Should I even apply to U Chicago?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I am currently in my senior year and am taking 5 AP classes (Literature, Calculus AB, Government, Human Geography, and Psychology). The problem is, I'm pretty sure, I'm going to get a C in AP Literature and I feel like that has doomed my chances of being admitted to Chicago.</p>

<p>Here are my past stats:
GPA: 3.89 (UW) and 4.5 (W)
Rank: 8/803
APs: World History, US History, Language and Composition, and Biology. I also self-studied for European History. All of my test scores were 4's.
SAT: 2090- 670(M), 700(W), 720(CR)
ACT: 32- 28(M), 29(S), 35(W), 35(R) with an 8 on the essay. I'm retaking this Saturday because I stupidly forgot my calculator last time.</p>

<p>ECs:
-started/was president of Art Club in 10th grade and member for 11th and 12th
-environmental club-11th and 12th
-tennis team-all 4 years, Varsity last 2 years</p>

<p>Should I even put down clubs I was in for only a year? I volunteer at an animal shelter but I only have around 170 hours.</p>

<p>I think my grades this semester will be either one C(Lit) and the rest A's OR one C, one B(Calc), and the rest A's. So does this C completely ruin my chances?</p>

2

<p>Honestly, I think you should try. You never know, right? Besides, I really don’t think a C will mess up your odds of getting in. And by the way, 170 hours is nothing to sneeze at; I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.</p>

<p>However, for clubs that you’ve been in for only one year, probably good idea not to mention them, unless you’re very passionate and have shown leadership in them. </p>

<p>Whatever you decide though, good luck!</p>

3

<p>You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.</p>

4

<p>You GPA, Rank, and SAT are all way above average.</p>

<p>My best friend got accepted with lower stats, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about.</p>

5

<p>Zimfan, that is silly. U of Chicago is on track to get 30,000 applications this year. The OP’s SAT is not above average. For 2011 admitted students, the 50% ranges were:</p>

<p>M - 700-780
CR - 700-790</p>

<p>So the OP is in the bottom 50% for CR, and bottom 20% for Math.</p>

<p>That said, I think the OP should definitely apply if it a school you really want to attend. The essays are said to be very important in setting yourself apart from the crowd, so start thinking about those right away if you haven’t yet. Also, absolutely include the volunteer hours, 170 is quite a few hours.</p>

6

<p>“For 2011 admitted students, the 50% ranges were:
M - 700-780
CR - 700-790
So the OP is in the bottom 50% for CR, and bottom 20% for Math.”</p>

<p>This just isn’t true. Chicago does not participate in the Common Data Set (CDS) project as do all Ivy’s except Columbia. Nor has Chicago ever released individual score percentiles on math and critical reading tests. Chicago is cagey as to exactly what its enrolled students test scores are. See <a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/classprofile.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/classprofile.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>OP’s ACT score of 32 clearly falls somewhere in the “ACT Middle 50% 31-34” range.</p>

<p>OP should be more concerned about the application essays and working very hard to avoid any grade of “C” and having more than one grade below “A”. A grade of “C” during the senior year will be highly prejudicial to OP’s otherwise good application.</p>

7

<p>You will never know if you don’t apply. I would say you have a chance, of course. In the past, the U of C has been very attentive to the entire picture an applicant presents, and the essays have been very important. A single bad grade probably won’t kill your chances, though if you can get it up a little it can’t hurt.</p>

8

<p>rhg3rd, thank you for your thorough private message. I will definitely look into Reed. (I wasn’t able to reply to you via private message because I’m new here and don’t have enough posts for that feature). Thanks everyone else too for your input</p>