Any tips of assurance for me to be admitted into the University of Chicago?

Question

I am a Junior.

I will take the act this year.

My gpa has been through the range of 4.75 to 4.0 throughout freshman and sophomore years.

The three a.p. classes that i am taking this year are all according to my interests and classes that would go along with my major(english) in uni.

My writing skills have been known as excellent, so I'm sure i can pull off unique essays for admission.

I have consistently been in newspaper, speech, tennis, scholastic bowl, and academic decathlon.

I'm not a good test taker... =\ so i'd like to know whether the act and sat scores are big factors.

Answer 1

They are important factors but not deciding factors. A friend of mine was accepted with a 25 on the ACT. There are some who have been accepted with lower act scores than that. Admissions officials understand that some students aren't good test takers and they take things like that into account. You have impressive grades, extracurriculars, and a future knockout essay. These three are just as important as the testing scores. I'd say focus on doing as best as you can on the tests. I'm sure you'll be fine.  

Answer 2

There is no sure thing.  However, if you keep doing what you have been doing and do well on the SATs, you will certainly get into some great schools.

Yes -- the SAT score will be important, especially for the more elite schools.  If you do well in school, you can learn to be a good test taker.

You are on the right track.

Answer 3

There are so many doors into every college that all the students should be sniffling with colds. If you don't make it this year, go to a community college and start your studies.

All colleges have obligations that have to be met. Example, If one of President Bush's kids attempted to go to a college I wanted to go to, even if my grades were better, they would go first, why because of the college's obligation to alumnus. Education is basically all the same in the lower number classes, the accrediting agencies make sure of that. Don't be so hard on yourself, you are after an education and degree, you won't be buying the college, once you are graduated, no one cares. But if this is the college you must have, then the Junior and Sr. years of college can be achieved as some students will fail and transfer or drop out. Keep your grades up and apply for the last two years if you are crowded out in the first two years.