I feel like I should not have been admitted to UChicago

I got into University of Chicago and I already committed, but I feel like I shouldn’t have gotten in. It’s my dream school and everything, but my college councilor told me my grades and SAT scores were too low and that I didn’t have a chance. She also really discouraged me from applying. I only even applied because my parents thought I should try anyway. I got in and my parents are so happy about it and excited, but I just feel nervous and like I really really shouldn’t have been admitted. My GPA was only a 3.4. I’m sure there were people who had much better grades and SAT scores that are actually in the school’s range who deserve to go there and I don’t. I feel like a person with a freaking 4.3 GPAs should’ve gotten in instead. I feel nervous and scared and I feel like I took a place from someone who deserved to get in. My parents got me a UChicago sweatshirt, but I feel wrong about wearing it. What am I supposed to do?

Unless you lied on your app and got someone else to write your essays for you and forge your recommendations, Chicago knows who they admitted. They must see potential for you.

You may want to see a counselor to work out your feelings though. It’s normal to be a bit nervous about college, but you sound really scared. It’s hard to go into a tough school without any self confidence.

College admissions is holistic, and grades and SAT scores aren’t everything. University of Chicago especially emphasizes different perspectives and personality over grades. Obviously UChicago saw something in you that made you stand out from academic robots. Don’t worry about taking someone’s spot; If they deserved it, they would have gotten in.

Hey! First off, congrats on getting into your dream school! Look, the best thing I can say to you is that it your dream school accepted you, YOU DESERVE IT! Don’t compare yourself to others. You may think your grades weren’t the best to get in, but the college saw something in you that they wanted, and that’s why they chose you! Don’t let this amazing time in your life be overshadowed by self doubt. You got into an amazing school because they wanted YOU, and I wish you all the best in this next chapter of your life! I’m actually applying there next year, so I hope you have a lot of fun! Celebrate this big accomplishment in your life!

Congratulations! If the school thinks you deserve a spot in their class, then you deserve that spot!

@piuounnnnn I suppose you can classify me as one of those applicants who, on paper, “deserved to get in”. I was waitlisted RD and eventually rejected, but let me tell you why I applied to UChicago in the first place. Unlike some other schools, I got the feeling fairly early that UChicago was a place where they really cared about the applicant beyond the grade. I know most schools are holistic, but UChicago seemed like they REALLY cared about an applicant’s other aspects. So the only thing I can conclude from this is that if they took you, something about your application must have stood out to them. Adcoms don’t make very many mistakes. If they accepted you, it means they thought you had something they were looking for, even if your grades were below their average.

It is called the imposter syndrome and people feel that way sometimes when things are going great. Yes, you were admitted, you earned it, and you deserve all the good coming your way. Congrats and enjoy UChicago!

Didn’t we see this post before … ?

If you were admitted you earned it. One thing my son’s HS guidance counselor told met was that college admission officers do a great job at only accepting students who they are convinced can do well at the school. Wear your sweatshirt and go off confidently and proudly.

FWIW My H’s guidance counselor told him not to bother applying to Notre Dame. To make a long story short, he got in, went, and graduated magna cum laude.

Isn’t this something like the third person who has claimed to have gotten in to UChicago with at 3.4 or less? According to colleges.startclass.com, 98 percent of the entering class at UChicago was in the top ten percent of their high school class - the highest figure of any college in the entire nation.

It’s almost like someone is making stuff up.

Perhaps the same person …

Idk doesn’t seem that unrealistic to me. I know a handful of people here with high school stats that CC would probably completely dismiss. Good news for OP is they’re all doing fine here. Don’t worry!

OP did you ever end up going to the April Overnight?

BTW, no one DESERVES to get in. It’s not like admission to UChicago is owed to anyone. They can pick and choose whoever they want to admit for whatever reason they please. At this level there is a large element of luck involved.

One of my favorite UChicago student posters here forever was called corranged, and she said that she had a B+ average in high school, where she was really bored. She was (and I hope she still is) an absolutely beautiful writer and, more importantly, a beautiful thinker – thoughtful, original, nuanced, rigorous. She did extremely well at the University of Chicago, and it absolutely changed her life.

This looks like a classic example of how test scores and grades are held up as a template for college admission. The predictive quality of these scores is not as limiting as we are generally led to believe. Behavioral modeling is more complicated than that. Perhaps Chicago believes you are fired up about them and that you have “grit.” Your enthusiasm can take you further than a standardized test score.

Go for it and have faith in yourself! Evidently Chicago believes in you.