Chances at UChicago exaggerated.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
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<p>I think U Chicago is one of those schools where the chances of admission are just exaggerated too much. </p>

<p>I mean I go to a large public school in Virginia. It's competitive although it doesn't rank very high nationally. I saw students with weighted GPA of 3.68 and SAT score of 2150 getting in. </p>

<p>Extenuating circumstances? No, I personally know the student. He was a typical white student. Was he intelligent, unique in some way? Yeah, of course he was unique and intelligent. I am not trying to say that U Chicago will take anyone. This student's essays and teacher rec were probably stellar. </p>

<p>You see, last year, U Chicago admitted 38% (if not, something around there) of applicants. The thing is they have a large class to fill up and most people who get admitted do not go to the school. So as a result, they have to accept a large number.</p>

<p>One other misconception is that people think they are being compared to others in terms of GPA and SATs. Truth is... no. </p>

<p>According to Libby Pearson, the admission officer of U Chicago who actually answered some of our questions in this forum, has said that applicants are looked at on their own merit, not compared. If someone has a good GPA, good SAT scores, good teacher recs, good essays and good ECs, they will get in no matter how much better other people have done than that person. </p>

<p>So yeah, am I trying to say that U Chicago is an easy school to get into? No. But the chances are exaggerated somewhat. I wanted to clarify this for those of you who are basically killing themselves by overthinking this. Of course I can't guarantee you'll get in, but I am saying you have a decent shot if your stats are good. </p>

<p>Remember, U Chicago is known for its openmindedness in admission. It has one of the best undergraduate study program in the country and in the world. They maintain that with creative, open-minded, passionate students. It doesn't look at your SAT writing nor SAT IIs (which I think is reasonable).</p>

<p>According to Collegeboard:</p>

<p>Very important admission factors:
Character/Personal Qualities
Application Essay
Recommendations
Rigor of secondary school record
Talent/Ability </p>

<p>Important admission factors:
Class Rank
Extracurricular Activities
Volunteer Work
Academic GPA </p>

<p>I don't think this entirely accurate as Libby has repeatedly appealed to the fact that they regard GPA as most important. </p>

<p>So those of you who are applying to U Chicago should just keep in mind few things:</p>

<p>1) Maintain a good GPA (you probably already know this), as it is the most important factor in admission. If it's not the best, just try to make a rising trend. </p>

<p>2) Focus on 2~3 ECs which you feel passionate about and have some talent in. And just work hard at them!</p>

<p>3) Prepare for SAT early. </p>

<p>4) Get to know your teachers. Ask a lot of intelligent questions during class, contribute!</p>

<p>5) Work on your essays early. Revise revise revise. Make it creative and honest. </p>

<p>Sorry if I have reiterated what you already know. But CC does not keep things in perspective. Too many people have hyped up the chances and too many have oversimplified things. It's time to get things straight ^^. Remember that there are actually very serious people in here that are looking for helpful feedback. You have to be honest to them but you can't just tell them they are gonna be rejected as the nature of admission is just unpredictable.</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>Your buddy had better SAT scores than me and probably a better GPA. (I don't remember my high school GPA, and if I did, it was horrifically inflated because of A+ mickey mouse courses and an easy teacher or four). It takes a lot of chutzpah to suggest that a 2150 or a 3.68 is not a major achievement.</p></li>
<li><p>Your opinions are, of course, welcome, but keep in mind that your thoughts come at a time when many, many people reading this who are as credentialed as you or me or your buddy are still coming to terms with deferrals and rejections from Chicago. I assume many, if not all of them, have followed your advice.</p></li>
<li><p>If you read through most of the threads on this board, I do not think that you find many posters trying to tell each other they won't get in to Chicago. Of course, it's easy for an anonymous internet poster to tell another anonymous internet poster that he or she won't get in-- it's that kind of silly put-down that dates back to the third grade. I applaud the posters (parents, students, whoever) for keeping advice and suggestions tactful.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>2150 is in mid-50 percentile of those accepted to Harvard... and basically any non-Caltech school. I don't see why it's a big deal that a 2150/3.68 kid got in.</p>

