PLEASE Chance me for UChicago, Duke, Northwestern, Rice

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Applying early action to UChicago and regular decision to the rest.
I am in the science/math/engineering magnet program at the #1 school in my state, and #60something in the nation (ranked by Newsweek or USNews - one of those two).
It's a very rigorous program, which my school profile will entail, and it requires that I take 8 classes a day for all 4 years instead of 7. I've just been stretched out thin, so if you're wondering why my GPA and SAT scores aren't that good, that's why.
GPA: 3.7 unweighted, 4.4 weighted
SAT: 740 W, 630 CR, 700 math (I know, horrible, but I had stomach issues that day. Hopefully I'll do better when I take it again in October. But I don't think I'll do dramatically better. So I'm worried about my SAT score being too low for these schools)
SATII's: 720 Bio (M), 790 MathII</p>

<p>Coursework:
Magnet = classes required part of my magnet program
AL = advanced level; my school profile calls it 'beyond AP' with regards to rigor/depth
9th grade:
Honors US History
Spanish 2
Magnet Precalculus AB (my magnet program's math sequence is very convoluted. Basically they put algebra2 and precalc and some units of higher math together into 2 years of 'precalc ab', 'precalc c', 'functions b'.)
Magnet Chemistry (condensed into 1 semester)
Magnet Physics (condensed into 1 semester)
Honors English 9
Magnet Computer Science
Magnet Research and Experimentation
Gym</p>

<p>10th grade:
Magnet Algorithms and Data Structures
AP Government
Magnet Biology
Magnet Earth Science
Magnet Principles of Engineering
Magnet Precalculus C/Functions B
Spanish 3
Honors English 10</p>

<p>11th grade:
AL Analytical Chemistry (1 semester course)
AL Biochemistry (1 semester course)
AL Cell Physiology (1 semester course)
College Test Prep (1 semester course)
AP BC Calculus
AP Psychology
AP Statistics
Spanish 4
Magnet Research and Design/Senior research project A
Honors English 11 (chose not to take AP Lang)</p>

<p>12th grade:
Studio Art (1st semester), Chorus (second semester)
AL Multivariable Calculus
Senior Research Project B
Honors English 12 (chose not to take AP Lit)
AP World History
AP Biology (double period)
AL Genetics</p>

<p>To explain the senior research project.. The senior reserach project is an integral part of my magnet program, where students do, well, research (in my case, laboratory research) in some institution during their summer before senior year, and then write a research paper and enter some competitions.
I did my project on using certain drugs in certain cancer cell lines. I was in a lab at Georgetown University. I plan to send an abstract as a supplement.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
I volunteered in 8th, 9th, and 10th grade at George B Thomas Learning Academy, or "Saturday School". It offers extra classroom instruction to children in grades K-8. I was a tutor/teacher assistant.
I also volunteered 2 summers (summer after 9th and summer after 10th) at an elementary school for their summer program.</p>

<p>I founded and am president a club at my school called GenerationZ. Our mission is to better the community by helping other students with their studies (yes, more tutoring). It's been very successful, and we even expanded to create a 'chapter' at another high school in our county.</p>

<p>Others:
National Spanish Honors Society
Glee Club
Interact club (raise money to support various charities; we also host International Night - I performed, as the closing act last year, Time To Say Goodbye)
Biology Club</p>

<p>Music:
I've played piano since age 4.
I sing classical/opera music and plan to submit a vocal arts supplement.</p>

<p>Recommendations:
I will be getting a rec from my magnet bio/cell phys/biochem/genetics (i've had her for many classes) teacher, and one from my AP Psych teacher.</p>

<p>Okay, so I know my GPA and SAT are extremely low compared to the average applicant to these schools, but I think my essays will portray me as someone very interesting and unique.</p>

<p>Please be honest.</p>

2

<p>bump…?</p>

3

<p>I think you have a pretty good shot at all of them. I am really intrigued by your senior research project. Your scores I feel like are great and fine for getting in, and I am sure this magnet program makes up for any lack of scores.</p>

<p>The one spot where you seem a bit week is your ECs. I didn’t get the full feel for your research project with just the short paragraph on it though and that might take away any bad thoughts I was having.</p>

4

<p>Oops weak* typo</p>

5

<p>I didn’t exactly want to reveal too much about my research project, but I guess I can elaborate a little more. I did experimentation on whether combination drug treatment on neuroblastoma cell lines (a childhood cancer of the sympathetic nervous system) would induce apoptosis or differentiation of the cancer cells.
I don’t want to put too much emphasis on it though, because it wasn’t a great experience. I loved the learning experience, I loved the research, and I loved the field (I want to go into pediatric oncology), but some stuff happened that I’m too stressed to talk about.</p>

<p>Anyway I think that GenerationZ (the club I founded) is a more significant part of my EC’s.</p>

6

<p>Great stats! i believe you have a very good chance at the schools you mentioned, don’t worry too much about your sat scores i’m sure you’ll do better, make sure to write killer essays tough i’ve heard they are very, very important to stand out in very competitive applicant pools.Best of luck.</p>

7

<p>Oh you didn’t mention that one! Awesome! Yes you have a great shot. Stay positive and kill those essays.</p>

8

<p>I don’t know a whole lot about admissions chances (since I’m a high school senior myself), but I think that you at least have a very good chance at U Chicago. Honestly, I don’t think that your GPA will count against you; they’re more likely to look at your unweighted GPA, and 3.7 unweighted is definitely nothing to sniff at. It’s clear that you’ve taken an extremely rigorous course load, and I think that the combination of your magnet program and heavy load of math/science courses are going to make you very appealing to U Chicago. I don’t know much about Duke, Rice, or Northwestern (outside of Medill, which is where I’m applying), but I would imagine that you have a good shot at those as well.</p>

9

<p>As long as your rank is in the top 10% it will probably make up for the relatively low GPA, plus you go to a highly ranked school. If you bump up your SAT scores you’ll probably be good. The only thing that would be kind of troubling is that you don’t have any leadership other than the club that you founded. If you can make up for that in your essays and recs then you probably stand a fairly good chance at those schools. You should probably apply to another school that’s easier to get into just in case you get rejected, though.</p>

10

<p>I think you will be quite competitive among others in your applicant pool. Bump up the CR on your SAT I and you will be good as gold.</p>

<p>Good luck :)</p>

11

<p>I just got my Octoer 6th SAT scores back.</p>

<p>Now my superscore is 770 math, 730 writing, 670 reading. It’s not too big of an improvement, but it’s still better. Does this improve my chances a bit?</p>

<p>I think I have a chance at UChicago (hopefully) because I think they’ll like my essays… but I think my SAT score is still too low for Duke, and Rice too.</p>

<p>Should I take it again in December? I don’t have time to study/take practice tests though, so the only way my score will go up is by chance. But I think scoring 20 points higher one section is doable, and I think a 2200 looks a LOT better than 2180 even though its 20 points.</p>