<p>There's an important lesson here for all of us -- for "chances" threads, and expressing horror at what admissions committees have done. Seeing one paragraph of one essay from the OP's application changes one's view of his prospects a lot. Imagine if we were seeing all of the essays, and the recommendations, and the essays and recommendations of all the other candidates. I'm sure there would still be lots of room for disagreement about whether A or B should be admitted, but I'm also sure that the results of the committee's work would look a lot less random that it does with only some of the information.</p>
<p>^to renowned doctors recommended me... so i still dont understand where i went wrong... i sent in a strong application... and as they said, if u lack in one part, make sure your other parts are superior... i even sent in a sample of my mixtape in the making for DJ ing... if essays need to be worked on a lot, i would rather go to them personally and tell my story... any ****** can write on paper... find someone to verbalize it face to face... but i guess being verbal is unacceptable cuz they have bagillion other apps thats why... excuses..</p>
<p>"any ****** can write on paper"</p>
<p>But not any ****** can write on paper well, and express their personality and uniqueness in doing so. Being verbal is not "unacceptable," just an impractical way of running college admissions. This is UChicago. Essays are hugely important anywhere, but here especially. Recommendations from "to renowned doctors" are great, but they will not make up for lacking essays, especially when other applicants have both great recommendations and great essays.</p>
<p>Besides, they hear what OTHER people think about you in recommendations, but they also want to hear what YOU think about you, and they want to hear it well-expressed. No one knows you better, after all. And if you can verbalize well face-to-face, you should be able to write effectively as well. Just write how you talk, as I'm sure someone has already said.</p>
<p>Anyways, good luck with your other colleges.</p>
<p>^^ you do there is more room for outside sources when you write your essay right???</p>
<p>just thought you'd like to know that... just saying... i did well enough on my essays... maybe if i had my english teacher with me throughout the thing then it might of helped... But ya, that is what i meant that anyone can write one... because as long as you have the resources or people who are willing to help if you show initiative, you will craft a well written essay... not gonna lie... but that is how i feel... and if you talk about impractical, please rethink that.</p>
<p>Yes, I am aware of that. It's why I referred to your recommendations as "great." They ARE great. I wish I had recommendations from renowned doctors (well, no I don't, but that's because I'm not really a sciencey/doctory sort of person). I was just pointing out that extra recommendations only put you ahead of the game if the required stuff -- essays included -- are also awesome. But thank you for informing me nonetheless. :)</p>
<p>Trying to make admissions decisions using face-to-face encounters just isn't possible. It isn't practical. Interviews are available, of course, but since not everyone can get one and many who do are receiving an alumni interview as opposed to an adcom interview, they obviously can't be weighted as much. It really would be awesome if they COULD have everyone applying meet face-to-face with an adcom, but they don't have the time or the resources to make it happen.</p>
<p>I guess we'll have to disagree about the essays. A bad writer is not going to put out a good essay regardless of how much s/he tries. It takes practice to learn to write well, and not the kind of practice you can get in the six months between getting your essay question and sending in your application. It takes an understanding of how our language works and the tools required to use it effectively -- parallel structure, metaphor, varied syntax and diction. It also takes at least SOME originality not to send in a cookie cutter essay and -- not always, but sometimes -- the daring to try something new. And beyond all else, it takes knowing how to infuse yourself into the essay, how to make it you even when it isn't really ABOUT you. School and English teachers only prepare us for the standard five paragraph "hamburger" essay and for formal writing completely lacking personality. In other words, hardly what's required for a good college essay.</p>
<p>Yes, I am aware of that. It's why I referred to your recommendations as "great." They ARE great. I wish I had recommendations from renowned doctors (well, no I don't, but that's because I'm not really a sciencey/doctory sort of person). I was just pointing out that extra recommendations only put you ahead of the game if the required stuff -- essays included -- are also awesome. But thank you for informing me nonetheless. :)</p>
<p>Trying to make admissions decisions using face-to-face encounters just isn't possible. It isn't practical. Interviews are available, of course, but since not everyone can get one and many who do are receiving an alumni interview as opposed to an adcom interview, they obviously can't be weighted as much. It really would be awesome if they COULD have everyone applying meet face-to-face with an adcom, but they don't have the time or the resources to make it happen.</p>
<p>I guess we'll have to disagree about the essays. A bad writer is not going to put out a good essay regardless of how much s/he tries. It takes practice to learn to write well, and not the kind of practice you can get in the six months between getting your essay question and sending in your application. It takes an understanding of how our language works and the tools required to use it effectively -- parallel structure, metaphor, varied syntax and diction. It also takes at least SOME originality not to send in a cookie cutter essay and -- not always, but sometimes -- the daring to try something new. And beyond all else, it takes knowing how to infuse yourself into the essay, how to make it you even when it isn't really ABOUT you. School and English teachers only prepare us for the standard five paragraph "hamburger" essay and for formal writing completely lacking personality. In other words, hardly what's required for a good college essay.</p>
<p>I get the feeling the GPA wasn't what did it for you...
