UChicago Class of 2020 Applicant Thread

Kind of wish UChicago had an ED option.

Kind of wish the notification date was November 2nd.

Hahahah yeah that’d be great as well!

Question: I am confident in my entire application except one area. My test scores. My scores are a little bit lower than what I’ve seen here and I was hoping to get some feedback. My SAT (on the 1600 scale) is 1230 and my ACT (superscored) is 27. I’m not the best test taker and I’ve taken each test multiple times and have gotten in the same score range. Will UChicago look heavily on my scores since I’m in the bottom 25% of the application pool?

@TheGermanBadger To say that they won’t look at your test scores would be telling a lie. However, I believe that U Chicago is one of the best schools in looking at what a candidate has to offer from the bigger picture, which is why they so heavily stress essays and rigor instead of perfect GPA and perfect test scores. It is definitely going to be hard to get accepted – even for someone with a 36/2400 – but that’s not to say it is impossible!

You know, I feel like a bit of a hypocrite. Even with what I said to the Ivy ED rejects about how rejection/deferral from one school doesn’t mean rejection/deferral from another… after my Caltech rejection I feel hopeless. I shouldn’t, I know, but I do.

@tutututututuru Yeah I know what you mean. I just got deferred from Penn ED, and I don’t really know what exactly I am feeling right now.

@jacobpilawa The rest of my stats have been in line with those I’ve seen get accepted. The only downfall of my application is my test scores. I’m just a little jittery for the decisions on the 18th. UChicago is my top choice school and I applied EA and I just needed some peace of mind I guess.

@TheGermanBadger We’re in the same boat so I guess we will see, standardized testing is my least favorite.

Have any of you used Parchment to see your predicted chances for acceptance? It’s an interesting concept, and it makes sense that data from previous applicants who were accepted and denied could be used to predict future results.

Interesting site, @annachronism . I hope it’s accurate!

I know some got accepted into ED Penn, Comlumbia, and Cornell who also applied EA Uchicago. They are supposed to withdraw their apps from Uchicago. Do they have to do that right away or they can drag on their feet to see if they also get in Uchicago? They know they will not attend Uchicago. Or is it too late anyway since Uchicago decisions were already made? Have you heard in the past if Uchicago got a list of ED accepts so they can accept people who are more likely to enroll?

It’s all just guesswork though obviously

@TigerBeach I thought you can’t apply to more than one ED school…

@TigerBeach I believe they don’t have to withdraw their apps right away, but in due course it’ll be necessary of course. At any rate, most decisions have been made - the deadline was Nov. 1st, and we’re now in mid-December, with just 5 days of the review period left.

@tutututututuru I think @TigerBeach is talking about several friends, each having applied to one of those ED schools.

Just as an addendum to my previous post, I don’t believe they send any sort of ED accept list to other schools. Maybe they, check with the SCEA schools, since even applying ED would run counter to their politices, but I can’t see it being practical to send out a list and weed 200-300 kids out of an accepted cohort (and find replacements) in the space of a week.

@tutututututuru They got accepted into their EDs (Columbia, Penn and Cornell). Most them also applied to EA Uchicago. If they are not withdrawing, they are competing for spots they do not need.

I think you guys are too worried about the stats. Yes, accepted students have really great stats but they also have amazing essays. No use in trying to placate yourself by comparing stats when you can’t accurately assess your essay from an admission officer’s eyes.

While I’m not a college admissions staff member, I highly doubt that they would be checking in any way to ensure that ED kids enroll in their school and drop out of other schools. It’s on an honor system is my best understanding.

I can tell you that my S was accepted ED and although I told him multiple times to withdraw from all schools, he totally forgot about one school. He has ADD and did not do it on purpose. But I felt really bad about it. This school had no idea about the ED accrptance until my S confessed to it.

Try to relax and enjoy the time with your son and family. It goes by so fast.

While I’m not a college admissions staff member, I highly doubt that they would be checking in any way to ensure that ED kids enroll in their school and drop out of other schools. It’s on an honor system is my best understanding.

I can tell you that my S was accepted ED and although I told him multiple times to withdraw from all schools, he totally forgot about one school. He has ADD and did not do it on purpose. But I felt really bad about it. This school had no idea about the ED accrptance until my S confessed to it.

Try to relax and enjoy the time with your son and family. It goes by so fast.