I’m getting very jittery with Early Decision results coming very soon, and I’d like to know what you guys think of my chances.
GPA: 4.2
Rank: 50/700
SAT: 1510 (800 Math, 710 CR/W), 750 Math II, and 750 Physics
AP Classes: APUSH (4), AP Physics 1 (5)
IB Classes: I am a Diploma Candidate, so basically 7 total in my last 2 years of high school and I’m also taking the AP test equivalents (Calc BC, Spanish, Lang, and Bio).
Extracurriculars: Science Olympiad (9-12) and president in 11th and 12th. The team went from last place at Regionals to missing state by 10 points, and I have won 1st in astronomy all 5 times (including 2 wins at Invitationals) and 4 other medals, I volunteer at the Chicago Public Library and have since 7th grade, I do an internship at Columbia College Chicago called Junior Research Scientists and have done research comparing the total energy collected from stationary solar panels to solar tracking devices, I was published in my school’s literary magazine, I’m a math tutor for freshmen at my high school, National Honor Society, and IB Student Leadership
Essays: My personal statement was really well written; it detailed how I spent my life seeking knowledge about astronomy, I chose the prompt about an intellectual topic that never gets discussed and wrote about making the conversation about ethics in gene editing accessible to more people because it affects everyone, and for the UChicago essay I wrote about the importance of debate and discussion and how it helps me grow as a learner and how I am a very positive contributor, my additional info essay was about how freshman year I really struggled with grades (I got a couple Cs) and how I became determined to improve my organizational skills because I realized how important they were
Recommendations: My AP Physics teacher who wrote a REALLY good one (he was my supervisor for my Extended Essay and I was the first 5 in AP Physics at my school ever), my IB World Lit teacher wrote another really good one about how I’m good at discussing hard issues in literature (among other things), and my counselor wrote about how I’m very dedicated and that I was struggling with ADHD freshman year and it was very important for her to watch my determination change my school habits.
Major: physics
Other: My high school is a low budget Chicago Public School.