Chances/how to improve?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I was wondering what my chances of getting into Chicago were, also what I could do to increase my chances. Thanks.</p>

<p>caucasian, female, middle class, public school in Michigan (not particularly competitive, but not a bad school either)</p>

<p>GPA: 3.865 (uw, don't know weighted)
Class Rank: 44/293
PSAT: 233
SAT: 760 R, 720 M, 660 W (didn't do too bad on the multiple choice, but totally bombed the essay for some reason; I'm normally good at writing-type things)
ACT: 34
Likely to become a national merit finalist
took AP Eng Lang and AP US History this year; will probably get a 4 or 5 on the English, and a 3 to 5 (my teacher wasn't very good) on the History
SAT II: 730 USH, 780 Lit</p>

<p>Taking two classes at a Washington University (in St. Louis) over the summer, and will probably get an A- or A on them (if grades are given).</p>

<p>Freshman:
American Studies (two-hour block class, English and US history) A
German I A
AGS II (algebra, geometry, and statistics) A
Earth Space Science (semester) A
Integrated Physical Science (sem.) A
Orchestra A</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Literature and Composition (sem.) A
Speech B+
Biology A
Economics (sem.) A
US Government (sem.) A
Orchestra A
German II A
AGS III A</p>

<p>Junior: (not sure of the grades, but I think the average is an A-)
APUSH
Pre-Calc
AP Eng Lang
Orchestra
German III
Chemistry</p>

<p>I've taken the most challenging schedule possible so far, excepting science classes (just took Chem last year instead of AP Bio) and taking orchestra instead of another academic class.</p>

<p>Next year:
AP English Lit
AP Calculus
Honors Humanities (block class for one English credit and one social studies credit)
German IV (not officially AP, but I'll most likely be taking the test)
Gym (required for graduation)</p>

<p>I'll probably be able to get all As or A-'s next year.</p>

<p>Extra-Curricular Activities: (when I say present I mean I plan on continuing them through senior year)
Destination Imagination: first grade through the present
Violin: school (as a class) orchestra, 5th through 11th; private lessons, 5th through the present
World Cultures Club (at school, like a combination of the language clubs with some other cultures thrown in): 10th through present
I attempted to join German club freshman year, but it dissolved after just a couple meetings due to lack of participation
Quiz Bowl: 10th through present</p>

<p>Awards:
likely a national merit semi-finalist, possibly a finalist
various academic awards throughout school (don't remember what subjects I got them in)</p>

<p>Also, if it makes any difference, I'm planning on majoring in International Relations.</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>At the University of Chicago, conventional wisdom would have it that the most important thing you can do to improve your chances is write great essays. Conventional wisdom is probably right.</p></li>
<li><p>Out of curiosity, how is it with only one B+, in a non-core subject, at a "not very competitive" high school, you wind up being ranked barely in the top 15% of your class? If you had problems with your grades junior year, doing well the first half of your senior year would be a great idea.</p></li>
<li><p>With no high-level science classes, and only four academic subjects your senior year, I don't see how anyone is going to say that you took the most challenging curriculum. Have you talked to your guidance counselor about that? Can you fit an AP science class into your senior schedule? Would that make a difference? If so, that might be a good idea -- not just for Chicago, but for other schools as well.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Also -- why are you dropping Orchestra? I doubt it matters that much, but it seems like a pull-back from something that's been important to you.</p>

<ol>
<li> Chicago doesn't require any SAT IIs, so you have the option of only submitting your ACT score there (and that's what you should probably do). Do other schools to which you plan to apply want to see a math SAT II? Lots of colleges in the same general class as Chicago require that. You ought to look into it.</li>
</ol>

3

<p>First off, thanks.</p>

<p>Yeah, I had some problems with my grades junior year. Nothing lower than a B+, but not as good as before. Also, I don't think ranking is weighted (we don't have a valedictorian or anything) and a lot of kids take easier classes.</p>

<p>I'm dropping orchestra because of scheduling issues (AP Lit, German IV, and AP Calc issues). I'm still going to keep up private violin lessons though. If humanities is a two-hour class, would schools still look at me as having just four academic classes, or would they count it as five? I considered taking an AP science course, but I'm not that confident in my ability to do well in it, because science has consistently been my weakest subject.</p>

4

<p>I agree with JHS. You need a 4th year of science to strengthen your application. Your counselor can address the "credit for 2 classes in 1" question in his letter of recommendation to colleges.</p>

5

<p>Is there anything else I could do outside of school to strengthen the science part of my application? Would it help if I focussed my essays, etc. more on humanities type stuff, or would that be a bad idea because it would make me seem weaker in the sciences?</p>

6

<p>Wait, I still don't get it. How are you barely in the top 15% of your class with only one B+ at a not-so competitive high school? Is your ranking with or without your junior year grades?</p>

7

<p>With my junior year grades.</p>

8

<p>If you do decide on a science, try to pick one you would like with a good teacher. If your school offers an honors physics course (with a good teacher) that might be an option. If you math course is ahead of your physics course, it will make the physics ... pleasanter. </p>

<p>As far as other things you could do ... leadership in your world cultures club - or organizing a fundraiser or educational event might be fun and useful.</p>

<p>As far as class rank ... fully 5% of my son's hs class were validictorians - unweighted ranking does that. Make sure your HS Profile specifies that the ranking is unweighted.</p>

9

<p>Thanks. The problem is, though, that the last two years world cultures club has met on the same day as quiz bowl matches, and I'd have to attend all the meetings if I had a leadership position, but I'll try to work something out.</p>

10

<p>The only REALLY weak part of your application is your rank... If you make it clear that ranking is UW, though, that could help.</p>

<p>"Destination Imagination: first grade through the present"
Awww, I used to do DI! I really loved it... my "team" made it to states both years during middle school, but couldn't attend the competition the second time (which was when we probably would have had a chance of moving on). Unfortunately, when we reached HS, the other members of my team stopped committing... and I literally had to do everything myself. Yeahhh. That was pretty tough. So, to my dismay, we stopped =( There were so many good times, though... Ah, nostalgia.</p>

<p>Sorry for my rant. It's not often that I hear about someone else doing DI, though =) It's exciting!</p>

11

<p>Cool! I don't think I've ever met anybody else who did DI except at competitions and such. My team is getting busier with other stuff, but we're all close friends and we should last through next year. And no need to apologize; it IS exciting!</p>

12

<p>i got into uchicago with only a 3.65, and my friend got in with a 3.6</p>

<p>i'm top 10% in the class, she's top 15%</p>

<p>so i really don't see why you wouldn't get in, unless you write bad essays. so stop trying to formulate your ec's to get in, just highlight the ones you already have. and write GOOD essays!</p>

13

<p>I have to agree... you can really tell, even on these chances threads, who is doing things to impress other people and who is doing something because they want to.</p>

14

<p>Wait... Which category does mine fall into? I'm not doing anything just to get in, so I don't want it to seem like that.</p>

15

<p>Raise that class rank - its vital. If not, there is a high chance at being rejected at any Ivy regardless of the rest of your application. Percentage of freshmen in top 10% of their HS Class is one of the MAJOR things USNEWS bases their rankings on, and thus a Ivy wouldn't want you to be lowering their prestige......I know its evil, I have a bad class rank too, which is why im going to work my butt off next year to raise it to top 5% (right now im also about top 15%, mostly due to the same situation as you....)</p>