UChicago (Chancing & Questions...)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>For anyone IN UChicago or graduated recently:</p>

<p>How did you balance the workload and how did you feel about the workload? Also, how well did you think you used the resources UChicago had to offer? </p>

<p>I know that wherever I go, I will be able to find the resources to pursue my goals, and so it's just up to me to make full use of them. I took note of UChicago, though, because of how sassily and unabashedly geeky they were, and how comfortable their campus was (one of the few schools I was able to visit). So what I wanted to know was why did you like UChicago?</p>

<hr>

<p>So, chancing...</p>

<p>To those of you accepted under UChicago's EA, CONGRATZZZZ!!!!! :) Now go drink yourselves some slushie because you get to avoid the waiting game x.x</p>

<p>If any of you who fall in the above category are feeling bored because you don't have any more college apps to fill your winter break with...</p>

<p>...chance me? c:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.2 UW (with the Mid-Year report it'll be 3.4, our grades are pretty much set in stone by now)
Rank: N/A
Senior Year Classes: AP - {Stats, English Lit & Comp, European History, Macroeconomics,}, PLTW Aerospace Engineering, 2 gym classes (dance and racquet sports woot), 2 classes at UW-Madison (Kinesiology 119 & Reason in Communication 210)
Past AP's: Calc AB & BC = 5, World History = 5, English Lang. & Comp = 5, Chinese = 4, Psych = 4, the rest I'm not listing :P (either here or on the self-reported scores haha)
ACT: 35
SATII: Math II (790), Chemistry (690 <em>wince</em>)
21 college credits from UNR & UW-Madison</p>

<p>President of city-wide Robotics Team ('12, member '11-'12), President of Anime Club ('11-'12, VicePres '10, member '09-'12), Yearbook Section Editor ('11-'12, member '10-'12), Forensics/Speech&Debate (member '10-'11), Link Crew Leader (pilot year, '12)</p>

<p>2 pretty darn good recs</p>

<p>and I don't think my essays are too shoddy themselves</p>

<p>QuestBridge Finalist
(ergo, I suppose, low income + minority [Chinese, so barely cutting it there :P])</p>

<h2>For those of you who know QuestBridge: Sadly, I did not list UChicago as a Match school and am only applying regular decision</h2>

<p>In addition to UChicago, I was also going for </p>

<p>Colorado College
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Emory College
Northwestern University
Rice University
Swarthmore College
Scripps College
Tufts University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester
University of S. California
Wellesley College
UW-Madison (Safety, in-state)</p>

<p>*Unfortunately (for me) my school has many high quality applicants with a much better GPA than I, and who are also applying to the same schools, so that will probably make me stand out in a bad way. But hey, comparing to myself, the upward trend is rather nice.</p>

<p>Thanks guys!</p>

2

<p>I was admitted early to uchicago, and considering that I was in your position only a few days ago, please don’t give much weight to my answer. That being said, I think you have a pretty good chance of getting in! Some of your stats are better than mine, and some of my stats are better than yours, but overall, I think the two sets of stats are more or less the same. I will say this, given that I spoke to someone who knows Uchicago admissions officers… try your best to blow the AO’s away with your essays! your scores/achievements are essentially set, and you have no control over your teacher recs (other than picking the teacher, you dont decide what they say). the essay is the one thing you can still improve, so do your best to make it perfect!</p>

<p>Best of luck on your apps!</p>

3

<p>Isn’t your GPA a little low? I’m only a junior, so anything I say has no weight, but I think the general thinking is a with a GPA that low, it is very very hard to get in.</p>

<p>Good luck though!</p>

4

<p>I applied with a lower GPA than other kids applying from my school, and got in instead of them, but my GPA was higher than yours. But at the same time, if your grades are low because your school is difficult, and you have excellent essays, you have a shot! So, basically, it’s not out of the question – I think you’re very qualified other than your GPA, and an upward trend + maybe a reason for having not-so-great grades should give you a chance, if not a great one.</p>

5

<p>^ Second tarmiriel’s point about difficulty of school. It’s very important to note the rigor of your classes. How exactly do the courses you took/are taking at UW Madison and UNR factor into your GPA? Aerospace Engineering seems very tough too, that could impress the adcomms. U Chicago states that rigor of high school curriculum is one of the most important factors considered, so that could make up for a lackluster GPA if all other parts of your application are excellent as well.</p>

<p>The manageability of the workload will depend on a variety of factors, such as natural strengths, involvement in extra curricular activities, if you need to work to help pay for tuition, intended majors, etc. As a First Year, I find that the workload can be very manageable during your first quarter if you don’t immediately jump into many RSO’s and make sure to balance the toughest classes with easier ones. This is general advice for any college freshman, and it holds true for U Chicago. Some people are masochists/geniuses and choose to take all honors science and math classes on top of Sosc and Hum in their first year, but this is not really the norm and isn’t necessary either. Again, the key is in being organized, focusing on academics for your first few weeks and having a balanced schedule.</p>

6

<p>How on earth did your cumulative unweighted GPA jump from 3.2 to 3.4 in one semester in your senior year? (Wouldn’t you need something like, straight As in all seven of your classes?) I mean, kudos if you made it happen, but still, I’m a little confused on that one.</p>

<p>Either way, your GPA is low, which I’m sure you know. But your ACT is great, which I’m sure you also know, and your APs and stuff are more than good enough. Can you possibly get in? Yes. To do so, though, you need to write stellar essays and – I’d strongly advise – take another SAT II and get a score with a 7 in front of it.</p>

<p>(And keep doing well in your classes.)</p>