Is My UChicago Acceptance Going To My Head?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>So I got into UChicago EA. I then dropped all my safeties/target schools and added a ton of Ivy League schools.</p>

<p>I applied to the following:</p>

<p>Harvard
Princeton
Brown
Columbia
MIT (bc my mom wanted me to.)</p>

<p>Am I overreaching? Should I prepare myself for 5 rejections come April?
I'm hoping I'll get at least wait listed at one of them.</p>

<p>Stats:</p>

<pre><code>* SAT I (by section): 800 CR, 790 M, 780 W
* SAT IIs: USH 800, Chem 790, Math II 790, Bio E 780, Eng Lit 760
* GPA, Unweighted and Weighted:UW 3.97, W 4.2 (Hardest Course Load, with one B+)
* Rank: Top 10% (School Has Deciles)
* APs (including this year's): Past: AP Euro 5 (self-studied), AP English Language 5 , AP Calc BC 5, APUSH 5, AP Bio 5,
* Senior Year Courseload: AP Stat, AP Lit, AP Art History, AP Latin, Advanced Physics, Econ/Gov
</code></pre>

<p>Subjective:</p>

<pre><code>* ECs listed on app:

Very Involved in School Plays (Co-director, Assistant Director, Lead) 9,10,11,12
Thespian Society (Treasurer) 9,10,11,12
Independent Theater (I have directed various one-acts, raised funds, found casts and venues, purchased scripts, etc. totally indepedently. I wrote and directed a unique Mary-Zimmerman inspired play and we were asked to perform it at the grand opening of our new Performing Arts Center) 10,11,12
Youth Group (Co-founder, President) 10,11,12
Voice Lessons 9,10,11,12
Community Choir 9,10,11
Childrens' Coir at Church 12 (Assistant Director)

Plus a few others, like some backpacking, exchange trip to France, writing parody of school plays for Drama Banquet.
* Awards listed on app: National Merit Semifinalist
Most Awkward Onstage Kiss
* Job/Work Experience: Summer Internship at Marketing Group
* Common App Essay: About the Mary-Zimmerman Play I wrote/directed. Talked about the process and working with the actors. Very playful. Concluded with how I wonderful it felt to help the actors open up and to be an artist in my own right.
* 2nd Essay for Brown/Harvard/Princeton and Main Essay for Columbia: About my father's bipolar disorder, how he's homeless and how I struggled to learn how to deal with him. Concludes that I can't change him but can be compassionate.
Activities Essay: How I like to read periodicals like Newsweek and NYT
* Teacher Recs (if you saw them): Did not see them but can guess
Math Teacher: OK. I didn't try that hard but I did fine
English Teacher: Pretty Good- Probably talked about how I like learning and ideas, improved significantly, not a grade grubber, interesting background, etc.
* Counselor Rec (if you saw them): Guess: Glowing. She was amazed that I had lead all these shows on my own and self studied for the AP Euro Class
Additional Rec: From my theater teacher-glowing. talked about all my creativity, leadership skills, reaction to setbacks, etc
* Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): None really. Perhaps my whole hearted devotion to Theater? Also, I tend to start my own things and do activities independently.
</code></pre>

<p>Location/Person:
State or Country:CA
School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): sent 2 last year to HYP
Ethnicity:Half Indian (Asian), Half Polish
Gender:F</p>

<p>Basically: was applying to all theses schools a not-so-hot idea? Would 2-3 have sufficed?</p>

2

<p>Since you have your acceptance to UChi, it doesn’t matter really. If they all reject you, at least you’ll always know that you tried. :)</p>

<p>You dropped your safety schools, so that must mean you know that you can afford any of these schools. Right?</p>

3

<p>I don’t think that you are overreaching at all. Congrats on Chicago. </p>

<p>After an EA acceptance to an elite school that you can afford to attend, I think that it is a sound strategy to only apply to other schools that have the potential to be a top choice for you. It sounds like you have done that.</p>

<p>On a logical front, if you would be thrilled to attend Chicago, your strategy makes perfect sense. If you would not be happy, on an emotional front, the only think I might have done differently was to maintain a second safety so that you definitely have an affirmative choice to make in the spring. </p>

<p>Frankly, I think that it is more likely than not that you will have another choice but if you must, go ahead and prepare yourself for 5 rejections if that will help you cope in the unlikely case that you don’t get in to the others.</p>

<p>I think you should just chill and enjoy being a senior.</p>

4

<p>Wow thanks.</p>

<p>I was just kind of worried because I think one of teacher recs is going to be fairly bland/'damning with faint praise"</p>

<p>Also, I basically have 1 extracurricular activity:theater, which I put my time energy into.</p>

<p>I’ve heard that you need two passions/strengths to get into these schools.</p>

5

<p>Frankly, applying to any school other than UChicago was a waste of time.</p>

<p>On a serious note, I did almost the same exact thing. I was accepted EA to Chicago and applied to a few ivies/more upper level schools. Even if they turn out to be rejections, you’re safe (at least that’s how I think of it). That being said, however, I’m almost sure you’re going to have more options. I don’t think the statement about needing ‘two’ passions is true at all. You did theater, and you did it well. Also, I wouldn’t fret too much about a teacher recommendation. My friend’s mom works in Northwestern’s admissions, and she says they become more of a requirement. They realize that some teachers are not made to create a recs, are sometimes not the best writers, don’t have enough time, etc. </p>

<p>Relax. Just realize you handed a whole bunch of colleges money when you have the better choice already ensured.</p>

6

<p>@ Dayman</p>

<p>hahaha
I might have to agree. Chicago is a pretty fricken awesome school.
After getting to know it better, I might even pick it over 1 or 2 schools on my list. I would just fit in so well at Chicago. I was brainstorming for the “five words about me” with a friend for the Stanford App (although I didn’t apply) and she came up with: “Surprisingly outgoing for a dork”
lol</p>

7

<p>I think Columbia is a match while the others are a bit reach. :)</p>

8

<p>Wow, and you say I have great EC’s? Your whole academic repertoire is very impressive and the fact that you already got into UChi is amazing! </p>

<p>Harvard Reach
Princeton Match
Brown High Match
Columbia High Match
MIT (bc my mom wanted me to.) Reach</p>

9

<p>Princeton? A match??
You guys are generous.</p>

<p>Anybody else?</p>

10

<p>Congratulations on getting into UChicago! I think you have a good shot at all of those schools. You have a very impressive record, and you’re definitely not overreaching. </p>

<p>Please chance me back! <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/855358-what-my-chances-fordham-1-8-gpa.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/855358-what-my-chances-fordham-1-8-gpa.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

11

<p>if i were you id get lazy because uchicago is a great school</p>

<p>chance me
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/856043-nobody-ever-comments-my-chance-threads-only-2-schools-ill-chance-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/856043-nobody-ever-comments-my-chance-threads-only-2-schools-ill-chance-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;