Should I apply EA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
1

<p>I've started working on my supplemental essays because this is by far my favorite school. I love the fact it's located in a large city, that I would mistaken it for Hogwarts every morning, and its intellectual environment. That being said, I want to ensure the best chance possible of getting admitted. At the same time, however, I love the idea of applying EA and (hopefully) knowing I am going to my top choice while applying for other schools in the RD round. The problem is, I don't know how I would compare to everyone else, as I would be competing against the best applicants in the nation. Should I apply EA with these stats, or wait until the RD round where I would gain more achievements and awards and also retest for higher test scores?</p>

<p>Stats:
Male, Midwest, Caucasian, No hooks</p>

<p>Academia:
GPA: 3.994UW
Rank: 6/557
ACT: 34
SAT II: 800 US History, 740 Chem, 800 Math 2
AP Tests: APUSH (5), Euro (5), Calc BC (5), Lang/Comp (5), Stats (5)
Senior Year Courseload: Multivariable Calc., AP Econ, AP Comp Sci, AP Lit., CIS Comp, CIS Spanish 5, AP Physics, AP Chem.
Major Awards: National Forensic League Degree of Honorx2, Degree of Excellencex2, ExCEL Nominee, 2 time Tri-Athlete Award, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, National Merit Commended </p>

<p>I go to one of the top ranked schools in the nation if that affects anything...</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Cross Country (4 years): Varsity Captain, Academic State Gold, Academic State Silver, 2 time Scholar Athlete of the Year, 2 time section qualifier, two varsity letters </p>

<p>Swimming (4 years): Varsity Captain, 2 time Academic State Silver, 3 varsity letters, most improved award, 2 time section qualifier, True team section runners up, 2 time true team section qualifier, True team State Qualifier, </p>

<p>Track and Field (4 Years): Varsity Captain, Individual All State Academic Award, 3 Time True Team Sectional Qualifier, 2 Time Sectional Qualifier, Most Improved, Scholar Athlete of the Year, 2 Time Varsity Letter Award Winner, Honor Roll Time in 2 Mile-9:56 and 1 mile - 4:33, Sectional Medalist, two time Sectional runner ups (in the hardest one in the state I may add),</p>

<p>Girls Swim Team Manager for 1 year.</p>

<p>Debate (3 Years): 2 Time State Qualifier, Novice Classic Debate State Quarter Finalist, , National Forensic League Member, NFL Degree of Honor, Degree of Excellence, Letter Award Winner </p>

<p>Student Council (3 Years): Officer, Organized various things, including running a school wide Community Cup that includes a $1000 prize and a choice of charity, and also ran initiative for healthier district school lunches, 2 letter awards</p>

<p>National Spanish Honor Society (2 Years)</p>

<p>National Honor Society (2 Years): , Service Committee, Dialogues committee, Dodgeball Committee (ran a local dodgeball tourney where all proceeds go to JDRF, lots of money raised)</p>

<p>LINC: LINC 101 - Leadership Class, get school credit on my transcript
LINC Leadership, Leadership, do large scale leadership with Freshmen and newbies at school
LINC 301: Captains training
Other misc. Leadership conferences</p>

<p>Summer Activities:</p>

<p>Work Experience: Lifeguard/WSI Instructor</p>

<p>Volunteer Work: 200+ total - Help run a space camp for kids, I also work in a hospital</p>

<p>Running Camp: (3years) (400 Mile Club) </p>

<p>Swimming Camp: (4 years)</p>

<p>Star Wars Collectable Card Game Club: I played competitive star wars collectable card game. I went to states and regionals (3 years)</p>

<p>Triathlons: I independently train and compete in triathlons.</p>

2

<p>Despite what admissions officers sometimes claim, it is significantly easier to be admitted EA. Since you already have decent test scores and grades, it would be smart to apply early.</p>

3

<p>I think so too. I like your sports. U. of C. has a 200 m indoor track and a 50 m indoor pool (although primarily used in NCAA 25 yd. configuration) . I’d almost say you should talk with one of the coaches. Is that a 4:33 mile or 1600m? I don’t see what could much improve for RD except your 2 mile time.</p>

<p>I also agree with above “that it would be smart to apply early.” It is unclear how strong or deep the applicant pool will be next year. The earlier you can get in the better.</p>

