So I thought I would be able to have all my essays done by the Early Action deadline but then I realized my long essay was really lacking in terms of having a strong message and was a bit similar to my common app essay since it was on the same topic. I’m wondering, is there any advantage in applying EA to UChicago in terms of like better admission rates (like do they have lower qualifications/standards in the EA round vs. the RD round?) plz help I’m stressing out bc I didn’t finish my essays in time.
Nobody really knows (other than that EA and RD are anywhere between 2-5% acceptance rate), but you would most likely be deferred and waitlisted (which is generally what happened last year) unless you were part of the select few HYPS-level applicants Chicago really wants.
They should not have lower qualifications in the EA round compared to the RD round. The effective admit rate for RD was only 2% last year, but remember that they decide how many to defer to the regular round vs. reject outright so that’s a managed rate. While I wouldn’t expect it to change much (they seemed very proud of themselves), you might hold an advantage over those who were deferred simply because you would be a fresh application for that round. Or you might have another option which could really help your chances and that’s to apply EDII (if that makes sense for you financially and/or your decision to attend won’t depend on finances). Don’t worry that you didn’t finish your essays “in time” for EDI/EA. Truth is - those essays are crucial and it’s better to hold your application back and retool a weak essay than to send in a sloppy job which might get you deferred or worse. Don’t worry about admit rates and just choose the best admission plan for you at this point: EDII or RD, and rework your essay so you can hit it out of the ballpark.
Good luck to you!