<p>The University of Chicago received over 3,000 Early Action applications this fall, making this year's EA pool the largest in the school's history.</p>
<p>3,041 people applied for seats in the Class of 2011 under the EA deadline. That number marks a 9.3 per cent increase over last year's EA pool of 2,781.</p>
<p>Vice President and UC College Dean of Enrollment Michael Behnke told the Chicago Maroon that the College's outreach efforts deserve much of the credit for the increase in applications. He also thinks the continuing popularity of early action and early decision programs played a role. According to Behnke, over 90 per cent of seniors at certain East Coast private schools are submitting an early application somewhere.</p>
<p>Admissions Consultant Nadine Warner, who previously served as Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago, says that the non-binding nature of Chicago's EA program helps explain its growing applicant pool.</p>
<p>"It's not a surprise that a school like U Chicago saw such a large jump in the number of early applications," she says. "A non-binding program like Chicago's is very attractive to students because it helps relieve some of the pressure inherent in the college application process. Moreover, it gives students more admissions options. After all, that's what college is about exploring possibilities, not limiting them."</p>
<p>Last year, Chicago admitted approximately 41 per cent of its EA applicants. Its overall acceptance rate for applicants to the Class of 2010 was around 38.5 per cent. Chicago's Early Action admissions option is both non-binding and non-exclusive (meaning applicants are free to apply early to other schools that allow multiple early applications).</p>
<p>I would have to agree with mike. I think a lot of people started looking at Chicago after it was ranked in the top 10 by USNews. Many people thought, "There's a top 10 school that has Early Action instead of Early Decision, why not apply early". Just my two cents though.</p>
<p>Definitely... I can name several people from my school who are applying to Chicago with two bits of information in mind: its rank and its acceptance rate.</p>
<p>Eh. But let's not start ranting; I think that horse has been beaten to a pulp.</p>
<p>Personally speaking, I was first drawn by it's high acceptance rate before the rankings came out. However, as I researched more and more, I became in love with it's philosophy of uniqueness and now, Chicago is my first choice.</p>
<p>Same, same JM8879. I found it accidentally and thought "why not?" The harder I looked, the better it sounded. Now I'm totally infatuated and will be devastated beyond belief if I don't get in... :p</p>
<p>"There's only 17 days left till decisions!"</p>
<p>Be careful here, they may need more time to get the answers back to you than advertised. They have so many apps to process this year and they have a history of not being spot on time. It is a time of acute anxiety but brace yourselves for delay and hope that I am wrong!</p>
<p>The fact that the application surge this year will cause the school to hold at 9 or rise next year also generates a certain momentum effect. Chicago has the potential, emphasis on potential, over the next few years to become one of the "hot" schools like Duke prior to its rape / alcoholism / cheating scandals and UPenn as well.</p>