On top of all the replies, I do wanna add: what is it that you like about UChicago? Because all the similar schools lose a perspective of it. I applied ED1 for UChicago but got rejected. The other “notable” schools that I applied to are Carleton, Haverford, Tufts, Reed, Wesleyan, Wake Forest, and some others I cannot recall off the top of my head.
These are all good substitutes for UChicago in my perspective. I like idealistic school, schools that do not want to change the world but would like to sit down and do some pointless but bold thinking. Reed is my top choice now because it has wonderful weather, great teaching, and crazy and rebellious people. Weather is important to me because I suffer mentally in bad weather. But Reed does not have a ranking and is a liberal arts college. If I’m going back to China to find a job, people are going to assume it’s a bad place for sure. That’s my biggest concern.
All the colleges that I’ve mentioned are academic and to different extents quirky and ideal. I did not apply to Columbia because I only have 1460 for my sat (this is also why reed is my biggest shot). My counsellor said Rice is too happy for me:), as in I’m too painfully conscious and self-aware a person, but Rice likes happy, carefree high school girls. Great counsellor, not sure what he means tho.
Because I’m most likely to pursue a PhD, Carleton Reed… are all big feeder schools. And Carleton is cute for sending me a dozen links to keep me busy before they can give me my result in a week after receiving all my materials. They sent me sudoku, a virtual bubble wrap, a video of a mountain, a home cooking videos (which is actually using a blender to blend glow sticks and says don’t try at home).