*******UChicago Class of 2021 ED II Results*******

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color][/size]
[ size=+2][ color=orange][ b]Decision: Waitlisted**[/color][/size]
[ size=+2][ color=red][ b]Decision: Rejected**[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown):
[ *] SAT I superscore (breakdown):
[ *] ACT (breakdown):
[ *] ACT superscore (breakdown):
[ *] SAT II:
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0):
[ *] Weighted GPA:
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable):
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses):
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load:
[ *] Number of other EA applicants in your school:
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/list] [ b]Subjective:[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
[ *] Job/Work Experience:
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:[/list] [ b]Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):**[ list]
[ *] Essays (Include Subjects):[ list]
[ *] Common App Main:
[ *] EC Short Answer:
[ *] Extended essay(which topic):
[ *] Optional Essay:
[ *] Why Chicago:
[ *] Other:[/list][ *] Teacher Recommendation #1:
[ *] Teacher Recommendation #2:
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ ] Interview:
[ ] Art Supplement:[/list] [ b]Other[ list]
[ *] Date Submitted App:
[ *] State (if domestic applicant):
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity:
[ *] Gender:
[ ] Income Bracket:
[ ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/list] [ b]Reflection[ list]
[ ] Strengths:
[ ] Weaknesses:
[ ] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected:
[ ] What would you have done differently?:[/list][/list][ b]Other Factors:
[ b]General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:

MODERATOR’S NOTE
This thread is for decisions only. Non-decision comments will be deleted.

2

Admit
1470/1600
90/100 gpa
700 us history sat 2
740 math 2 sat 2
A lot of volunteer work and I ran the peer tutoring association at my school

3

For my D17:

Decision: ACCEPTED (sorry can’t figure out how to make it green)

[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 1500, 740 EBRW/760 Math (didn’t send)
[ *] ACT (breakdown): 34C, 35E/30M/34R/35S
[ *] ACT superscore (breakdown): No superstore - was single sitting
[ *] SAT II: 760 US History, 740 Math II (didn’t send)
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
[ *] Weighted GPA: 4.12
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t rank
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses): APUSH 5; Lang & Comp 4
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc. AB, AP Physics, AP Euro, AP Lit & Comp, Philosophy, US Gov, Choir
[ *] Number of other EA applicants in your school: 4 or 5 total, all were deferred. Only one to do ED II I think(?)
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Quiz Bowl team 4 years
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Part time job since summer 2015: 10-15 hours per week, 20-25 in the summer
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: 60 + hours as a reading tutor to immigrant children
[ *] Essays (Include Subjects):
[ *] Common App Main: wrote about solving problems with simple solutions
[ *] EC Short Answer:
[ *] Extended essay(which topic): Wrote about Idioms and knowing myself better through failure
[ *] Optional Essay: wrote about animated films
[ *] Why Chicago: wrote about how it’s a serious place and I like serious
[ *] Other:[/list][ *] Teacher Recommendation #1: Didn’t read
[ *] Teacher Recommendation #2: Didn’t read
[ *] Counselor Rec: Didn’t read
[ *] Additional Rec: Didn’t submit
[ ] Interview: Interviewed with one of the academic departments I was interested in.
[ ] Art Supplement:[/list] [ b]Other[ list] Submitted my History Day documentary which placed in State competition
[ *] Date Submitted App: October 2016
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): Minnesota
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Private Catholic
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Female
[ *] Income Bracket: We aren’t going to get a lot of aid, but I’m the third in college in three years so that might help!
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NMF? Legacy
[ *] Strengths: Not sure - there are so many other great applicants.
[ *] Weaknesses: not a lot of leadership
[ *] Why you think you were accepted: I think due to ED. Was deferred earlier.
[ *] What would you have done differently?: Not sure.

4

I’m to sad to post the whole thing: I’ll post it in a couple days.
Stats:
34 ACT,
4.0uw/4.4w
790 math2, 760 H
Lots of ECs relating to women’s rights and created my own mobile startup.
I thought my essays were the best I’ve written for any college, but I guess not.
Extended- the calculus of feminism
Why Uchicago- wrote about the life of mind
Favorite things- wrote about Kendrick Lamar
I should’ve scored higher on my ACT since I am ORM, but now is the time I focus on other things. Wellesley is coming out next week so fingers crossed.

