south africa
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Maybe instead of them picking people off of the waitlist who have similar credentials to those they wanted, maybe they are picking those they wanted originally who they weren’t sure would pick another school? Like, sometimes, AOs feel like kids are overly qualified and may pick HYP. However, if they accept waitlist status or submit a LOCI intent on UChicago, it shows that they would definitely go to the uni.
Like when I submitted my update, my AO said that they would update me on “the waitlist status” not “your [individual] waitlist status” so they may not truly know how things would turn out on commitment day still.
Agree that they will defer (from EA) or w/l (from RD) if they think you are likely to be headed elsewhere. I’m referring to candidates who would be an uncontroversial admit had they applied ED.
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anyone else get any UChicago waitlist updates yet? so far no luck here with me
Was admitted today off of the waitlist for class of 2026. I wish it was 2025 but I told them I would also take 2026 so I am still thrilled. I have a lot to consider about how I’m going to spend the gap year but I’m still in shock.
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Wow, congrats! If you don’t mind me asking, could you provide us with your basic info (ex. region, hooks, major, etc.)? Thanks and again congrats.
Sure thing:
Male OOS (New Jersey)
Hook: no legacy, and I’m the first kid from my school to ever get into UChicago (it’s not a popular school to apply to)
Major: economics
ACT: 34.25 composite 35 SS
GPA: 4.6/4.0 on weight scale
No rankings at my school but in the top decile
Applied RD
ECs: Huge leadership role in business clubs, class president, started a service project, and had an internship at congressional campaign.
Essays: Poured my heart out into my essays about economics. I spent two months on them.
Note: when my admission rep called me today, she told me that they really appreciated the amount of follow up emails I sent to them. So my advice to anyone is stay in touch! they notice!
Lmk if I’m missing anything
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Thank you very much for the detailed response! You definitely deserved the place. Oh, and please allow me to ask one last question: What kind of follow-up emails did you send? I’ve been in constant touch with my AO but now am a bit hesitant to send because of the fear that sending emails at this moment will make me seem too desperate. Your advice will mean so much!
Thank you for the kind words! So I sent in what I thought was my best written LOCI three days after being waitlisted on March 12th (decision day). I say “personal best” because out of all of the LOCIs I’ve written, this one felt like it came from the heart. Next, I sent an email to my rep the day I sent in my LOCI just to reiterate my passion for the school. Two weeks later, before Ivy Day, I emailed my rep saying I’d be willing to do Class of 2026 and outlined the plans I had. I maintained a lot of energy and positivity in the emails if that helps!
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Fantastic. Definitely sounds like a winning plan. Thank you very much for your advice. I admire your hard work and (fingers crossed) hope to see you in Chicago!
Anytime! I hope to see you there as well. Did you also indicate C/O 2026 as an option?
Does this mean they are done taking ppl for the class of 2025?
Also has anyone from the Texas region gotten in yet?
My rep said the class was full for 2025 but that could mean they calculated it to be full, and that there is still a chance of people not accepting admission. Who knows? I would just wait and see. Also, I was a little enthusiastic about taking the gap year so they might have taken me early.
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How detailed were your gap year plans?
I was very detailed with what I COULD do but I never said I had anything solidified because that’d be dishonest. I have two options as of now, plus more if I keep looking. One is to possibly work for a lobbying group that I know the chairman of in DC, and the other is to work for a private equity startup near my hometown. I’ve volunteered/worked for these two places before so it’s only a matter of solidifying year round work with my connections at both. I would be very specific with what you could do, but don’t tell them that it’s all lined up because then they might ask for more details about it. Not sure though.
Just to clarify, your regional admissions officer told you that the class of 2025 is full?
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I’d reckon if they said the class of 2025 is full, then probably around 2100 students have already committed to UChi
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Sorry to ask a dumb question, but what exactly is the thinking behind a school’s admitting someone a year into the future? Would they be more inclined to do this if that preference had been stated or at least signalled as a possibility in the application itself? Can you apply even on that very condition?
The desire to take a break from studies wouldn’t be so unusual, I would think. After completing high school many a kid must want a breather and a chance to do something non-academic for a change. That was very much my son’s feeling. He knew he wanted to resume his studies, but he also wanted a break from them. It worked out well for him. He got something out of his system during that year and returned to the classroom all fired up and rejuvenated. I am convinced that his academic performance was much improved for that very reason.
Another sort of kid would not like such a hiatus at all, and it would be a cruel choice to have imposed on them. Why would a college do that?
When you are waitlised, you have the chance to check off a box that says you’d like to be considered for C/O 2026. I checked off that box, and I’m happy I did because it definitely helped me gain admission off of the waiting list.
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