Going to get the boot because of scores, but...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>...I'll try it anyway. Chance for EA please.</p>

<p>White male, North Carolina, competitive public school
Need-Based Financial Aid: Yes
Income: ~$28-32K</p>

<p>Projected Major: Economics and History minor (College of Arts and Sciences)
Unweighted GPA: 3.9048
Weighted GPA: 4.7619
Rank: 23/316</p>

<p>ACT Composite: 31 (one sitting)
SAT1: 640M/650CR/730W
SATII: 760MathII, 750US</p>

<p>AP Scores: US History 5, English: Language 5</p>

<p>Senior Courseload: AP Calculus BC, AP Government and Politics, AP German, AP Economics, AP Physics C, Honors English IV</p>

<p>Extra Curricular Activities:
Junior Civitan Service Club - 20 service hours/semester
National Honors Society
Social Studies Quiz Bowl
Teen Democrats
Participant in Invisible Children United program with a sister school in Uganda
Chess Club President
German Club
North Carolina Governor's School 2007 - Natural Science</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Grocery Store Cashier/Bagger (10, 11, 12) - 18 hrs/week
eBay Store Owner (11, 12) - 3 hrs/week
Self-Employed Computer Repair/Tech (11, 12) - 2 hrs/week
Trading Card Tournament Organizer and Judge (9, 10, 11) - 6 hrs/week
Trade Stocks Independently thru Ameritrade (12) - 2 hrs/week</p>

<p>Awards:
2006-2007 Physics Student of the Year
Governor's School Nominee
"Straight A" Banquet Attendee
Distinguished for Level 4 (highest possible) on NC Writing Test</p>

<p>Perks:
Ukrainian-born (US Citizen)
Trilingual - Russian, Ukrainian, English
First Generation in US
Single-parent home</p>

<p>Other:
Recommendations written by teacher who nominated me as his Student of the Year and my AP US teacher - both should be phenomenal
GC is a friend of the family (+++?)
Essays tie well into my intended major and my unique background</p>

2

<p>Your stats look within range. And your test scores certainly won't be a big deal since the rest of your numbers seem to confirm you're pretty intelligent. As a fellow applicant, I'd say you have a good shot.</p>

3

<p>So I take it this will come down to my essays and recommendations.</p>

<p>Thanks esentman.</p>

4

<p>test scores aren't that bad actually. you should have a good shot</p>

5

<p>For UChicago, they say the two most important factors are your courseload attempted, and your essays. Scores are at the bottom of the list, and yours are pretty good anyway.</p>

6

<p>I suggest you take the SAT again in Nov, as your math and critical reading scores are almost sure to go up. Then write great essays and leave no doubt in the minds of the admissions committee why you want to study at Chicago, not just why you want to be accepted there.</p>

7

<p>umm... note that the november scores probably won't get there for EA applicants. I'm pretty sure it says this on the uncommon blog</p>

8

<p>Well, I think the OP's chances would be increased if he took the SAT again, and maybe applied regular decision. There isn't THAT much of an admissions "bump" for those who apply EA over regular decision. Just my 2 cents.</p>

9

<p>Can I apply EA now and then take the SAT later if I get deferred?</p>

10

<p>yes 10 chars</p>

11

<p>Awesome.</p>

<p>It's funny how here everyone says "scores are pretty competitive" and "scores aren't too bad", but in the Cornell forum "you're going to get rejected 100% because your scores are low" and "scores are AWFUL, apply to a community college"...</p>

<p>But Cornell's range is considerably lower than UChicago's...</p>

12

<p>"Can I take the SAT later if I get deferred?"
NO! because you won't learn if you are deferred until Dec 15, and by then it's too late to take the SAT before the Jan. 1 application deadline.</p>

13

<p>It's because we're nice :-P</p>

<p>No, but seriously, I think Cornell is a cool school, and some of the posters (whom I imagine are, for the most part, high school juniors and seniors) may be trying to assert their superiority by telling others they won't get in.</p>

<p>Cornell's range may include its professional schools. If it does, it wouldn't be an accurate reflection of the College of Arts and Sciences.</p>

<p>I was in a similar boat to you scores-wise, and I got in just fine. If anything, you should look at the class profile from the past years.... not only does the admissions office see lots of students with scores in your range, but admits them!</p>

14

<p>Well, every time I've ever posted in the UChicago forum, everyone has been extremely friendly and helpful.</p>

<p>Post something in the Columbia forum and you get trashed within 20 minutes...</p>

<p>The Ivy League is just full of it. :P</p>

15

<p>Somewhat unrelated but worth knowing: given our new financial aid guidelines that are kicking into effect next year, you'll be able to go to Chicago debt-free.</p>

<p>And another thing:</p>

<p>The biggest determinant of strong scores is a high family income-- a family that can afford private SAT tutoring, coaching, etc. Given that anything you've done to prepare for the SAT has been self-initiated (I'm assuming) or, at the very least, not the "deluxe" package, your scores are great.</p>

16

<p>It wouldn't hurt to retake your SAT's if you have time - more for the other schools to which you are applying. </p>

<p>As far as Chicago is concerned, your ACT score will trump your SAT's, and your SAT II's are extremely respectable. Definitely apply early and make sure you get the fee waiver. </p>

<p>Best wishes to you! You have done very well in school and out - and I doubt that anyone has handed you anything. My congratulation to whichever parent raised you - you obviously got a good set of ethics somewhere along the line, and that doesn't appear out of nowhere.</p>

17

<p>ohio_mom -
Wow, thank you so much for your kind words. I'm used to reading comments like "take your sob story elsewhere", but seeing some positive feedback definitely brightens my mood. I've had a rather rough life thus far, but I really wouldn't trade it for anything, and I wish for people to see that quality as very respectable.</p>

<p>Would it be beneficial to use a fee waiver in this instance? I really don't mind paying...</p>

18

<p>Actually, my son wound up with a fee waiver because he attended a small, rural HS - it was rather disconcerting because it was unexpected - my credit card was all revved up and in my son's hand and the online app wouldn't take it. I don't think using the waiver or not will matter from an admissions standpoint. But I do know that, next year, you're going to want to go to a movie or buy a book and having a few extra bucks squirreled away might not be a bad thing.</p>