5

Decision: Accepted

SAT I (breakdown): NA
ACT (breakdown): 33C, 35E/31M/35R/34S
ACT superscore (breakdown): 34C
SAT II: 710US History, 610 Math II (didn’t send either)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.28 currently
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 8/323
AP (place score in parentheses): APUSH 5; Lang & Comp 5,Euro 5. Chem 3
IB (place score in parentheses): N/A
Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc. AB, AP Bio, Dif EQ, AP Psych, AP
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 0
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NA
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Cheerleader
Job/Work Experience: Babysitting
Volunteer/Community service: Tutoring
Essays (Include Subjects):
Common App Main: wrote about influential book in my life
EC Short Answer:
Extended essay(which topic):
Optional Essay
Why Chicago: nothing great here just talked about my visit
Other:[/list][ ] Teacher Recommendation #1: Great
Teacher Recommendation #2: Great
Counselor Rec: Average
Additional Rec: Didn’t submit
Interview: Interviewed with a local professional and it went great which I hear is unusual for this person
Art Supplement:[/list] [ b]Other*[ list]
Date Submitted App: December 2016
State (if domestic applicant): Colorado
Country (if international applicant):
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: Female
Income Bracket: 150K+
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
Strengths: essays I think I made them laugh and there originality
Weaknesses: ECs were not robust
Why you think you were accepted: Since I wasn’t a superstar and not many of us are (I didn’t clerk on the Supreme Court at 16) I had to stand out on my essays and maybe my interview. I think visiting helped but really it came down to the essays. From an admissions officer POV, they get 1000’s of apps with great stats and just a few words that give them an idea if your a good fit. ED/visit/essays were unusual and showed who I am so they stood out. JMHO. If I learned anything from this process it’s that being a good writer is extremely important.
What would you have done differently?: Nothing

6

Decision: Waitlisted

Objective:
[ *] ACT (breakdown): 31C, 33E, 30M, 31R, 31S
[ *] ACT superscore (breakdown): 32C, 33E,31M, 31R, 31S
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.65
[ *] Weighted GPA: 4.75
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 5/209
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses): Human Geo (4), World History (5), US History (4), Physics 1 (3), Language and Composition (3), Chemistry, Calc AB
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP Chem, Consumers Ed, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, AP Calc AB, Art I, Italian II
[ *] Number of other EDII applicants in your school: 1 (accepted)
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Illinois State Scholar, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, 2x Briglio Award, 2x All-Conference, 4x Academic All-Conference, prob more I just forgot
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): 4 years Track and Field (JV captain frosh season, Varsity captain every year after that), 4 years football, 1-year Wrestling (JV captain), Varsity Club, NHS, Project SEED (internship), Android Developer
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Pet Supplies Plus and Pool concessions
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: 25 hrs through NHS, Monthly soup kitchens at local church

Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):
[ *] Essays (Include Subjects):
[ *] Common App Main: 8
[ *] Extended essay(which topic): 9 (When can the parts be separated from the whole?)
[ *] Why Chicago: 9
[ *] Other:[/list]
[ ] Teacher Recommendation: Waived rights on recommendations so couldn’t see. I did get recommendations from 3 teachers who do like me and also my professor whom I did research for.
[ ] Interview: none
[/list] [ b]Other[ list]
[ *] Date Submitted App: Jan 3rd 2017
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): Illinois
[ *] School Type: small public
[ *] Ethnicity: white
[ *] Gender: male
[ *] Income Bracket: 70k
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): 1st generation, very poor high school

Reflection
[ *] Strengths: essays and extracurriculars
[ *] Weaknesses: test scores, service hours, GPA
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I wrote some decent essays and I am a very strong leader, however, I do not have the strongest extracurriculars and they do not entirely match a typical UChicago student. My test scores are also really bad lol
[ *] What would you have done differently?: I should have applied ED1 when there were more spots available. I should have also studied for my tests more and taken the SAT.

7

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I {best single sitting) (breakdown): 2280 (800 CR, 730 M, 750 W), only took once
ACT (breakdown): 35 (36 E, 33 M, 36 R, 34 S), only sent this sitting
SAT II: 800 Math II, 780 Chem, 740 Lit
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.99
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Near top?
AP (place score in parenthesis): Chinese (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis):
Senior Year Course Load: IB HL: French, Chem, Math…SL: Lit, History, Biology
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Finalist, random essay contest that’s technically national

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Swim, violin, Yearbook web manager, teacher’s assistant, NHS, an activism club, other random stuff but nothing really
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: Some, but nothing big
Summer Activities: A medical camp, then Stanford Summer Humanities Institute
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App: 8/10, was pretty personal and kinda deep, people who read said it was really well-written
Extended Essay: 9/10 I think this is what got me in…it was really unusual.
Why UChicago: 7/10 Was well composed but not really anything special.
Optional Favorites Essay: 7/10 Was kinda randomly listing things I liked, I tried to do things that were insightful to my personality, though.

