<p>There are so many of these that it probably makes sense to approach the problem differently. It probably makes more sense to start by determining the kind of college or university that seems right for this student (large university, smaller university or small college? artsy or technical or political? urban, suburban or rural?) and then find institutions within those parameters that fit the applicant’s academic credentials. Lots of good universities and colleges will fit them. Just not University of Chicago.</p>
<p>But if you’re looking for names, the suggestion is kind of an old saw on College Confidential, but lots of folks swear by a book called Colleges That Change Lives and its associated web site: [Colleges</a> That Change Lives | Changing Lives. One Student at a Time.](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/).</p>
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<p>Not the impression I meant to give. </p>
<p>A 35 on the ACT with a 3.6 GPA will just about never compete with a 35 and a 3.9 or a 4.0 (which is more like what Chicago takes these days). But it will just about always be better than a 29 on the ACT and a 3.6 GPA–especially if there is an extenuating circumstance such as chronic illness or undiagnosed learning disability to explain relatively lower grades in the early years of high school.</p>
<p>I’m going to disagree with everyone here. ( I don’t disagree with barr–gpa alone is pretty meaningless.) You still have a chance. Pour it all on and get straight As if at all possible. If you can simultaneously improve your ECs, that would be even better. </p>
<p>You might also want to take the SATs and a bunch of SAT II tests, plus if at all possible take and do well on APs. Then write the best essays you can.</p>
<p>If UChicago is your dream, apply early action.Can I guarantee you’ll get into UChicago? No. However, I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility.</p>
<p>Some top colleges don’t count 9th grade grades. That list used to include Stanford and UMichigan-AA; I don’t know if that’s still the case. Almost all colleges pay close attention to an improvement in grades.</p>
<p>In any event, you’ll have better options if you do your best from here on out.</p>
<p>You are a statistical outlier. Because there is so little data for someone like you, on Naviance, for example, it’s really difficult for anyone to predict, so you are just going to have to go for it and see what happens. </p>
<p>Also a 35 is very very high. You don’t need to retake, spend your time on other things. </p>
<p>College admissions is not a reward, they are looking to fill their class with interesting and capable people. You sound interesting and capable. I don’t think that your 3.6 is going to hold you back in the long run. You may not get UChicago, but I think you’ll get in somewhere with intellectual peers. Keep on chugging along.</p>