The NEW OFFICIAL University of Chicago EA Decisions - Class of 2014

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
21

<p>I’m a long time lurker, first time poster :slight_smile: I was just accepted and even though there seems to be a lot of confusion at the moment I would like to post my stats for future reference; I know how much reading other peoples’ stats has helped me over the past few months.</p>

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section): 750 (CR) 670 (MATH) 800 (W) - 2220 (TOTAL)
[</em>] SAT IIs: 710 (SPANISH) 720 (CHEM)
[<em>] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 4.436 (W) - maybe a 3.9/4.0 UW
[</em>] Rank: 6/360
[<em>] ACT: N/A
[</em>] APs (including this year’s): Macro, Calc AB & BC, Chem, AP US II (11th) English, Micro, Stats, Spanish (12th)
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s:
[</em>] Senior Year Courseload: The above AP’s + Honors Anatomy & Physiology as well as the required PE and electives.
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: No clue. I might have been the only EA.
[</em>] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.): AP Scholar with Honor, National Merit Semi-Finalist</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] EC’s listed on app: (leadership in parentheses) Spanish Club (President) Red Cross Club (President) Varsity Spring Track (Varsity Captain) Varsity Winter Track (Varsity Captain)
[</em>] Volunteer/Community Service: 500+ hours with my town’s Community Action Service Center (Head of the Junior Volunteers there, as well) plus three summers of extensive overseas work with the World Health Organization
[<em>] Awards listed on app: National Merit Semi-Finalist, AP Scholar with Honor, awards for Comm. Service hours
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: N/A
[<em>] Common App Essay: Solid; about my foreign exchange experience
[</em>] EC Short Answer: Volunteer work is my most important EC; elaborated on that. Nothing too great here, but then again this essay probably matters the least.
[<em>] Why Chicago Essay: V. memorable - wrote about how I relate to the students through the Uncommon Blog
[</em>] Optional Favorite Things Essay: I submitted this optional essay; it was written with three different languages interwoven through it - definitely original
[<em>] Extended Supplemental Essay: I chose the “How did you get caught?”. It was factual, but not criminal. Anyone who’s read this essay topic knows what I mean when I say that. It was definitely unique.
[</em>] Teacher Recs (if you saw them): Both awesome.
[<em>] Counselor Rec (if you saw them): Didn’t see but should have been great; she knows me very well.
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): Didn’t request an interview.
[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): None that I know of…my inclination for languages or my international volunteer experience or the foreign exchange? Idk what a hook really means.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: NJ
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Public, decent amount of kids accepted to Ivies each year.
[<em>] Ethnicity: Indian
[</em>] Gender: Female
[<em>] Applied for Financial Aid: Yes
[</em>] Strengths:
[<em>] Weaknesses: SAT Reasoning Math score; SAT scores in general
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Haha despite being accepted, I do not feel speculating as to why I was accepted. I assume it was because I am capable of contributing to the community in a unique way.
[<em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Deferred Columbia
[</em>] Where else are you applying? Columbia, Brown, Cornell, NYU, BC, BU, Johns Hopkins</p>

<p>[/ul]Other Factors:</p>

<p>General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Congratulations to all those accepted! To those deferred, hang in there, and for those who didn’t make it: college is what you make of it. Don’t let this get you down. Get your others apps done and out, sit back, relax, and enjoy the newxt two and half some months of being in your hometown with family/friends before a fresh round of college decisions is released.</p>