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 9/10, French teacher, liked me but no super special connection
Teacher Rec #2: 7/10, Math teacher; again I just sort of knew her and did well in her class, talked a little bit outside of school
Counselor Rec: No idea
Additional Rec: Nope
Interview: Did not interview. (Thought this would hurt me but I guess not)

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Undecided
State (if domestic applicant): MI
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Small public
Ethnicity: East Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: 200K
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None

Reflection

Strengths: None really, English/Reading standardized test scores?
Weaknesses: Math SAT score, lack of leadership, no really “cool” extracurriculars
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: “Quirky” essay where I basically did a literary analysis of apples and oranges. I think this shows how important essays are because I was a very lackluster applicant otherwise in terms of extracurriculars and awards.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Rejected ED by University of Pennsylvania
General Comments : I’m shook

8

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
ACT (breakdown): 35
ACT superscore (breakdown): 35
SAT II: 770 US History 800 BIO
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.00 (3.98 if counting mid-year report)
Weighted GPA: 4.35 (4.30 if only counting up to junior year)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): school does not rank?
AP (place score in parentheses): AP CALC BC (5), AP English Lang (5), APUSH (5), APCS(4), AP BIO (4), AP STUDIO ART (4)

[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP English Literature, Multivariable Calculus, AP Gov/ H Econ, Guided Studies Tudor, AP Physics
[ *] Number of other EA applicants in your school: Naviance says 10 applied this year EA-RD
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
[ *] I won third place for General Features Story in JEANC’s (Journalism Education Association of Northern California) annual contest for an article I co-wrote on First Generation College Bound Students.
This past summer, I gained the leadership opportunity to represent Emerge America in Emily’s List 2016 Western Regional Conference in San Francisco and at the Goldman School of Public Policy leadership summit at UC Berkeley.

[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
National Organization for Women Founder/President (10,11,12)
Society of Women Engineers Club President (12)
Co- Program Manager for Emerge California (10,11,12): we train women to run for local office: trained Libby Schaaf, the current Oakland Mayor- raised $20,000 to recruit and train Oakland women.
Self-taught myself IOS programming+ built the app “Midnight Thoughts." (10)
Rape Trauma Services Ambassador & Activist (10-12)
Stanford Humanities Institute: Literary Research with Stanford Professor Gabriella Safran
Harvard Model Congress Club Delegate
Aragon Outlook Features and Opinion writer (10,11) I didn’t include this cuz I quit.

[ *] Job/Work Experience: Intern for Assemblymember(10), lifeguarding, Emily’s List (12-)
[ *] Essays (Include Subjects)

[ *] Common App Main: Wrote the ethnical dilemma prompt how street photography simplifies and dramatizies reality/truth, but demands me to ultimately look deeper to define my own personal truths as I transform my inner gaze into my art.
Extended essay(which topic): Find x (10/10) Honesty the best stuff I have ever written.
Optional Essay: Wrote about Henri Bresson’s street photography and how it demands me to constantly reevaluate my world.
Why Chicago: (It ended up 3 pages.) Talked about my obsession with the Cold War/ Obama + life of the mind. Message me if you want to read it because it’s really wacky to describe.

[ *] Other:[/list][ *] Teacher Recommendation #1: English Teacher (6/10) I didn’t participate that much…
[ *] Teacher Recommendation #2: APUSH Teacher (9/10)
[ *] Teacher Recommendation #3: CALC teacher (7/10) I was always late to class…
[ *] Counselor Rec: (6/10)
[ ] Interview: didn’t request one
[ ] Art Supplement:[/list] [ b]Other[ list] My street photography
[ *] Date Submitted App: 1/1/2017
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): CA
[ *] Country (if international applicant): USA
[ *] School Type: Public
[ *] Ethnicity: LOL my last name gives it away real quick.
[ *] Gender: Female

[ ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/list] [ b]Reflection*[ list] Nothing!
[ ] Strengths: GPA, Course Rigor, ACT, ESSAYS
[ ] Weaknesses: Teacher recommendations LMAO, ethnicity (My teachers were requiered to write one for me cuz I did tudoring), applied with a sibling.
[ ] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Essays + good fit + ED2
[ ] Were else did you apply?:[/list][/list][ b]Other Factors: I applied to Pomona ED but was rejected lolol
[ b]General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:

9

Decision: Waitlisted

Objective:[ list]
[] SAT I (breakdown): 790 CR, 800 MA, 790 WR
[] SAT I superscore (breakdown): 800 CR, 800 MA, 790 WR
[] SAT II: 800 US History, Math II; 790 World History, Chinese; 780 Biology M
[] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[] Weighted GPA: 5.16/5.3 (roughly 96.5% average)
[] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): No ranks; estimated top 2%
[] AP (place score in parentheses): 5: Calc BC, Chem, US History, World History, Statistics, Lang and Comp, Physics C: Mechanics; 4: Biology; 3: French
[] Senior Year Course Load: 7 AP Classes
[] Number of other EA applicants in your school: Unknown
[] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/list]: National Merit Semifinalist
Subjective:[ list]
[] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Cofounder of a club to help students study, 400+ hours at a hospital, 200+ hours volunteering with local church, job as assistant property manager in local town, volunteer at Chinese school as a teacher’s aide
[] Essays (Include Subjects):[ list]
[] Common App Main: Wrote about how keeping ants changed my worldview
[] Extended essay(which topic): Vestigiality; wrote about my hobby of cartography
[] Optional Essay: Listed favorites
[] Why Chicago: Intellectual adventurism
[] Teacher Recs: Both were fine I think; from Stat and Physics teachers
[] Counselor Rec: Fine I assume
[] Additional Rec: None
[] Interview: Not offered
[] State (if domestic applicant): Pennsylvania
[] School Type: Large suburban public school
[] Ethnicity: Asian
[] Gender: Male
[] Income Bracket: Upper middle class
[] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): None
[/list] [ b]Reflection**[ list]
[] Strengths: Grades, test scores
[] Weaknesses: EC’s
[] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I’m a pretty stereotypical Asian male, with good grades and test scores but mediocre EC’s. Nothing about me particularly stood out, and I guess my essays weren’t good enough to convince them to admit me.
[] What would you have done differently?:[/list] I’m not sure. I can say improve my essays now, but I thought my essays were quite good at the time. Unless I could travel back in time and cure caner or win Intel or something absurdly good, I doubt much would have changed considering my background.
[ b]General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:** A bit salty. UChicago has been my top choice since sophomore year, and I thought I had a pretty good shot at getting in. I want to blame Affirmative Action, but ultimately I just wasn’t good enough.
However, I remain optimistic. Though my chances of getting in from the waitlist are slim to none, I’ll stay on it and see what happens. I see admissions into top colleges as a crapshoot, so if a few of my bullets miss, it’s only to be expected.

