<p>Would you say that UChicago's early action is much more selective than the regular applicants pool? I would think that UChicago receives just as many early action applications as compared to regular decision, if not more (though I've never paid much attention to these statistics). </p>
<p>I was deferred, but surprisingly not rejected. My SAT scores were very low but I had a good school reputation (grades, EC's, etc.) I'm looking forward to improving my application in hopes that I may be accepted in the spring decisions.</p>
<p>I got accepted, but I’m still not sure if the EA pool is more selective. Think about all the kids who applied SCEA to HYPS and now they are applying to UChicago, so…</p>
<p>Lol is there any chance we could get in RD then if it’s the essay haha? I wrote mine about Waldo, thought it was pretty good, but guess they didn’t like it xD</p>
<p>I’m in exactly the same boat as you guys… I have a 3.97 uw gpa, 4.45 weighted, and a 35 on the ACT, but got deferred. At least it’s not an outright rejection, but still kind of sad If I don’t get off the waitlist, I think I’ll go to the honors program at the University of Kansas. </p>
<p>I think you guys are right that it comes down to the essays. I think on mine, the writing itself was good, but maybe not the subject matter. I think I came off as too shy/nerdy, and I mentioned that I was Jewish. (supposedly not a factor in admissions, but my parents are ****ed because they think the people who read applications are anti-Semitic.)</p>
<p>It’s the opposite for me. I have a 3.96 unweighted, a 1790 on my SAT (lowest section is in reading), yet they did not reject me. I’m assuming they like my application and is hoping I do better in y test scores. I’m planning on taking my ACTs to do better.</p>
<p>My DS: ** 3.98 unweighted; with 2390 SAT; 800+800 SAT II’s; **; </p>
<p>4 Solid extracurriculars with leadership positions, some awards; still got deferred. Either essays suck (but school resources said they are very good) or some how didn’t show my passion to school enough… but he is so confused on what should he do different for RD schools…</p>
<p>^ this. It is kinda confusing what to do for RD now lol, I think I’m just gonna do what I’m doing as I got into Georgetown EA with premed, and Georgetowns EA is super hard to get into, so I must’ve done something right. But kinda sad about Chicago :/</p>
<p>To all those with high stats/ECs who were deferred/rejected, best of luck! I do think getting in has more to do with being able to fit into the culture than anything else, and you can definitely tell after reading the admitted students’ essays.</p>
<p>A majority of the people here are infatuated with numbers. Numbers on test scores, ranking, GPA, extracurricular involvement, etc. As an applicant who was accepted Early Action this year, I can 100% tell you numbers mean a whole lot less than you may think.</p>
<p>I’m not going to give my stats not because they counter my argument, but because I share an interest in anonymity. However, the point remains: you didn’t get rejected or deferred because your numbers weren’t satisfactory. You got rejected or deferred because you didn’t fit the school. </p>
<p>For Early Admission, a college like U of C can be as selective as they want. They can cherry pick the best applicants, but more importantly, the right applicants.</p>
<p>^ So it is likely that a kid can excellent in all aspects (at least through metrics and course load and such objective) and unable to express “the fit” through essay would end up "not going to any of top schools:). Mind the essay itself could be a nice one and honest, yet not striking cord with adcoms perspective of “fit”. Defining something as “right” itself is very subjective:) </p>
<p>What if all “so called top” colleges are looking for similar things - there are some kids with excellent “objectivity” would be overlooked…</p>
<p>@jt16882
When I visited UChicago it seemed to fit perfect: core, intellectual atmosphere, learning for the sake of learning, maybe I can convince them for RD :P. or maybe it’s really not a good fit, but it sure feels like one.</p>
Perhaps there isn’t anything your son can or should do for his RD apps. It’s a horrible misrepresentation of the admissions process to look at a deferral or rejection and conclude that some specific element of the application must have been lacking. Bear in mind that the admissions officers themselves can’t do this for a large number of candidates. At the end of the day they have to choose X amount of students they might want, and the size of X is determined almost wholly by estimates of yield and past statistics. It doesn’t follow that once you go beyond X you can suddenly start pointing to clear flaws in everyone else’s apps, or even make clear distinctions on potential “fit.” An acceptance is a positive statement about an applicant; a rejection or deferral is not necessarily a negative one.</p>
<p>I think this is right. My D was accepted today, and I honestly think it is because she let her genuine love for ideas and craving for an intellectual environment shine though. It is really the theme that runs through her life from an early age and her whole application. Every essay and her ECs show it, too. I think her recs supported that is well. She had very good test scores, but her grades weren’t perfect (not close, actually), and no leadership in ECs. But there was a drumbeat to her application that said “fit with U of C”. Not sure what other colleges will think of that fit. But for U of C it was right, and they could see it.</p>
<p>For all of you with great scores and grades, just be yourself in your application. Don’t try to make your essays sound “intellectual” or “weird”, just write naturally and your personality will shine through. If the admissions office doesn’t think you’re a good fit for UOC, then that just means you’ll find another amazing university that’s a better fit. But good luck to you all!!!</p>
<p>@jt16882, I kind of agree with you. I believe that test scores are important to some extent. I only received a 1790/2400 (1190/1600) on my SATs, but showed a huge amount of interest in the school. I feel like I didn’t get rejected because I put my heart and soul into those essays. I literally feel like I belong at UChicago and their Core is perfect for me. </p>
<p>So stats are important because they want students with decent credentials, but at the same time, they want people who are “UChicago Material.”</p>
<p>@dunbar - I agree totally. I am sure there are more than good number of kids that are “fit” and adcoms can only accept so many, so they have to nix some. At that point as you said, one cannot look for “why”; someone at my work tells, beyond a point it is a “crap shoot” :)</p>
If I don’t get off the waitlist, I think I’ll go to the honors program at the University of Kansas. </p>
But for U of C it was right, and they could see it.</p>