22

<p>hey where exactly on the website can u check once you’ve logged in?</p>

23

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section): Writing: 800, Math: 750, Reading:740 (superscore), Essay: 11
[</em>] SAT IIs: US History: 760, Biology: 800, Chemistry: 770, Math II: 770, French:680
[<em>] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 4.0; We don’t weigh…
[</em>] Rank: 1/557
[<em>] ACT: Highest date: Math: 33, Reading: 34, English: 35, Science: 36, Composite: 35, Essay: 9
[</em>] APs (including this year’s): US History: 4, Biology: 5, Chem: 5, Euro: 5, English Language: 5; This year: Calc BC, Art History, US Government, Physics C
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s: N/A
[</em>] Senior Year Courseload: Most rigorous available
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: 3 EA
[</em>] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.): None…?</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] EC’s listed on app: Speech, Mock Trial, Boy Scouts, NHS Officer, Student Ambassadors
[</em>] Volunteer/Community Service: Accompaniment for church choir, Hospital Volunteering
[<em>] Awards listed on app: NCTE Writing, NHS, National Merit Semis, “A” Honor Role
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Haha…
[<em>] Common App Essay: Quirky eating habit/passion for geography
[</em>] EC Short Answer: Extemp speaking tubs
[<em>] Why Chicago Essay: Being around people who actually like school
[</em>] Optional Favorite Things Essay: Pictures at an Exhibition, Le Petit Prince, Art Museums
[<em>] Extended Supplemental Essay: Why we haven’t found aliens yet
[</em>] Teacher Recs (if you saw them): One was decent/exceptional. I am a rather bad judge of that.
[<em>] Counselor Rec (if you saw them): N/A
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): Caribou coffee, felt a bit uncertain and I didn’t really seem myself, thus I disapproved.
[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): 0</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[list]
[<em>] State or Country: Minnesota, USA
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): We fail NCLB, but it’s a fairly highly regarded school
[<em>] Ethnicity: Caucasian
[</em>] Gender: Male
[<em>] Applied for Financial Aid: Yeah
[</em>] Strengths: Science…
[<em>] Weaknesses: Across the board, i suppose. Sorry, but I actually am not good at determining this as I tend to be too ard on myself generally (so, that can be a weakness)
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: I am weird, which seems to be a plus at U Chicago
[<em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: U of Minnesota, Twin Cities
[</em>] Where else are you applying? MIT, Harvard, Rice, Emory, Washington University in St. Louis, and U Virginia</p>

<p>General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc:
Congrats everyone! And try not to freak out.</p>

24

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:
SAT I (by section): 750 (CR) 720 (MATH) 760 (W) - 2230 (TOTAL)
SAT IIs: 780 (Math) 700 (CHEM)
GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: around 3.9
Rank: school does not rank
ACT: 34
APs (including this year’s): School does not teach AP courses, but I have taken Chem, US Hist, Lit, Spanish
IBs (including this year’s:
Senior Year Courseload: a lot of stuff, too lazy to type sorry
Number of Apps from Your School: Quite a lot I’m guessing
Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.): AP Scholar with Distinction, National Merit Semi-Finalist
Subjective:
EC’s listed on app: (leadership in parentheses) Fencing Club (President) Art Club (President) Writing Center (Senior Coordinator) and some other minor things
Volunteer/Community Service: 200+ hours total probably
Awards listed on app: National Merit Semi-Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, some smaller essay awards and stuff like that
Job/Work Experience: worked as a concessions worker, research intern
Common App Essay: Awesome. About my travel experiences
EC Short Answer: Fencingismylife
Why Chicago Essay: Atmosphere, Challenge…
Optional Favorite Things Essay: Doctor Who
Extended Supplemental Essay: Games! Talked about fencing, board games with family, and games in general
Teacher Recs (if you saw them): haven’t seen, but should be good
Counselor Rec (if you saw them): Didn’t see but should have been great
Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): Went swimmingly :slight_smile:
Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): Research probably?
State or Country: NJ
School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): High-end technically public college prep
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Applied for Financial Aid: Yes
Strengths: See above?
Weaknesses: SAT Reasoning Math score; SAT scores in general
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: I am awesome like that? Probably everything together
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: UIUC and Purdue so far, waiting on 5 other decisions
Where else are you applying? Notre Dame, Wash U, Yale, Northwestern, Marquette</p>

