<p>I am currently a junior and really interested in UChicago. Do I have a chance?</p>
<p>GPA: 3.85 (unweighted)
4.5 (weighted)</p>
<p>ACT: 29( I know it is very low but I am doing all I can to raise it. If super scored I would have around a 31)
Math: 32
Reading: 31
English: 34
Science: 28</p>
<p>Junior Classes:
AP English Language
AP Calc AB
AP Computer Science
Honors Physics
AP Government and Politics
AP Microeconomics</p>
<p>Senior Classes:
AP English Lit
AP Calc BC
AP Statistics
AP Chemistry
AP Psychology
AP Biology</p>
<p>Rank:
13/783
I would say it is a fairly competitive school. Many of the top 2% go to highly respected colleges.</p>
<p>I have completed 3 years of Spanish and still deciding whether or not to take a fourth.</p>
<p>Extra Curricular and Awards
Track and Cross Country
- I am decent, not great, I come from a team that was ranked number one in the state Orchestra
- I have played in the highest level all throughout high school. I use to teach private lessons. I have played at Disney world and toured Europe with my orchestra. I was also a part of a German exchange through orchestra and hosted a student.
Ballet
- I have danced for over eight years and do performances with guest from professional companies such as Joffrey and ABT.
Girl Scouts
-Silver Award recipient(60 service hours) and plan on achieving my gold award.
-Am a program aid at camp and have done over 200 hours.
Church
-Help run and organize a program for children at the church every week during mass. Probably about 100 hours.
Lifeguard
-Over the summer at local private swim club.
-At school instead of gym class.
-Teach swim lessons.
-Use to swim competitively.
National Honors Society
Other Leadership workshops in school.
Was one of 25 students chosen to attend a business and leadership program with RR Donnelly.
Election Judge (16 hours)</p>
<p>I plan to major in biology with a pre-med track. I am also in state.</p>
<p>Looks good, with the exception of your ACT. Do you know for a fact that your superscore is 31; have you already taken it more than once? (Chicago does superscore.) Anyway, do all you can to bring that up. Looks like it’s the science section that will more or less decide which score you get. Your GPA also seems just a little low. But everything else seems stellar.</p>
<p>One word: essay. Brush up on your writing.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>A quick note: this is a private school, and as such, your being in state doesn’t make a difference.</p>
<p>Your app looks pretty solid. That being said, I really think you to raise your ACT to at least a 31 or so. Also, make sure you take a fourth year of Spanish! Perhaps most importantly though, really take the time to construct good essays. They are among the most important admissions criteria at UChicago. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I have taken the sat but have not yet got my scores and I have also taken another act. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts I could not take the fourth year of Spanish. Will this be an issue. Instead I have doubled up on both my ap math and science.</p>
<p>I would not be too worried about your ACT score. I had the same score, was accepted, and I am going there in the fall (Class of 2015) :). However, I also took the SAT and got a 2200 which I assume is the score they actually looked at. But, by no means are test scores the only factor. Good luck with your testing retakes and be sure to write thoughtful essays!</p>
<p>Only you can answer whether your ec’s were good enough. That is, are they good enough for you to write an earnest essay on? Or are they the kind of things that you did to do, with hardly any spirit or thought?</p>
<p>Ted O’Neill, a legendary Chicago Dean of Admissions, once said that the key to getting into Chicago is love. Although the pool has gotten more competitive, that remains true.</p>
<p>I think what distinguishes Chicago’s brand of intellectualism from all others is a recognition that “Knowledge is Erotic.” Those words came from the Aims of Education speech in my first year, and they have proven true in my experiences since. We do not simply pursue knowledge; we love and lust for it.</p>
<p>Regarding your laundry list of accomplishments/activities: Eh, everything but your ACT score looks fine. Try taking it again? To be safe, I’d really aim for a 31 on the real thing (not super-scored). </p>
<p>You say you are really interested in UChicago, but I think its less important that you are interested as much as it is why you are interested. I think you have great credentials, but you appear much like a list of facts and numbers in black and white letters. Everyone that applies has just as many if not more credentials on their laundry list. To get into Chicago, you need not only great academics and extracurricular, but passion, and no one can figure that out for you. Your essay is your one spot to show how you really shine with passion for learning or passion for whatever you do (i would write about something you’ve really gotten into, it sounds like orchestra and ballet are things you are really good at, your accomplishments are amazing!).</p>
<p>Really, whether or not you have a chance is up to you at this point. You’ve got the numbers (all but maybe the ACT) and so there is no point worrying about those. Go ahead, have fun with the application, write a quirky essay, and be yourself! :)</p>