<p>UChicago is the perfect fit for me - every aspect about it just screams ME! I wrote my "Why UChi?" essay and basically said all this (in a much more awesome way), but I feel like I need to really show my love to the university. How can I do this?</p>
<p>Do you think the adcom would be upset if I send in some extra materials (papers.. maybe a small shrine of some sort..) to be considered? I just don't want them to get the idea that I'm just applying for the hell of it. I truly want to attend (and I get all emotional thinking about it, haha)! My stats are between the 30-50% of the admitted students.. but it's not a matter of numbers, it's a matter of love.</p>
<p>so, if you're thinking "tl; dr" then:</p>
<p>would the adcom NOT appreciate supplementary materials conveying my absolute adoration for the university?</p>
<p>I just applied early whew~ I don't know if this will help, but what I did was take trivial things and contemplate deeply about it. Then I try to make a metaphor out of it. I think if you are able to use something so trivial and use it to expand upon your passion to get into Chicago, you'll show more than just your love for the university. Try it :)</p>
<p>Very few schools care about "interest". Those that do, mostly smaller LAC, make it clear in the admissions process, either directly or indirectly. An example of indirect interest is having on campus interviews done by admissions folks rather than either interns or, as in the case of UofC, not at all.</p>
<p>So IMHO, save your love, your passion for a place that cares. At UofC you run the risk of being viewed as "odd" or worse if you overdo this love bit. </p>
<p>For some reason, CC seems infested with the notion that showing interest, interviewing faculty, and related time wasters are a secret ticket to admissions, to the extent that panic sets in when these applicants show up for a campus visit and tour and no one even takes their name down. Geesh.</p>
<p>Lots of misunderstanding regarding the process. Too bad.</p>
<p>I think that NewMassDad is right to a point. I do think that to some extent Chicago really does care about your interest in attending in making admissions decisions. But, you don't want to overdo it and be seen as a nuisance. In my child's case, she sent in a tape of her musical performance, did an on campus interview and tour and followed up with one call to her admissions officer at U of Chicago to thank her. She also was clear why she would fit in as a student at Chicago and which activities at the school she was passionate about and why. In addition she had recommendations sent in by significant individuals who knew about her musical performance abilities and leadership qualities in that area. She also had several e mail communications with the fellow who interviewed her,(actually started by her interviewer), where he gave her tips to help her application. So showing interest helped, because she was deferred EA and accepted regular admission. I believe that if she didn't show some interest she may not have been admitted regular decision.</p>
<p>Newmassdad is right. I'm not so sure "very few" colleges care about interest, but Chicago and most of its peers don't. And the admissions office tries to be very careful (a) not to encourage applicants to compete with each other by showing extra love, because that would get to be a horrible burden on the admissions people very fast, and (b) not to miss good candidates because they don't have the resources to visit and to put on a creative full-court press, or they haven't focused enough yet to know what they really want.</p>
<p>Also, let's say there's a boy you like. (I don't know the OP's gender or preference. Anyone who likes girls, feel free to transpose.) It's not that hard to let him know you like him: you run into him, talk to him, pay attention when he talks, smile, maybe toss your hair around a bit. But mainly, you have to engage him on topics other than your liking him, and feel confident that he will get the message that you're attracted to him without being beaten over the head with it. If too much of what you do is talk about how great he is and how much you like him, it crosses the line into creepy stalkerdom pretty quickly. And, while having someone like you is a powerful incentive to like him or her back, having someone like you TOO much, without knowing you that well, is usually a turnoff, and for good reason.</p>
<p>The same holds true with college admissions, mostly. Being too much in love with one college isn't reality-based, no matter how much you've studied the view book or toured the campus, and admissions knows that. (They're professionals; you're an amateur at this.) You let them know you're interested by jumping through the application hoops and actually applying. Try to set up an interview, etc. But the really important thing is to show what an interesting, valuable person you are, the kind of person who is going to have LOTS of opportunities, there or elsewhere, and who plans to take advantage of them. THAT's what is going to be attractive to the admissions staff, and make them want to pick YOU.</p>
<p>Agreed. It's good to show why and how you fit into the school, and why it's this school that fits in with your worldview and not the one down the street. This kind of love comes through in your application without your having to send in anything extra.</p>
<p>But I don't think that the U of C admissions folks are going to give admissions to some kid just because he or she asked for it harder or wants it more. They assume that simply by applying you're interested in attending the school, and at the end of the day it's who you are and not what you do to try and woo them that's going to make you a successful student here.</p>
<p>I also caution against the hyper-love.... it's easy to get way too deep about one college. My college application experience was relatively easy and painless. There were three schools I really liked a lot. One was a reach and my first choice (Chicago), the other was a match that my mom didn't want me to attend, and the third was a safety that had the right personality and the right pricetag. Whenever I fantasized about college, I fantasized about my safety so that I didn't get my hopes too high.</p>