<p>General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Congratulations to all, and good luck.</p>

25

<p>[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted[ /b][ /color][ /size]</p>

<p>[ b]Stats:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT I (by section): 770 CR, 730 Math, 800 Writing
[ *] SAT IIs: None
[ *] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 94.24 (school doesn’t weight)
[ *] Rank: 33/~400
[ *] ACT:
[ *] APs (including this year’s): Euro 5, English Language 5
[ *] IBs (including this year’s:
[ *] Senior Year Courseload:
[ *] Number of Apps from Your School: Not sure - at least 4 EA
[ *] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.):</p>

<p>[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] EC’s listed on app: Newspaper (Editorial editor), social studies club, philosophy group, glee club, summer seminar on Plato
[ *] Volunteer/Community Service: Almost none
[ *] Awards listed on app: Summa Cum Laude for Latin, NHS
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Very little - some maintenance staff at school
[ *] Common App Essay: thought it was pretty good. About how I prefer “contemplative” activities (reading, etc.) to typical “entertainment”
[ *] EC Short Answer: Newspaper
[ *] Why Chicago Essay: Fundamentals major, intellectual atmosphere…
[ *] Optional Favorite Things Essay: Books, music, map collection
[ *] Extended Supplemental Essay: Newspaper editorial
[ *] Teacher Recs (if you saw them):
[ *] Counselor Rec (if you saw them):
[ *] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): On campus - went well
[ *] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): Contact with professors, many shows of interest?</p>

<p>[ /list][ b]Location/Person:[ /b][ list]
[ *] State or Country: New York
[ *] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Catholic
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender: M
[ *] Applied for Financial Aid: Yes
[ *] Strengths: Writing, teacher recs (probably), shows of interest
[ *] Weaknesses: Average/rank
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied:
[ *] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected:
[ *] Where else are you applying?</p>

26

<p>Decision: Accepted </p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section): 670 CR 700 Math 700 W
[</em>] SAT IIs: 760 CHEM, 740 Math II
[<em>] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: ehh… haha dunno
[</em>] Rank: 4/425
[<em>] ACT: 31
[</em>] APs (including this year’s): stats, chem, language, gov, calc, euro, bio, spanish, lit
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s:
[</em>] Senior Year Courseload: see last 5 ap listed above
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: 3-4?
[</em>] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.):</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] EC’s listed on app: mainly piano… international awards, etc.
[</em>] Volunteer/Community Service: hospital, retirement center, and library
[<em>] Awards listed on app: haha… i don’t want to list, you can check my posts
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: paid research internship at renowned hospital
[<em>] Common App Essay: piano–and i reached an all time low in my piano about 5 years ago and how i wanted to quit and stuff but then i regained my confidence later, etc.
[</em>] EC Short Answer: about my internship
[<em>] Why Chicago Essay: heh. to be honest, this one was kinda rushed cuz my parents were like you have to get this done soon!! because of FA and stuff
[</em>] Optional Favorite Things Essay: i talked about a magazine which has sparked my curiosity in neuroscience… it was good
[<em>] Extended Supplemental Essay: heh, talked about how i got caught plucking my eyebrows, but then it really turned out to be larger and more significant than that… how i got caught growing up
[</em>] Teacher Recs (if you saw them): no
[<em>] Counselor Rec (if you saw them): nope
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): nada
[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): research? many piano awards? dunno… not really</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: OH
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): public, it sends a good handful to top schools each year…
[<em>] Ethnicity: Asian
[</em>] Gender: f
[<em>] Applied for Financial Aid: duh i’m not rich haha
[</em>] Strengths: i thought my essay (except why chicago) was really unique…especially the how i got caught one… it wasn’t intellectual and deep and philosophical really, i just showed something truthful about myself
[<em>] Weaknesses: standardized tests… for sure
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: ?? haha beats me
[<em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: rejected from Penn ED. one man’s meat is another man’s poison
[</em>] Where else are you applying?</p>