10

ACCEPTED:
Honestly, I didn’t know that much about college confidential that existed before the college application process, but I think that it is rare to find genuine help with the amount of trolling and pessimistic spirit of this website. I have had a lot of fun commenting and trying to build a junior member status here. but my time here is done. I hope that my post will be helpful to future applications!

SAT I (breakdown): I didn’t send but I got 2190 as the highest take (2200 superscore, but didn’t send)
ACT (breakdown): I sent two scores in: a 34C and a 35C
ACT superscore (breakdown): 36 (but take it with a grain of salt, test scores are def not everything!)
SAT II: 790 Math II and 790 US History and 760 Bio M
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0, but if they considered Sr. year mid year report --> 3.98
Weighted GPA: 4.32 but if they considered mid year report —> 4.37
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): My school does not rank so I don’t know
AP (place score in parentheses): 7 tests, counting ap calc bc subscore of ab
Bio-4, apush-5, ap eng-5, ap calc bc-5, ap calc ab supscore 5, ap comp sci 4 , ap physics 3 lol

Senior Year Course Load:
Mulitivariable calc, Ap Eng, TA, Ap Spanish ew, AP gov/Econ H, AP physics C, Adv Journalism
Number of other EA applicants in your school: n/a but 10 total applicants i believe.
[Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): lol a scholastic key for a memoir? Debate awards? Does not count?

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses):
Spoken Word Poetry Club Pres (I wrote about struggle of getting members lol), Now club co-vp, News Editor, Intern for Assembly Member (if i say who, it will give away my district and name), Intern for Congresswomen, SF democratic Party fellow/Intern, Debate stuff grouped into one: Mun secretariat cabinet/HMC/Westmunc chair, Summer: Yale young global scholars, Research at the humanities institute at Stanford University

Essays (Include Subjects
Common App Main:
I wrote about my obsession w/Christmas ornaments and decorations even if I never celebrated it, combined it with my love for slam poetry
EC Short Answer:
Extended essay(which topic):
I chose “the mind does not stick” My essay was an embodiment of Ivan Karamazov’s philosophy–> deep, logical in a nonsensical and borderline offensive way.
Optional Essay:
I wrote about the book beloved. Plus country music.
Why Chicago: I imagined myself in both its academic settings and student life philosophies.

Teacher Recommendation #1: Math Teacher

Teacher Recommendation #2: English Teacher
Counselor Rec: a giant lol.

Interview: Amazing convo. I don’t know the weight it holds, but This is what made me switch to ED 2. I never visited colleges except for summer camps at yygs and gtown so I never was sure what college I would fit into. My interviewer was so weird in an intellectual way and so me, that I decided, even without visiting, that Chicago was for me.
State (if domestic applicant): CA
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: A: Over represented minority but it’s okay, don’t sweat it.
Gender: F: I don’t think this matters actually.
Income Bracket: Bernie Sanders wouldn’t like me.
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): I don’t believe I had any. lol.
Strengths: Not going to lie, I’m a brilliant writer. Research?
Weaknesses: I’ve spent enough time dwelling on weaknesses. My best advice for future applicants is to not let your insecurities consume you. You are ready!
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Essays, Course Rigor, Scores? I’m so weird also.
What would you have done differently? Honestly, I wish I would have visited colleges and been more aware of the ED process. I only really knew of 2 schools from attending summer camps there, and I feel like if I could had researched UChicago earlier, I would have applied ED.

General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations: Take college confidential with a grain of salt. This is actually a great place to be to receive advice from people, but it can be a confidence shaker at times. I was deffered from an early school and it was devastating, but “its always dark before dawn.” This is a difficult process, and I wish nothing but the best of luck to future applicants. (:
Please do not hestitate to PM me for any essay help!

