Applying to UChicago, have yet to decide between EA and RD. Help me decide? Chance me?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>NOTICE: I feel really pretentious writing this, but I write this in attempt to shed the "look at my credentials!" sentiment. I would just like an honest, forthright chancing please. </p>

<p>I attend a jesuit high school in Kansas City, Missouri</p>

<p>I am a white male that comes from a family of small-business owners. My family's restaurant closed this year.</p>

<p>I am applying as an international studies major, but I plan to double/triple major in economics and history.</p>

<p>There is one other serious applicant from my school, he is applying EA. Should I do RD to avoid the intraschool competition?</p>

<p>Other Schools:
Northwestern University
WUSTL
Georgetown
Pomona
Boston College
Michigan
Missouri, Columbia
Wisconsin-Madison
Colorado College
UC Berk and UCLA
URochester</p>

<p>ACT: 31 (Retaking in October)
SAT: 2070 (670 CR, 690 M, 710 W) Probably won't send
GPA: 3.8 UW, 4.4 W
SAT IIs: US History (780), Spanish (N/A), Lit (N/A), Math II (N/A)
APs: World History (3), US History (5), Chem (4), Calc AB (5), Calc BC (N/A), Bio (N/A), English Lang (N/A), English Lit (N/A), Spanish Lang (N/A), Comp Gov (N/A), US Gov (N/A)</p>

<p>Awards: Harvard Book Award, National Merit Commendation, NHS, AP Scholar w/ Honors, Presidential Service Awards (2)(Bronze and Gold)</p>

<p>Hooks/Interest: I have visited UChicago, have an interview scheduled, and my grandfather attended.</p>

<p>Extracurriculars: </p>

<p>Improv Comedy: Involved in a troupe all 4 years of high school, president of "Improv Club." I involved the troupe in a Kansas City-wide high school competitive circuit called "Operation: Show!". I work with Comedy City (Comedysportz) , a professional outlet (notable alumnus: Jason Sudeikis).</p>

<p>Theatre: I have acted in 8 seperate productions, involved in 10 total. I have had a "lead" role in 5 of those, although lead role is a really relative term. I directed a play, and did tech on a musical. I am in the International Thespian Society, but that is no great feat. </p>

<p>Model UN: I have been involved all four years, focusing mainly on African countries. I am Secretary-General of our team (highest position in the UN). I have won an award at each competition I have attended. This includes three national competitions, UChicago (MUNUC), Vanderbilt, and Georgetown. </p>

<p>Debate: Captain of our Lincoln-Douglas squad, and I do foreign extemporary speaking. I qualified for state in spring of 2013 for both events. Have not qualified since but I plan to try this year.</p>

<p>Student Government: Treasurer and Writer of Pep Rally Scripts</p>

<p>Spanish Club: Co-President (Other post say VP, but I have learned this is a gross undersell). I am fluent in Spanish. </p>

<p>Tutoring: I tutor students in Spanish as well as general studies. I am thinking about doing this through the Hurtado Scholars program.</p>

<p>Music: Piano for 12 years, countless recitals at William Jewell College and University of Missouri, Columbia. I also dabbled in the guitar, taking lessons for 4 years. </p>

<p>Volunteer Experience:</p>

<p>I have volunteered in four countries. </p>

<p>Costa Rica: I volunteered for six weeks with Amigos de Las Americas. I fundraised the money for the trip through improv shows and a letter writing campaign. This is where I achieved Spanish fluency.</p>

<p>Chile: I volunteered for two weeks with AMA Torres del Paine. I worked in national parks during the weeks, and did a research study on native birds on the two weekends.</p>

<p>Malaysia: I volunteered for a week with WWOOF Independent. I worked on a 400 acre farm in Pahang, Malaysia.</p>

<p>Haiti: Mission trip with my church, disaster relief.</p>

<p>In the United States, I have volunteered with Harvester's, my local hospital, and my local retirement home.</p>

<p>Work Experience:</p>

<p>Worked in my parent's business for three years, I served, cooked, hosted, and trained other, new employees. </p>