4

<p>Update: I plan on running XC and track if accepted. I am going to contact the coach soon. I know I can’t formally get recruited, but I’ve heard even D3 coaches have some sway on decisions.</p>

<p>Some things I forgot to add: In track I just won another most improved award (so now I have two). This makes me the first in my school’s history to do this two years in a row. Also, my 3200 time is 9:53, not 9:56; same difference though.</p>

5

<p>Definitely apply EA. There’s absolutely nothing to lose, and if you do happen to get in EA you’ve got so much less to worry about. The only reason not to do EA is if you don’t write the essays on time.</p>

6

<p>absolutely apply EA.</p>

<p>during last several admissions cycle, the acceptance rate for EA looked like it is almost twice as high as the RD round. Note that the published final acceptance rate is for EA and RD combined, and the RD only acceptance rate is considerably lower than the final acceptance rate.</p>

<p>With your stat, at worst, you will get deferred. If that happens, you can add the supplement of the latest achievements and latest grades as additional application data for the RD round.</p>

<p>There is absolutely NOTHING to lose by applying EA and EVERYTHING to gain. Some people say the EA pool may be stronger. However, I have seen ABSOLUTELY no evidence that this is the case, reading reported EA and RD decision threads by the applicants. Besides, note that Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford all practice single choice early action. As such, candidates with really strong credentials who thought they have a real shot at those are removed form the U Chicago EA pool. This also supports my position that the U Chicago EA pool is NOT likely to be stronger than the RD pool, and it if is, it is MORE THAN compensated for by the fact that the acceptance rate is so much higher.</p>

<p>Especially next year, the over all admissions scene at U Chicago is likely to be extremely competitive due to the rising fortune of the school, and the fact that they admitted A HUGE class for both the class of 2015 and the class of 2016, and they can’t afford to have yet another huge class - the class of 2017 may end up being considerable smaller than the class of 2016. Already, some people believe that this year’s acceptance rate of 13.2% would have been more like 11% if the school admitted the “right” number of applicants to yield an optimal class size. Apply early by all means - it will increase your odds significantly.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

7

<p>by the way, you sound like a terrific student athlete. I would emphasize your passion for sports accomplishment. U Chicago is trying to diversify from the stereotype of “nerds”, and on a path to put together a more rounded student body while preserving its supreme intellectual tradition.</p>

<p>An accomplished athlete with a passion for the life of the mind? You will be totally irresistible to them!</p>

8

<p>I would think you have a good a shot as almost anyone i’ve seen here, EA is definetly for you. </p>

<p>Make sure and fill out the athlete questionaire and maybe e-mail the coach a week or 2 later. Your times are close to being recruitable for UC track. What events do you swim, I run (400) and swim (backstroke) too. Swim time good enough to recruit?? I’m hoping to swim (too slow in running (slower than my 100 back time)), if I can get in. </p>

<p>GdLck</p>

9

<p>If you don’t get accepted EA, then college admissions really is BS.</p>

10

<p>^ agree!!!</p>

11

<p>UChicago’s EA admit rate last year was 17.6%
[Early</a> Line on Early Admissions - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/2012-early-admission/]Early”>Early Line on Early Admissions - The New York Times)</p>

<p>The overall admit rate was 13.2%
[Colleges</a> Report 2012 Admissions Statistics - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/college-admits-2012/]Colleges”>Colleges Report 2012 Admissions Statistics - The New York Times)</p>

<p>The RD acceptance rate was lower still.</p>

<p>At pretty much all the top schools the early admit rate is higher than the regular decision admit rate, though it is sometimes said that this is at least partly offset by the fact that higher caliber students tend to apply early.</p>

12

<p>Committed/recruited athletes are also typically in that EA number as well.</p>

13

<p>

Exactly. That’s why I applied EA to UChicago. I was a competitive applicant for HYPS, but I knew I would stand out more during EA at UChicago since the tippy-top students were already snatched up by SCEA elsewhere.</p>

<p>My impression is that for non-hooked applicants, SCEA at those places doesn’t give much advantage vs. RD anyway.</p>

14

<p>irrelevant, but on your page it says you’re born in 1993… were you held back or is this a fake birthdate?</p>

<p>and btw, your stats are stellar. it’d be wrong for you not to get in!</p>

15

<p>^Lol, I just noticed that. Nah, I wasn’t held back a year. It is supposed to be 1995. Thanks</p>