<p>Well heres the situation...I was wondering If I would even have a chance at a wonderful school like University of Chicago.</p>
<p>I first met my love when I visited Chicago, Labor day weekend. Campus looks amazing...City is amazing...Everything just amazing! I promised myself that I will try hard as I can to meet my love once again! :)</p>
<p>Im currently a Junior In A competitive Atlanta HighSchool. Born in North Africa and moved here at the age of 4 (Considered African American).</p>
<p>Here is what my problem is! Current GPA 3.2..BUT...There are 3 semesters left. So I can potentially get up to a 3.45+ (Which I mostly am going to do!) Huge rising trend.</p>
<p>Want to know something weird? Past 3 years at this school , we have had full new administration,principle,counselors every year! This eventually led to schedule changes (Blocks to Periods and vice-versa). Im sure this issue can be brought up during the application process. Im currently taking 1 AP Class and 1 Honors this semester.</p>
<p>My SAT is going to be taken at the beginning of December...Hopefully Santa can bring me good SAT Scores! :) I will hopefully get a 2000-2100.</p>
<p>PROS:
-African American
-Hopefully SAT Score
-Rising Trend
-Live in Atlanta?
-Great Rec's.
-Will be able to visit the school once again
-Will be doing Early Action (If its even worth it)
-Great EC's (Hands on Atlanta,Work (YMCA),Fund Raisers around the area,Soccer Team,Chess team captain,French Club)</p>
<p>CON:
-GPA!</p>
<p>I have been keeping my eye on this school for a while!</p>
<p>Being african-American won't help you at UChicago, especially if you aren't really black. It's still early to tell but you have a good chance if you can focus on the essays when they are made avaliable next year. Your classes don't seem to difficult, having only 1 Ap and 1 Honors. That will really hurt you but the rising trend will definitley help you.</p>
<p>Do you know UChicago's Af.Am. percentage? FOUR PERCENT! I'd say you have a PRETTY GOOD chance! Do you think UC wants to be known as a really good school that's not very diverse? I mean, all the ivies have jumped on the bandwagon...UC is definitely lagging in this dept. If you love U of C, go for it.</p>
<p>Now, I personally believe it takes more than skin color or ethnicity to get in to U of C. (And if it doesn't, well, that's a crying shame. This is America though.) In my opinion, you should really try to stretch yourself class-wise senior year as well as finish strong grade-wise. Look around a bit. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks a lot! But ya , were moving back to block schedule next year! Which im excited about. 4 classes a semester = 8 classes per year , right now we only have 6 classes the whole year. So I will try to max out my AP Classes. Thanks a lot for the encouragement!</p>
<p>Ofcourse most schools say that. supposedly "Affirmative Action" is illegal in Georgia BUT most schools still use it but do not call it "Affirmative Action" Pretty much inevitable. </p>
<p>Being black still won't really help you at Uchicago. They don't really care. Being a bloack schedule will also hurt you a bit, having less classes. How many Honors and AP classes have you taken in total?</p>
<p>How would block schedule hurt an applicant? I beg to differ! It's the exact same as non-block, just organized differently! 8 classes, 4 everyother day for 90 minutes, as opposed to all 8 classes a day/45 mins.</p>
<p>No , It will actually help me...Instead of having 6 classes the whole year , I will take 4 a semester , which is 8 classes per year. 2 extra classes..</p>
<p>And no one said being black will help me...It was posted under Pro , because SOME schools may Look into that , Never said it will help me with UofC.</p>
<p>There is a glaring lack of diversity at Chicago (especially given the immediate surroundings) and they have put every effort forth to recruit minority candidates. A few weeks ago they held a Students of Color open house
Being black WILL help you, but you have to be qualified (and it seems you are).</p>
<p>The whole bloack system thing being easier is just my opinion. Anyways, don't get the impression that being black will get you in, it won't make too big of a difference. What you can do now is finish off your junior year very strong. DO NOT COUNT on your senior year. If you are gonna apply EA then they won't even see your senior grades. Focus on your test scores, but remember taht UChicago doesn't focus too much on them. After that, and the essays you should be good.</p>
<p>^ you mean "blOck." there is no 'a.' I can't help but ask, why would you have that opinion? It's the exact same as 8 periods a day if you reason it out!</p>
<p>I think Chicago will see your first quarter grades (if you are on the quarter system) even if you apply EA. They will see some senior year grades...how important those are is beyond me. </p>
<p>I still think being Af Am will help you, even if they say it will not....as vertigofrog pointed out. I would recommend focusing on the essays.</p>