11

[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective:[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 2260 (800 M, 780 W, 680 CR) and 2300 (800 M, 780 CR, 720 W)
[ *] SAT I superscore (breakdown): 2360 (800 M, 780 W, 780 CR)
[ *] ACT (breakdown): 35 (36 M, 35 S, 35 E, 34 R)
[ *] ACT superscore (breakdown): ^^
[ *] SAT II: 800 M2, 800 Chem, 740 USH
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0
[ *] Weighted GPA: 4.84/5.0
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 11/560
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses): Chem (5), Physics 1 (5), US History (5), World History (5), Psych (5), Environmental Science (5), Biology (5), Statistics (5), US Gov (5), Macroeconomics (5), English Lang (5), Comp Sci A (5)
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses): none
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, AP Microecon, AP English Lit, AP Euro, AP Physics 2
[ *] Number of other EA applicants in your school: none ED2
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):[/list] [ b]Subjective:[ list] AIMEx3, National Merit Finalist, 60+ Mu Alpha Theta trophies w/ lots of top ten, 17th place ARML team member

[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): National Champion Math Team member (and VP of Mu Alpha Theta chapter), Tutor, Coach of middle school math team, President & Founder of Financial Literacy initiative, Mock Trial team founding member (secretary and lawyer), Personal fitness and lifting and lost 80 pounds, played in a band, lots of catholic stuff
[ *] Job/Work Experience: Worked at a summer camp for 2 summers, tutored math around town for money, worked a few weeks for my dad’s law firm, catholic charity work
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:[/list] [ b]Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):**[ list] 300 hours in total, most from summer camp counselor, then unpaid tutoring and school shadowing program

[ *] Essays (Include Subjects):[ list]
[ *] Common App Main: (9.2/10) About how i lost 80 pounds in 8th grade and it made me an inspiration for kids who are bullied and don’t fit in.
[ *] EC Short Answer: Math team
[ *] Extended essay(which topic): (9/10) describe your relationship with your arch-nemesis, wrote about my best friend and how we are so competitive and make eachother better
[ *] Optional Essay: Didn’t even write an essay, just listed my favorite music/shows/movies with some brief descriptions and was honest
[ *] Why Chicago: (7/10) pretty solid and well-researched just not special
[ *] Other:[/list][ *] Teacher Recommendation #1: (10/10), Math team coach and teacher of 6 classes in 4 years, definite money
[ *] Teacher Recommendation #2:(8/10) Teacher of 3 AP science classes over the past two years, don’t know about his writing ability but he’s a total bro and honestly like my friend
[ *] Counselor Rec: (5.5/10) met her twice
[ *] Additional Rec: (7/10) probably decent, teacher at school where I started the math team (my church’s middle school)
[ ] Interview: wasn’t offered one, lol
[ ] Art Supplement:[/list] [ b]Other[ list] no

[ *] Date Submitted App: 10/19/16 (EA Applicant)
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): Florida
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type: Big public school, 2400 kids
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ ] Gender: Male
[ ] Income Bracket: 300+
[ ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):[/list] [ b]Reflection[ list] none but I’m sure ED2 was a real push
[ ] Strengths: Scores, grades, math EC’s, extended + common essays
[ ] Weaknesses:Lack of any insane EC’s aside from math, never visited the school, did lots of math team stuff over summers but most other kids probably did internships and camps
[ ] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Strengths and ED2 showed commitment
[ ] What would you have done differently?:[/list][/list][ b]Other Factors: Probably would have started my community initiative earlier and done some summer camps and DECA
[ ] Were else did you apply?:[/list][/list][ b]Other Factors: Fordham EA (accepted), Michigan EA (accepted), Penn-Wharton ED (denied), Chicago EA (deferred), University of Florida (Accepted)
[ b]General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: This was a real shocker. Can’t believe the whole process is finally over. UChicago is gonna be quite the time and I know their econ degree is dank. So happy. I was deferred EA and not even offered an interview. Honestly thought they forgot about my app.

12

DECISION: ACCEPTED <3

b]Objective:**[ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 1530 , 790 M 390 R 350 W
[ *] SAT I superscore (breakdown): NA
[ *] ACT (breakdown): NA
[ *] ACT superscore (breakdown): NA
[ *] SAT II: 800 Math II, 770 Chem
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): NA (lol IB)
[ *] Weighted GPA: NA

[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): NA
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses):
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses): 45/45
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: HL: Math, Chem, Physics… SL: Lit, Spanish B, Econ. Extended Essay Chem
[ *] Number of other EA applicants in your school: Idk… none?
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):UKMT golds, Community, leadership, science, MUN (idk if that counts lol)
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Student body president, founder of engineering club and debate… MUN 8 yr, Peer tutoring 4 yr

[ *] Job/Work Experience: Started my own tennis academy, Google, GSK and market research local company
[ *] Volunteer/Community service:[/list] [ b]Writing (Write a brief description and Rate Quality on 1-10 Scale; 10 as Best):

