Has anyone already written their Letter of Continued Interest? I know we can update them on anything new we’ve done here…but what if (like me) you haven’t really done anything new or groundbreaking???
@Ali059 I was just about to ask the same question bc I’m in a similar boat. BTW are we supposed to email our LOCI to our AO or put it on the portal? Because somewhere in the letter it said that we could upload updates… or is that different from the LOCI?
I’m a bit too sad to start writing my LOCI, but I’m thinking of ideas of what to write. Our school doesn’t really give awards and basically makes us drop our activities by first semester (so that juniors get a chance to learn the transition into leadership positions). I was thinking maybe I’d make it more casual (quirky? for the lack of a better word like my Chicago essay) but I’m not sure if it’s the right time.
@reindeercoffee I’m pretty sure we’re suppose to email it to the AO they mention in the waitlist letter.
Yeah, I’ve just continued doing the same activities and my grades haven’t really changed (besides a slight dip). I’m probably going to go the quirky route as well, but I probably won’t send it till the beginning of April.
Interesting because DC’s wait list letter says to update on the UC portal and does not mention an AO.
Your right ^^ i read my letter wrong. It mentions the ao in case you have questions about your status.
I also got waitlisted. Did everyone get the option to be considered for gap year admission? Information on that has been sparse and I was wondering if anyone else had that option offered.
For more info on gap year and waitlist you can type the key words “2021 gap waitlist” into the search function next to the page count to see last years threads on this.
Hey guys! Waitlist here too. I was doing some reading about how I could get off the waitlist, and I saw this really interesting post: https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-odds-of-being-admitted-to-the-University-of-Chicago-after-being-put-on-a-wait-list
Essentially, it’s kind of like what @SupremeRussian said. When it comes to the waitlist, I’m guessing that they know the majority of people are academically qualified to go to the school, so they generally pick people based off of their characteristics. For example, they might choose a Native American student to increase their diversity, or a piccolo player because their orchestra needs another one. From what I can tell, it’s up in the air- although winning a few awards + maintaining solid grades probably would help as well 
Can anyone confirm this idea that UChicago “mines” its waitlist for certain attributes instead of ranking students?
I did…
@FashionablyLatte I was waitlisted too and yes, there was this form to be filled asking whether I’d like to take up the offer to be in the waitlist (which I did). There was also a question on whether I’m willing to take a gap year in order to be considered next year (which I didn’t)
Anyway, I was wondering if their offer to meet need-based financial assistance would still stand, if a student from the waitlist is taken in… does anyone know?
For anyone wonder, I recently spoke to a girl who is currently taking a gap year after being waitlisted by UChi and then offered the gap year. She said she thinks around 75 people got to offer for the gap year. Idk how many were offered spots without having to take a gap year
For anyone wondering, I recently spoke to a girl who is currently taking a gap year after being waitlisted by UChi and then offered the gap year. She said she thinks around 75 people got to offer for the gap year. Idk how many were offered spots without having to take a gap year
@Panian I was waitlisted too and asked my AO about waitlist financial aid. She said they still meet 100% of need based aid, but I think they might take FA into account when deciding who to take from the waitlist 
Hey guys, haven’t seen a group yet for anyone who was waitlisted for UChicago this year, I just applied ED II and found out I’m on the waitlist. Figured this would be useful as they start moving in on the list and for people like myself who aren’t sure how the waitlist works! Good luck everyone!
Would any of you all still try to get off Chicago’s waitlist if you were holding Brown and Northwestern acceptances? If so, why?
@lizzy1234 I think I personally would. It would depend on what you’re looking for from the school, and imo the UChicago environment is unique and what I fell in love with. It’s drastically different from Brown, so I’d think that if you held an offer from Brown but you know that you’re more the Chicago type, you’d be trying your best to get off the waitlist.
Getting off a wait list is a long shot. Probability is not zero but it likely is even lower than the regular admission rate. If the anecdotal evidence is correct, the rate is close to 1%. I would advise all the wait list candidates to be psychologically commit to the schools they are accepted. You guys are all excellent students with brilliant achievements.
Treat the wait list as a lottery ticket. If you get a call from UChicago offering you a place (with or without gap year), be ready to make a quick decision. But otherwise just take that wait list off your mind since that call is likely not going to come. Sorry for not being too encouraging.
Yes if taken off the waitlist they will still meet need.
@lizzy1234 That’s very subject. It depends on what you’re looking for. If Chicago is your first choice, then enroll at NU or Brown (2 schools with equal caliber of education), and try to get in. If it works out, it works out; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t
@eviola17 . Yes, I believe you are right about FA affecting their decision to take from the waitlist…