<p>Stats:
-1st Semester at large private university
-2nd Semester currently at large state school (doing very well so far - A's)
-CGPA: 2.9 (B's and one B- : from the 1st semester at a school notorious for grade deflation)
-HSGPA: 3.4: somewhat rigorous courses, Obama went here(?)
-Good extracurriculars from HS
-Probably average recommendations from current professors, very good recommendation from HS teacher if applicable.
SAT: 1990
Essay: Would be pretty "quirky"; up to UofC standards.</p>
<p>Right now I'm in the process of transferring to LAC's with an alternative curriculum of learning. I felt uninspired throughout high school and my first semester of college - I wasn't truly learning, being edified, but only pleasing the grade, and because of that I turned to outside sources to keep me stimulated. I'm interested in film production as a career but for college I would like to learn another trade that would expand my outlook.</p>
<p>Very, very recently, I've decided I'm most interested in pursuing Economics as a major. I'm not concerned with the potential business aspects of it at all, but purely with its use in social sciences, in combating poverty, housing crisis, etc. That's why I feel UofC would be beneficial to my learning, and that I would fully embrace its structure. </p>
<p>Should I wait one year (apply next year as a sophomore), or would my stats make the admissions laugh their pants off? I'm worried that I won't graduate in 4 years if I delay too long, but I might have to...</p>
<p>It sounds like you're a smart, motivated person who is not quite ready to jump into academics full force yet. If I were you, I would consider taking a year or two off first before jumping back in. Unless you do want to pursue academics quite badly right now, in which case apply.</p>
<p>I refuse to evaluate chances, but I will say that the U of C is used to seeing non-traditional students in its undergrad population. I don't want to out people's private lives here on CC, but I do know a decent number of students who dropped out of high school, went to a reform school, had a very low high school GPA or have some kind of non-plain vanilla background. The university admissions officers saw a potential in these students to thrive, and all but one has thrived here (one left for personal/family/psychological reasons).</p>
<p>Are you looking at schools like Hampshire, Reed, Bard, Marlboro? Those schools might also be good places for you.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot for the response, unalove. I've got a small time frame to think this over before I have to begin the applications. The unconventional hook UofC takes notice of is what I was banking on.</p>
<p>The schools you listed are the sort I'm in the process of applying to, which are specifically Beloit, Grinnell, and St. John's College. Thanks for the help.</p>
<p>Right ^. 'He' meant HS in Hawaii. I only questioningly mentioned it because of a running in-joke that mostly grew out of desperation during senior year. Every once in a while we'd start examining Obama's fame and prestige, especially pertaining to his youth memoir, in relation to the media and hope that this would become a factor in college admissions.</p>
<p>This senior class must be getting admission officers incredibly googly-eyed and horny.</p>
<p>I don't think any admissions staff needed an Obama candidacy (or Michelle Wie) to pay attention to Punahou. It's a pretty famous school. I've never been closer to Hawaii than Puerto Vallarta, and I've known about it for a long, long time.</p>