Do I have any shot whatsoever?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>So I've struggled to stay motivated about school for my first two years of high school (now a rising senior) and I realize I probably screwed myself in regards to getting into any top school. I'm reasonably intelligent (or so I'd like to think so), but never really bothered to try to keep my gpa up. However, I've heard Chicago has accepted students with gpas on the lower end of the spectrum and I was just wondering if I simply have a chance at Chicago.</p>

<p>Male, Asian
MA
Junior, Class of 2017</p>

<p>SATs: 2320
750 Critical Reading
770 Math
800 Writing</p>

<p>Sat Subject Tests:
770 Chemistry
760 World History
750 Biology
Taking Math 2 in October, probably should get 770-800</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.4 :(
Weighted GPA: 3.9
Class rank: School doesn't rank</p>

<p>AP Classes Taken:</p>

<p>World History
US History
Chemistry
Biology
My school doesn't offer AP math until senior year, or AP english at all</p>

<p>Senior year AP Classes:</p>

<p>AP Econ
AP C Physics
AP BC Calculus</p>

<p>EC:</p>

<p>4 years of baseball (varsity letter)
AAU/legion baseball during summers
4 years of indoor track (varsity letter)
Volunteer T.A at my local chinese school (about 200 hours)
Helping my dad run his online restaurant ordering business (I help him run the site, design restaurant pages, make sales calls etc.) <- Not sure if this counts?</p>

<p>But yeah, my ECs are pretty limited, so I'm planning on pouring my heart and soul into my essay.</p>

<p>Don't know if this matters but I go to a public school that is pretty well represented among top schools. Usually around the top 10% (out of a graduating class of 500) end up going to an Ivy or equivalent. Unfortunately I'm not one of them so this doesn't apply to me but I just thought I'd throw it out there.</p>

<p>I've accepted the fact that I'm bound for mediocrity college-wise, but I was just wondering what my chances of salvation were.</p>

<p>Others schools I'm considering:
Swarthmore (Not sure if realistic, guidance counselor said I had a chance if I ED?)
Brandeis
William & Mary
Carleton</p>

<p>Thanks if you made it this far</p>

2

<p>Low GPA combined with a lack of major ECs is going to be a tough sell - usually you need at least one to have a decent shot.</p>

3

<p>I had the same SAT score (exact same breakdown too) and wasn’t in the top 10% of my extremely competitive HS, although I had a 3.86 GPA so the 3.4 will hurt depending on amount of grade inflation. Grades probably put me on the outside looking in, but I think I got in on EC’s and essays. If you want to go here, then apply definitely, but you’ll need some pretty amazing essays. Check out the other thread with your 2013 prompts and start thinking about them now!</p>

4

<p>gpa won’t be good enough</p>

5

<p>GPA will be the biggest worry and your EC’s don’t stand out too much. However, your test scores are great and you’ve shown commitment to baseball/track. That’s good because many “super students” don’t show commitment for all four years in their EC’s so you have a small advantage.</p>

<p>You’re at a disadvantage right now. But I think if you translate your passion for your sports, expecially baseball, into your essays, it’ll make up for the fact that you didn’t have many others. Colleges definitely prefer to see passion and commitment to a couple EC’s rather than a slew of random EC’s so this will be important for you.</p>

<p>And definitely show why you want to attend the University of Chicago. This is very important.</p>

<p>Oh, just thought of this. Do you have an upward trend in your grades? you said that you didn’t do well your first two years but are you doing much better now? Upward trends sometimes partially make up for early mistakes.</p>

<p>Never think that you’re destined for mediocrity! You definitely have a chance since your GPA is the only thing “seriously” holding you back. Who knows what will happen? Good luck!</p>