Opinions regarding university admission standards...

[saltedeggman]

Okay...

I have a 4.22 GPA (weighted), 11th class rank out of 367 people, ACT 25 (didn't take SAT), perfect attendance in 4 years, participate in various clubs

so What are my chances of getting into University of Chicago (just generally speaking)???

 

[SuperTool]

how about SAT?

 

[b0mbrman]

<< how about SAT? >>


I think there are some places where they only use ACT...

 

[newbiepcuser]

You should have good chance.


What you do in high school doesn't count, and college is learning ground, but the real test is the working world and how you handle it.

I know two guys who dropped out of college and became pretty successful, I think their last names were Gates and Dell...

 

[saltedeggman]

<<

<< how about SAT? >>


I think there are some places where they only use ACT... >>



yeppers, they don't require you to take it

 

[saltedeggman]

<< You should have good chance.


What you do in high school doesn't count, and college is learning ground, but the real test is the working world and how you handle it. >>



point taken thanks!!

Everyone around suggested I need to get some work experience before I graduate from college ...

 

[newbiepcuser]

Everyone around suggested I need to get some work experience before I graduate from college


First find out what you like, take your time. My buddy wanted to be an actor, then ended going to to medical school in the end. Many college students change their major in their first year.

 

[krackato]

I'd say you're in. Of course, college is way overrated.

 

[AaronP]

4.22 GPA (weighted)
ACT 25

Your high school should be ashamed of itself for having such an easy curriculum and soft grading scale. The fact that you have a very high GPA, but a relativly modest ACT (compared to your GPA) shows this fact.

That being said, I don't think you'll have problems getting in.

 

[Capn]

perfect attendance heheheh,

Colleges will not care about that, your grades and recommendations should show you have a commitment to your studies.

according to US News your ACT is a little low for U of Chicago, however that shouldn't worry you too much. I'd say you have a decent chance. However, remember that college admissions are pretty much a crapshoot anyways. Admissions people have these ideas about "building a class" and other such goals. So even if you are qualified, nothing is certain.

 

[shopbruin]

ah.. u of chicago...

you're also going to need some awesome letters of recommendation. i'd consider u of chicago a pretty major university, so you're going to need some other accolades besides just clubs to make your admission a no brainer. because right now, you're just like any other student that applies to u of chicago.

you also need to write a great essay that tells them something about you that makes them say "hey this guy should come here"

once you get in college, what you did in high school means nothing, as you will meet people who did ten times the things you did and got even higher gpa's and act's... (oi harsh reality...)

 

[Mani]

<< Your high school should be ashamed of itself for having such an easy curriculum and soft grading scale. The fact that you have a very high GPA, but a relativly modest ACT (compared to your GPA) shows this fact. >>



Yeah this kind of pisses me off...it was damn hard to get a good GPA in my HS and being a valedictorian actually MEANT something...I keep hearing about all these high schools that allow GPAs up to a 5.0 on a 4.0 scale and with ridiculously easy curriculums and it just seems like your GPA means nothing with crap like this. But a challenging college acts as the great equalizer in the end though and all these kids who had it easy in HS are the ones falling flat on their face.

 

[TheBlondOne]

<< 4.22 GPA (weighted)
ACT 25

Your high school should be ashamed of itself for having such an easy curriculum and soft grading scale. The fact that you have a very high GPA, but a relativly modest ACT (compared to your GPA) shows this fact.

That being said, I don't think you'll have problems getting in. >>



OK, um, NO. I had a 4.0 at my VERY DIFFICULT private school (we didn't have AP classes) and did moderately well on both ACTs and SATs (1190). Now I have a 3.96 GPA in college and am juggling a sh!tload of extracurricular activities.

I'm not saying this to brag, just to say that I'm sure you (salte) work hard for your grades and AaronP doesn't necessarily know what he's talking about. You'll be fine. Don't be discouraged.

*Some people just don't excel on standardized tests.*

--Sarah

 

[SpongeBob]

I'm not saying this to brag, just to say that I'm sure you (salte) work hard for your grades and AaronP doesn't necessarily know what he's talking about. You'll be fine. Don't be discouraged.

Yeah, some people are smart and hard working but just don't do well on standardized testing. Admissions people look at a lot more than ACT score so you should be fine.

 

[Mani]

I used to think standardized tests were full of crap but actually they are very good indicators of performance. They are not hard tests- in fact they're downright easy. But they're endurance tests- the difficulty is in keeping enough focus and concentration for 3 hours to give your best answer to every question without taking too long. In a challenging curriculum in college this ability is directly proportional to how well you will do.