<p>[/ul]Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: omg… i couldn’t believe it… especially after my penn rejection, i was convinced that i would not get into a school i wanted to go to… i was truly dejected and depressed. and as for chicago, i really thought i wasn’t gonna get in either… especially after the 32% increase in applicants… haha. i was like… omg… i suck… anyway, i don’t consider myself the strongest applicant by no means… but i just want to make a shout out for those feeling like how i did… keep your chin up! i am totally being hypocritical bc my chin was like in the ground haha… but honestly, you never know what could happen… hope for the worst, and try not to beat yourself over one college rejections. =) </p>

<p>also, i knew chicago wasn’t all about scores… but i knew that they did play a role… this goes to say that chicago REALLY isn’t all about scores… once you’ve reached a certain point, you’ve got to take it from there. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!</p>

27

<p>[size=+2]Decision: Accepted<a href=“for%20my%20son”>/size</a></p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section):790 CR, 690 M, 670 W
[</em>] SAT IIs: 790 US Hist, 730 Bio E
[<em>] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 91.3 uw, 97.3w (however it was only this high because of the two orchestra courses every year - without them the unweighted average was around 87)
[</em>] Rank: just on the wrong side of top 5%
[<em>] ACT:
[</em>] APs (including this year’s): AP World -5, APUSH -5, AP Bio-5, taking AP Physics C, AP Cal BC and AP Euro this year
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s:
[</em>] Senior Year Courseload: AP Euro, AP Physics C, AP Calc BC, English elective (not honors), regular orchestra and performings arts program Orchestra, Health
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: no idea
[</em>] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.): </p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] EC’s listed on app: Science Olympiad, literary mag
[</em>] Volunteer/Community Service: summer at senior center, weekends helped archive records for the neighborhood association
[<em>] Awards listed on app: AP Scholar, Cornell book award, some Science Olympiad medals (one at state level), National Latin Exam (maxima cum laude), AARP service award
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: makes origami jewelry and sells them in local galleries
[<em>] Common App Essay: about origami folding, selling and growing up (or not)
[</em>] EC Short Answer: about his work archiving the neighborhood association papers and feeling like a historian because the data is so incomplete
[<em>] Why Chicago Essay: light hearted fun, about how he overcame his prejudices about the place
[</em>] Optional Favorite Things Essay: He wrote briefly about music (Tsaichovsky and Finnish metal) and books (some favorite authors - Tolkein, David Weber and the Star Wars books)
[<em>] Extended Supplemental Essay:
[</em>] Teacher Recs (if you saw them): Math teacher wrote about how he learned material instead of just memorizing it, didn’t see history teacher’s.
[<em>] Counselor Rec (if you saw them): shoud be good but generic
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): okay
[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): none though sort of a legacy (uncle, aunt (didn’t graduate), grandfather and grandmother (also didn’t graduate)</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: NY
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): big public average SATs are just a bit above US average
[<em>] Ethnicity: white
[</em>] Gender: male
[<em>] Applied for Financial Aid: no
[</em>] Strengths: quirky, willing to be his own person
[<em>] Weaknesses: lots and lots of B’s on the transcript (Latin, chemistry, honors English)
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: good recommendations, good essays
[<em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: deferred at Georgetown
[</em>] Where else are you applying? Harvard (only because he’s a legacy to make Dad happy), Georgetown, Tufts, William and Mary, Brown, Vassar, Syracuse and American - may rethink the list though…</p>

<p>[/ul]Other Factors:
Ironically the essay that didn’t get him into Georgetown, probably helped get him in to Chicago. It was a first person narrative and ended it with the question to the reader “Did you catch me?” It does show that Chicago is willing to look past some flaws - like three years of B-'s in Latin.,</p>

<p>General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Congrats to those who were accepted and commisserations to those who weren’t. We were not expecting this!</p>

