<p>Yah just stop lol.. waste of thread space... pointless in accuracy of decisions... so useless wasting ur time bragging about urself... modesty is the best policy...</p>
<p>That is All.</p>
<p>Most universities claim to be much more holistic than they actually are.</p>
<p>OMG!!! Thank you! It is my biggest pet peeve when people post things like "Do I even need to apply?" and then go on to list their 2400 SAT scores, their vast extracurriculars and their 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>chicago say they care about the essay alot but all the people they accepted from my area have over 4.0s. we have strict grading system. The only one who got in with gpa below 4 was an athlet so I'm worried.</p>
<p>I disagree with Ambitiousteen ... it's okay for people to do chance threads b/c it gives them an idea of what to expect ... but they should definitely not stick their lives to what we say, because let's say a 3.3 UW GPA student is so passionate about learning that she goes on to doing extra projects outside of class to learn more about what she's learning vs. a 4.0 UW student with a gazillion APs, 2300+ SAT score, 500 hours of volunteering (aka typical overachiever) ... and both apply to the same school, the 3.3 actually might have a chance of getting in b/c they love learning and that's something their stats don't tell (I took this idea from the book "A is for Admission") Top schools love it when people are passionate. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I agree with phuriku ... most colleges definitely are not as holistic as they claim. For example, Brown rates each applicant on a scale from 1 to 6 in each of the areas of academics (weighted ~70%) and in extracurriculars (weighted ~30%) ... however, if you're rated as a mid-range applicant, especially at the Ivies, your essays can definitely influence your admission decision. The same goes for UPenn and their 9-point system.</p>
<p>@ab2013</p>
<p>I never knew about that point system for admissions--when you say "each of the areas of academics," what do you mean? does this also apply to Chicago?</p>
<p>While many places probably do exaggerate holistic-ness a bit, somehow I think Chicago is telling the truth.</p>
<p>ab2013 is right. It's like that for most of the Ivies.</p>
<p>If you read Mike Moyer's Book (he wrote one about admissions).. he is the dean of enrollment at UChicago.. he even told me Chance threads are whack... obviously he used a different word... But yah so.. this website is about advice/tips on how to tackle and make use of ur time to better yourself in the eyes of admissions... not to brag about yourself... this place isnt for ego builders... and thats what i feel people do sometimes... u can easily ask what are some good ideas to go about science ECs etc... no point in chancing someone... </p>
<p>ab2013 mind giving me the exact website to where they say they give Point-Scale for applicants...</p>
<p>@ab2013: I am one for tangents/rants so I promise to control myself and not go too off right now. </p>
<p>I just found it rather humorous that you cited some admissions book "A is for Admission" in your post. I think it is so sad how college applications have spun off this entire industry and train of thought thoroughly grounded in FEAR! We are all being exploited throughout this process and it is so sad, we want to buy the admissions books and post our scores and other **** on CC, all of that because of the inherent level of fear that has been unnecessarily injected into the admissions process. </p>
<p>What am I saying... I think chances threads are dumb! Especially when people post in them as to seek affirmation of their stats and other activities. Maybe I feel this way because my academic record is pretty atrocious or because I have only taken 6 AP classes, and not 20; however, I don't care about that stuff. But I do know that I have dedicated myself to what I am passionate about, I don't care about getting straight As because it could really mean less to me and that I am confident with the decisions I have made throughout the last 4 years of HS. If a college doesn't value these decisions I have made or doesn't want me to be a part of their community, well then I guess that isn't the school that is best for me. </p>
<p>I know people are talking about the Dartmouth acceptance thread and OMG***AHHHHH I am effed for Chicago, lol. Dartmouth is no Chicago and Chicago is no Dartmouth. You are all amazing people, and I am not just saying that, so best of luck and remember Chicago > Dartmouth any day!</p>
<p>I don't know, I feel the students with the best statistics need the most assurance. Obviously if you've got a 2400/4.0, you should get over yourself. But if your stats are pretty good and you're trying to avert a nervous breakdown, why not seek comfort here?</p>
<p>truth giantredlobster.</p>
<p>giantredlobster, I agree.</p>
<p>Giantredlobster: I didn't buy that book "A is for Admission." I borrowed it from my English teacher, who bookmarked a few pages of it to give me an idea of how to write a "personal essay."</p>
<p>Every school uses a different Academic Index to measure your academic performance, but this gives you a general idea of how you do: <a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/academic_index.htm%5B/url%5D">www.collegeconfidential.com/academic_index.htm</a>. </p>
<p>You definitely don't need a 2400/4.0 to get a 9/9. But some schools do not reserve the top score for 4.0s/2400s. Sometimes you need more. I had the opportunity to talk with a Brown admission officer, and she told me that Brown reserves the 6/6 if you actually win a national or international competition, for example, qualifying in the USAMO will help, assuming that you don't suck at everything else. </p>
<p>While getting a high rating will definitely boost your chances of admission, being in the mid-range won't mean that you'll get automatic rejection, which is why chance threads are indeed very misleading.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Chicago is very unique. I've never heard of the point scale at Chicago. They seriously consider your essays as one of THE most important parts of your app, because they somehow believe that through essays they can determine whether you really like learning and, in turn, whether you'll succeed in college.</p>
<p>i highly doubt college confidential is a viable source... get me the universities website then ill believe you... till then, if you can connect and know people at a university then thats the only way for it to be non-holistic...</p>
<p>What no thanks or please? Geez. </p>
<p>The Academic Index has been cited by quite a few sources, including the book "A is for Admission." Here is the website by the author of this book, who was also formerly a Dartmouth admission officer: Academic</a> Index Calculator - Hernandez College Consulting - Ivy league admission - Ivy league admissions - Ivy league consulting, consultants, consultant - college consulting - college consultants - college consultant. </p>
<p>I hope you find this helpful, but keep in mind that the Academic Index isn't everything. For that reason, it's why colleges esp. the Ivies call themselves holistic. In a way, that is true, because otherwise their campuses would be stuffed with 2300s+/3.9s+, but they aren't because Ivies seek out for passionate and well-rounded people.</p>
<p>And plus, you put this on the Chicago thread. You shouldn't worry too much about the Academic Index. Why? It's virtually nonexistent at Chicago. That's another reason why Chicago is so AWESOME.</p>
<p>Anyone who puts faith in "stats" ought to be looking carefully at the ED results for Dartmouth and Columbia. Within a broad range, better stats don't make much of a difference.</p>
<p>It is NOT all about the stats, folks. Get scores in the range, become an Intel finalist, go to IChO, spend the summer at TASP, get all fives on your 13 APs, and those things will you serious consideration -- but not necessarily admission. It's the essays. It's the essays. It's the essays. Especially at Chicago.</p>
<p>Good schools do not want academic automatons. They want thinking, questioning, interesting PEOPLE.</p>