Compensating for lower GPA

<p>I've been reseaching UChicago on Family Connection, (school-affiliated college comparison website, if you don't know what it is) and on there you can compare your GPA and test scores to a table of admission statistics from your high school, providing a significant number of students applied from your school.
Anyways, apparently the lowest admitted applicant from my high school had a GPA of 3.06/4.0. I was completely shocked because I always had an idea of UChicago as a might-as-well-be-ivy league school. So basically I'm wondering how and if it's fathomable for an applicant to be admitted with such a low GPA.
My GPA is better, but not a huge amount better than 3.06, but I have a pretty huge increasing grade trend and a 33 ACT. I also really like the idea of the importance UChicago places on essays (from what I understand).</p>

<p>There is a strong chance that 3.06 was probably a recruited athlete, legacy, urm or had another hook. While you still have a shot, your GPA is arguably the most important factor in admissions. I would still apply; your ACT is strong and it sounds like you feel confident in your essays. Good luck!</p>

<p>For Chicago, course rigor is the most important, not GPA, though of course, GPA is huge. Admissions to the top colleges are hard to predict. Don’t put too much stock into one datapoint.</p>

<p>Naviance can be funny like that. I was admitted with a shamefully low GPA, but I did have a very rigorous courseload and a discernable upward trend since 9th grade.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t believe naviance. My GPA on my transcript was 4.53, but on naviance it was below a 4.3… That 3.06 could have been much higher or lower. Just go with your gut on your application and give it your best shot. GPA isn’t the be all and end all.</p>