  • Usual Community school
    -NGOs India
  • Cambodia service trip
  • Etc

[ *] Essays (Include Subjects): ? i ve no idea what this means ahhaha
[ *] Common App Main: failure one
[ *] EC Short Answer: again, no clue what this means
[ *] Extended essay(which topic): Square one

[ *] Optional Essay: Did some creative stuff there :stuck_out_tongue:
[ *] Why Chicago: spoke a lot abt the community and how I came to fall in love with engineering + human body
[ *] Other:[/list][ *] Teacher Recommendation #1: 10/10 --> math teacher
[ *] Teacher Recommendation #2: 9/10 --> chem teacher

[ *] Counselor Rec: 10/10 --> worked close and hard with admin over 4 yr + ECA head wrote an extra letter :stuck_out_tongue:
[ *] Additional Rec: Peer, suprvisors for my interns
[ *] Interview: 9/10 --> we went to same school (LOL WHAT ARE THE CHANCES? hahahah didn’t know her though cause we were many yrs a apart + she had same interests as me so that helped)

[ *] Art Supplement: I can only draw stick figures… so lol what do you thin?
[ *] Date Submitted App: ermmmm… not sure y this is a factor, but abt 3-4 days b4 deadline
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): NA
[ *] Country (if international applicant): Singapore
[ *] School Type: Intl; IB
[ *] Ethnicity: Indian - Singaporean
[ *] Gender: M
[ *] Income Bracket: not too bad
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): my hook = straight line on planar surface :stuck_out_tongue: (i.e. nothing lol)

[ *] Strengths: Scores were not too bad, ECAs, passion for science + essays
[ *] Weaknesses: SAT 1 --> shld have studied lol hahahah - tip: don’t just walk in for a SAT
[ *] Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: Passion was obv?
[ *] What would you have done differently?:[/list][/list][ b]Other Factors: SAT
[ b]General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations,

Best of luck guys and just make sure your essays are bomb :stuck_out_tongue: i went pretty out there with my argument… like philsiophical so uk, have fun w/ it

MODERATOR’S NOTE
This thread is for decisions only. Non-decision comments will be deleted.

13

Rejected

-ACT: 32 --(Eng 35, Read 36, Math 29, Sci 28)
-GPA: 3.83 UW, 4.36
-No rank
-#5 Public School In Minnesota

-AP Scores/Classes: Human Geography (4), Lit and Comp (5), World History (3), Calculus AB (N/A), Psychology (N/A), Biology (N/A), Envi. Science (N/A), Language and Comp (N/A)
-Taken very rigorous course load, always taken honors when available
-Only two other girls from my school applied

Have a lot of ECs, done over 500 hours of volunteer work through various organizations, fair amount of leadership positions, strong creative essays, and great recommendations.

Not really in the mood to elaborate a lot.

Nice job to those who made it!

14

Decision: Waitlisted

SAT 1: 1049
SAT 2: 720 Spanish, 650 US History
AP Exams: APUSH 3, AP English Lang & Com. 2, AP Cal AB 1
ACT: 21
Senior Yr Classes: AP Lit, AP Gov, AP Calc BC, AP Spanish, Psychology, and AOP/TA
In Summer Programs: Global Glimpse-Culture Exchange Program, District Attorney’s Justice Academy, volunteered in soup kitchen, involved in community organizations
GPA: 3.60 Weighted
Rank: 55 out of 434
Essays: When can you separate the parts from the whole?- Like experiences make you-you are the whole
Wrote about my background
Wrote about my love for ice-cream and how it’s not the same as sherbet
Alumni Interview: I think I did okay.
Rec’s from employer and leaders of community organizations + 2 letter of Rec from junior and senior year English teachers
State: California
Country: USA
Ethnicity: Salvadoran
Gender: Female
I could have studied more for tests, spend more time on essays, and improve grades. :slight_smile:

Hope I get in! :0)

15

Decision: Rejected

SAT I: 1490 (720 M / 770 E)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 (approximate…Canadian average /100 was 96+)
Weighted GPA: N/A
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/12
Senior Year Course Load: Hardest that school offers
Number of other EA applicants in your school: 0
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Loran Scholar Semi-finalist
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Model UN (founder and president), yearbook (president), student council, varsity badminton, varsity cross-country (co-founder), varsity soccer, varsity track & field, drama club (lead roles)
Job/Work Experience: supervisor at frozen yogurt shop (since summer before freshman year)
Volunteer/Community service: “Youth Ambassador” for national charity (9/10), volunteer tutor for immigrant children (8/10), volunteer with national charity for the visually impaired (6/10)
Common App Main: A little controversial, but probably 8/10
EC Short Answer: not bad, 8/10
Optional Essay: high-quality essay, but it was more of a innocuous fictional story than an insightful piece that Chicago would have liked to have received
Why Chicago: not great, didn’t really explain anything that set Chicago apart from my other schools of choice
Teacher Recommendation #1: 10/10. read it. Great rec
Teacher Recommendation #2: 8/10. Didn’t read, but it was probably good.
Counselor Rec: 7.5/10 kind of a gamble on this one
Additional Rec: Submitted two additional recs (from agencies for which I volunteered); both were very good (9/10)
Interview: I didn’t request one
Date Submitted App: Last possible day (procrastination is a weakness of mine)
State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Canada (east coast)
School Type: small private Christian
Ethnicity: caucasian
Gender: male
Income Bracket: 65k-85k
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): none really
Strengths: ECs
Weaknesses: SAT score is low, senior year course load is weak, essays are average, international applicant (weakness?)
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: the above weaknesses^
What would you have done differently?: spent more time on essays, taken harder courses
General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: Discouraged that I didn’t get in, but I have plenty of RD options that could work out, and I’ve already been accepted to some great Canadian schools. Still disappointed in myself though. Congrats to everyone that was accepted!! An amazing accomplishment.

