<p>General:
Born in Beijing, naturalized US citizen. I speak fluent Mandarin and decent French (having spent several weeks with a French family in Angers, France).</p>
<p>Recommendations:
To be written by my AP Euro teacher (and Social Studies head at my school), AP English Language teacher (and English head at my school), and AP Physics B teacher, as well as my counselor (all of whom know me fairly well)</p>
<p>Academics:
GPA - Unweighted: 3.85
GPA - Weighted: 4.47
Class Rank: 9 (weighted)
Class Size: 307
My only B's were in freshman year; I've had A's in sophomore and junior year</p>
<p>Scores:</p>
<p>PSAT: 226
SAT I: 2330
SAT I Math: 800
SAT I Critical Reading: 760
SAT I Writing: 770
ACT: 35
SAT II Literature: 740
SAT II Math Level 2 (IIC): 800
SAT II Physics: 760
AP European History: 4 (should I include this?)
AP English Language: 5
AP Physics B: 5
AP US History: 5</p>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<p>Significant Extracurriculars: Karate, Math Team, Honors Band (clarinet), Academic Bowl, Speech Team, Student Council, National Honor Society, Teen-Aiders
Leadership positions: National Honor Society Executive Board (Communications Coordinator), First Class Executive Board, Student Council Class Representative
Athletic Status: Tennis (varsity), karate (first-degree black belt)
Volunteer/Service Work: Help instructors at lower-belt karate classes, teach middle-students during summer music camp, Teen-Aiders (fundraising for and visiting children at local homeless shelters)</p>
<p>Thanks very much!</p>
<p>A few comments:</p>
<p>Great SAT scores! Of course, the writing portion won’t matter for Chicago’s purposes, but the other two sections are very high.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about your AP Euro score. A 4 is still good. I’m pretty sure I reported a 3 in AP World History, and still got in. It’s definitely not going to bring you down; probably the AP scores won’t have much effect at all overall, but they’re a nice extra shine.</p>
<p>You’ve got a nicely diverse list of extracurriculars, volunteering and leadership. What is your favorite club or after-school activity? Is there one that you focus on more than others, or that you’ve devoted a lot more interest or time to? Chicago stresses its approval for students who really cultivate an interest in a few key areas and follow them deeply. For me, that meant theatre (classes, club, competitions, plays). It looks like Karate plays a good part in your time, as well as music, since they appear in your extracurricular and volunteer sections. Will you be able to express those enthusiasms even more specifically and clearly and deeply in your application (most likely the essays) to UChicago?</p>
<p>That, and the essay, is your main question mark. You seem to be well-situated in the numbers part.</p>
<p>And, something that must be asked on all chance threads if you want a three-dimensional analysis of your “chances”: why are you looking at Chicago? This could be an early glance, so don’t feel too blindsided by some requirement for devotion. You’ve still got a lot of research and thinking ahead, probably, before you really know where you want to go. But if you’re meant for Chicago, then eventually, if not already, you will have a sense and a reason for why. It might be abstract, but it will be there, and if you can put it into words, then that’s the best sign you have that you’ll fit right in. And the admissions office will know that, too.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you!
I definitely am very focused on karate and clarinet so I’ll try incorporating that into my application. I’m looking at Chicago partly because I live near-ish the city, but also (obviously) because it’s a very good school whose students want learn seriously.</p>
<p>“AP European History: 4 (should I include this?)” </p>
<p>Really?</p>
<p>^I thought the exact same thing.</p>
<p>To the OP: Relax and enjoy your senior year. You’ve worked hard, and now you will reap the benefits.</p>
<p>To the OP: You’re an amazing and gifted student. As an immigrant myself, I absolutely understand the hardship you have gone through and the ultimate success you have achieved. Well done! Your stats look fantastic. Your AP, SAT, ACT scores sparkling. Number-wise, you’re fine. Now you just need to spend more time on your essay, and ask yourself why do you really want to attend UChicago.</p>