GPA on the other hand is generally an indicator of how hard you work, though obviously this isn't always the case. This is why neither your test score nor your GPA can stand on its own if the other is abyssmal.

Regardless of what anyone says, you CAN improve your SAT and ACT scores, you just have to keep taking them to "train" yourself to be able to concentrate for that length of time. I was a horrible test taker initially but I managed a 1390 after taking every practice test I could get my hands on. It's nothing amazing but it was a huge improvement over the 1200 I had when I first took the test.

 

[DaiShan]

college (esp state schools) are getting ridiculously easy to get into, espescially with some schools not challenging their students just so they can obtain a higher GPA. I will be going to UF full ride because of bright futures, and that only requires a 3.75 weighted gpa, I know some people who left my school with a 3.0 gpa and went to public school in my town and are now getting 4.8-5.0 gpa, this is ridiculous in my opinion...

 

[Mill]

Heh what can I say? I would think you would be accepted. Some colleges look at test scores more than GPA and vice versa. I got a scholarship based on a 30 ACT and a 2.9 GPA(all I.B. and AP classes). I should have taken the ACT more than once but I could really care less. Colleges now days look at activities, GPA, and test scores. A diverse amount of activites and a good GPA is a very good start. A high standardized test score is good too. Don't let people here beat you up. The national average on the ACT is a 18. You made a much better score than that. Did you take it more than once? Maybe you should take it again.

 

[iamwiz82]

<< I'm not saying this to brag, just to say that I'm sure you (salte) work hard for your grades and AaronP doesn't necessarily know what he's talking about. You'll be fine. Don't be discouraged.

Yeah, some people are smart and hard working but just don't do well on standardized testing. Admissions people look at a lot more than ACT score so you should be fine. >>



I got into Kettering with a 29(or 30, cant remember) and a 3.1 GPA By my senior year, i refused to do anything, lol!

 

[ChinamanatNCSU]

Just did the whole admissions shebang last year, and from the majority of counselors I've talked to, ACT's and SAT's are becoming lesser determining factors since they really just test how well you take tests. Focus on keeping that gpa up and participation in extra-curriculars, and really nail those essays and interviews (if you have any).

EDIT: In other words, I think you have a good chance- what major you thinking of?



<< Yeah this kind of pisses me off...it was damn hard to get a good GPA in my HS and being a valedictorian actually MEANT something...I keep hearing about all these high schools that allow GPAs up to a 5.0 on a 4.0 scale and with ridiculously easy curriculums and it just seems like your GPA means nothing with crap like this. But a challenging college acts as the great equalizer in the end though and all these kids who had it easy in HS are the ones falling flat on their face. >>



I agree with Mani- I actually had a 5.12 on a 4.0 from AP courses, but it was in no way ridiculously easy. Even so, I was 23rd out of a class of 497. I hate it when people from little schools boast about being valedictorian with a 3.6 and 2 credit hours. I had 34 credit hours coming in and I still barely placed in the top 5% of my class. Sure, its not their fault that they don't have the resources I did to have that many credit hours, but its more the gloating part that pisses me off.

my $0.02

 

[Mill]

BTW
University of Chicago

ACT scores (25/75 percentile):
English: <B>27 - 32</B>
Math: <B>28 - 32</B>
Composite: <B>28 - 32</B>

It is considered a highly selective university. Try to take the ACT again for sure and maybe take the SAT. If you could bump the ACT up to say a 27-28 it would help a lot.

 

[SubZeroX]

May I ask what race are you? If you are one of the so-called "under represented minorities" then I don't think you will have a problem getting in at all.

 

[saltedeggman]

under represented?? i doubt it, i am chinese (my sister is in U of C too)

well....

thx for the opinions guys!!

i will keep you guys posted, decisions should be coming in before mid-april !!

 

[saltedeggman]

I took the ACT 3 times...

23 1st
25 2nd
25 3rd (i thought I did horrible on this on...i almost gave up on it, since it was exceptionally length and boring, i mean really really boring compared to the previous ones i took) but it turned out to the be same as the 2nd time i took it

 

[saltedeggman]

Since as of this moment, I am through with the "applying" process. A note to thouse guys may have to do this in the future!!

my best advice to you is START EARLY (apply to any of the early action admission) it will make your life much easier!!!

 

[saltedeggman]

<< what major you thinking of? >>



I am think tending towards Economics