I was accepted, and I only have a 3.78GPA, one AP course, and one University course. In my case, they probably paid more attention to my essays and rec. letters, because my ECs aren't that impressive, either, and I don't hold any leadership positions.</p>
<p>Chicago is a school for nerds.
They probably saw that you were a really cool yet really smart kid and were like, "Woah, this kid's not our style."
You're going to get in somewhere better than 'where fun goes to die' Chicago.</p>
<p>In all seriousness though, I hear Chicago makes their essays top priority when picking applicants.</p>
<p>Did you have an interview? If not, that could have done it because they stress the interview heavily.
Also, it may not be just one thing that caused your rejection. UChicago is looking for a certain person, not a certain GPA or test score. I was accepted, and honestly they are looking for someone that exhibits that they love to learn and have a passion for their particular field of study. Although my GPA and test scores were within the range they typically accept, the thing that my interviewer said set me apart from the typical applicant was my passion for theater and my eagerness to expand my knowledge in not only the TAPS program but also in a variety of subjects.
However, don't look at it as rejection, just a realization by the AdCom that you wouldn't have fit with UChicago and its philosophies. It's not a truly a bad thing, and you are certainly qualified to go to other schools of similar caliber!</p>
<p>^interview? really?</p>
<p>i didn't get one and i was accepted. i really think it was the fit (which i guess is where the interview also comes into play)/essays. i had a 2190, which, while one par with other applicants, isn't exactly a standout score, but my why chicago essay talked about how much i liked learning and how i aspired to be an intellectual and whatnot (stated much more eloquently, of course!). truth is, i really would have liked it there..and am TOTALLY considering it for grad school.</p>
<p>i read that excerpt of your essay, and i never really got a feel that you proved uchicago was the place for you. i'm sure you'll find an even better school for you out there though! good luck with the college search/admissions process. don't take one rejection personally. it just was never meant to be.</p>
<p>ur essay seems blah..they stress creativity..and i beleive i caugh a typo in the first sentence 'of great important to me'---should be importance....u shoulde at least proofread ur essays and given them a unique one not a summation of the school</p>
<p>You think that's bad? I got rejected with a 3.9 unweighted, 2290 SAT I, 800, 800, 790 SAT II, and more than a few ECs. I am dead serious.</p>
<p>babszooka:</p>
<p>I've read several dozen essays from applicants on these forums, and that bit of improv is seriously better than 90% of real essays.</p>
<p>--</p>
<p>On topic: even holding the essay as neutral, why does everyone think the OP ought to be outraged at a rejection? huh</p>
<p>Honestly, who cares? The OP shouldn't because a rejection is a rejection. Nothing you do will turn that into an acceptance. Chicago is a tough school to get into. Sorry, but that's reality. For all of you who were rejected (and for those who will be rejected), the best thing you can do is move on to other schools. Dwelling on the why will eat you up.</p>
<p>I haven't read all the pages of this post, but I'd surmise that it's not that you weren't good enough, it's just that there were perhaps too many others with similar stats so they couldn't admit you all.</p>
<p>hey, i got rejected too, with a 3.95 GPA and ranked 4th in my class, so don't feel bad.</p>
<p>I think the University's Admissions Office is trying to diversify the student body by reaching out to the more normal, less nerdy, know-it-all types. President Zimmer already started this by switching to the Common Application. (I'm in the class of '11 by the way) So, don't take it as not being "good enough" if you got rejected, especially if your SAT's are as high as cavilier's. You were probably just viewed as the norm for our school. UChicago's Admin is REALLY desperate to change the overall impression of the U of C, because to put it bluntly, our student body sucks. There are most definitely other schools that will give you just as good of an education AND a college experience that is 10x better than ours. Trust me.</p>
<p>OP, I agree with Agold31. Don't get offensed, but your essay is perhaps one of the worst I have ever read. The sad part is that the bad part is ONLY an excerpt of your essay which tells me that the horror lasts even longer. That probably got you rejected.</p>