16

size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted**[/color][/size]

[ b]Objective
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): never took
[ *] ACT (breakdown): 34
[ *] ACT superscore (breakdown): 32 English, 36 Math, 34 Reading, 34 Science, 27 Writing
[ *] SAT II: 800 Math 2, 750 BioM
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.09
[ *] Weighted GPA: school doesn’t weight
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): top 10%
[ *] AP (place score in parentheses): Bio 5, Apush 4, Stat 5, English lang 4, Chem 3(did not send)
[ *] IB (place score in parentheses):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: AP BC Calculus, AP Computer Science A, AP English lit, h physics, religion, and orchestra
[ *] Number of other ED applicants in your school: 0
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Regeneron Scholar, Presented at National JSHS, invited to AAAS annual meeting, AP Scholar with Distinction, a couple other regional/state science awards.

[ b]Subjective:**[ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Competitive Swimming (Varsity Captain), Classical Piano for 10 years, 3 years of research, editor for the National High School Journal of Science, and my high school book club.
[ *] Job/Work Experience: I got paid to work in my lab, but it was mostly educational.

[ *] Volunteer/Community service:[/list] NOPE

[ b]Writing
[ *] Essays (Include Subjects):[ list]
[ *] Common App Main: 10 - I wrote about my first summer in the lab and riding the city bus. It was about finding my rhythm in life.

[ *] EC Short Answer:
[ *] Extended essay(which topic): 9 - Square 1. I told the story of how I developed my epistemology from various experiences in high school classes.

[ *] Optional Essay: If this is the one where you list the things you like then 9. I gave a giant eclectic list of all the music, and theatre I love. I guess its kind of unique for a teenage boy to praise Aretha Franklin and Martha Argerich.

[ *] Why Chicago: 7 - pretty generic. I talked a lot about the houses.

[ *] Other:[/list][ *] Teacher Recommendation #1: 9- Chemistry teacher that I had for 3 years. Contrary to my AP chem score, I am actually good at it and was having a bad day.

[ *] Teacher Recommendation #2: 7- my history teacher for 2 years. I’m not that great at history, but he likes me and I really like religious studies and he loves that.

[ *] Counselor Rec: 10 - I have an amazing counselor who loves me.

[ *] Additional Rec: 8 - My PI from my lab wrote it.

[ *] Interview: 7 - It was my first real interview. I did it on campus. It only lasted about 25 minutes, but that is probably because student interviews are shorter than alumni. I talked well and she agreed that I would be a good fit.

[ *] Art Supplement:[/list] I Submitted a recording of me playing a piano concerto.

Other:
[ *] Date Submitted App: Early October for early action and then converted to ED 2 in early January.

[ *] State (if domestic applicant): Ohio
[ *] School Type: Private all boys
[ *] Ethnicity: White
[ *] Gender: Male
[ ] Income Bracket: Full pay
[ ] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): lol no
[ b]Reflection[ list]
[ *] Strengths: extracurriculars and essays. GPA and test scores are average for Chicago applicant pool
[ *] Weaknesses: Community service.

[ *] Why you think you were accepted: Regeneron STS is a nice accolade. I also have proven that I will love the core curriculum.

[ *] What would you have done differently? I would have just applied ED 1. I wasted my time with a Brown ED app and got differed. I am way happier with Chicago simply because it is Midwest and I’m a republican. Also biochem at Chicago is AWESOME.

[ b]General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: Honestly for all those people that got waitlisted it’s all going to work out. I got differed from 4 schools early, including Chicago. I thought I really wanted another school and now I couldn’t be happier with where I am going. If you have worked hard then great things are to come.

