<p>Cue7, I believe the jump in Asian representation is due more to an accounting switch then an actual shift in the student body. The school told the incoming class that, based on their racial self-identification on admissions forms, they were 14% Asian. An anonymous (mandatory) survey of freshman during the first week of school on the other hand yielded the 27% figure. I think they’re just reporting that number rather then the ones the admissions office collected.</p>
<p>Chicago is one of the most prestigious universities in this nation as well as in the world. Among those most prestigious, there is still difference, HYPMS is one significant group. Chicago’s prestige is getting closer to this group and will catch up with them in next 10 to 20 years if Chicago could keep the current pace. Last year Chicago’s ~13% admit rate is lower than Cornell and a bit higher than Upenn. I am sure for next year Chicago’s admit rate will be lower than both Upenn and Cornell, possibly lower than Dartmouth. Also, Chicago will stay at #4 place in U.S. News & World Report for next a few years.</p>
<p>I believe the main difference is that for a very long time Chicago was seen as a school that focused primarily on graduate rather than undergraduate education. Almost since its founding, Chicago has been considered among the intellectual elite not only in the US, but the world.</p>
<p>William James writing in 1903:
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<p>Uchicago is Ivy+</p>