school)
Extracurriculars:
Thespians (my troupe is affiliated with the International Thespian Society; I am the Historian. I’ve been involved since I transferred to my current HS halfway through freshman year; contributed 500+ hours)
NHS (got inducted my first year of eligibility, Executive Board member)
I work at Meijer (local grocery store-I work full-time during the summer and 15 hours during the school year)
Kids’ Food Basket (a local organization that provides take-home dinners to undernourished/underprivileged children. I volunteer there multiple times a week. We just established a farm where we grow our own produce to serve in the dinners. I’m also a member of their Youth Action Leadership Board.)
Student Council (got elected my senior year)
GSA- I founded the GSA at my high school when I transferred there. I had to attend a lot of meetings with the principal and school board in order for it to get approved, but it was worth it. I live in the most statistically conservative county in Michigan and our GSA has been able to do a LOT to encourage tolerance and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in our community.
Music-been in choir since freshman year, top level choir, playing piano for 10+ years
Voices- I co-wrote a play entitled “Voices” with my friend the summer before my sophomore year. It’s a series of monologues about the LGBTQ+ individuals in our community, and it was selected for performance at both the Michigan Thespian Festival and the International Thespian Festival.
Photography- I guess this is my one “quirk” that UChicago could find special about me. I travel across North America photographing musicians in concert. I don’t have affiliations with any publications or websites, so I don’t have a press pass. My photos have been featured and used by some of the artists, including Alabama Shakes, Tegan and Sara, Post Malone, and Bishop Briggs. I wrote my Common App Essay about it.
Other opportunities: I attended a session of the Michigan House of Representatives with my local Representative, got to shadow her for a day
Demographic: white queer woman, legacy (mother attended UChicago Law)
For my essays, I wrote about how I’ve grown up going to the UChicago campus with my mom; we would always go whenever we went to Chicago. A lot of my cultural loves began in Chicago (i.e. my love for fine art began at the Art Institute; the first concert I photographed was in Chicago). I also spoke about specific programs, courses, and extracurriculars that UChicago has to offer that I am interested in. For my second essay, I wrote my own prompt, which was about how modern animated films have influenced how children grow up and view themselves; therefore, what character from an animated movie do you identify with? I chose Remy from Ratatouille because he faces rejection from his family for his creative side-he prolongs because of his passion.
(I’m so sorry about how long this is-I just really want to know if I have a shot!)