After a plethora of ideas about where I would like to apply for college, I decided that University of Chicago might be a very good fit for me. However, I am aware it is a very competitive school, and a reach to get admitted. I believe I have some leverage, though, as a student to hopefully stand out. I am a freshman in high school, but I am double-accelerated, which means I am taking the next year honors or AP course of that subject. In 8th grade I took honors Biology, whereas now I am taking honors Chemistry as a freshman. This is applied for the rest of my courses. At the moment, I am taking AP Human Geography, Honors Chemistry, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, Honors 10th grade English, and Computer Applications for an elective. My weighted GPA is around a 4.5, and my unweighted is a 4.0. I am also in the robotics team for my high school, and Pulse, which is similar to student council. In addition, I made JV boys soccer, and also planning for track this spring. I have not taken any SAT or ACT tests. Any advice on what I can improve or do to stand out more would be greatly appreciated.
Advice: just engage in activities you’re interested in. Don’t worry about college right now, you’re just a freshman. Take it from a current senior, enjoy high school right now and follow your interests, it’s far too early to stress about getting into top colleges let alone a specific one. The time will come for you to really begin thinking about this stuff. Best of luck, enjoy high school
Take a breath. If you are a freshman it is too early to think about college. Your ideas of what you want in a college, your academic interests etc. could change in the next couple of years. Don’t lock yourself in now. And don’t pin all of your dreams on getting admitted into one super-competitive college. Keep up with your academics, prepare for the standardized tests, find activities that interest you and work towards getting a leadership position as an upperclassman and when the time comes apply wisely and you should have a “plethora” of fine choices. But also find time to develop close friendships and do things you enjoy. If you spend your entire HS career in pursuit of that “perfect college” you will be letting an important time in your life just sip by.
Thanks. I guess I worry too much, but I agree I still have a long while to go.
Thanks. I have thought about that too. Who knows what will happen in the next few years…
I agree with the rest of those who posted. It makes me sad to feel that a freshman feels that much pressure. You need to relax a bit. You need to grow a bit. You need to get to know yourself. You’re really not in a position to know what school is best suited for you until you are older. The best advice I have is to engage in activities that interest you. Find your passion. Develop your passion. If it is of any comfort, my daughter was accepted to the school with only a couple of extracurriculars. Students tend to overdue that a little too much. University of Chicago looks for stellar SATs and grades and APs - no doubt. But they also look for interesting students. They want students that are passionate about knowledge or their interests. If you fill up every hour of every day of your high school career with meaningless activities to pad your application, you’ll not have much opportunity to find yourself. It’s also important to have a social life and enjoy yourself in high school. Interacting with others is how you learn more about yourself as you mature. Trying different things that interest you whether it might be photography or mountain climbing or whatever is better than joining six clubs in high school that you feel a lack of investment. Focus on your studies, but be true to yourself. There are plenty of wonderful schools and opportunities that await you.
Don’t let your life revolve around U of C. Just let your best shine through and everything will fall into place. And if you don’t get in? You’re one of the 92%. No shame
Go out and have fun. Don’t stress about this, please. I was accepted to UChicago last year with above average grades and an above average SAT (aka. I was nothing special academically). I did have a few passions that I spent my high school career pursuing because I wanted to and they interested me. That being said, I’m not nationally renown in any of them, I just love them. My essays were about how I see the world and the little things that I like to think about, they were not a laundry list of all the cool things I’ve done or the hardships I’ve been through. Wait until junior year to feel the pressure, for now just stop and smell the roses and try to enjoy the little things without stressing over college.