<p>According to CollegeBoard, the admission rate for UChicago is 38%. This is relatively high compared to other top-notch universities. Also, the average SAT scores for UChicago are relatively high. Why is this so? How can a school that has a large acceptance rate also have a high SAT score range? And why would such an esteemed university have such a high acceptance rate? Is it that easy to get into? Thanks!</p>
<p>No. The University of Chicago applicant pool is very self selective. Very few students just "throw their app. in" to see what happens, unlike the ivies. Only students truly interested in the experience that Chicago has to offer apply. That being said, most students who want to spend 4 years reading Marx and Kant in sub zero weather have high SAT scores.</p>
<p>Yes, and the fact that the application is pretty tough in itself. Most students won't "throw in their app" because, well, they can't, since UChicago doesn't take the common app.</p>
<p>because only around 9000+ people apply, compared to schools like stanford, in which 20,000+ apply</p>
<p>"Is it that easy to get into?" </p>
<p><em>cries</em></p>
<p>this is why I started the name recognition thread haha</p>
<p>Alternative answer:</p>
<p>The admission rate is high because the yield (the percent of those accepted who enroll) is low. </p>
<p>Now, you might ask why it is low. And the answer to that is that a lot of kids use Chicago as a back up to ivies and such. Trust me on this. I have a kid at Chicago and know the story for many of her friends. </p>
<p>In fairness, there is a lot of truth to the answer of the other posters regarding self selection, which is why the new pres, Zimmer, wants to use the common app with supplemental essays in coming years. It will be interesting to see if it makes any difference, and if those kind of kids change the flavor of the place.</p>
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It will be interesting to see if it makes any difference, and if those kind of kids change the flavor of the place.
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<p>it'll be sad if it does.
...and I'm somebody that welcomes change.</p>
<p>Does anyone know what U. of Chicago's retention rate is? I know two kids who have left after a year and two years respectively. Both really smart, good grades, but no friends.</p>
<p>98% return after their first year, about 90% eventually graduate. Last year's admit rate was 35%.</p>
<p>I'm predicting UChicago's admit rate to drop to around 31-33 % this year. There will be more people applying, esp. since Harvard dropped EA.</p>
<p>Yup, the applicant pool is very self-selective. I know at least 15 kids that decided not to turn in their apps because of the "Uncommon Application"</p>
<p>I think it says something that Chicago can be USNWR ranked #9 and still have an admission rate so high. Admission rate is a pretty big part of their ranking, I think... so if Chicago didn't so well on that part of the ranking, imagine how well it must have done on the other sections to compensate and end up overall #9. Kinda awesome. </p>
<p>This doesn't really answer the OP questions. I just thought it was cool. =P</p>
<p>Maybe the best answer is that the University of Chicago is not for everybody. Your social life will be what you make of it and your academics will be taken care of, whereas at most other schools your social life will be taken care of and your academics will be what you make of it. It's important to recognize that if you go to Chicago, you've got to also give yourself a way to meet people. Honestly, I'm quite the homebody in some respects, and I've still found a way to meet people here, even without a sign that says "Free Beer Three Feet Ahead."</p>
<p>Suprisingly, the academic aspect of the ivies is played down on these boards. My friend's impression of students at his school, Dartmouth, is that students work incredibly hard and then use alcohol as a way of relieving all of their stress. The ivies, however, do have the self-congratulating appeal.</p>
<p>There are some colleges and universities (I'm thinking about our suburban neighbor) that tend to cater to a broader range of interests for students. If other options (Stanford, NU, etc) sound better to you, take advantage of those. There are plenty of students who see Chicago as a dream school.</p>