how out-of-place will i be here? (assuming i get in)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>thinking about applying ED, should help my chances expontially... (since RD chances are basically 0)</p>

<p>Chinese, 17 years old, CA resident</p>

<p>Acedemic:
SAT New: 560CR, 690W, 800M = 2050
SATII: projected 750 Physics and 750 for 2C</p>

<p>Senior (this year) schedule: (most rigorous courseload, except no AP language)
Biology AP
English 4 AP
Govt/Econ AP
Calculus AB AP </p>

<p>Got a 3 on the AP US History AP exam... sick</p>

<p>GPA: 3.4 UW 3.91 W (SO SO SO SO SO DISGUSTING, I KNOW!)</p>

<p>OK, extra curriculars:
Went to rural China for 3 weeks to teach oral English to English teachers there. It's one of Intel China's biggest community service things.. worked there for about 9 hours a day. I lived in the school and ate at the cafeteria, which is some kind of payment I guess. I had 24 students. Uh... I guess its only special because absolutely nobody else has it, otherwise its nothing worth mentioning. </p>

<p>Taught English in Shanghai for 3 weeks, not that its something in particular, either. Worked at an office. Primary duty was improve the workers' oral English, secondary duty was help out in the office doing clerical stuff. Got a really good review by the supervisor and that's about it. 8 hours a day. Was volunteer work but they gave me 1000yuan ($120) (and a Tshirt) at the end as a gift. </p>

<p>Went to school in Shanghai for 02-03 (freshman). Editor in Chief for newspaper and yearbook there. </p>

<p>Parents seperated. live with mom and she gets crap pay. (<60K)</p>

<p>JSA for 2 years, about 75 credit hours. no position held</p>

<p>Chinese National Honor Society 2 years, 50something credit hours, no position</p>

<p>Football Team 10th grade.</p>

<p>private tutor for half a year, got paid</p>

<p>scorekeeper for basketball games, got paid</p>

<p>What more can i say? (i'm flippin doomed)</p>

<p>My essays should be pretty good since i got a lot of teachers from China who will read them (they are mostly HYPS grads,dunno what they're doing in China). My teacher recs should be mediocre since im planning on asking my senior year teachers. ALso, one more thing, my essays are gonna be flippin crazy as in the topics will be crazy. They're all gonna be toss-up, out of the box crap-shoot ones (appropriate for UChi, dunno about others).</p>

<p>ps, what major should i choose in order to have better chances?</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I can't answer your question about how out of place you'll be here because you haven't provided any specifics about your personality or the type of college enviroment (academically, socially, etc.) you feel you could thrive in. </p></li>
<li><p>Major...I don't think this is a big factor in admissions decisions. Keep in mind that there are fairly extensive core requirments which will consume most (if not all) of your first-year schedule, and many people come in undecided anyway.....Having said that though, I would avoid economis, because God knows there is no shortage of econ majors on our campus. I guess I'd suggest math (since that seems to be your strength judging from sat's....if your grades are also good in that area....then definitely do that). </p></li>
<li><p>there's no ed at the u of c. just ea....unless it changed this year...and because I know of more than a few people deferred ea, then accepted in april, that tells me ea isn't that much easier than the regular round. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>good luck</p>

3

<p>well, just based on my GPA, im guessing ill be completely out of place (as well as my prediction of only 750 for math2c, since everyone at chicago probably is 800)</p>

<p>well if theres only EA, thats all the better! compared with ED of course</p>

<p>ps, what are my chances? thats the main issue...</p>

4

<p>u have a chance...not a good chance...but a chance. it's not all about numbers keep in mind...maybe they'll LOVE your essay. who knows. apply. hope for the best. stop stressing. no amount of guaging your chances will help your chances....know what i'm saying?</p>

5

<p>You said that your mom has crap pay (<60K). Well, my mom makes just around $40K, and that's our income period. I don't have a dad giving out child support; and my adoptive father died. UChi expected us to afford $18K a year, pretty much half of my mom's salary. And the financial aid officers are huge buttholes (I don't think CC would appreciate the real word I want to use.) They were really rude and unfeeling. Needless to say, I couldn't afford to go there. Just keep that in mind.</p>

6

<p>My experience has been somewhat different. My family income is about 80K a year. I also have a sister in college. The school expected us to contribute about 12K , which my family hasn't found to be that difficult. Again, if u truly want to go here, just apply and wait and see. Maybe u'll get in, maybe not. Maybe u'll get screwed with fin aid, maybe not.</p>

7

<p>so there isnt much special consideration for this type of stuff at chicago, im assuming...</p>

<p>well, i have to get in first, then think about this other stuff</p>

<p>thanks for the comments btw</p>

8

<p>"Needless to say, I couldn't afford to go there. Just keep that in mind."</p>

<p>That really sucks. I am in a similar situation - I hope my financial aid package is better.</p>

9

<p>all good tips</p>

<p>any more suggestions??</p>

10

<p>This may provide some help in predicting financial aid: <a href="http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level3.asp?id=68%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/level3.asp?id=68&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

11

<p>For those of you unhappy with Chicago financial aid, I know of few folks who have been happy with their award at any school. paying for higher ed is tough, regardless of income level. Yes, you will read postings here of folks who were offered more elsewhere. You won't see the postings of those who were offered less elsewhere, because they have no beef. </p>

<p>If you want a good idea of what you'll get, use the calculator on the Princeton web site, and realize Chicago will probably offer you a 3-4K loan with reduced grant compared to Princeton. Princeton is unbelievably wealthy compared to most other schools, so can dispense with loans.</p>

12

<p>ok, to tell the truth, this isnt about the money</p>

<p>the primary objective is, am i gettin in?!!?!?!</p>

13

<p>No. I find it very unfortunate that you're concerned with getting into any one of the top 25 schools. With your GPA, SAT scores, mediocre EC's, race, AND geographical location, even the most exquisite essay+ED/EA won't help you get in. </p>

<p>You need to have some serious talk with your counselor.</p>

14

<p>uhhh must not have looked carefully at the student decision thread from this year. Plenty of admits with these scores, unless, of course there is an attempt at humor. Having said all this, it is still a long shot, but a shot exists nonetheless. Write great essays, show the love, and lightening might strike.</p>

15

<p>I scrutnized last year's student decision thread with much interest, and I do not recall any non-URM with below a 600 verbal score getting in, especially with no hook whatsoever. Correct me and quote from the thread if I'm wrong, but I think you're totally underestimating U of Chicago. It's nice of you to be so hopeful, but I'm just being realistic here.</p>

16

<p>The CR score is low, but the combined score is 1360, and there were plenty in that range admitted. You are correct, however, having a higher CR score wouldn't hurt.</p>