<p>As I turn my attention to this whole college app process, i have started to question if I should apply to UofC early. It has been my intention to do so for well over a year and Chicago is by farrrr my top choice school. As I see it, EA/ED programs were designed so students could express their interest in top-choice schools; however, with the recent change in other schools' policies and the switch to common app, the role EA plays in the Chicago app process has and inevitably will change.</p>
<p>With this deluge in applicants, I am worried that I may be drowned out by other more qualified, albeit less interested and enthusiastic, applicants. By no means do I want to turn this into some chances thread, but to put it in more perspective, I am concerned about my GPA (no idea what it is, but I do have a share of C's and B's-- I would put my weighted at ~3.6-3.8). I know there is no way to avoid the transcript, but my performance and the causes of it are indirectly one of the main reasons I want to attend Chicago and definitely something I would touch on in an essay. I know I can perform at Chicago "level" and my ECs, participation in the Telluride programs, test scores, rec letters and all that stuff obviously demonstrate this; just all of a sudden I do not know if I should apply EA. No matter what, I obviously have an actual want and desire to be at UofC and that will show through in my app, but is it best if I wait it out for RD, with the hope I can have a solid first semester?</p>
<p>I see very few benefits to applying RN, and it seems like two don't apply to you. The most obvious is that some students need the two month gap between the November and January deadlines to round out their college list and do their applications. That's not your situation.</p>
<p>The other reason you wouldn't be able to apply EA is if you had another first choice school that had some sort of restriction policy. It doesn't sound like that is your situation either.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would let who you are sing loud and proud in your application and apply EA. That sounds like that's your plan of action right now. I'd also like to remind you that nobody is perfect. (I am nobody-- who are you?)</p>
<p>You're well aware that Chicago is selective; and if you have been reading along the last few months, it seems like our school has disappointed a lot of aspiring attendees and it looks like we are only going to disappoint more next year. However, I think it also needs to be pointed out that there are a good number of "risky" students that Chicago takes in, students that have performed poorly in high school but show a lot of potential for shining through. I don't think that you sound like a "risky" student, but I do think the fact that Chicago admissions people find the potential in "risky" students emphasizes that they probably consider what's not on your transcript but could be along with what's actually there.</p>
<p>Thanks una! (I was hoping you would reply :))</p>
<p>In all honesty, I know I will apply EA no matter what-- even if I have to go to Pago Pago to do so! I am so excited to start the process and I just hope they didn't suck too much of the uncommonness out of the uncommon app. If anything the best part is seeing my Mom react to me wanting to go to Chicago so badly. She was of the old guard you all have been talking about, the students from +15 years ago who "hated" it, and still thinks I will be more oppressed than Hester Prynne if I end up there. </p>
<p>If anything your post helped me put my situation into perspective. EA is for people who love that school and I won't let Harvard admission policies stop that! Thanks for the reassurance :).</p>
<p>I am thinking for my Why Chicago essay...
"Because unalove told me so." --Probably wouldn't be original though, haha. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Apply EA. You clearly want to attend the U of C and applying EA is one of the ways of letting them know of your particular interest. I can only speak of my childs experience two years ago. She had marginal SATs going into her EA application (1340,without the writing) and about a 3.6 cum, not sure if this was weighted or unweighted. She had some AP and honors courses, but really a mixture which included regular courses as well. She was not stimulated by high school and felt that the U of C would be the challenge and stimulation that she needed. She did have good ECs, with music and community service leadership positions among them. She applied EA, went to Chicago for an interview, let them know just how much she wanted to go to Chicago and why, really worked on her essay and let the chips fall. She was deferred EA and accepted RD and is now a very happy honors student at the U of C. She is involved in three choirs and all sorts of activities as well. So the admissions committee does take chances, looks at the whole person and is really good at what they do. Go for it and lots of luck.</p>