Please chance a very nervous and overworked senior.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I'm having the most difficult time with the Chicago essays and nearly dropped the school from my list. Then I received the e-mail with "Ten Reasons to Apply RN" and saw that Chicago students built and played a life-size version of Settlers of Catan. So back on my list it went.</p>

<p>Bottom line: do I have any chance?</p>

<p>Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
State: Michigan
School: Decently competitive public "magnet." We're a silver-medal USNWR school, for what that's worth. We send a lot of kids to the University of Michigan, and a few to top LACs/public universities, though no Ivies in the past twenty years or so. Our URM valedictorian was recently accepted EA to Chicago, and a bunch of other kids were deferred.
Majors: I'm thinking history at this point, but biology is also a possibility.</p>

<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.98
Rank: We don't officially rank until graduation, but I'm on track to be salutatorian.</p>

<p>Classes: I've taken the most rigorous courses I can. This includes a multi-year countywide gifted and talented course for English. I've taken all honors classes available to me, as well as three APs last year and three more this year.</p>

<p>Test Scores Submitted
October SAT: 780CR, 680M, 800W (2260)
AP tests: AP English Lit (5), AP English Lang (5), APUSH (5)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars
--Four years of professional choir
--Four summers of mentoring at an opera camp for young children
--Three years of Quiz Bowl (including two years at the varsity level and one year as co-captain of the varsity team)
--Three years of legislative debate (with some regional speaker awards)
--Internship with local hospital this past summer
--Student Council this year (secretary)</p>

<p>Awards
--First place in literature in state competition (10th grade)
--Numerous awards in regional writing competition (9th grade)
--NHS/NJHS
--National Merit Commended
--School departmental awards in English (9th/10th), biology (9th), French (9th/10th), creative writing (9th/10th), mathematics (9th/10th/11th)</p>

<p>Recommendations
One is from a history teacher I had for two years, and the other is for my precalc teacher. They are both quite good, along the lines of "top in my career" type of thing. The history one is brief, though.</p>

2

<p>you are very accomplished. hope your essays turn out well and good luck!</p>

3

<p>I think you’ve got an excellent shot. Only thing now is to write great essays!</p>

4

<p>well, you’re better than I am and I got in EA.
So good luck!</p>

5

<p>There’s no question that your scores/ECs aren’t going to disqualify you. Of course, that’s far from saying what your chances are - you should be fine if your essays are good, though =).</p>

6

<p>you ABSOLUTELY have a chance. we have almost the exact same scores/gpa/type of awards and i was accepted EA. if you can churn out some excellent essays they should definitely look at your application twice.</p>

7

<p>if you don’t have a chance, then I don’t have a chance in hell. Your stats are much better than mine.</p>

8

<p>Agreed with above posters. Write awesome essays and you are good to go :)</p>

9

<p>Thanks, everyone. I’m feeling a bit more confident now, but am still having trouble with my essays. Eek. :(</p>

10

<p>I don’t really know how to work this since I joined today but:</p>

<p>“I’m having the most difficult time with the Chicago essays and nearly dropped the school from my list. Then I received the e-mail with “Ten Reasons to Apply RN” and saw that Chicago students built and played a life-size version of Settlers of Catan. So back on my list it went.”</p>

<p>^ Wow, I literally did the exact same thing. However, my test scores are not quite as good as yours and I am struggling on these essays.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

11

<p>I would focus on writing really unique essays. I’ll also remind you that this year’s RD applicant pool is super competitive because of all the EA acceptances, so I’d work really hard on those essays- make them tie into something that’s already prominent in your app, but gives a new angle. Make your ECs jump off the page and characterize you and make you a whole person. That’s what will get you in, because your scores and grades are perfectly fine.</p>

12

<p>Well, thanks, everyone. I tried to follow your advice and did my best with my essays, but I really don’t think they’re good enough. I truly appreciate your honest and comforting evaluations of my chances. :)</p>

13

<p>If you’ve already submitted it, congratulations. If not, make sure you have a strong link between what you put down on your application and your intended major(s). Does everything hang together well?</p>