Definitely pm me as well! I would love to meet anyone else taking a gap year - I’m planning mine right now 
1 Like
Congratulations, @artivist247 . I had a hunch about you. Luckily it didn’t hex you!
1 Like
Just emailed my AO asking if the waitlist was need-aware and when they stopped accepting for 2026. I’ll let y’all know what they say!
3 Likes
Some advice that I have for everyone is, if you are okay with taking a gap year, definitely try to let them know that. I believe that this is more important than thinking about the need-aware vs need-blind situation currently - as I stated, I didn’t originally apply for fin aid and made it clear that I would probably engage in work-study or something to pay for most if not all of my tuition (provided that I would not be given institutional grant funding).
My AO let me know that they are looking for people interested in accepting offers for the class of 2026. Tentatively let them know about what your plans would be if you were to take a year before college and how that would be a good fit for you; they are more likely to call if they are sure that UChicago will remain your top choice despite having to wait for entry and that you will remain on the waitlist for 2026 though you have (or will be) sending your deposit in for another college.
Personally, I sent this additional letter on Thursday morning and received an email for a call the same afternoon. Though the evidence may not be causal, it still doesn’t hurt to try (remember, we miss 100% of the shots not taken).
1 Like
So still money talks.
Congrats! How exciting! Thanks for sharing your tips. Do you know if gap year students are allowed to take classes at other universities?
Actually, what @artivist247 is saying is that your preference for UChicago and your willingness to gap a year is what talks. Go re-read these posts.
2 Likes
Hi, did your AO give you a deadline of May 3rd to accept the offer?
Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the gap year.
Happy for everyone who got in the class of 2026.
2 Likes
Yeah I believe so.
Yeah, I definitely don’t have the money to pay the full
tuition for all 3/4 years. I just wanted to let them know that with the uncertainties of COVID-19, I would still be able to attend their college after a gap year and that I would try my best to pay whatever I could for the first year that would be left over (remember, federal aid and institutional grants are two separate matters).
Also, since the time I got off of the waitlist, I spoke at the UN 4-5 more times, was profiled in an international vogue magazine, won a scholastic gold medal, was invited to speak at a Harvard Business School conference in 2022, etc. Even more so, as I was moving for the second time during app season I didn’t have a camera to record the optional video originally (so I added a video as an additional LOCI instead).
Colleges definitely care about money to an extent but only because it makes up this greater idea of “value” - like who will contribute back to the college in what way. To say that everyone got in for only monetary reasons is an absolute which cannot apply when there are so many other factors present.
I don’t believe so because we aren’t allowed to “enroll” in other colleges. I feel as if this pertains to university classes as well, though I don’t really know too much at this point. Perhaps you can audit classes though (ie. take them for no credit).
I was slightly off - you can take college courses for hypothetical credit but you won’t be able to transfer them to UChicago (it’s similar to auditing in this situation).
Hi pls help I’m on so many waitlists that are just as prestigious/good fits as UChicago and I got offered a spot for the class of 2026 at UChicago. Do you guys know if signing their deferral agreement means that I have to give up my spots on those waitlists? And when do I have to sign it by?
What does the deferral agreement actually say ie what would you be agreeing to by signing it?
Got it. Thanks for your kind reply. You have incredible EC!
Thank you!
Do you believe it’s still reasonable to expect an offer from the class of 2025. Or are they only giving out offers for the class of 2026 at this point? Anyways, I sent an email today about my interest in taking a gap year and attending UChicago next year, so I’ll see if that works. I saw that last year the final rejection letters came out until september, do you think something similar will happen this year?
1 Like
Last year was highly unusual due to the pandemic. Probably not a good idea to expect the same this year - but is it a “back to normal” year? Who knows? Other posters wrote about Class of '25 being closed and that they seem to be focusing on Class of '26. That’s the best information available at this point.
1 Like
“Thank you for your email and continued interest in UChicago. I will add this email to your application file. When we have further updates about your application, we will be in touch via your UChicago Account. ”
got this reply from my AO today after i emailed her about my gap year plans etc. does this mean i don’t stand a chance at getting off the waitlist because they usually would call/reach out to successful candidates first before updating the portal? thanks in advance and sorry if this is a stupid question 