<p>As I'm doing my research online, I'm hearing of people who have gpas of 3.48 and sat scores of 1290 who got accepted.</p>
<p>What's with that? Is U. Chicago known for accepting "average" people?</p>
<p>Average? No.</p>
<p>What most college admissions processes overlook is the fact that many students’ ambitions and academic potentials are misrepresented by their transcripts and their test scores. Since most top schools get a huge number of applicants and have their acceptance rates hovering around 10%, they pretty much have to assume that transcripts and test scores are fairly good representations of a person’s potential. Since the University of Chicago has an acceptance rate of about 25%, this means that Chicago has considerably more flexibility in this area, so they’re able to accept students that are, to many universities, too much of a risk, but to them, a healthy addition to the academic environment.</p>
<p>Let us take myself for example. My SATs were poor for the ranks of Chicago: 560 CR, 670 M, 660 W = 1890 total. I have not yet met a single person here with a lower SAT than that. However, my essays elucidated my academic passions and I had glowing teacher recommendations from people who attained their PhDs from top-notch institutions. When I entered Chicago, I tested into the hardest class available in math (into which only 10 first-years a year are granted entrance), and at the moment, my grades are considerably above the average GPA even though I’ve taken many graduate classes as a second year.</p>
<p>The other schools that rejected me probably took only a moment to discredit my application by glancing at my SAT scores. Never would they even consider that such a student could succeed at one of the most academically rigorous universities in the nation. But Ted O’Neill is quite a risk-taker, and he’s won more than a few of his gambles.</p>
<p>It’s good to hear that phuriku. By inertia, Ted O’Neill’s policites will most likely linger for a while, but I think he’s going to be sorely missed in the long run.</p>
<p>Since they are really good in politics and economics they look for those classes in students, for example if you have 5 AP classes on social sciences they take notice, classes like US History, Human geo, Eco, World History, etc</p>
<p>I think Joker is joking…</p>
<p>At least for UChicago, I would say a sense of direction is not terribly important. When I applied, I only had a very vague idea of what I wanted to do - international relations or poli sci. My ECs had absolutely nothing to do with those interests, with the exception of a sr. year internship for my US Senator, and I only briefly mentioned it an essay. I think my lack of definitive career goals hurt me at some schools, but not Chicago. Raise your SATs a bit, but more importantly, be aware that Chicago is a unique school, be certain it is a good fit, and demonstrate that in your application. Good luck.</p>
<p>That is a lie perpetutated by Northwestern 
and other schools who didn’t think of the AWESOME essays first</p>
<p>No they don’t let any Joe blow in, but you won’t be rejected just for rnot having a 36 act or perfect sat</p>
<p>I know a kid with perfect everything i mean, grades, ec, assessment test, interview and he got REJECTED</p>
<p>so you have to be QUALITY- not saying that he wasn’t, he is awesome</p>
<p>Check yo self!</p>
<p>The University of Chicago is known for its essay topics. The link below contains a couple of insider tips as to what kind of essays the admission counselors are looking for.</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/727204-important-information-class-2014-applicants.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/727204-important-information-class-2014-applicants.html</a></p>
<p>Best of luck, Class of 2014!</p>
<p>I never ment that you have to have your life decided, what i meant is that they look for people with interest in eco, and politics.You dont think that they find it important? question yourself why they put most of their revenue in those fields, why are they recogniced in those fields, the answer is because they want to keep their prestige as “one of the best schools for politics and economics”. Yes its true they are well know in other fields like science, but not as much as in politics and economics.</p>
<p>I highly doubt that. Wouldn’t they want to get top-notch students in ALL of their fields? Why would they be biased toward certain subjects? That doesn’t make much sense.</p>
<p>I love the fact that the OP said 1290 as the SAT score. That’s beautiful.</p>
<p>Also to the OP, I can’t agree with your title more. During my grade 12 year, I had two very low Bs (B in my province ranges from 72.50% to 85.99%), despite my straight A standing throughout the rest of senior high. </p>
<p>Many universities took no chance at all; I received many, many rejections.</p>
<p>The University of Chicago is known to be an honorable institution that likes to take risk in accepting students that are slightly off. These students include less-than-stellar SAT scores, and sudden drop in marks in one or two subjects, etc. I cannot promise you anything if you apply for other top institutions, but I can promise you that you have a decent shot for the University (assuming your essays will be unique and your ECs sparkling)!</p>
<p>It’s a little late, but I figured that I’d drop something: </p>
<p>I’m a little off personality-wise but not so much off academically, but I’m not in. (yet)</p>
<p>Other people who are more off academically sometimes get in. Sometimes they don’t, just like those with good numbers.</p>
<p>The point is: You never know unless you try. You have nothing to lose … unless they make you wait until late June because then there’s psychological damage. :(</p>
<p>George Bush was below average and he got into Yale! Go figure.</p>
<p>^He apparently did so well at Yale that he got into Harvard Business School. He’s also the first US president ever to hold an MBA. (btw what did Harvard teach him? He transformed the US fiscal spending that was fixed by Clinton from a surplus to a huge deficit! Governments can’t keep incurring deficits, let alone businesses.)</p>
<p>Life is so … interesting.</p>
<p>“average” SAT’s are around 1000</p>
<p>looks like you got some remedial math coming due :-)</p>