Transfer to UChicago -- fighting chance?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I'm a freshman at Boston University seeking transfer to UChicago and was wondering if there was anybody around who might offer an objective outside perspective.</p>

<p>I only seek a truthful response to affirm my fears of probable rejection or offer hope to an otherwise nervous soul. Here is my story:</p>

<p>White male, born and raised in sweet and sunny Dover, New Hampshire.
Hopes to pursue a career in academia and creative writing (poetry)
Father is a Postal Worker with High School Dipl.
Mother is a retail store shift manager with Associate's Degree</p>

<p>BOSTON UNIVERSITY:</p>

<p>English Concentrator
Enrolled in the Boston University Honors Program
Freshman, 3.85 GPA for Semester 1
SAT: 750 WR, 740 MA, 690 CR
SAT 2: 710 Literature, 790 Math 2C, 620 U.S. History, 480 Latin (yowch)</p>

<p>University Extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Member of Writers Workshop (3 hrs/wk)
Co-Editor-in-Chief of literary journal (2 hrs/wk)
Vice President, Literary Society (1 hr/wk)
Editor of literary criticism magazine (2 hrs/wk)
Secretary, Editorial Society (1 hr/wk)</p>

<p>Work: Clerical Duties in the Student Records Office: 10 hrs/wk</p>

<hr>

<p>DOVER HIGH SCHOOL:</p>

<p>5th in a class of 337</p>

<p>National Latin Exams 2005, 2006: Summa Cum Laude (Gold Medal);
New Hampshire State Latin I Exam, 2004: 3rd Place;
Latin Honor Society 2004, 2005, 2006;
National Merit Commended Scholar</p>

<p>EXTRACURRICULAR, PERSONAL, AND VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES (including summer):</p>

<p>Journal: The Long View Review, grade 12; Founder, Editor-in-Chief; Hours per week: 5; weeks per year: 15</p>

<p>Club: Dover High School Inkspot, grade 12, Founder, M.C. of all open mic nights; Hours per week: 2; weeks per year: 40</p>

<p>Academic: National Honor Society; Grades 10, 11, 12; Chapter President, 12; Hours per week: 2; Weeks per year: 40</p>

<p>Community Service: Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary; Grades 11, 12; Cadet Chief Master Sergeant; Alpha Flight Commander; Air Force Sergeant?s Association: Outstanding Cadet Noncommissioned Officer of the Year (2005); Member of winning drill team at wing (state) level in National Cadet Competition, 2005; Hours per week: 5; Weeks per year: 50</p>

<p>Community Service: Civil Air Patrol, Summer Military Encampment; Summer before 12; Position Held: Squadron Guideon; Hours per week: all hours; Weeks per year: 1</p>

<p>Foreign Language: Latin Club; 11, 12; Vice President; Hours per week: 2; Weeks per year: 30</p>

<p>Music: Piano Study, Composition and Performance; 11, 12; Hours per week: 10; Weeks per year: 52</p>

<p>Community Service: Committee for the accreditation of Dover High School as associated with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., Commission on Public Secondary Schools; 12; Student Representative; Hours per week: 2; Weeks per year: 8</p>

<h2>Work: Shaw's for the summer before senior year, 30 hrs/wk; Ben Franklin Crafts for senior year, 15 hrs/wk.</h2>

<p>Misc. Extra Curriculars:</p>

<p>Computer/Technology: The Dark Legion: Internet Gaming Community; 9, 10, 11, 12, Fr.; Commanding officer of 230+ intellectually independent cyberathletes aging from early teens to late thirties; Hours per week: 8; Weeks per year: 50</p>

<p>Science/Math: Amateur Astronomy; 12, Fr.; Study of the stars and planets for the sake of curiosity; Hours per week: 6; Weeks per year: 25</p>

<hr>

<p>PUBLICATIONS:</p>

<p>Poetry:</p>

<p>Amoskeag: The Journal of Southern New Hampshire University, Spring 2006, Vol. 23, No. 1 -- "in toaster town the xmas children love" and "gratias however i prefer extra crispy, Col Sanders".</p>

