@evergreen5 at #96 - UChicago’s base of 13,000 applications probably would result in less than a 15% increase. In general, the smaller the base, the larger the % growth, and UChicago’s base is significantly larger than most others to begin with. However, even if it increased 20% (which would be every AO’s dream) that’s no more than 15,500. Now, 15,500 is a huge number of early apps! @1NJParent was referring to a 40 - 50% increase over a number that is very large to begin with. I’m still guessing I won’t be eating my laptop.
I thought this thread was about the interplay between financial aid and “need-blind” admission policy. It’s now been hijacked to a skirmish about EA, ED, and admission rates.
The thread is about whether an applicant can take the words from a college (in this case, UChicago and its need-blind policy) literally. If a college can’t be believed completely in what it tells an applicant about its admission policy, can’t it be believed completely in what it tells an applicant about its need-blind policy?
@JBStillFlying I’m not suggesting UChicago is front-loading, which doesn’t matter anyway. The issue is whether UChicago purposely create both ED and EA to unfairly game the system without adequately informing its applicants. BTW, it plays the ED2 vs RD game with exactly the same strategy. You mentioned upthread you kid last year applied EA and was deferred, and then got accepted after switching to ED2. This is exactly how UChicago wants to play this game and it’s succeeding.
@1NJParent That’s what you’ve turned the thread into. The topic of the thread is “Does not applying for financial aid help at all?” The issue of a “need-blind” policy necessarily and logically flows from that question. But what you’ve been discussing has nothing to do with financial aid – and that’s the topic of this thread.
“The issue is whether UChicago purposely create both ED and EA to unfairly game the system without adequately informing its applicants.”
- You seem to be upset that UChicago has offered more choices for applicants than other places. You DO realize that thee have been plenty of postings from EA-accepts this year?
“BTW, it plays the ED2 vs RD game with exactly the same strategy.”
- Yes, it does. For each pool you are required, should you choose to apply to UChicago, to reveal whether the school is your #1 or whether you want to negotiate on price. That's not "gaming the system" and it's certainly not mis-representing the options. The school lays it all out pretty well on the website. Perhaps you know someone who applied without bothering to read the directions? Can't cure stupid, unfortunately.
“You mentioned upthread you kid last year applied EA and was deferred, and then got accepted after switching to ED2. This is exactly how UChicago wants to play this game and it’s succeeding.”
- Sure - but that's not exactly a game where no one except UChicago knows the rules. Clearly we did or else she wouldn't have switched. Many did not, with full knowledge that they could easily be waitlisted in the end. And manyu others did and still didn't get in. No one is "owed" an admission. And for every complaint against XYZ college for "gaming the system" with ED, there are about 10 posts from applicants trying to figure out how to get out of their ED agreement if they don't like their fin. aid. package. They don't even bother using more discrete phrasing like "it's not affordable". At least they are honest, but sheesh - talk about gaming the system!!!
UChicago’s admission plan might not be your cup of tea but no one’s holding your feet or your kids’ feet to the fire telling you to apply. The choice is yours. There are LOTS of great schools out there.
@84stag I will respect the thread topic and apologize for contributing to the divergence.
@1NJParent I’m still waiting for the factual data on your initial post which was completely outside of the OP thread, but seemed to be rather personal.
“There’re dozens of colleges that claim to be “need-blind” as there’re dozens of colleges that claim to not take into account of “demonstrated interest”. In reality, however, only a handful are truly need-blind (and/or truly indifferent to demonstrated interest). That handful also happen to be the most elite and UChicago is not one of them.”
The facts to the contrary of your statement are well disputed throughout - one such thread - http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1956361-university-of-chicago-the-meteoric-rise-p1.html
Again, well outside of the original OP thread, but SCEA is much more restrictive to the applicant than UChicago’s generous ED/EA/EDII/RA schemes. The benefits of each communicated and disputed on CC as well.
@84stag We were always under the impression that it does not impact decisions, but there could always be a lever/threshold for aid.
Based on the recent student survey it does seem to trend towards offering less aid. However, the higher the standardized testing scores, the higher the income statistically.
^^ I wonder if the NMF kids who received UChicago-sponsored merit aid count as part of that 39% in the Maroon survey? Anecdotally, there seem to be a number of NMF kids in the Class of 2021 who were both admitted ED and given need-based fin. aid. in addition to their NM scholarship. Anyone have an idea on how that compares to other top schools? It certainly does suggest that perhaps UChicago admissions puts other factors ahead of ability to pay.
“If UChicago had only one early program, whether EA or ED, its ranking would drop.”
That is the biggest misrepresentation I have ever read. UChicago went to #3 with only EA, not EA+ED. Get your facts straight. The EA+ED regime has not raised UChicago’s ranking at all - primarily because it is so new, it has not had an impact yet.
Newly admitted student here. I see there was some debate about this year’s admission stats. Supposedly last year the dean spoke about the # of applicants and the % accepted. Here are the upcoming receptions for admitted students. First one is only 10 days away:
Chicago, IL Thursday, February 8 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Register»
Glendale, CA Sunday, February 4 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register»
Kenilworth, IL Thursday, January 25 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Register»
McLean, VA Sunday, February 4 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. Register»
Miami, FL Saturday, January 27 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Register»
New York, NY Saturday, February 3 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register»
San Francisco Sunday, January 28 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Register»
Tarrytown, NY Sunday, February 4 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Register»
Wellesley Hills, MA Saturday, January 20 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Register»
I hope to attend one of the events above. Will post if I hear anything.
That NY one will have good info and should be well attended. Last year’s was a really nice event, according to those who were there. At several (all?) of these in or around early Feb. last year they shared the number of total early applications, the % of acceptances and what proportion was ED. They didn’t break apps into ED vs. EA and it would be too optimistic to expect them to give out that information this year because then - voila! - ED and EA accept rates! Going under the theory that it’s still easier to get in ED, it’ll be really interesting to know how many EA’s they accepted this year. Last year it was 400.