<p>Early</a> applications to the College decrease by 15 percent - The Chicago Maroon</p>
<p>Well then. The Common App had quite an effect, now, didn't it?</p>
<p>Hard to tell. According to the article, RD apps are running ahead of last year (but it doesn't say by how much). It may be that some people felt, based on last year's numbers, that Chicago EA wasn't enough of an admissions "bargain" to justify doing an early application. Unlike at many schools, especially ED ones, the early admission rate (32%, roughly) wasn't so much higher than the RD admission rate (26%, roughly, if you ignore deferred EAs). On the other hand, I think the same applies to MIT, and they went way up, so who knows?</p>
<p>This is great. I can't tell you how happy I am. Finally, an upper hand that doesn't disadvantage anyone unfairly!</p>
<p>Actually, signitblank, I wouldn't be so sure of that.</p>
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“So, coming off the best year ever in admissions at Chicago, we can only guess that casual applicants were discouraged by our increased selectivity. The quality of the early applicants so far seems to bear that out,” O’Neill said.
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<p>Hence, the selectivity may have remained the same, or, more likely, increased. The number of applications just decreased, which most people (erroneously) take to be a good representation of selectivity.</p>
<p>YESSS!!! MORE CHANCE FOR EA APPLICANTS TO GET ACCEPTED LOL!! thank god not many people applied (just being honest... sucks for the school i guess... im sure their RD applications will go up)... but people were right in saying that last year was the record breaking biggest class (Class of 2012 admits)..</p>
<p>"Increase in american applicants living abroad"</p>
<p>That's me!lol</p>
<p>Perhaps the reputation for so-so FA also deterred folks in these tough times...</p>
<p>wait so do you guys really think its better for us or do you think they will accept fewer people ea? also anyone know release dates for admissions?</p>
<p>I think they were always going to accept slightly fewer people EA this year compared to last, and this will tend to harden their resolve. But net-net the EA acceptance rate will probably be similar to last year's, or a skootch higher, e.g., somewhere around 1/3, but probably on the low side of "around".</p>
<p>Well then, that certainly increases all of us EAer's chances of being accepted! :D Though it's still the college's 2nd highest year, I think it may have just been due to the fact that the class of 08 was the largest to apply to college, ever, and it's supposedly going to decrease starting with this year.</p>
<p>YESSS! Sure, the pool will be be even more self selected, but at least we'll more than likely hear back a few days before December 15th! I'm sooo excited. but nervous. but excited. but...you know. NERVOUS. :P</p>
<p>Blame the Post Office since Chicago's EA apps were down 15 percent, while Northwestern University's ED apps were up 15 percent.</p>
<p>^LoL I think that ColdWind may have something there, though all the better for those of us who had our apps go to Chicago, haha.</p>
<p>Btw, ColdWind, I love your username, Arcade Fire is amazing! =]</p>
<p>Maybe I'll just remind people that number applying and number admitted is not synonymous with the mythical dragon of selectivity....?</p>
<p>That said, one thing I've noticed about the trends in Chicago's student population over the past 5-6 years (I've only been going here for three, but I know a lot of recent alumni and longtime profs and I've talked to them at length about these things) is that the students coming in seem to be a lot more active and accomplished than the students from even my year. An applicant desirable to any college admissions office is one who has a lot to offer the school-- both in the classroom and outside of it-- and it seems to me that Chicago is pulling in a lot more kids who can handle a rough courseload and have the power, motivation, and time management skills to get involved in a ton of other clubs and also go out and have fun. As a result, I think Chicago is a much happier campus overall than I think it was 3-5+ years ago.</p>
<p>So even though admissions percentages may or may not change significantly, I think the net effect of growing selectivity is enormous.</p>
<p>If there are fewer apps, doesn't that mean the admissions office can get through them more quickly and therefore get the decisions out earlier?</p>
<p>There may be less EA applications, but if I understand unalove's last post correctly, they may be much more difficult to choose from. Prediction for EA decision: finished by 12/12, posted by noon 12/13 (and I'll be happy to lose my bet if it's earlier).</p>
<p>Last year they had a lot of apps and finished surprisingly early. They could very well spend more time deliberating.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don't think fewer people applying is going to make it easier to get into. I just really doubt that anybody accepted EA is somebody that would have been clearly rejected last year.</p>
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[quote]
one thing I've noticed about the trends in Chicago's student population over the past 5-6 years (I've only been going here for three, but I know a lot of recent alumni and longtime profs and I've talked to them at length about these things) is that the students coming in seem to be a lot more active and accomplished than the students from even my year.
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<p>Do you also mean less quirky? ;)</p>
<p>Obviously hasn't met my kid... ;)</p>