I only have a 3.5 GPA and 1330 on the new SAT. I almost didn’t even apply to University of Chicago even though i really wanted to go because my guidance counselor told me it was an extremely high reach/dream school and that I shouldn’t apply. The only reason I ended up applying was because my parents thought I should try, anyway. I checked the decision when it came out, expecting that I was going to be rejected, but I got in. My parents were really happy and they both bought U of C sweatshirts and they’ve been telling all their friends and stuff. My mom was so happy she cried. But even though like a week has passed since I found out, and I want to go, I feel like the university made a huge mistake. It has a 7% acceptance rate. The valedictorian of my class applied and got rejected, and I’m nowhere close to being valedictorian. I feel like I shouldn’t have gotten in. I feel like I should be happy, but I just feel like a person like me shouldn’t have been admitted.
Remember, admissions are holistic. You should be extremely happy. Everything happens for a reason! Don’t compare yourself to others. The Admissions Committee saw something in YOU. Be happy, celebrate! Its not your fault that someone else was not accepted. You did NOT steal their spot. They did not make a mistake, trust me. I wish you luck if you go there!!
Stats don’t define you.
People are more than numbers.
find out what kind of academic support they have. most schools have different kinds of help programs that will make your transition to college more comfortable. They wouldn’t have taken you if they didn’t believe that you would do well there. Congratulations.
1330 is something like 95-96th percentile isn’t it ? UChicago has been doing this a long time and wouldn’t have admitted you if they thought you couldn’t handle things.
+1 to your parents for owning it !!! Now stand tall and own it as well !!
You must have something they want, maybe something you did outside of academics, or your essays. IOW you bring something to the school and that is a good thing.
Can you contact your regional admissions counselor and have a “heart-to-heart” with him/her? Because they will more than likely let you know what they saw about your application that swayed them. You might even mention "look, our class val. didn’t get in. I got in and I feel like I shouldn’t have . . . " While they can’t asnwer about that other student specifically, they can definitely talk about YOU and why you were admitted. And, they will be able to help you get the academic and other support you need to continue on a roll.
Also, be sure to sign up for one of the April overnights because that should help you figure out whether this is the right school for you. It’s kinda hard to make that decision once and for all when your parents have gone out and purchased the sweatshirts . . . but you are the one attending and you need to own where you go. The choice is yours.
There are plenty of examples of famous people being told they schouldn’t apply here or there . . . but they did and they made a tremendous success of it. And if you look at UChicago’s last year stats you see that it’s a pretty wide range!
Do you feel like you are strong in your planned major and like you have a good work ethic (or a higher gear than you have used is HS)? I’d feel confident if you can say yes to both of those. Go to accepted student days and see what you think (but visit 1-2 other schools high on your list that you get into as well). One of my kids got into UChicago, and she wasn’t top of her class – probably top 20% (school doesn’t rank). But she was their “type”. She ended up picking another school, but I don’t think they made a mistake admitting her.
What you are feeling is common. It is called the “impostor syndrome”. Its common among high-achievers, who compare themselves to other high achievers
You are likely overestimating your peer’s abilities and past successes and underestimating yours because in the beginning everyone is putting their best foot forward - so you only see the highlights and the “peaks”… give it some time and you will see that everyone else are not perfect either.
Imposter Syndrome is not uncommon at UChicago. My daughter was accepted EA in December 2015, and she was convinced that every subsequent mailing from the school was an apology for their mistake, even though she had the stats. Even moving in for Orientation Week, she was sure someone was going to tap her on her shoulder, give her a nice sweatshirt as a parting gift, and send her on her way. 
Accept that the AO knew what they were doing when they admitted you; they obviously saw in you someone that they thought would thrive at UChicago. If you choose to attend, just know that you will find successful 3rd and 4th years who are STILL convinced that their admissions were a mistake. Definitely go to one of the admitted students overnights if you can; sit it on a class, hang out in your host’s lounge, walk around the campus, etc. My daughter quickly found her footing and her place once classes started, and cannot imagine being at any other school. I am sure you would do the same. Congratulations on being admitted!
