estudar fora | bate-papo com universidade de chicago

Applying to Highly Selective Colleges and Universities in the

United States

Simon Nascimento, Director of International Admissions

The University of Chicago

QUESTIONS?

The Undergraduate Admissions Process

Academic

Preparation

Standardized Testing

Letters of Recommendation

Extra- and Co-Curricular Activities Essay or Personal Statement

5 Essential Elements of Your Application

What Does Vanderbilt Consider?

• Common Application

• The Common Application is used by over 400 colleges and universities

• One portal-based web application with biographical information, essay, and list of activities

• Most highly selective schools also require a Supplement to the Common App

The Application


• High School Context

• What type of school do you attend? American or international-style, other country-style (French, German, British), national private or public

• What kind of curriculum is available? Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Electives, CSEC/CAPE, A-Levels, National curriculum

• How well are you doing in secondary school? Grade trends, rank in class, core classes

Academic Preparation


• Transcript

• Your secondary school transcript is what we use to judge how well you did in school

• If you attended more than one secondary school, you should submit all transcripts

• If you took a college course, you should submit the transcript as well

Academic Preparation


• Secondary School Report (SSR)

• Counselor Letter of Recommendation

• Helps us understand your school context

• Usually will include how you fit into the overall context of your class, what your reputation is amongst the faculty and peers, and what kind of student you are outside of the classroom

• The narrative letter is not required, but highly recommended

• A counselor, principal, headmaster, administrator, or teacher can submit this letter



• Counselor Letter of Recommendation

• This letter should include the type of curriculum in which you are engaged, such as:

• If you will you graduate with more than one diploma, such as the IB, US diploma, state or national diploma

• If there is no choice in your curriculum; all students take the same classes

• If there is a special concentration or track available, such as business or engineering

• If admission to your high school is competitive



• Teacher Letters of Recommendation

• Usually, these letters of recommendation should be written by core subject area teachers, such as English, science, math, social studies/history, or other foreign language

• Letters should tell stories about you in the classroom, how you engaged in classroom discussions, your content ability, and overall, what kind of student you are in class



• Primary Testing

• Primary testing = ACT and/or SAT

• Schools do not favor ACT over SAT, or vice versa

• Some “super score” the SAT and/or the ACT

• The writing section might have less importance



• English Proficiency

• Toefl, IELTS, Pearson, etc.

• Secondary Testing

• AP test scores, IB actual or predicted scores, A-level exam scores, etc.

• Some schools require SAT Subject scores.



• The List

• The Common Application includes a list for you to complete, which includes the name/type of the organization or activity, leadership positions held, amount of time involved by week, and a very brief description line of your responsibilities

• Also includes honors and awards won and received

• Should include part-time work, summer experiences, faith-based work, etc.

Extra- and Co-Curricular Activities


• Beyond the List

• Essentially, we are looking for evidence of engagement, in terms of impact, depth, and longevity

• Impact: what kind of impact are you making on your school? Community? Home? Work?

• Depth: how involved are you in this activity? Do you exhibit a progression of leadership?

• Longevity: have you been involved for several years? Months? Weeks?

Extra- and Co-Curricular Activities


• Essay

• Sample Common Application prompts:

• Some students have a background or a story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

• Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn.

Essay or Personal Statement


• Essay

• Show the admissions committee/counselor that you can:

• Your brain is active, you’re thinking

• You can engage with ideas at a high level

• Write clearly, concisely

• Thoughtfully choose your essay topic

• Be passionate about a subject

• Get us excited about your application via your essay!



• UChicago’s Uncommon Essay

• In a famous quote by José Ortega y Gasset, the Spanish philosopher proclaims, "Yo soy yo y mi circunstancia" (1914). José Quintans, master of the Biological Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago, sees it another way: "Yo soy yo y mi microbioma" (2012).

You are you and your..?

Inspired by Maria Viteri, Class of 2016




• "A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies." –Oscar Wilde.

Othello and Iago. Dorothy and the Wicked Witch. Autobots and Decepticons. History and art are full of heroes and their enemies. Tell us about the relationship between you and your arch-nemesis (either real or imagined).

Inspired by Martin Krzywy, admitted student Class of 2016.




• Find x.

Inspired by Benjamin Nuzzo, an admitted student from Eton College, UK

• How do you feel about Wednesday? Inspired by Maximilian Pascual Ortega, a graduate of Maine Township High School South, Park Ridge, IL


•Essay

•Highly Selective Schools usually ask “Why do you

want to attend ______ College/University?”

•Why is this school a good match for you?



• Essay

• Other Tips:

• Have two proofreaders:

• A person who knows you well

• A person who doesn’t know you as well

• Avoid topics that may offend the reader or cross the “TMI” line

• Can you think of other things you probably should not write about?


Questions?

QUESTIONS? Contact Information

Simon Nascimento

The University of Chicago

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

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