UChicago EA chances gracias

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi everybody, I have been to CC many times before, but this is my first time posting. I’m obviously not as smart as many people here, and I’m basically concerned most about Uchicago as opposed to the traditional ivy-league mania.</p>

<p>I attend a decent public school and a local math and science center magnet school in Michigan. Oh yeah, I am Chinese American (born in Cambridge MA, w00t). </p>

<p>GPA: 3.5uw, 4.1w this is the most obvious reason why I should be rejected
Class Rank: 110/352 uw, 23/352 w, I guess a lot of people take easy courses… </p>

<p>PSAT: 216 NMSF</p>

<p>SAT: 1450…(750m, 700v)…I think I can do better, so I’m trying the ACT and retake SAT</p>

<p>AP’s taken (6 total so far): Statistics (10), US History (10), Calculus BC (11), English Lang&Comp. (11), Physics B (11), Biology (11)….with Chem, Lit, European history, and Spanish to come…</p>

<p>EC’s:
Piano-I’ve entered several regional competitions, and made it to semifinals for the state competition twice, and performed in a honors recital at the state level…I auditioned for a summer piano academy and got waitlisted, lol…I’ve played for 9 years, and I try pretty hard, but it is very difficult for me to stand out in music.</p>

<p>Tennis-individually State ranked in the top 100 (not really saying that much but it sounds cool), and varsity letter this year </p>

<p>Chess-I’ve owned pretty well here, I don’t feel like listing all of my tournaments, but I’ve placed top 20 nationally (in 8th grade), and won 1st place in freshman year for the state of Connecticut, although i moved shortly thereafter. I placed in a bunch of other big tournaments...I haven’t been able to compete during junior year because of my panicky mother and my unpleasant GPA, although I hope to enter some competitions this summer.</p>

<p>Research-I did research with Pfizer Inc, and hopefully will have my research published by the end of summer, or beginning of the school year. I’ve been to some random symposiums and such, and I hope to enter Siemens and do well ^_^.</p>

<p>I’ve also done a bunch of little clubs and such (founded 2 clubs in school), but they are not very significant. Oh yeah, I’ve done about 120 hours of community service, and hopefully that will increase this summer.</p>

<p>I suppose that covers the bare essentials, so if there’s any input about my Uchicago EA chances, it would be very much appreciated. Thanks.</p>

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<p>If people respond to mine, I'd be happy to respond to their posts :-D</p>

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<p>You seem like an excellent candidate for U Chicago. But like any other very selective university, it is hard to tell. You should
1) Target your application well - indicating strong interest in U Chicago. Remember, U Chicago is a place where students self-select. Don't let the 40% acceptance rate fool you. They are very very selective....but only a certain kind of person applies to UChicago.
2) Other essays should be brilliant as well. UChicago has many quirky essays to choose from - including the option of writing on your own topic.</p>

<p>Your research work will stand you in good stead.</p>

<p>Also, is it possible for your school to publish only your weighted rank? Rank is a killer in most application processes and many schools have eliminated rank altogether leaving it upto the schools to decide where you "fit in" in your class hierarchy as far as GPA is concerned.</p>

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<p>achat you gave very good advice I would definately follow that, especiall the high admit rate I've seen plenty of people get cocky , 5 applied from my school and the two best got shot down 1550 and a 1580 with a 3.87 and a 4.1 out of 4 respectively.</p>

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<p>My son was admitted to UChicago with a 1460 SAT and 3.6UW GPA from a school no one has heard of - but with excellent EC's and a killer essay. Calm your mom down so she will let you play chess, write the best essay of your life, nail your senior midyear grades and interview at UChicago if you can. </p>

<p>Apply to a range of schools. I would strongly suggest that the UChicago app is not the first one you submit - one's later apps tend to get better. Apply to a couple of safety/match schools first to get the hang of putting the application together (and to ensure you have options in the spring). </p>

<p>I wish you the best - you * sound * like a Chicago kid and I hope to see you at family weekend in 2006.</p>

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<p>Thanks!! that's actually much more optimistic than what my peers tend to suggest...I think I will apply to University of Michigan (naturally), and University of Wisconsin-Madison because they are both awesome and rolling admissions, so they could be good <em>practice</em>, not that I'm going to blow them off or anything. I just got my ACT score back, 35 lol (go figure how that happened... 36/36/35/32), so I guess that helps. I still wish I was better at getting good grades.. :-( ...hopefully I'll learn how to do that before college..thanks again everyone!</p>

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<p>You're in!! Uchig has a 55% acceptance rate OVERALL, and you're way above their average student....so you have a 90% chance of getting in (or at least a very good chance) if you're doing EA.</p>

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<p>aw...that's very generous, but the average UChicago acceptee has an awesome GPA because they actually have discipline and focus in large quantities (i have them in much lesser doses)...but it's encouraging anyways!</p>

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<p>
[quote]
You're in!! Uchig has a 55% acceptance rate OVERALL, and you're way above their average student....so you have a 90% chance of getting in (or at least a very good chance) if you're doing EA.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>where did you get that fact? i'm positive that the acceptance rate is a little under 40%
and by the way, the EA for UChicago is 41% according to US News, eh to hell with US News and Rankings ;)
anyways, I honestly think that you stand a good chance... or else we're both screwed because i have similar stats....</p>

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<p>theStones you're right and golubb u are EXTREMELY wrong.</p>

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<p>bump......</p>

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<p>I also think that you are in. Definitely do an interview. Put yourself into your essaysso that they understand what your intellectual interests are. You sound like a very solid candidate and should not have a problem. I graduated from there.</p>

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<p>achat's analysis is correct.</p>

<p>I disagree with those, like OneMom, who say that "you are in." To get into Chitown these days, which is making itself more selective, you have to do some work.</p>

<p>In your counselor rec, have him/her explain your low rank and how it isn't indicative of you. Play up the research and tie it very obviously to your intended major. Harp on any intellectualism you may have. The chess is a good thing.</p>

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<p>bump...I'm trying to self-study chinese (personal reasons, not SATII or anything), and I realize that my conversational skills have diminished...are there any special 'methods' of improving language skills? In the meanwhile, i'll practice speaking more and practice driving for my license.</p>

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<p>well, I don't know how you'd improve conversation (other than talking to people in Chinese a lot), but maybe you could find a penpal in China to improve writing skills? Or you could listen to a lot of Chinese music or movies/dramas. (Listening to Japanese and Hindi media has improved my vocabulary and listening comprehension over the years ^^)</p>

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<p>I think University of Chicago is overrated, but some people claim it is in the top 5 or top 10. Either way, a 3.5 uw is NOT above average at the school. From what I can tell, you're a pretty average applicant for the university.</p>