28

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ list]
[<em>] SAT I (by section):NA
[</em>] SAT IIs: World 800; Math II 740
[<em>] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 4.0 U
[</em>] Rank: 1 or 2
[<em>] ACT: Combined 34; Eng 35, Math 34, Reading 33, Sci 35, Writing 12
[</em>] APs: Stats 4, World 5, Eng Lit 5, US 5, Chem, Calc AB, Euro, Eng Comp
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s: NA
[</em>] Senior Year Courseload: 4 APs, Senior Sem (H), Psych, Spanish IV
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: Mostly Comm Coll and State U
[</em>] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.):</p>

<p>[/list]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] EC’s listed on app: hockey, french horn, coaching, XC, tennis, tutoring
[</em>] Volunteer/Community Service: Not many but many hours
[<em>] Awards listed on app: Book awards, MEAD medalist, top student, NMSF, NHS
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Some - interested related (hockey ref, orchestra pit)
[<em>] Common App Essay: historical/artistic figures - Ezra Pound and Piet Mondrian
[</em>] EC Short Answer: Hockey, tennis, sailing crew, french horn, document archiving
[<em>] Why Chicago Essay: Academically stimulating environment, very different from home
[</em>] Optional Favorite Things Essay: A long list of authors, artists, singers and architecture.
[<em>] Extended Supplemental Essay: #2 - my changing tastes in literature and appreciation of poetry.
[</em>] Teacher Recs (if you saw them): I think they were very good
[<em>] Counselor Rec (if you saw them): I think very good
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): In her office at UC admissions. Interviewer was Canadian, we talked hockey.
[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): From a rural town in downeast Maine. </p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[ list]
[<em>] State or Country: Maine
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Rural public school
[<em>] Ethnicity: Causian
[</em>] Gender: Male
[<em>] Applied for Financial Aid: Yes
[</em>] Strengths: Strong, well rounded academically; strong test scores; UR region
[<em>] Weaknesses: I don’t like talking about myself.<br>
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: see strengths</p>

<p>Congrats to everyone just to get to this point in our lives.</p>

29

<p>Decision: Deffered</p>

<p>[li] SAT I (by section):2110 (CR 610, M 740, W 760)</p>[/li]
<p>[li] SAT IIs: MII 770, USH 710, Physics 650</p>[/li]
<p>[li] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 3.92, 4.45</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Rank: school doesnt rank</p>[/li]
<p>[li] ACT: didnt take</p>[/li]
<p>[li] APs (including this year’s): (Past) USH 5, Lit & Physics B 3</p>[/li]
<p>[li] IBs (including this year’s:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Senior Year Courseload: Hardest classes</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Number of Apps from Your School:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.):</p>[/li]
<p>[/list]Subjective:[ul]</p>

<p>[li] EC’s listed on app: #1 Hip Hop Dance team in country and #4 in world [/li][url=<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmmgtyfFirQ]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmmgtyfFirQ]YouTube</a> - Funk Beyond Control 2008 US Hip Hop Champions<a href=“I%20start%20on%20far%20right”>/url</a></p>

<p>[li] Volunteer/Community Service: </p>[/li]
<p>[li] Awards listed on app:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Job/Work Experience:TA for summer school</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Common App Essay: about my experiences in rural spain (pretty funny)</p>[/li]
<p>[li] EC Short Answer:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Why Chicago Essay:Thought it was well written</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Optional Favorite Things Essay:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Extended Supplemental Essay:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Teacher Recs (if you saw them):</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Counselor Rec (if you saw them):</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location):</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.):</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[list]</p>

<p>[li] State or Country: California</p>[/li]
<p>[li] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available):Religious Catholic</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Ethnicity:Hispanic/ white</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Gender:m</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Applied for Financial Aid:</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Strengths: arts supplement, essays</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Weaknesses:CR</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied:because of my weak CR and because U of [/li]Chicago doesnt look at writing (my highest score)</p>