17

Decision: Accepted

Objective:
SAT I {best single sitting) (breakdown): Didn’t take
ACT (breakdown): 35 (34 E, 36 M, 34 R, 34 S), one sitting
SAT II: 770 Math II, 700 USH, didn’t send though
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.95
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus C, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Government, AP Human Geography, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Physics 1, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language, AP Statistics, AP US History, AP World History
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP Scholar with Disinction, published in internationally-renowned journal, presented papers at internationally-renowned business conferences (EAM, USASBE, etc), Tennis State Runner Up

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): FBLA (President), MIT Launch (Co-Founder/Co-President), NHS (Member-At-Large), 2 Internship (one research), varsity tennis, track, cross country, and many volunteering stuff
Job/Work Experience: 2 Internships
Volunteer/Community service: A lot
Summer Activities: Volunteered at local hospital, local library, and museum of natural history. Interned at a startup.
Essays (rating 1-10, details): Common App: 8/10, other people liked it and thought it was cool. It was about immigration, but I added a unique touch
Extended Essay: 9.5/10 This one was so much fun to write! I made mine strictly about econ and wrote with a lot of humor
Why UChicago: 7/10 This was a fairly standard essay, nothing too special.
Optional Favorites Essay: 9/10 I had fun with this as well

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: 9/10, History teacher, I really enjoyed his class and worked super hard.
Teacher Rec #2: 8/10, Math teacher, I did really well in second semester
Counselor Rec: I don’t know
Additional Rec: Had a UChicago alum write it
Interview: Did not interview. (i am out of state so…)

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: Economics
State (if domestic applicant): MD
Country (if international applicant): USA
School Type: Medium Public
Ethnicity: Asian
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: $120,000
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): Published

Reflection

Strengths: Year round varsity athlete with many good ECs and relatively good stats i guess
Weaknesses: I thought not sending SAT II would be bad but maybe not
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I wrote a really cool essay that compared apples and oranges in terms of economics. This, and my common app, was probably what got me in.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Accepted University of Minnesota, University of Maryland, Deferred ED by University of Pennsylvania Wharton
General Comments: Anything is possible if you work hard! I would have never imagined getting into UChicago. I thought that it was wayy out of my reach and almost didn’t apply because the essays were too hard. But, dreams actually do come true. You just can’t give up.

18

Deferred EA and then:

[asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Accepted [/color][/size]

Objective:

ACT (breakdown): 34 (E35, M35, R34, S32)
SAT II: Didn’t send, but: Math II - 750, Biology M - 710
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.8 (Did really terribly first semesters of 9th and 10th grade, but did significant better in 11th and 12th grade)
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): Top 5%
AP (place score in parenthesis): Micro (5), Macro (5)
IB (place score in parenthesis): HL Economics (7), HL Biology (7), HL History (7), HL Math (6), SL Language & Literature (7), SL French (7), Theory of Knowledge (A)
IB Predicted: 43/45
Senior Year Course Load: Since I’m in the IB, same as above.
Number of other ED applicants in your school: 0
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Nothing major, but some high school awards for English and Theory of Knowledge.

Subjective:

Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Founder and Editor-in-Chief of global magazine (independent of school), treasurer of high school student council and three other community service clubs, president of investment club, founder and president of HS discussion club, principal coordinator of global conference about social entrepreneurship.
Job/Work Experience: An internship in the summer after 9th grade, but nothing after.
Volunteer/Community service: Nothing significant.

Essays (rating 1-10, details):

Common App Main: 8/10
Extended essay(which topic): 9/10,
Optional Essay: 7/10
Why Chicago: 8/10

Recommendations (rating 1-10, details):

Teacher Rec #1: Biology, stellar recommendation, I read it myself; 11/10
Teacher Rec #2: History; 10/10
Counselor Rec: 10/10
Additional Rec: None
Interview: It was alright, nothing great; 7/10

Other

Applied for Financial Aid?: No
Intended Major: Economics & Philosophy
Country (if international applicant): India
School Type: Private, International
Ethnicity: Asian (Indian)
Gender: M
Income Bracket: Paying full tuition comfortably.
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): NONE

Reflection

Strengths: The email I wrote to my admissions rep after being deferred EA, essays
Weaknesses: GPA, community service, awards, I don’t have a million dollar business already I guess
Why you think you were accepted/deferred/rejected: I think it was really all to do with the email I sent the rep after being deferred EA. My counselor and him spoke and the reason I hadn’t been accepted earlier was because they weren’t sure about the “authenticity” of my interest in the liberal arts; I guess my email was convincing enough.
Where else were you accepted/deferred/rejected: Deferred ED from UPenn, accepted RD at UToronto (applied after Trump)
What would you have done differently? Absolutely nothing, it somehow all worked out for me.

General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc:

If I am proof of anything, it is that one or two awful grades in 9th or 10th grade are not going to stop you from going to a top institution. I am not extraordinary, I am passionate, I have good grades, and I was able to convey this through my essays and the email I wrote. For those of you reading this and hoping to get accepted next year, don’t fake it, you won’t make it.

For those of you who weren’t accepted, know that it is all going to work out. If you did in fact think you had a chance of getting in, then it only speaks to the fact that you will get into an incredible school no matter what. I was deferred ED from Penn and deferred EA from Chicago, after which I was truly devastated; don’t let that stop you.