<p>I'm thinking of applying to the university of Chicago next year but my GPA is way low for their school(3.3 UW 3.8W). My SAT's are in their 75th percentiles and I've got decent EC's. Can my essays make my application?</p>
<p>UChicago, in my opinion, has one of the most holistic applications processes that I know of (MIT is also very good). That means they weigh everything, and I know that the essays are a huge part of their decision. I actually think it was my essay, answering “Where’s Waldo, really?”, that got me in. However, GPA and SAT’s are also a very important party of the decision making process. The 75th percentile, while very good, is not extraordinary for Chicago. And you’re GPA is also on the lower end. I would definitely encourage you to apply, I enjoyed writing the essay personally. However, I would definitely classify it as a reach for you. If you get your grades up and maybe retake the SAT/ take the ACT, you will have a better chance. Good luck!</p>
<p>I think it will be a long shot for you, but all indications show that a killer good essay is very important to them.</p>
<p>with those scores UChicago might be one of the few top 10 where killer essays can make the difference, but at least get the sat up, 1700 is incredibly low tbh, try to get up to 2000 at least (for point of reference i got in with a 2.3, average of uchicago early accepted was around 2270) Don’t take it without study actually go through one of the books.</p>
<p>by killer i mean killer, not just really really good. They need to be abstractly profound with an extended metaphor paired with an allusion to a well-known book but not one people read in high school or something, or reject the premise of the question, etc. to give an example, for the waldo essays someone (these were accepted people) wrote about their love for the writer Ralph Waldo Emmerson, one person rejected the premise and in aski and different fonts, punctuation, etc, just really beautiful stream of consciousness drew a downward arrow in the page made of words the message of which was ‘where is waldo is a dumb question’ at the bottom of which was something along the lines of I am here, I am now.</p>
<p>There’s a uchicago post your essay page, read it and get a feel of the difference between a good/bad essay. Most of all they want to know you really want to go THERE over somewhere else, so the why uchicago essays are crucial too.</p>
<p>I agree that you need to write a great essay, but I don’t think it has to be “abstractly profound…”. My son was accepted and also did the “Where’s Waldo” essay, but he wrote about his horrible sense of direction while driving. Most of those experiences coincidently involved a local street named Waldo Road. The important thing is to be yourself and let them see your personality. There isn’t a right format and different is probably good. You definitely should provide a very convincing, personal answer to the “why UChicago?” essay though.</p>
<p>It’s a good idea to look at the essays that are posted here. As you do that, imagine yourself as an admissions counselor reading HUNDREDS of these.</p>
<p>yeah, I would definitely agree ^^; your essay does NOT have to be enlightening and abstract. And it does not have to use big, fancy thesaurus words either. My Waldo essay was about how much I hate e-readers like Nooks and Kindles, and I came up with a few ridiculous reasons why society would fall to unplumbed depths if they were to replace books. I wrote it in a day, it showed my sense of humor, I thought it was creative, and it got me in.</p>
<p>UChicago has wacky prompts because they want you to have fun with your essay. So do it!</p>
<p>Can you write more than one extended essay? I answered the “You are you and your…” prompt and I loved how it turned it. I showed it to others and they liked it also. The whole premise was entirely straightforward however and I feel like I haven’t shown off my “intellectual chops”. In fact, my extended essay is centered on athletics. Touching or not, that’s probably a negative. </p>
<p>So can I write a cleanup essay, so to speak, or must I try and reflect that other side of me in the Common App/Why Chi?</p>
<p>@OP,
I think the essays played a big part in my acceptance, my college counselor listed it as a “Far Reach” on my college list. I had a 3.3 unweighted, although I had a high SAT score (keep in mind uchicago doesnt look at the Writing score, only the math and reading).
Make the essays as spectacular as you can, but that should apply to all the college essays that you write.</p>
<p>@amidupeuple,
they ask you to write:
-an extended essay based on one of the essay prompts (~500 words)
-a Why uchicago essay (~300 words)
-an optional essay, they asked last year to discuss some works of art, movies, music, literature, etc. that you like (~250-300 words)</p>
<p>@Brookie17
I did not know about the optional essay. That’s encouraging. Much appreciated.</p>
<p>I put it to good use, I talked about a book, the philosophies behind the theme, and eventually somehow got to the point saying that to go to uchicago is the next thing in life that I should experience… Hahah</p>
<p>OP Here</p>
<p>Thanks so much for the input. When I said 75th percentile I meant my SAT’s were in the University of Chicago’s 75th percentiles (CR-770 M-800, the composite is in their 75th). I’m going to start on the essays now and try to get all or mostly A’s senior year. You guys were really uplifting. Most posts I’ve seen on this site have given me a pessimistic view on the college process but these posts have all been realistic but positive. I really appreciate it :)</p>
<p>I hate to hijack your thread, but I have a very similar question and I feel like making a separate thread is unnecessary.</p>
<p>I have a 3.389 GPA through two years. Not where I want it to be. If I can get straight A’s in my last two years, will I have a legitimate shot at U Chicago? Or am I way out of my league here? This is my dream college, and I know that I would fit in. I think I will be able to write killer essays. Due to academic restraints, I will only be able to do 5 APs (US in 11th grade, Euro history, English, Psych, & Govt or Physics in 12th grade.) My extra curriculars won’t be spectacular. (1 year football, 3 years track, DECA, maybe Model UN, and I will be enrolling in a class that has every student create a charity for a cause they want to support. I was thinking improving low income urban school systems). Hopefully the charity class can differentiate me from others. I just feel like my resume looks extremely average, but I don’t want to end up at a state school. I crave the intellectual environment in UChicago.</p>
<p>Again, sorry for hijacking your thread :P</p>
<p>^too early to tell. how many kids does your high school send to uchicago each year? how do their gpas compare to yours? have you taken the plan test? how well do you anticipating scoring on the act/sat? how creatively do you write? any hooks? it’s certainly not unheard of for applicants to be admitted with unweighted gpas around yours, but other factors are often at work in their favor. </p>
<p>there are plenty of incredible colleges with intellectual atmospheres rivaling that of uchicago, most of which offer less insanely selective admissions processes. don’t go into the process with a ‘u of c or bust’ mentality.</p>
<p>Hey everyone, I was just wondering if a 3.8 unweighted is good enough to be considered at U Chicago. My act score is a 32, 33 superscored, which is between 2200-2250 I’m told. I’ve done lots of ec’s. How much would the essay matter in my case?</p>
<p>I’m sorry about posting on your thread, but I think we’re in the same boat!</p>
<p>It is a holistic approach. It would matter the same as everything else. You have a good shot of making it but not without killer essays like everybody else. </p>
<p>gonna be real honest, I personally dont think you have a chance even with a killer essay. </p>
<p>Ouch, now that’s a bit harsh. The OP is probably long gone by now, but I do feel that a junior year well spent can increase chances considerably. In prestigious schools like UChicago (actually, especially them), the essay carries much more weight than test scores. A great essay will probably give you a fine fighting chance.</p>
<p>Now, to anyone that stumbles across this post, what would be my chances, based on stats, for now?
My GPA is 4.0 UW, 4.5 W. SAT is 2340, in 1 sitting, but my I received a 740 in Math, which UChicago looks at, and an 800 in Writing, which they don’t. I took the SATII: MathII and received an 800 (would that balance out?)</p>
<p>E/C’s are alright. Nothing spectacular, like shadowing at a prestigious med center or captain of Varsity, but I have a few leadership roles and a fair amount of volunteer work at various places (hospital, WIC, etc).</p>