<p>Purely anecdotal here, but at both my kids's public schools, everyone with a 2250+ got into Chicago according to Naviance data. Both schools offer insanely tough programs, which I'm sure Chicago appreciates, but from our perspective, the three criteria focused on at our house are: 1) essays, essays, essays; 2) test scores; 3) difficulty of course schedule. The kids who apply to Chicago from their high schools generally possess all three in spades, so it's hard to say which criteria (if any one does) wags the dog's tail.</p>
<p>As for grades -- a heavy duty, above-and-beyond courseload can compensate for a less-than-stellar GPA. This was definitely the case for S1 at MIT and Chicago (got into both EA). On the other hand, there were a couple of other schools on his list that clearly placed GPA/rank as an absolute criteria, regardless of strength of schedule.</p>
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Have you checked the EA threads of MIT and Chicago?
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Last time I checked, essays were not included on results threads. You can't just brush them off in your generalizations -- they're supposedly the second most important factor at Chicago.</p>
<p>quote: "Last time I checked, essays were not included on results threads. You can't just brush them off in your generalizations -- they're supposedly the second most important factor at Chicago'</p>
<p>Yes: the EA threads did not show essays. We don't know the quality of the applicants' essays. Hence, they are a "control factor". As such, unless you have a reason to believe that the quality of essays has a negative correlation with the scores, etc: the semi-scientific conclusion I drew based on reading through the EA stats is much more valid than anecdotal claims that so-and-so got in to Harvard with SAT below 2000, implying that scores are not that important - these are cases that prove exception to the rule, NOT the rule itself. You confuse these two at your own peril.</p>
<p>My take is that those students who tend to do well in challenging curricula, and write great essays, and receive good recommendations, are very likely to also score very well on SAT & ACT tests. If one falls short on any of the non-test score criteria, and happens to have great test scores, high scores might help. If, however, if one does not fall short, and has lower scores, the scores won't hurt.</p>
<p>idad - So would I be considered one of those "lower scores, scores won't hurt" applicants? I've had the most challenging courses and have done very well in them. In addition I have three excellent recommendations and extremely unique essays. But my ACT score doesn't really match up to my performance in high school (although it falls in the middle 50%).</p>
<p>I can't comment on how your essays will be received, but if all is a you say, you should be fine. They tend to admit for the faculty, so they are quite interested in how one will fit into the academic environment of Chicago.</p>
<p>J'adoube: Yes, I did read that article. Thank you, it was very enlightening.</p>
<p>My only point is that scores matter more than people think they do. If you don't think so, look at the Early Action thread on CC; there are very few people who don't have stellar scores who were admitted. I agree completely with science fiction; there is a chance that students with lower scores get into these top institutions, more so at Chicago because they seem to place a great deal of emphasis on the essays, but it is definitely not ideal. Just because one person got in that way does not necessarily mean that you will, for you may not have the stellar ec's/recs/essays that that person had. Your chances are reduced significantly with worse scores; while some may still get in "against the odds," they are not the typical students who are admitted Early Action at Chicago.</p>
<p>All in all, I have no idea what your essays are like, dnlgao, but they better be VERY good because a 29 certainly will not help you very much, especially since you are competing against other Asians who have near perfect test scores. I wish you the best of luck!</p>