(For the purpose of confidentiality, I’ll go by E for this thread)
I applied for UChicago EA and I’m new to this community, so I’m sorry if I’m doing something wrong, but could you chance me? I’m applying for 1st english 2nd poli sci.
Demographics: White female, middle class, Nevada, very large and highly competitive public school
Grades: weighted 4.6 unweighted: 3.8 (only B’s for middle school classes and a couple math classes)
Scores: 35 ACT (35M 35S 36E 33R) SAT (790ELA 750M)
APs are all 5s and they’re in Human Geography, Biology, Seminar, World History, US History, Eng Lang, Research, Environmental Science, Calc AB
(Taking 6 more APs this year)
ECs: Speech and Debate is my life
lots of local tournament wins in a bunch of events (debate and interp)
2 years of debate captain
vice pres this year
a few nationals qualifications, early elimination rounds at Nats 2019
couldn’t go to many out of state tournaments because of financials (explained in additional info section)
volunteering at local middle school speech and debate team 2hrs/week
Board Game Club president at my school (more a personality thing than academic, but whatever)
About 30hrs of political volunteering
National Merit Semifinalist
Other small clubs
Writing+Letters of Rec
I’d say writing is my strongsuit. My personal statement is about rediscovering the power of writing and it’s what I’m most confident in on my application
UChicago is my dream school and I poured my heart/funny bone into the essays. A few very picky English teachers told me they were solid
I know my LOR are solid because they all decided to show me them already (I cried a bit reading them)
Overall, I guess I’m most worried about ECs and them not standing out too much and of course no one is a shoe-in at schools like UChicago. I’d just really like an outsider’s perspective on how my application weighs.
Very competitive. EA is a little tougher than ED of course. Location is a plus (Nevada).
Excellent accomplishments. I don’t think what you consider to be so so EC’s counts you out in any way. Genuineness and fit demonstrated through your essays will be important. Congratulations and good luck.
Obviously your stats are fine. Being from a less-represented state and region will help. Your best indicator will be how many are selected from your school every year and what their admission plan was, so you might wish to check in with your guidance counselor and/or check Naviance to find that out.
EA is probably more selective than ED1 and the admit rate for deferred Earlies in the regular round has been something like .5% in the past. So if you are deferred and UChicago is definitely your #1, ED2 might be your lifeboat. Looking into that possibility now and discussing it with your GC and parents as a viable Plan B means you would be prepared to put it in place if necessary.
Thank you for the responses! For ECs, I’m so sorry if I came across as snarky or humble-braggy. I think going to a competitive school (mostly in stem) has given me a weird perspective on what competitive even entails. As for ED1 or 2, they aren’t really an option because my family can’t afford to take the financial risk of getting in and having to go, but otherwise, that would definitely be my preferred route. I’ll definitely post an update in a couple weeks when I know! Thank you again!
@screennamessuck - have you/your parents run the NPC yet? Don’t write off UChicago ED until you have. Most claim it’s quite accurate. In our case, it underestimated the amount of need-based aid my D received.
@JBStillFlying Yeah I did months ago. It’s more expensive than we could manage, so unless I get some amazing scholarships, it’s not a fiscally smart choice for me. I’m looking almost entirely at schools that’ll give me full tuition/full ride because of national merit. UChicago’s the only school anywhere close to that level of selective on my list.
Interesting. At my kids high school they wouldn’t even accept credit from high school courses taken while at middle school. Still I expect that the fact that most of your Bs were in Middle School will play in your favor.
D17 got in EA almost three years ago, she didn’t attend though. She still keeps in touch with some of the kids from the EA group me too!
She did do extra for her essays. She wrote about how she almost failed on one art classes and lessons she learned. She attached pictures of herself with the art pieces. She wrote the why Chicago essay with a lot of humor, think funny love letter.
When everyone’s stat is similar, think about the ways that you can stand out. Best of luck to you!