<p>[li] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Defferred at Gtown (doesnt look at writing either) </p>[/li]
<p>[*] Where else are you applying? UCLA, UCB, UC Davis, Pomona, Harvard, Rice, Stanford, SLO</p>

30

<p>I have posted this elsewhere, but given how confusing the EA threads are, I will post again here. </p>

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Objective:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (breakdown): 800 CR 800 W (mc:80/e:12) 750 M; December: ??
[</em>] ACT: N/A
[<em>] SAT II: 800 Chemistry, 800 US History, 780 Math II
[</em>] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[<em>] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1 of 310 (from junior-year school), 1 (tied) of approx. 500 (senior-year school)
[</em>] AP (place score in parenthesis): Eng Language (5), US History (5), Chemistry (5) Will Take: Eng Literature, Physics C: Mechanics (partially a self-study), Physics C: E & M (partially a self-study), Calculus BC, Biology (self-study), Psychology, Statistics (self-study)
[<em>] IB (place score in parenthesis): N/A
[</em>] Senior Year Course Load: The ungraded AP exams above including: WRIT1301: College Writing (U of Minn) -> Half-year, PsTL1135: Human Anatomy & Physiology (U of Minn) -> Full-year, Spanish (Non-AP)
[li] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): (None are major) National Ventures Scholar, Arizona Board of Regents Scholarship, AP Scholar, National Presidential Fitness </p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Aikido (Japanese martial art; assistant children’s class instructor), Classical Piano (Non-competitive recitals & festivals), Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (Water Conservation), Mathematics/AP Physics/AP Chemistry/Biology Tutor, NHS (Head of Peer Tutoring), Key Club, American Cancer Society (Organizing charity event teams for senior citizens)<br>
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Landscape Construction (Summer), Freelance Writing on Medical Issues, Organic Chemistry Lab Assistant – N Arizona U
[<em>] Volunteer/Community service: (None of this was explicitly stated on my application except for the overlap with ECs) Peer Tutoring, Key Club/NHS Events, Working w/ young children in Aikido, American Cancer Society, Approx. 725 hours of total service
[</em>] Summer Activities: Travel, Self-Studying, Moving, Volunteer Work (if possible)
[<em>] Essays: Common App: Moving 21 times and attending 15 different schools and its effect on my academic and career ambitions ----------- Supplement #1: My aspirations of becoming a medical scientist and how integrating an interdisciplinary focus of the medical sciences in with an informed knowledge of contemporary societal issues can beneficially alter the course of our history ----------- Supplement #2: Aikido and Classical Piano and the impact of their philosophies on my personal growth ----------- Chicago-specific Essay: Satirical piece on resolving the recent economic crisis (In the style of Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”) ----------- Completed both Options 1 and 2 on the supplement (“Why Chicago?” and “Favorite Things” essay)
[</em>] Teacher Recommendations: Waived right to view but each shared his with me: #1: Chemistry Teacher: wrote of my academic performance/potential/work quality; #2: History Teacher: character/work ethic/work quality; #3: Peer Tutoring Advisor: experience in volunteering/character; All very supportive and humbling
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Did not view but I have a general idea: #1 (11th grade counselor): Essentially a reiteration of my EC activities; #2 (12th grade/new school counselor): She stated that she wrote of her initial positive impression of my character
[</em>] Additional Rec: From a family friend – Ph.D. in English
[li] Interview: Did not apply for one – missed the deadline</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Other[ul] [<em>] Financial aid? Yes [</em>] Intended Major: I am interested in a concentration of study that integrates chemical, physical, and quantitative methods into the study of the biological sciences or stem cell/regenerative biology [<em>] State (if domestic applicant): MN (by way of MT and AZ and various other residences within the US and abroad) [</em>] Country (if international applicant):
[<em>] School Type: 9th: N/A (I am a junior graduating early); 10th-11th: two different mediocre public schools (located in MT & AZ), none to HYPS; 12th: good public, but very poor acceptance rate at HYPS [</em>] Ethnicity: Did not state; Caucasian [<em>] Gender: Male
[</em>] Income Bracket: ~40,000
[<em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None, really. Socioeconomic status is not factored into the decision.
[/ul]Reflection[ul]
[</em>] Strengths: Standardized Testing, Grades (to some extent), Essays (all revealed different aspects of myself but each tied into my interests in the medical sciences, excluding the Chicago-specific essay)
[<em>] Weaknesses: No prestigious awards or extracurriculars, no nat’l/int’l recognition, non-legacy, non-athlete, non-minority, three years of high school (I am technically an 11th grader), only 3 APs prior to this school year, passion in science/medicine but failed to substantiate this claim through EC involvement or academic inquiry (no research, publishing, science supplement etc.), very little leadership due to my constant change in geographical residence, no summer programs, very confusing high school situation (frequent moving, changing schools, early graduation, attending parts of the year but not others, etc.)
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: See strengths </p>

