Chances of Getting Into UChicago

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
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Hello all, Kim writing here on my bed thinking about how drastically my life will change as a Junior in just 1 year. To make things short, what are my chances of getting into UChicago? You may ask why UChicago, but ever since I attended the seminar when Mr. Nondorf came to our school and explained how UChicago has $1 Milkshakes, there was no other competition; my heart dove for it. All jokes aside, I am actually very worried if I can get in; here’s why.

My dad has been working since my sophomore year in Highsxhool until h

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Hello all, Kim writing here on my bed thinking about how drastically my life will change as a Junior in just 1 year. To make things short, what are my chances of getting into UChicago? You may ask why UChicago, but ever since I attended the seminar when Mr. Nondorf came to our school and explained how UChicago has $1 Milkshakes, there was no other competition; my heart dove for it. All jokes aside, I am actually very worried if I can get in; here’s why.

My dad has been working since my sophomore year in Highschool until he lost his job. My family came to the United States when I was three and since then I’ve always been on Financial Aid and we weren’t able to get tutors and eveything is really self-taught. Thing’s have been hard and it may be difficult to get into college without scholarships and grants which is even more stressful (in addition to being an asian male which may be false, but I hear rumours that it is harder to do so as who I am =(…)

I took my ACT and got a 34 Composite on my first test from taking it this February 10th, 2018. My STEM is a 35 and no essay score yet.

I took the MATH II subject test twice after messing up my first one (710) then getting a 800 on my 2nd and final test. My Biology was a 720… =(

Aside from that, ny highschool GPA had a bad start. Freshman year was awful. After first semester, I had a GPA of about 4.48 out of 5.33; Sophomore year after summer was a 4.78 out of 5.33, and after 1st semester of my Junior year (now) is a 4.82 out of 5.33 which is a significant jump I think, but still poor. I live in the Chicago suburbs and our school has a 5.33 scale. I have been in all Honors and am taking 4 AP classss my Junior year (and plan to take 5 next year). For now: AP Chem, AP Language and Composition, AP USH, and AP Spanish 5 which I LOVE learning about another culture and that Spanish is so useful to me and sneak peak into something other than History in english, Math in English, English in English, and etc.

I have also been in the band program since 5th grade and made it to my school’s top band as a Junior. I have been very active, participating in my school’s Pep/Sports band and being in the district honor band.

For my extracurricular, I have been volunteering at the Northshore Hospital (affiloated by UChicago) as soon as possible since I turned 16 (July of 2017) and have loved it. I really plan to be a doctor (Orthopedist, Pediatrician, or Cardiologist) and it is a very relevant and helpful experience and since then, I have loved this field even more and plan to major Bio and Chem in college.

I also have been participating in Korean culture club and have been a leader since this year and organized events and other culture related things.

That is essentially. All my extracurricular though I plan to continue volunteering whenever and however I can.

My hobbies are very unique, RC hobbies, aquarist, Drone photography, and writing for essay contests at school.

Thank you so much and I really would like a cold answer because I believe the truth is the fastest way to get feedback and suggestion that will help me become better as a human

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Hi Kim - Thanks for sharing. It’s fine to be enamored with UChicago, it’s a great school! But please realize that there are LOTS of great schools in the country. Realistically, UChicago has such a low admission rate that it is a longshot for all applicants. That doesn’t mean don’t apply, but it does mean that you should also research several other schools and develop a short-list of those that you’d be happy attending. Since you are a Sophomore in high school, developing that list can wait until your Junior year. For now, study hard, explore your passions, and have fun in high school.

Good luck!

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Thanks! Btw, I am a Junior haha

*Second Semester (Last round of grades except maybe senior 1st semester)

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The deeper you delve into UChicago, the better you can write why UChicago is a great fit.

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Your excellent intellectual level, academic accomplishments, passion regarding your career choice, and wide-ranging interests mark you as a “kindred spirit” (for what that may be worth) to this UChicago alum. I believe you will be a distinct credit to UChicago if you get in there or to whatever other (no doubt top notch) university you attend.

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UChicago meets demonstrated need, even for those applying ED. Not sure if you are technically “low income” but have you looked into QuestBridge? If you qualify they will work to match you with some pretty great schools, including, potentially, UChicago.

UChicago will also be very aware of your Chicago area school and the grading scale, difficulty level and so forth. You should sit down with your guidance counselor and have a heart-to-heart regarding your chances for UChicago (based on what he/she has seen with other students from the school), chances for QuestBridge, and so forth. Enlist your GC’s help in forming a set of reach, match and safeties.

Good luck to you!

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@HKimPOSSIBLE You have a major advantage over many applicants: you live in the Chicago suburb. In the next few months when you have a day off, visit the school. Sign on in advance a Prospective Student Tour. Take the Metra and/or CTA to Hyde Park. See the campus and visit the Admission Office. You will have a better feel of the school after a few visit and it may even help you write your application essays. Good luck.

https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/visiting/tours

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You’re fine in terms of grades and ECs.
Honestly, for UChicago I think the most important thing is to make your essays really, really creative. They’re known for their outlandish, quirky prompts and whatnot.
I was accepted to UChic this year and I’m a Korean male in an super competitive high school in NYC. My grades and ECs were decent, but definitely meager in comparison to a lot of my peers who were rejected. Bottom line, work on your essays and remember to not excessively gleam it over with your ECs and accomplishments, but rather with something homey and personal.

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Wow! Thank you so much for the suggestions! I actually need to start visiting colleges close by since the weather is getting MUCH nicer.

As for the UChicago essays, well, I’m not the best nor am I the most “exquisite” writer and probably won’t make people say, “Whoa, what a visionary”, but I do have very specific niches…very.

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@JBStillFlying Well I live with my dad who is currently jobless and we are getting support from my brother who is in the US Army and currently in Korea.