<p>Hi everyone I'm new here so please be patient with me. I am hoping to transfer to UChicago next fall I am currently a freshman at an incredibly large university in Florida :) Anyway I am in the summer program at the moment and its going well but I know that this school is not for me. first of all I want to double major and my second major is not available here, but uchciago has it in spades. I am definitive about my choice of majors and thus that is my greatest reason for transferring. I am also applying to other schools b/c it is not just a matter of major there are other issues, which is why I am leaving. Though I have awhile to go I would like some advice as the classes that i should take to make my application more appealing. I have registered for lab. sciences, and other core subjects for the fall and will be doing the same for the spring with the addition of calc. and foreign language. The truth is I am a nerd at heart and I have fallen madly in love with the work ethic and mindset of many(not all) of UChicagos students and faculty. I know that I will be a strong candidate but I am worried. I am also retaking teh SAT later this year b/c my previous scores were: reading720, writing 640 and math 590 (i think) I know the math score is really bad, thats why i'm taking it again. Another question is can I take the SAT more than 3 times or on the forth time will my scores be average, b/c I've already taken it 3 times. Any advice would be wonderful thank you all so much :).</p>
<p>I'm happy you realize that your interest in majors is highly subject to change, as is your opinion of your current school. (Have you just completed your first year, or are you just getting started?)</p>
<p>Anyway, I think it makes sense to take the hardest classes you can and get the best grades you can. Do well in class, be active, talk to the prof, get the best recs that you can.</p>
<p>Also realize that Chicago, like many other elite schools, has limited slots open to transfer students, and that you should look at other options too.</p>
<p>If large size and lack of worth ethic are problems for you where you currently are, you should definitely check out New College of Florida. Your SAT scores fit their midranges pretty well, and it sounds like you're the kind of student they would really like to have.</p>
<p>My problem specifically is that I have a desire to peruse knowledge in all of its forms and I don't feel that I will be properly engaged at my university. I am constantly intrigued by all that challenges me, such as mathematics. I realize that math is my greatest foe therefor I have opted to take a difficult Calculus course in the spring and I intent to receive an A in this class. Of course, this will be done in hopes that UChicago will see that I am not shying away from the one blip in my academic record, but its also something I feel that I have to do, b/c I know that I can master the subject (I took it in high school) I just need to focus. I intent to apply to more than one university, but UChicago is my top choice. Thanks for the info unalove. Oh I forgot to answer the question, I am just starting out but believe me I know everything there is to know at my current institution. I don't hate this school, not by a long shot, its just not the right fit. Secondly new college of Florida does not have the major I am missing nor does it have my current major as far as I know.</p>
<p>You sound like you have the right values for UoC, and I hope you get in. UoC is really big on analytical and writing skills, so be sure to work on those. Get the best grades you can.</p>
<p>Thanks greenblue. :) But no one has answered my question about retaking the SATs. I emailed an admissions officer but I have yet to receive a reply from him as well. But thank you all none the less, and keep the positive energy coming :)</p>
<p>I think your GPA, essays, and recommendations will be more important than your SAT scores, and you shouldn't take the SAT a fourth time unless you're practically sure that you'll get a much better score. Which you might, if you've worked hard on your math skills. Do you have any other test scores (SATII, ACT) to report?</p>
<p>No, do you think I should take the ACT instead b/c i could pull that off. Oh I don't think that Uchicago cares about SATII for transfers. But Im really thinking about the ACT now, thanks for that. Plus I'm hoping that what will be a high Calc grade will also help to deflect attention away from the Low SAT math score. As a matter of fact I am extremly excited about the idea o taking the ACTs. I took it before and i actualy did ok on it but i figured that the SATs were somehow better so i focused all of my attention on that. But now, i am really excite about taking the ACTs were as i was deeding taking the SATs Thanks so much greennblue. Now for another question, is it feasible that I take a standardized test in college and have it be counted as a part of my transfer app or is that impossible? TIA :)</p>
<p>P.S. the reason why i didn't include high school grades or GPA is b/c i think that asking u to tell me if i have a shoot is pretty silly considering the fickle nature of admissions departments</p>
<p>Dear Mr/Ms Rhode:</p>
<p>Is there a penalty explicitly or implicitly for taking SAT (or, including SAT II) 4 times or more from UChicago or Other top colleges?</p>
<p>My calculation shows Mr/Ms Rhode's SAT is just a little short of a brilliant score of 2300 to 2400. IMHO, you can put a serious effort this summer for SAT for perfection to get 2300+. A good news is that any future SAT exam question has been at least once tested before, so it is just a matter of thoughtful and repeated practice that you can do this summer. Another good news is that the same SAT test taking skill is to be tested again 3, 4 years later when you prepare GRE or GMAT to go to a grad school. Therefore, it is, IMHO, worthwhile to put time and effort for SAT this summer. Good luck!</p>
<p>Ms. Rhode, thank you :). Thank you thank you thank you siberian. That was my thinking. I calculated that if i really look over everything and study what has been causing the confusion on the math portion I can really bring in a top SAT score. I didn't have tie before b/c i went to a very academically demanding high school, which i loved, but it always come first. Now I have the time to perfect my skills. I also think that by raising my essay score i can alos improve the writing score. Thanks again, but I still don't have an answer. Will i be penalized for taking the SAT more than 3 times?</p>
<p>I don't think it will hurt, nor for that matter will it help much to retake the SAT at Chicago. If one checks one will see that test scores are not even listed as important, only "considered." Strength of curriculum and essays are, in contrast, "very important."</p>
<p>Is the application for transfer the same as a first year application, essays included? In any case if there was an upward trend in the scores it'll look good if the new scores support that and you can always superscore, so take the SAT. With the ACT you have the option of sending your best score but for SAT they always see all of them, that's why the upward trend would look good. In the meantime concentrate on getting the best grades you can in all your classes. Good luck.</p>
<p>Rhode,
Chicago does not consider the writing score. (They don't consider SAT-II scores, either.) From what I understand, those pieces of data never make it to the selection committee.</p>
<p>In past years, they have blacked out the writing scores, but the admissions personnel have been able to see SAT II scores. I don't know whether they plan to continue to black out the writing this year.</p>