<p>SAT: CR 740 M 640 W 690
GPA 3.87 Unweighted
Private School
Senior classes: AP PHYSICS, AP GOV, AP AB CALC , AP SPANISH, AP ENGLISH, Advanced art portfolio
ECs: Head of Model UN, Captain of Crew team, after school job at a doctors office, Production manager for theatre group, some other minor ones
Awards: 2 Scholastic art and writing awards, school book award
Common app- Decent essay, fine activity statement</p>
<p>UChicago supp: good main essay, ok optional essay, Why Chicago essay, - not sure, at the time I thought it was good, but it might of been too overwritten.
Teacher Recs, probably average
Extras, - Included an art portfolio, I had a really good interview, my father went to graduate school at Booth</p>
<p>You have the stats to be competitive, math score might be a bit low though. I’d say if you came across as passionate and creative in your essays you have an okay shot.</p>
<p>how can you say that the OP has competitive statistics. Let’s be realistic. His/her SAT is WELL BELOW the bottom 25% mark. At the level of a school like U Chicago, his/her GPA is in the average range, NOT outstandingly good. The OP is saying the rec letters are likely to be average and essays “OK”. The EC seems to be about average also.</p>
<p>Given other statements, the OP is coming from a upper middle class background. Can’t say if there is any hook (URM, first generation, etc).</p>
<p>The OP is starting off from way below average in terms of the stats, other things must stand out, stand out very well. Let’s hope his/her application is strong in some places s/he did not mention in this post. Maybe the art portfolio will do the trick. Especially this year, all indications are, the competition will be fierce with a plunging acceptance rate - his/her current place is not a comfortable place.</p>
<p>I am not saying to discourage and depress the OP. I am saying this because the OP must make sure that if s/he hasn’t done so yet at other schools, s/he must include applications to some safety schools in the RD round, AND think about other items and materials that should be supplemented in case s/her gets a “deferred to RD” decision from U Chicago.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>PS: I believe there is way too much myth about U Chicago admission decision heavily influenced by the “passionate essays”. I think it’s one of those urban myths propagated by too many kool aid drinkers. Just look at their freshman class stats. Their SAT scores are off the chart - actually higher than most of U Chicago’s peer schools’ scores. If they were so hung up on the “passionate essay” shtick, their SAT scores of the attending students should not be so high because allegedly there should be enough students who got in in spite of lower scores and because of passionate essays. If anything, my honest impression is that U Chicago places a lot more emphasis on “objective data”. Obviously, they don’t put less emphasis on sports or legacy status than their peer schools.</p>
<p>I guess what I said didn’t come across how I wanted it to. OP’s CR score is competitive, however his math score will drag him down. I agree with you.</p>
<p>Hey man, the acceptance rate will probably be around 13-17% for EA applicants. The average admitted student last year had about a 1490/1600 SAT. Yours is a 1380. Based on your stats, you have a shot, but it’s not entirely likely that you’ll get in. It’s the cold hard truth. Honestly I think it’d be more harsh to lie to you and say you have a good shot when you don’t. Sorry dude. My SAT is a 1410/1600 and I seriously doubt that I’ll get in.</p>
<p>@Science fiction: It’s probably because they choose people with extremely passionate essays that ALSO have good stats, not because they only go for the people with good stats. Obviously, a school wouldn’t want a person who wouldn’t succeed academically in their school, so GPA and standardized test scores would be “considered”, but they also don’t want boring people that would not be a pleasure to teach, hence the “essays” to view personality. Even if you go and look at their videos (giving admissions advice), they are always stressing the importance of the essays. Clearly, the essays are important to give insight on one’s personality. Your assumption that they are only choosing people with great stats is not valid. Why would there be a bunch of people with 1600/ 4.0s rejected? </p>
<p>tldr; they’re most likely looking for creative essays AND competitive “stats”.</p>
<p>please note I did NOT say that they only look at numbers. I was challenging this myth that you could be way below par in terms of stats and still get in with passionate essays and this is a frequent affair (of course, way below par with terrific essays could some times work). So you agree with me when you said on the average the applicants need BOTH good essays and competitive stats.</p>
<p>hey man, i hope you get in:) i don’t know enough to chance you since i’m applying myself and i’m pretty sure i’m not getting in:( good luck to us both</p>
<p>Good luck to all of you!! Really hope you guys can all get in!!
You’ve already done your EA so just keep waiting. Don’t worry too much. It’s hard though.</p>