<p>Hey, let’s see how we can work with what you have:</p>
<p>-Try to take the SAT again and use score choice. With SAT scores, colleges split applications into different piles. You won’t be in the top pile, but you will likely be one where you will still be up for decent consideration. However, getting a 2200 SAT or 32 ACT can help your position.</p>
<p>-Colleges don’t care you go to a top 100 school. It doesn’t include private schools and it would be foolish to believe that US News has to resources to run around to schools ranking them. Not trying to be rude, but don’t mention that anywhere.</p>
<p>-Decent GPA. Hopefully you took the most rigorous class at your school. That is what Uchicago expects to see these days.</p>
<p>-I am a little scared about your ECS and community service…
+Community service: Do not write an essay about how community service changed you or how your perception of service has changed. If you insist, discuss one person and don’t mention the service until the end.<br>
+Activities: Whenever I see people list what I speculate they consider passion-related activities and initiatives, they are lame. Colleges don’t care if you are involved in the pre-med club, spanish club, happy club, whatever club. Make sure these have focus and show passion. Passion not in “I saw ___ needed help so I spread the news on <strong><em>”, but rather “I introduced _</em></strong> and learned the collection of money at a school can have such a greater effect in <strong><em>. Throughout the years, I have expanded this by _</em></strong> and learned _<strong><em>, which although I may not be able to bring to college, I will remember </em></strong>”. Just an idea.</p>
<p>Sorry if I seemed rough. You seem like an awesome guy and I hope the best to you. Try hard on those essays, but also look at other schools. I can’t tell the major in which you are thinking about applying for (which is bad and you should try to portray that throughout your application), but look for other like Urbana Champaign, Case Western, Carnegie Mellon, and Boston University.</p>
<p>And yes Uchicago has a holistic application, but so do 95% of schools. Your SAT will hurt you, and admit that. See where you can improve.</p>
<p>If you aren’t completely invested in this school, I would leave it. I don’t like recommending people applying to high reach schools if there are harder essays. If you want a chance at these schools, you need to spend a long time on your essays, but then it will still be a reach. You have to ask yourself if it is worth your time. This is especially true with Uchicago because of their obscure essay questions.</p>
<p>So I guess I really need to work on those essays. </p>
<p>Also, I didn’t really want to post my ecs on CC because they really reveal my identity and are focused on both my potential majors. </p>
<p>@wallrus75- Thanks for the advice. I definitely will not write the “how awesome I am and how I my community service changed the entire world” essay. Your advice for the (I’m assuming) Common App extracurricular expansion is really helpful. Also, UChicago is my only reach school I’m applying to and I’m looking forward to its quirky essays.</p>