UChicago has EA and ED 1. You can apply to MIT and Caltech as EA, and then simultaneously submit an ED1 application to Chicago.
Getting into Chicago EA is very very difficult. ED1/ED2 rates are nearly 5 times higher than EA.
The OP is probably a better fit for Chicago/Rice/Vandy/WashU in my opinion. So whatever the best combination of EA/ED should be used as mentioned above.
WashU has a higher acceptance rate (~14-15%) and roughly a 30% acceptance rate for ED1. I would seriously consider an application. And given OP’s grades/test scores I might just apply RD…
You wouldn’t want to do that unless you’re willing to give up your potential admission to MIT or Caltech.
Yes, EA to UChicago is really a misnomer. Don’t bother unless you have a serious hook.
If you’d have no regrets going to University of Chicago, if it is truly your first choice school, give it the ED app. Then it’s game over. You are set at s top school. You have given yourself the absolute best chance if admissions with that ED application there. But that means foregoing CalTech and MIT acceptances if they happen EA.
Otherwise EA all three schools and add some safety schools, some rolling admissions State schools and other EA schools so that you have your safeties in place to focus on the RD round if deferred at all 3 top choices. I suggest Tulane, UMichigan as a couple of strong EAChoices. Gives you a litmus test on how competitive a candidate you are in the early round.
One more thing-I never heard anyone say that CalTech and MIT are collaborative environments. Maybe there aren’t gunner types attending, but those places are absolute pressure cookers. There is a reason why MIT doesn’t give letter grades first semester freshman year and CalTech has their take home exam policy.
Look to apply to a less STEM focused school. It’s ultimately your choice, but I think that you’re better suited to a more comprehensive university. Vanderbilt has a good music program and that’s where your ECs are for the most part. I think it’s a better fit and will be less stressful in the long run. Rochester might be a good fit as well.
I can’t speak to MIT, but Caltech is definitely collaborative, particularly in regards to problem sets.
Interestingly enough, when does collaboration become cheating, its a pretty fine line.
Consider Yale. Not as strong in STEM, but wonderfully collaborative, and great appreciation for music and performance.
We’re in trouble, if we start equating collaboration with cheating. It’s the willingness to work together- your project, a group’s, or offering input and feedback to others on their work.
Both Caltech and MIT students know exactly what they’re supposed (and in fact, encouraged) to collaborate on and what they’re supposed to do completely independently. Cheating does occur but is very rare. If caught, it’s probably the worst type of the humiliation a student there could ever experience. Besides, if you cheat to pass a course, what about the next set of courses that’re even more difficult? You’re likely to either fall behind very quickly or be caught cheating at some point.
Ha! That’s probably why you’ll never see anyone cheat to get in a la “Varsity Blues.” There’s no hiding or sliding by like at other schools :,)
Isn’t Caltech the school where all exams are on the honor system? Students take the exams whenever and wherever they want by a set date?
My son, not at Caltech, has courses where the profs specify that p-sets are collaborative.
Yes, but I believe some courses taught by visiting professors may be exceptions. Most of them are open-book and untimed, too.
Hi @stressedwhale, I hope you are doing well. Did you get into any EA or ED college?
I can’t read a theme in your EC’s. I think you would need to have more focus around what you plan to do and tie it back to what you have done. Caltech and MIT might not be the best choices. I don’t really see that in your info. UChicago seems like a better option. Having an idea regarding what you would like to study would make for a more coherent presenation. Remember these schools get the same stats over and over. Why they pick one over another is based on something that can present the candidate as a logical choice for a particular program.