<p>If all goes well (or at least better than my recent luck), these are my CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES for the quality of my college resume...I only want to see how realistic I'm being AND IF I HAVE ANY HOPE!</p>
<p>Only junior...haven't actually taken SAT's YET</p>
<p>GPA: definitely below 4.0 (probably 3.75+) unweighted......over 4.0 weighted
SAT I's: 700 Math 700 Reading 700 Writing
Class Rank: possibly top 5 or 6 out of roughly 500 at a public high school (already blew chances at valedictorian)
AP classes being taken (in school): English, Calculas, Biology, American H., Euro H. Physics</p>
<p>AP TEST SCORES: +/- a 4 on all of the above plus Micro/Macroeconomics (independent study)</p>
<p>EC's (in school):
Marching Band 5 years
Speech and Debate 4
FBLA 2
Tennis 3
German Club 4
Scholastic Bowl/Scrimmage Team 2 years</p>
<p>(out of school)
Boy Scouts Eagle Scout (hopefully)
Lector at Parish
Worked four summers as a counselor/instructor at a boy scout camp
Outward Bound Wilderness alumni (two weeks in Oregon)</p>
<p>Volunteer Service:
assisted with four other Eagle Scout projects beyond my own
busboy at Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast twice a year</p>
<p>Chance me on:
University of Chicago (for economics)</p>
<p>p.s. I applied for PA Governor's School until it was axed</p>
<p>I can't really chance you without SAT scores or even a definite GPA for that matter. Based on your estimated scores though, UChicago would be a reach.</p>
<p>Take the SATs, finish up your junior year, then come back and ask again.</p>
<p>What do you mean by "reach"? Will the SAT's have to be higher, etc.?</p>
<p>I just want to know if it's worth having something of a dream here (that is, as I finish junior year)</p>
<p>I'm somewhat frustrated by the whole GPA/class rank-militaryindustrialcomplex...I could have been at the very top of my class but my extra-curricular subjects have had a stronger impact than I would have liked (and I never got on well with those teachers).</p>
<p>Does class/rank GPA factor in THAT much? After all, the grading standards between high school couldn't POSSIBLY be the same.</p>
<p>By reach I mean that you have about a 10-20% chance of getting in. Read this for more info about that: Match</a>, Reach and Safety Schools</p>
<p>I'm not saying you won't get in or that you shouldn't aim for it, just that it's too early to tell. And yes, grades and class rank are considered to be two of the most important things that colleges look at.</p>
<p>I just read another person asking for a chance at UChic, and how on God's green earth do they take 19 friggin' AP Tests by graduation?</p>
<p>Really? How?</p>
<p>Neither my school nor any school I know of within twenty miles would have a curriculum like that! AP Course don't even begin until JUNIOR YEAR! I'm putting MY OWN TIME and MY OWN EFFORT into studying for the micro/macroeconomics test and that's seen as INCREDIBLE where I come from!</p>
<p>Not to say that I'm jealous...BUT I'M JEALOUS!</p>
<p>WHY?WHY?WHY?</p>
<p>Am I supposed to rent out the entire catalogue of AP study guides from Borders and learn Chinese Language Culture and Claude Monet and Virgil over my high school career without any guidance department or teachers or family telling me to do so?</p>
<p>I consider myself libertarianesque, but if there were anything that EVER made me wish for COMMUNISM, this is it!</p>
<p>No offense to people who have actually done that work -- I salute you, but I'll remain jealous.</p>
<p>Hey, at least you probably have friends and a life. I don't care what you say, there is no way you enjoy life if you have taken 19 AP courses by graduation.</p>
<p>But HOW THE HECK is such an opportunity available to some students?</p>
<p>REALLY?</p>
<p>Do their middle school guidance counselors throw study guides in their face, because back when I was in grade eight JUST THE WHOLE IDEA of taking AP classes was made out to be special and awe-inspiring.</p>
<p>I don't know. I go to a private school were you have to be recommended for AP courses and we don't even offer half of them. I personally think its sad that people grade themselves on how many AP's they have taken but whatever. Don't worry about it. Just keep working towards Chicago. Just remember that a huge part of it is your essay.</p>
<p>My own cousin somewhere out there got a 5 on American History as a Sophomore and here I am taking the class as a Junior.</p>
<p>Heck...Why can't we just sue colleges who reject us for discriminating against HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT HAD NO OUTLET AS A FRESHMAN TO LEARN AP PHYSICS!</p>
<p>Just chill out. Its not that big a deal. Your school will send a school profile that will list the AP's offered at your school, size of school and other things that will show your rigor as a student at your school.</p>
<p>Would it brighten your day if I told you that you had a good chance? UChicago's acceptance rate is 35% and has a yield of 33%. Based on that alone, and the fact that it does not require subject tests, I'd say that the majority of CC'ers have an excellent shot.</p>
<p>Calm down. I'm sure you are doing everything you can right now. Just keep working hard in your classes and on your EC's. Study for your SAT, don't put that off.
I've learned that stressing out doesn't really help.
Make sure you do all of the above and write an interesting essay. I think you have a good chance, but I'm no expert. (I got deferred myself. Keeping my fingers crossed for April 1st!)
Good luck!</p>