Hey -
I’m a second year at UChicago and I can tell you that those feelings are fairly normal. A side effect of high schoolers’ obsession with statistics above everything else is that people think that they might not “deserve” it when they get in. But this is silly - admissions officers aren’t kidding when they say they look for more than just numbers.
If you were admitted, then they think you deserve to be here. Period. I know people here with similar stats as you. It’s way more common than you think, and many of those people are super smart and thrive and succeed at UChicago. Not everyone here has a 2400 (or I guess 1600 on the new scale) and a 4.0.
There are a ton of resources to help you succeed here. Your house will support you. So will your professors, your advisor, your TAs, and everyone working at the numerous (free!) tutoring services here. Everyone wants you to do well as much as you do, and you aren’t going to just be thrown to the lions.
Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions. Good luck deciding where to attend!
Your character in that brief post shines through very clearly. As a thoughtful person, filled with rational self-doubt, you are exactly what the University of Chicago seeks and values in a student. Although the benefit to you of a Chicago education will be very great, it is really the University of Chicago that NEEDS YOU.
For what it’s worth, high school and college can (and should) be very different. What you get to think about and how you think about it will change. There’s a lot more figuring out how things work and what matters and why in college than there typically is in high school. So the best high school students aren’t always the best college students and vice versa. And, hey, you’ve got one thing going for you that none of the valedictorians have – you’ve gotten Bs and know that life goes on. That’s a lesson they’ll have to learn in college (and trust me, at UofC they will learn it!)
^^^ exactly. I’m in a position where I review resumes from UofC students regularly. I’ve seen very little correlation between how good you were in high school and how good you are in college - I’ve seen plenty of people who get the big merit scholarships go on to be very poor college students and plenty of people from the middle of nowhere go on to be exceptional 3.9+ students.
Hey! I’m a fellow admittee who also can’t believe I got in. When I’m feeling that imposter syndrome, I just like to look at my admitted student certificate, and it says “having qualified in all respects”. And their definition of qualifying isn’t necessarily just being valedictorian or getting a 36 or winning science olympiads. You obviously just showed more in your application than the other person. Period. End of story. Celebrate that in a competitive process you outshone people you think are super impressive because obviously you’re right there with them.
I think the University or the Maroon should talk to @elmejor21 and @theongreyjoy and feature them in their marketing communiques next year as examples of “UChicago material” because of fit, not just because of stats.
It will highlight the “holistic” application process.
Maybe publish your essays if they are the ones that got you in.
Congratulations!!! You must have had the magic “something” You have got into one of the very best schools in the world. Your parents are rightly proud. I would be too if my kid got in. Best wishes for your future studies.
Think about it this way: So, you had a borderline GPA and ok SATs. Wow you must really be an awesome applicant in other respects then! Do talk to some others who know you and may be able to help you see that. As others have said, your thoughtfulness shines through in how and what you write. In the end, it can be terrifying to go to a school like that and it is ok to say no and be the big fish in a somewhat smaller pond if you think that that would be better for you. But don’t think they made a mistake. UChicago has the luxury of looking at ten applications and picking the one that stands out. And think of freshman retention rate. Once you’re there they work to help you stay.
Huge Congratulations ! This is a major life achievement. If they admitted you, you belong. Full stop. End of story. Don’t ever doubt yourself. Their admissions office consists of total pros. They know what they are doing.
Hey! Congrats man! I kind of feel you on this. I wasn’t as lucky as you (I mean that as the saying, not that your admittance had anything to do with luck) and got waitlisted, but even that I was surprised at! I had roughly the same grades and GPA as you, and I thought I was going to get right-out rejected! I just wanted to say that obviously there was a reason UChicago chose you, and even if you don’t know what that reason is now, I’m sure it’ll make itself clear in the future. Congrats again! And don’t second-guess yourself. I tend to do that myself, but be proud of yourself!