<p>Hey everyone thanks for clicking on this thread and giving it a read. Hope you all can give me some insight. I have been searching for colleges much like everyone has/have at one point in their life and I just need anyone to give it to me straight. Do I have any chance at all at getting accepted into a school such as The University of Chicago with my stats? </p>
<p>By the way, my name is Rudy and I will be senior at Carl Sandburg High School. I will be a first generation Hispanic student who comes from a well off family (total household income is over 100k) and here is a summary of my High School record.</p>
<p>School Name: Carl Sandburg HS (Public)
Overall Weighted GPA: 3.1*
ACT Composite: 31 (retaking)
SAT: 2050 (retaking)
Number of AP Exams/Classes taken thus far: 5 (Exam scores 4's with two 3's)
Senior Year Schedule:
Academic Math (Trig and College Algebra)
AP Lit
AP Biology
AP World
AP Psychology
Electives (Business/History related) </p>
<p>Extracurricular:**
Speech Team Member/Mentor (10th grade only)
-Earned many 1st and 2nd places in tournaments though was not allowed to partake in Regionals due to limited spots saved for "senior members"</p>
<p>Hobbies:
Have been playing guitar leisurely for about 3 years and I am a passable player.
I enjoy writing, again for leisure, and with the suggestion of my English teacher I am planning to submit some of my short stories to the local literary magazine.</p>
<p>Work Experience:
Private Tutor off and on since 10th grade
Telemarketer, the summer of 2010 (was recently laid-off)</p>
<p>*My GPA is very low overall but if broken down by year it resembles this:
Freshman Year GPA: 2.0
Sophomore Year GPA: 3.5
Junior Year GPA: 3.9
Hope this clears things up </p>
<p>**Due to my low GPA I was prohibited from joining a majority of clubs available at my school since they require a minimum GPA of 3.0; this is my current circumstance. Joining Debate, Student Gov. and Mu Alpha Theta for myself and may or may not submit them in my application.</p>
<p>Will my Application even be considered at a school such as UofC or will it serve as a source of entertainment for an Admissions Officer making a "shot" for the waste basket?</p>
<p>Nice upward trend on your GPA and very nice SAT and ACT test scores. I would really like to see your list of colleges, besides UChicago. I still think UChicago would be considered a reach, however, I think you just might have a shot. I would NOT bet against you for this school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input “jshain” thats probably the most positive comment/chance I’ll get on this thread.</p>
<p>For other colleges they are mostly Small Liberal Arts Schools (1,500-8,000 students is my range) and the top four right now are:</p>
<p>Illinois Wesleyan University
Lake Forest College
Carthage College
Ohio Wesleyan University</p>
<p>I don’t have University of Chicago on there since I am not sure if I will even apply as I feel (or better yet “felt”) I have/had no chance of admission. Same goes for some other colleges that I won’t list for fear of being made fun off for even thinking of applying to them.</p>
<p>Wow, I’m really shocked that both of you think I have a shoot here. As small a shot as it is it makes me feel good! Just wanted to thank you guys for that!</p>
<p>PS-Didn’t mention community service but nothing special. Around 60 hours volunteering at the local library.</p>
<p>Rudy, you have a really big jump from UChicago down to the other schools you are looking at. Do some research and fill in the middle with schools you are interested in. Good luck and get those CS hours increased will you?</p>
<p>@jshian Thanks for all the advice and encouragement you have given me. I know there is a bit of a jump since I do feel that I really “screwed up” freshman year and that hurt me in more ways than one so I never expected to get accepted at any colleges I would have “loved” to go to. Also in regards to CS I’m looking to graduate with a little over 100 so thats my guess on my total CS.</p>
<p>The four colleges I have listed previously are the colleges I have looked at since I visited and liked them (well 3 of the 4). Another reason is I felt it’d be a waste of time applying to colleges such as the UChicago though I did mention colleges that I am embaressed to even ask for chances to but “what the heck” tell me if there are any colleges in my “Dream List” that are even worth applying to. Thanks a bunch everyone!</p>
<p>Dream List:
Georgetown University
Middlebury College
New York University
Swarthmore College
University of Chicago</p>