<p>I had a bad first 2 years in high school, but I am extremely interested in UChicago. I know applying EA would show that interest, but my GPA won't be that great by then. This year I have 1 AP and a 3.9 GPA which is good, but not extraordinary. Next year I will be taking 4 APs. Should I apply RD so my 1st semester senior grades can boost my cumulative GPA to a more respectable level? I feel my application will look nicer, but I'm not sure if showing my interest in EA would be better? Chances are I'd get deferred in EA, so then I would be able to send my 1st semester grades in for RD. Maybe EA would be better after all. What do you think?</p>
<p>Can we have more information on your ECs and SAT? The thing is, UChicago is really tough to get into no matter what. I mean REALLY tough. You need to be extremely competitive, and while your plan makes you sound very on track, I’m concerned that your “2 bad years” might counterbalance that in a bad way.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would wait to apply RD. Yes, in many cases EA is a great way of showing interest, but being deferred is a) not going to be easy to handle no matter what, and b) doesn’t necessarily improve your chances vs. applying regular decision. I’d wait, get the GPA you want, and then apply. Not only will that give you a chance to boost your GPA, but you’ll have a lot of time to work your essays, get involved in as many clubs as possible, and just in general be more ready to apply.</p>
<p>I had a 3.25 my first two years 
which probably is an automatic rejection, but I won’t give up my sliver of hope :(. I am a very average applicant. I think I will finish with a 3.6-3.7 GPA.</p>
<p>Meh ECs. I went to a journalism camp at a state university during the summer of 9th grade, I will be doing Model UN this year, I played football and ran track, I wrote on the school newspaper, and I job shadowed at a local museum if that means anything. My big one (which I’m not sure UChicago would be impressed by or not) is that I am a co-founder of a nonprofit (started with fellow students) that strives to help provide relief for an uncommon disease in Asia. My community service is lacking as well. I will be volunteering periodically, but I really need to get more in. All I really have is helping clean a river and helping provide food to those in need.</p>
<p>I go to a midwest public school that is top 15 in state. There’s a lot of graduation requirements, so limited space available to take APs before 12th grade. I had to take a 0 hour to take just 1 this year. As I said, I’ll have 5 APs done by the time I graduate. Absolutely impossible to get 14+ like some of those ridiculous applications have. I know my eyes are way too big for my stomach here, and my sights are probably set way too high, but I know UChicago would be perfect for me, I just screwed myself over with a stupidly bad GPA and I haven’t done much EC wise. I am also a white male, which probably does not help lol.</p>
<p>I know it’s easy to predict that test scores and essays will be good since I haven’t done them, but I’m sure they will. I will take the ACT in March (starting to study now) and the SAT in May. I will most likely take them again in the fall. I’m shooting for a 30+ on the ACT. I have been compiling ideas for what to put on my essays ever since I started looking into UChicago (last year), and I have started to write my “Why UChicago” essay. I know my essays will be really good. I am going to take a unique position which I think they will like. I am not trying to write them so they will look good though, I am just writing what I think. I feel that I have great ideas for my essays, but I am paranoid about sharing them lol.</p>
<p>Ok, that was kind of a long post. I know I am an average white male with decent grades (UChicago-wise) and not a whole lot of ECs. I fit the mold of the UChicago student (enjoying learning, blah blah blah Cliche much?), and I will have very good essays, and hopefully sufficient test scores. I still don’t have a good chance, but why not try?</p>
<p>Also, I am interested in the International Studies major if that means anything.</p>
<p>Another edit, sorry. Would it be beneficial to email my regional admissions officer and explain my interest, ask some questions, etc? I have heard mixed opinions on that. I’m no sure if it would make a difference.</p>
<p>I do not think it would hurt to try, and by all means contact your reg. admissions officer to get more information. With that being said, you need to keep in mind that it may not happen. </p>
<p>Mistakes happen, life happens. UChicago has said that they do not look at GPA, but at the grades earned in the classes taken. If you can show that you have grown and that you would be a good fit for UChicago, you have a chance. </p>
<p>We are fretting her as we wait for Wednesday’s announcement, and our D has an excellent transcript, test scores, and essays. There are no guarantees for anyone applying to UChicago.</p>
<p>I know that there is a .0001% chance for someone like me to get in, but I will apply regardless. Anyways, would it be a good idea to apply EA or just wait until RD so I can boost my grades?</p>