<p>EDIT: Wrong. It's mid-50 percentile for Caltech, too.</p>

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<p>2150 is a good score. Sorry if I sounded so inflated. But 3.68 is probably considered a bad GPA in our school where, according to the school's career center, majority have 3.8 or above. It's probably in the top 20~25%. That coupled with a high score like 2150 may look bad on an application. Anyways most people here looked almost overqualified and I was stunned to see many of them stressing excessively over whether they would get in or not before the results even came out.</p>

<p>I can't put into words my sympathy for those who were deferred or rejected. I had a bro who was rejected by his first-choice school and he was depressed for some time. But as a rising senior, I also share the pain of those who are now getting ready to apply to colleges, "the next generation of applicants." I just hoped to alleviate the pains of those people.</p>

<p>Well, I never said this forum is filled with people who tell others that they won't get in. But to those nervous and anxious people, it often takes just one person who says they are going to get rejected to come to a mental breakdown. And I don't think you've seen some of the posts, but they can be really discouraging. I am not labeling all of the posters like that. Sorry if I've offended anyone.</p>

5

<p>"Wrong. It's mid-50 percentile for Caltech, too."</p>

<p>Keep in mind though, that every accepted freshman at Caltech scored an 800 on the Math IIC SAT2...</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Keep in mind though, that every accepted freshman at Caltech scored an 800 on the Math IIC SAT2...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That's not true, at least for last year. When I applied, I saw statistics from the admissions office that said that the average SAT II Math IIC score of accepted applicants was 780. </p>

<p>
[quote]
But 3.68 is probably considered a bad GPA in our school where, according to the school's career center, majority have 3.8 or above. It's probably in the top 20~25%. That coupled with a high score like 2150 may look bad on an application.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Does your school rank, though? If it doesn't rank, I can understand why he would've been accepted. If the majority have 3.8 or above, I'm assuming you go to a private school or something like that... because that just doesn't happen in the typical public school.</p>

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<p>Yes we do rank. But the gay thing is they don't tell us what the rank is. They send it directly to the college.</p>

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<p>Please don't use "gay" as a synonym for "stupid" or "silly" or "effed up."</p>

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<p>^ ditto. Choose your words wisely.</p>

<p>Ask around, you can probably figure out roughly what it is on your own. Or talk to your counselor?</p>

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<p>... ok.. sorry. Tintin220, did you read the post? This isn't a chance-me thread. Why would I want to find out my friend's rank?</p>

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<p>I'm confused. What are we arguing about on this thread?</p>

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<p>Sorry Ohio_mom, some people have deviated from the subject and posted irrelevant comments. But we were arguing about how the chances of admission into U Chicago is exaggerated. </p>

<p>And as additional info. here's some stats i got from the career center:
Applicants: 5
Admitted: 2</p>

<p>AVG GPA: 3.77
MIN GPA: 3.68
AVG SAT: 2020
MIN SAT: 2020</p>

<p><em>The figures for GPA and SAT are averages for those students who were ACCEPTED.
*</em> Our school only sends in weighted GPA.</p>

<p>my school was:
ranked 88th on the US News & World Report magazine's list based on an assessment of college readiness.</p>

<p>Ranked 103th on Newsweekly "Best High Schools"</p>

<p>103 on Jay Mathews's Challenge Index.</p>

<p>As you can see, my school doesn't rank high nationally. But my counselor says it's a competitive school in terms of rigor of study.</p>

<p>EDIT: Phuriku, sorry but yea 3.68 would be in the top 15% range. Sorry, that was just my estimate. I go to a large public school.</p>

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<p>I was so confused at first because I associate "exaggerated" with "higher than reality." You should say that the <em>selectivity</em> is exaggerated, and that the chances underestimated.</p>

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<p>ranked 88th on the US News & World Report magazine's list based on an assessment of college readiness.</p>

<p>lmfao yea im sure your school is not very high ranked</p>

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<p>You have to interpret college admissions office statistics with a grain of salt. They usually suffer from micronumerosity. For example: about ~80-85% of applicants to UChicago from my school (Exeter) were accepted, but the mean GPA of those applying was >10/11 (highest honors).</p>

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<p>Aww, this thread makes me feel bad. I want to feel special about my acceptance! (and I do).</p>