<p>Comedy City, I explained it earlier, but it is technically a "job". </p>

<p>Now I work at a car wash.</p>

<p>Essays:</p>

<p>Uncommon App: I plan to do the "Omne Trium Perfuctum" essay. I plan to write about Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as a group of rag tag museum robbers.</p>

<p>Common App: Writing about my large head, and how it is equally thick. Essentially how I make my life harder on myself unnecessarily. </p>

<p>Why UChicago: Can't they just assume that we love them?</p>

<p>Thanks to anyone who decides to chance me, it means a lot. Any opinions will suffice. Be mean if you so please. </p>

2

<p>Apply EA. Do not worry about the other applicant. My kid applied EA and got in two years ago. The salutatorian of her class also applied EA (my D was maybe top 10% if lucky, high school does not rank – but she had super high test scores and the intellectual profile U of C likes). The salutatorian was deferred, then not admitted in the RD round. Most students who don’t get in EA are deferred to RD anyway. </p>

<p>Notes on your essays – be super careful about that Common App topic. U of Chicago prides themselves on admitting intellectuals – self deprecating humor about making life hard on yourself might not be a topic that appeals to them. And NO, do not assume they know you live them. List very specific things about them (research opportunities on campus, experiences you had sitting in on classes, etc.) that make you want to attend there. If they still offer an additional optional essay (not sure if they do this year), definitely do it.</p>

3

<p>Thank you. Great advice.</p>

<p>I think I will apply EA, but if I decide rather to apply ED to Northwestern then I will just do RD. UChicago is my number one choice, but also highly selective and, if I’m playing the odds, ED at Northwestern seems to be a probable route to acceptance.</p>

<p>I know I should be wary in simply applying to a school lower on my list because of simple odds, but honestly I love Northwestern too. I would be satisfied at either, however different they are.</p>

<p>My school does not rank, so that’s lucky. I feel like my Common App topic is really representative of my personality, and isn’t that what all schools want? To see you manifested in your writing? </p>

<p>I certainly can find a way to manifest myself in a different way, but this one feels the most like me. </p>

<p>Also, the Why Chicago? quip was a joke, I know I cannot assume that; however, great advice, thank you very much. </p>

4

<p>Why don’t you apply EA to Chicago and ED to NU? Chicago has an open EA policy which allows you to apply an ED school at the same time.</p>

<p>The only drawback is that you have to commit to NU most likely if you are admitted early from both schools - you have mentioned Chicago is your first choice.</p>

<p>But I do not see the reason why you only apply ED to NU if you are going to do it.</p>

5

<p>My UChicago essay is a relatively difficult one to write. I have all the ideas, but their translation to paper will take a long time. </p>

<p>Therefore, I figured my application would be more complete if I had 4 more months to write it rather than two. However, this I can play by ear. </p>

6

<p>Um, hugz: If given two months you can’t write a 500-word essay that “translates [your ideas] to paper” well, then (1) two months more isn’t going to help, (2) you need to re-think what you are calling your ideas, and (3) you are going to have a very hard time at the University of Chicago or indeed any other American university remotely like it.</p>

7

<p>You’re right insofar as two months should be enough. As I wrote my response I realized that. Also, treating a UChicago supplement as “any other essay” would be a wise philosophy, but an incorrect one. Their prompts are unique and flavorful and most people have trouble even comprehending how to respond to them much less have an entire outline written. </p>

<p>However, I see your point. My previous response was worded badly but one must understand the different point of view to answer things like “What’s so odd about odd numbers?”. </p>

8

<p>I agree with posters who say do both. What if Northwestern rejects you? You will be glad you got that EA application done. And if you are applying for need based aid, even if you are in at Northwestern ED, you should not confirm your acceptance until you see the FA package. You won’t want to stop your other applications anyway until you see the FA package, so I would say get the U of C application in as well.</p>

9

<p>I have decided to do both. Would any of you be open to reading my UChicago supplement via PM when I finish it? </p>

10

<p>I do not think it is the best idea to send your precious essays to random people.</p>

<p>First it is not safe, and second people do not know you and your backgrounds. Their criticism may not be relevant and make you second guess yourself.</p>

<p>Your counselor or teacher should be the one to read your essays and give your valuable feedback.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>