Chances for EA Next Fall?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>First chance thread I've done but as junior year ends my stats are pretty much settled. U of C was the first school I've visited and I'm attracted by the atmosphere, so I'd appreciate your help in judging my chances for EA. </p>

<p>GPA/Test Scores:</p>

<p>SAT Score: 2230 (750 CR; 730 Math; 750 Writing)
ACT Score: 35 Composite (36 Reading; 36 English; 33 Math; 35 Science)
SAT Subject Tests: Literature; US History; Math 2. Scores pending, but Lit and US will be at or very close to 800, while Math2 will be 700-750.
AP Scores: AP Human Geo (5); AP World History (5). AP English Lang, Micro and Macro Econ, US and Euro History, and US Govt are all pending for this year, but I think I have a good shot at straight fives for those too. </p>

<p>GPA: A little under 3.8 UW. It's low, but for what it's worth I haven't gotten any Cs, and nearly all of my Bs came freshman year and 1st semester sophomore year (so an upward trend). </p>

<p>Weighted GPA is calculated strangely, but class rank is about ~35/550. </p>

<p>Schedule has been most rigorous possible at decent public school that sends about 8-9 to top schools each year (Northwestern and up).</p>

<p>Senior Year Schedule: </p>

<p>AP Physics C
AP Calc BC
AP English Lit
AP Psych
Journalism</p>

<p>ECs: </p>

<p>Editor-in-Chief of school newspaper (freshman-senior year), which is pretty strong; we win Pacemakers fairly regularly (for those who know what that is). Also have a bunch of individual journalism awards at state and national level.
Tennis Team (sophomore - senior year)
Debate Team (sophomore - senior year): A few speaking awards; state qualifier junior year
Academic Bowl (sophomore - senior year): Co-captain
Writing Center Tutor (junior - senior year)
NHS Member</p>

<p>Awards</p>

<p>Scholastic Regional Gold Key (11)
Scholastic National Silver Medal (Key?) (11)
Some other journalism awards (5-6) at state and national level
National Merit Semifinalist
Likely National AP Scholar </p>

<p>About 100 hours of community service through tutoring and other volunteer activities; will be higher by the time I apply (150?). </p>

<p>Also will be attending two journalism camps (fairly competitive because both are free) during the summer. </p>

<p>Teacher Recs will be great - I've already had to ask for them for summer camps and my teachers showed me them. </p>

<p>Essays, hopefully, will also be great ... I'm pretty heavy on writing ECs and have always been a strong writer, so hopefully that'll show in the essays. </p>

<p>Hope I didn't miss anything - if I did, just let me know and I'll give the info.</p>

2

<p>Everything but your rank seems strong.</p>

3

<p>If you really like UChicago and can communicate that in your essays, I think you have a fair chance. But given that you don’t have any hooks, I’d put a lot of work into those essays.</p>

<p>P.S. Just wondering why you want to go to Chicago when you seem to really like journalism?</p>

4

<p>Yeah I do like journalism a lot, but I feel like I would get a better-rounded education by majoring in an academic subject in college rather than going to Journalism school or majoring in journalism because those options seem limited in scope and flexibility, esp. considering the terrible job prospects in journalism nowadays.</p>

5

<p>I think you are fairly strong applicant. Given all of your stats, you still have to outperform other students when it comes to the essays. I believe writing good essays was what got me in last year. I wish you the best of luck! If you have questions, feel free to shoot me a private message.</p>

6

<p>You should have a good chance. 1. submit the ACT instead of the SAT 2. definitely emphasize your love of writing 3. hmm, can strong SATII scores balance out slightly low GPA?</p>

<p>Anyway, congrats on the Scholastic awards!</p>

7

<p>My son got in two years ago (although he was deferred EA) with test scores and GPA about the same as yours (in fact, the SAT combined score was identical), and fewer EC’s (mainly, he was editor in chief of the lit magazine his last two years, and involved in theatre). So you’re certainly in the running.</p>

8

<p>I would have to agree that your rank is on the shabbier side, however the rest of your application looks solid.
Competitive applicant, just work on standing out with your essays.
Good luck!</p>

9

<p>I think uchicago threads are the best on CC.</p>

<p>OP, just go through this forum and you will get plenty of ideas on making your case stronger. </p>

<p>An observation I have made is that it is important to demonstrate one’s love for learning. Stats don’t necessarily reflect that. You can make your case very strong if one of your essays focuses on this theme in a unique way. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!</p>

10

<p>I disagree with other about your rank…it is relative to the course offerring and competitiveness of your high school…at poorer inner city high school it would be a concern but doesn’t sound like you go to one of those. chill a bit…bet you’ll get in.</p>

11

<p>I can say from experience that you can get in EA without a good class rank (I had 2280 SAT and a class rank below Top 10%, barely even 15% if I recall correctly). You just have to really nail the essays. I remember checking the admissions website daily until the prompts came up and then spending the majority of my free time that summer thinking of ideas. Once it came to me, the rest was easy.</p>

12

<p>Dear bears,</p>

<p>Congratulations! It is my great pleasure to inform you that you will be admitted to the University of Chicago, Class of 2015. With your exceptional academic record, strong voice, and impressive accomplishments, you will be distinguishing yourself in the University’s largest and most competitive Early Action pool.</p>

<p>…</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>TS
obo Dean of College Admissions and Financial Aid</p>

13

<p>it’s just called a scholastic national silver medal, no key afterwards. just wanted to clarify : D</p>

<p>considering you’ve won a national award for your writing i have no doubt youll write terrific essays. i’d say you’re in</p>