<p>[/ul]General Comments: </p>

<p>For those accepted, congratulations! For those waitlisted or denied, you are all terrific applicants who will go on to succeed regardless of what institution you ultimately choose to attend. You all have accomplishments, successes, and talents that no one else can even come close to. Regardless of where you all go to college, with hard work and perseverance, you are capable of anything that you set your mind to. For those reading this months or years from now, best of luck with your college search and subsequent application process. If you have any specific inquiries regarding the process, feel free to PM me and I would be delighted to help.</p>

<p>As for myself, my ability to attend is contingent upon the financial aid offered and my decisions at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, U of Penn, and Stanford come late March/early April.</p>

31

<p>**Decision: Accepted! Damn straight, homies. **</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section): 700/730/790 (11E) = 2220
[</em>] SAT IIs: Lit: 660 (EW.) MathIIC: 740
[<em>] GPA: 3.95ish…I think.
[</em>] Rank: I think 7/290.
[<em>] ACT: Noopz/Apz
[</em>] APs (including this year’s): As many as my school offers…meaning zero.
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s: Nonesies!
[</em>] Senior Yr Courseload: Hardest possible, which isn’t saying much (anything?).
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: 2. Other is my best friend…yikes.
[</em>] Other stats (Awards, etc.): Some state journalism awards, First Chair All-State, some local concerto competitions for flute, leadershippy shtuff, hefty rural PA scholarship recipient, National Merit Commended, Coca-Cola Semi-Finalist, TASP.</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] ECs listed on app: Recycling Club (founder/prez), Key Club (prez), Flute (scholarship student at local conservatory), Journalism (columnist and demagogue), Students for Barack Obama (regional leader + work on official campaign), 250+ volunteer hours, HOBY (state and international), NHS (erm, meaningless?)
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: Waitressing, small town business sheeit, music gigs, etc. Usually 20-25 hours/wk during school year, 35-40 hours/wk during summer, since summer after freshwomyn year.
[<em>] Essays (subject and responses): Solid/Hawt/w00t.<br>
Common App: about living in Tanzania for a year with my missionary parents. Yay lions.
Supplement: Option #5–about nudism! Yay.
Optional: talked about music, basically an assortment of indie detritus/hip-hop/“classical,” because I’s a hipsta.
[</em>] Teacher Recs: One fantastic, the other was poorly written for a rec but positive.
[<em>] Counselor Rec: Haven’t read. Counselor can’t explain how GPA is calculated to our student body, so I’m not expecting much there.
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): On campus, also really good. Talked about documentary, Austin, and spirit ethnicities for an hour. Twas funsies.
[li] Hook: Hmm. Rural misfit liberal PA nerd–> UT TASP ‘09 (** Juniors creeping on this thread, APPY APPLY APPLY! <3 **) TASP isn’t actually a “hook,” but people list it as one, so whatevs. </p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: The Alabama of Pennsylvania, the US of Uh-Murrka.
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Sheeitty Rural Public.
[<em>] Ethnicity: I’s white, yo.
[</em>] Gender: Feh-mall-eh
[<em>] Income Bracket: Low-middle.
[</em>] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Didn’t I already answer this? Look up, foo!
[<em>] Strengths: Writing/the subjective.
[</em>] Weaknesses: Suck-o CR/Lit scores, horrible school with no APs, rank given the aforementioned, never self-studied APs.
[li] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: Ask Bokonon.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Other Factors:
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Um, YAY! Applying RD to Columbia (first choice) as well as Yale and Swarthmore. Hoping for a kickash aid package! It’s nice to be in somewhere legit.</p>

