Chances at UChicago?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

So for a while now I’ve been infatuated with The University of Chicago. It started when a friend of mine who is an Azalea Trail Maid (I’m from Mobile, Alabama) participated in a Thanksgiving parade there. She told me all about the city and how great it was, and how much she loved it. Then I started receiving mail from the college, which further piqued my interest. I started researching the school and found that it’s physics program is one of the best (my anticipated major) and that I really liked the idea of the Core. One of my idols, Carl Satan, graduated from this school and astronauts (my dream and ultimate goal) also graduate from here. This past winter (my junior year) I applied to their Summer Program where I ot accepted into the Physics of Stars astronomy and physics program. However, even though they have me 50% of tuition in aid, I still couldn’t afford to go. I also got accepted into Stanford’s summer program but, again, was unable to afford it.

Here are some things about me that can hopefully help you guys determine if it’s realistic for me to be accepted into this school:

  • 31 on ACT. This was my second time taking it, and I took that one in April of my junior year. I plan on taking it two more times, and that score was achieved without any prep. Over the summer I have been rigorously prepping and am confident in m y next attempt.
  • Ranked 7/250 in my class.
  • I plan on taking the SAT Chemistry and Math 2 subject tests. I passed the AP Chem exam with a 4 so I'm confident on that one, and I'm prepping for Math 2.
  • I've worked as a helper for a contractor (taking out and installing windows at Coast Guard bases) all summer and saved up to take AP Physics 1 & 2 this year through Northwestern's CTD program. It actually started today.
  • I'm extremely confident in my teacher recommendations. My Chemistry teacher is basically my best friend and even wrote my summer program recommendations, and told me how hard she worked on them. I already have a good relationship with my next year AP Calculus teacher and plan on really developing it.
  • My school I only 5 years old: we broke 1,000 students enrolled this year, have never had an Ivy League acceptance or any selective school.
  • I've taken the most advanced courses offered: Every AP (except for Biology which I cannot take: it was either Chemistry or Biology junior year at our school) and the ones that don't have AP offered were honors courses.
  • Unweighted, my GPA is 3.85 and climbing (not sure about weighted)
  • The highest level of education in my family is my dad who got a 2 year degree at a local school
  • My extracurriculars: Band: Band takes up my free time after school year-round. From marching band, to concert band, to jazz band, to indoor percussion, then back to concert band, it is and endless cycle that I always am up to my head in. I am drum captain (leader of our percussion section). Last year I participated in our robotics team, but after the first semester figured out that the is NO WAY band can balance with another demanding club such as robotics, so I finished our fall competition and didn't return for Spring competition due to indoor percussion, jazz band, and concert band. Also, I know putting NHS on the application is basically the same as putting nothing, but yeah its there. I am extremely dedicated to band and music and hope to make that shine on my application. Also I started volunteering at the local animal shelter over the summer and found I really enjoy it, so I plan to continue it, if nothing else then on the weekends.
  • I've already started on my UChicago supplements and feel great about them.

A little more just generic info:

  • White male
  • I live in Mobile, Alabama
  • lower-middle income
  • I could do a music supplement
  • Only speak English (took my 3 years of Spanish, but wouldn’t say I could speak it well lol)
  • 4s and 5s on all my AP exams

I have a real infatuation with Chicago and the programs that UChicago offers. For instance, I have a real interest in exploring their new Molecular Engineering program. I know this is long, but here’s a list of other colleges I’m applying to. If you would also tell me what you think about these I would appreciate it!

  1. Vanderbilt
  2. Stanford
  3. Rice
  4. Brown
  5. MIT
  6. Yale (I know)
  7. UT - Austin
  8. FSU

If I should revise my list, please let me know. IF there are any schools you think I should consider that would be good for an anticipated major in Physics/Astrophysics, please let ne know.

Thank you!

2

if your passion for UChicago really comes through in your essays, then I think you have a good chance. I would suggest trying to get your ACT score up slightly, but other than that you are in good shape. And believe me, as a fellow performing arts kid, I understand how much time band takes up :).

3

Your chances are pretty good. U.Chicago places a lot of emphasis on the quality of your essays and they want students who really understand what U.Chicago has to offer and truly want to go there. Chicago is a great city but U.Chicago is in a tough part of town. The college itself is great but the surrounding neighborhood is basically pretty rough. First generation is helpful. You know already your ACT could be a few points higher, your odds would be much better at 33 than they are at 31. Your college list is way too top heavy. If you are going to apply to an Ivy and Physics is what interests you, Princeton is a better choice than Yale. Some other colleges to consider - Caltech, Franklin W.Olin, Cooper Union, Lehigh. I would caution you not to fall in love with U.Chicago as any college with an 8% admissions rate is going to be a reach. They are somewhat notorious for enticing ever more students to apply

4

Thank you guys for the feedback! I’ll definitely look into those schools. You don’t think my only one main extracurricular will cripple me?

5

I think you are headed in a fabulous direction!!

Schools like stanford and rice and the ivies are of course hard to decipher, but I feel like you have a great chance given your circumstances!

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1793911-chance-me-pls-columbia-uchicago-ucb-etc.html#latest

6

I have to mention the Carl “Satan” part, lol. But besides that, I think you should be happy about what path you’re on, as you have opened yourself up to a lot of future opportunities. Try to bring that ACT up to ~34 if you can. However, I’m warning you not to narrow ambitions exclusively to this college. UChicago is notoriously difficult to get admitted to, and it’d be best to expand your horizons to other top-tier universities. It would not only improve your chances of going to a prestigious university, but save you from potential future regret because you pinned all your hopes on one college that more likely than not (just going of percentages here) will not admit you.

7

There are a lot of reaches on your list. Florida State OOS is probably a low match for you, if not a safety. You should be fine there. UT-Austin OOS and on up your list, though, includes no gimmes.

I’d consider applying to some of these as well - high quality matches:

  • U of Rochester (high match)
  • Boston U (high match/match)
  • Tulane (high match)
  • Wake Forest (high match)
  • Georgia Tech (high match/match)
  • Purdue (match)
  • RPI (match)
  • Lehigh (high match/match)

Find out which state schools have your desired Engineering track and consider applying to them also. The Big Ten schools, in particular, tend to have excellent Engineering programs - don’t stop at Purdue if they don’t have what you desire.

Finally, if you love Chicago, consider applying to Northwestern also. It’s a reach, but you never know…

Good luck!

8

All those schools listed are super selective, so they’re a reach for anyone. Your ACT is below average for the schools, and your EC’s are decent. Even if your essay is outstanding, you’re lacking in other areas, so it’ll be difficult for you to get in. Other schools you’ll have a good shot at are UIUC, Umich and GaTech if you get your score up, UWisc, UCLA and UCB (college of Letters&Science isn’t too selective), UofMaryland, U of Colorado-Boulder.