<p>Current Junior at an all girls Catholic highschool
SAT: CR:710 M:520 W:690
SAT II: U.S. history: 600 Literature: 670
GPA: 3.3 ?(rising trend since freshman year - started with grades in the 80's now have a 3.82)
taken several honors classes and 2 AP's so far
Varsity swimmer for all years
Editor in cheif of school newspaper
founder and president of the school chapter for the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
president of Writer's club
member of book club and amnesty international
over 300 service hours throughout highschool
taking college classes this summer (honors program)
HOBY participant
excellent letters of recomendations
* I'm really not as dumb as I seem based on these stats. I just slacked off all of highschool and now I am paying for it. </p>
<p>Do I have any chance of acceptance into U Chicago?
Honesty Please!</p>
<p>THANKS FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN OFFER!!</p>
<p>One really has to have a passion for UChicago to be admitted. Make it apparent in your essays that you are a match with UChicago. People will say this over and over again, but there is a reason for the redundancy -- essays are extremely important when applying to UChicago. Write great essays and it's possible you will be admitted.</p>
<p>With that said, based on your stats, I think you are fighting an uphill battle. Your math score on your SAT is relatively low. Your verbal score is very close to the average, which I think varies from year to year in the ballpark of 720. Finally, your GPA is very low for UChicago, though the rising trend helps.</p>
<p>I got wait listed this year with good essays, a TON of interest, a GPA 5 points better than yours(3.8), and a 700V 650M.</p>
<p>Chicago looks well on a rising GPA, especially if it accompanies a good story about yourself.</p>
<p>The low scores are an issue, but what's done is done, so don't get hung up on them; I was accepted with a math score of 540. The key is passion - I know this sounds trite - but be passionate about something, some interest or goal. I think Chicago likes the kind of people who can really devote themselves to something, not necessarily just the 'well-rounded' students who belong to fifty million clubs, etc. That said, it sounds like you have a real interest in writing and social activism. Good stuff. Try putting a real emphasis on that in your essays, plus what Blaze said about focusing on the 'continuing improvement' angle.</p>
<p>yeah, your gpa is horribly low, but anything is possible with Uchicago- as with any top school.</p>
<p>I was admitted as a transfer student and didn't apply in high school, so my situation is rather different than yours, but I'll contribute my piece. From 9th to 10th grade my gpa was in the 2-range and I had a lot of D and E grades. I had an undiagnosed sleeping disorder at the time, so there was something to be said for it, but a lot of schools are still really hung up on the numbers. I graduated with a weighted 3.59, having gotten a 4.0 my senior year with all AP and IB classes in addition to an extra class that met before school.</p>
<p>I had a 3.93 gpa the first semester of college and a 1450 old SAT, which probably helped, but I worked viciously on my essays for the application. The point is that a lot of schools say that it's not all about the numbers, but Chicago actually does seem to care more about the person.</p>
<p>Why don't you just retake the SAT and do better on it? If you think it doesn't represent your intelligence, then study hard and do better next time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Editor in cheif of school newspaper
[/quote]
LOL! :)</p>
<p>Better test scores would help. Chicago is better than most about looking for diamonds in the rough, but GPA and scores are still very important. Consider taking the ACT if the SAT is irritating for you. An excellent essay would be invaluable, so spend a lot of effort on it. A good interview (Chicago interviews are fun) can also help. Don't forget to look at similar schools- for example, Reed is very similar academically and not quite as hard to get into.</p>
<p>I totally agree. ACT is the way to go. I highly suggest taking one of those classes...way worth it.</p>
<p>I got in as a transfer student against all odds. Essays.</p>
<p>He also got in despite the many jinxes and ritual dances I did to create a shield used to block his dreams.</p>
<p>That's will power. Good work, neverborn.</p>
<p>I still am unsure how I feel about the possibility of meeting Esquared in person. Perhaps a cordial Facebook hello is in order.</p>