<p>The Poet's Touchstone (Poetry Society of New Hampshire), Volume 46, 2006 Spring Edition -- "in toaster town the xmas children love".</p>

<p>Clarion at Boston University, Spring 2007 -- "ghosts of Kenmore Square" and "Beautiful"</p>

<p>Burn Magazine at Boston University, Fall 2006 -- "winter, sexuality, and boston university law school" and "ashes".</p>

<p>The Long View Review: High School Literary Journal, Spring 2006, "ghosts of Kenmore Square"; "of Oxford Men the chests who i adore the most"; and "the New World".</p>

<hr>

<p>EXTRACURRICULAR AWARDS:</p>

<p>Dover High School Literary Composition Award, 2006; Southern New Hampshire University Annual Student Writing Contest 2006: Winner, Poetry; Poetry Society of New Hampshire Senior Division Contest 2006: 2nd Place; Dover Public Library Poetry Contest 2005: Winner</p>

<hr>

<p>ESSAYS:</p>

<p>Thought I got these pretty good -- rather "crisp". To the point. They weren't so much anecdotal as they were literally "personal statements", very much related to why and how I live as a student of English and as a literary artist. I work in the BU student records office and I see essays all day long about "life-changing events" and other Chicken-Soup-for-the-Soul-ish crap; figure I'd step away from that particular genre.</p>

<hr>

<p>Thanks sincerely,</p>

<p>Matt</p>

2

<p>Yeah, you have as good a shot as anybody I'd say. Nobody's a sure shot for UChicago from what I've seen on the boards, but you surely have a "fighting chance," as you put it :).</p>

3

<p>You should get in.</p>

4

<p>Sooooooooooooooooooo (10?)
in.</p>

5

<p>I would say you're in...
but if you actually put all of that down on your app, I'd certainly look at it with a great deal of incredulity. You actually spent 72 hours a week your senior year on EC's? I realize they may have been spaced out well, but that still doesn't seem humanly possible. And did you seriously put your role in an online gaming community?
But generally, you look pretty solid. You didn't indicate anything about your courseload both in high school or in college, however. Its rigor is supposedly the most important factor for admission to Chicago.</p>

6

<p>i play on a counter-strike team soon to be in cal-main but i'm probably not going to put that--so i wouldn't put anything about the dark legion.</p>

<p>also, my name is matt, i was born in boston, and i'm applying to uchicago as a transfer--gg coincidence?</p>

7

<p>I always considered it an intellectually beneficial and "unique" activity even though it's definitely a hobby. I thought about mentioning it a long time and I figured, hey, I would rather indicate that I spent an odd couple of hours a day engaging in this organization than say, grabbing a nap. Rift, why not put it down? I mean, no, it's not always considered an orthodox "constructive" activity (though the teamwork/problem solving benefits are myriad for hardcore gamers), but if it's something you pursue with enthusiasm then it's a part of who you are, and admissions will take that into account. 's little different than chess club, and god knows how many times I've seen chess club on college applications.</p>

<p>yes, gg coincidence.</p>

<p>And 72 hours ... jeez, no, different engagements are staggered. Some times are busier than others (and there were some weeks where, between work and homework, I spent my time pursuing these things) -- Mainly, I had a lot of free time in high school, and wanted to get out there and do something, especially on weekends.</p>

8

<p>It's yours to lose.</p>

9

<p>Best wishes, rainman (I attended BU once).</p>

10

<p>Thanks OM -- I really honestly have nothing against the school itself. I'm just having difficulty writing in the city (creatively), and I want to see how much of an undergraduate academic challenge I can get -- might come in handy later. :P</p>

11

<p>From what I understand, BU is much better than when I attended (in the jurrassic). But Chicago has a lot of nooks where one could tuck in and write to one's heart's content. I don't know if you read Terry Prachett, but I do keep looking for an orangutan in the Reg.</p>