32

<p>Decision: Accepted</p>

<p>Stats:[ul]
[<em>] SAT I (by section): 760 Writing, 750 Reading, 680 Math
[</em>] SAT IIs: Biology E: 620, Math I: 690
[<em>] GPA, Unweighted and Weighted: 97 (weighted)
[</em>] Rank: School doesn’t rank.
[<em>] ACT: 32
[</em>] APs (including this year’s): AP English Language (5), APUSH (4), AP Spanish Language, AP Calculus AB, AP Government and Politics, AP English Literature, AP Biology
[<em>] IBs (including this year’s: None. (None offered)
[</em>] Senior Year Courseload: The last 5 AP’s listed above and Theology IV.
[<em>] Number of Apps from Your School: None that I know of.
[</em>] Other stats (AIME, AMC, etc.): ?</p>

<p>[/ul]Subjective:[ul]
[<em>] EC’s listed on app: Student Paper (Editor-in-Chief), Debate Club (President), Volunteering Club (Member), JV Volleyball for two years, two summer jobs, one internship
[</em>] Volunteer/Community Service: various
[<em>] Awards listed on app: three
[</em>] Job/Work Experience: the two summer jobs and current internship listed above
[<em>] Common App Essay: About skiing and how it allowed me to take on new challenges on my own.
[</em>] EC Short Answer: I can’t remember this.
[<em>] Why Chicago Essay: I wrote about how I liked their program and, interestingly enough, their advertising.
[</em>] Optional Favorite Things Essay: Wrote about Alexandre Dumas (my favorite author) and I believe I also wrote about Doctor Who as my favorite show.
[<em>] Extended Supplemental Essay: “When did you get caught or not caught?” Wrote about my Physics class and how my teacher always caught me talking, except the person who she thought was me was really my friend. So it was a case of not getting caught…
[</em>] Teacher Recs (if you saw them): I saw one, very good. The other I’m assuming was good as well.
[<em>] Counselor Rec (if you saw them): Didn’t see it, don’t know.
[</em>] Interview (feel, interviewer and general location): No interview.
[li] Hook (TASP, RSI, Research, etc.): I might never know.</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]Location/Person:[ul]
[<em>] State or Country: New York
[</em>] School Type, Average Stats of School (if available): Catholic, um, I wouldn’t say it’s a great school
[<em>] Ethnicity: Hispanic
[</em>] Gender: Female
[<em>] Applied for Financial Aid: Yes.
[</em>] Strengths: Good grades, works hard
[<em>] Weaknesses: Math and Biology
[</em>] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/denied: I think I was accepted because I was honest with my essays and actually had a good time doing Chicago’s supplements. I didn’t make up things. And, somehow, they liked that.
[<em>] Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: University of Exeter (accepted)
[</em>] Where else are you applying? Brown University, Boston U, Northeastern, Vassar, SUNY Geneseo, UNC Chapel Hill, McGill University, University of British Columbia, King’s College London, University College London</p>

<p>[/ul]Other Factors:</p>

<p>General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,etc: Good job to everyone who got in! Good luck to those deferred! And to those denied/wait-listed, good luck! I think that you’ll do great wherever you go! If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.</p>

<p>And thank God that’s done with.</p>