UChicago Class of 2022 Discussion

Would concur. A 33 is a great score, but since UChicago superscores the ACT there is no downside to trying to lift that science up. That science section is a real bugaboo - but it’s quite possible to raise it substantially the second time around. Good luck!

Thanks JBStillflying!

Does any one hav a clue as to whether the supplementary essay has a word limit? I’d hate to write a really good essay just to find out its above a word limit i never knew existed.

Lest years supplement did not have a word limit.

@Hirzli2
From the college admissions website: “There are no strict word limits. We suggest that for the first essay (where you choose one of the seven prompts), the extended essay stay around 650 words. While we won’t as a rule stop reading after 650 words, we cannot promise that an overly wordy essay will hold our attention for as long as you’d hoped it would. For the “Why UChicago” and “Favorites” essays, we suggest about 250 words.”
https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact/faq
I had all of mine (including favorites and why UChicago) around the 500-650 word count, so they were on the long side. Don’t sweat it too much but try to be concise when at all possible!

I want to apply ED to UChicago. I have got a 34 in the ACT and 1460 in SAT (Math 800, English 660). I also gave my Subject Test. Math L2 800, Physics 800, Chemistry 790. I want to submit my ACT and Subject test scores to UChicago as my SAT score compared to my ACT is not so good and if I submit it, it might hurt my chances. (Will it?).
But if I want to submit my SAT Subject test scores, will my SAT score also get sent along with it? Is it possible to send only SAT Subject test scores to UChicago?

You should be able to use Score Choice for your subject tests, unless UChicago requires all scores this year (they didn’t last year). Checking both the UChicago admissions and SAT websites should give you the information you need.

Do you have a good idea of how the 1460 translates to the ACT in terms of percentiles? Other thread posters have been debating the accuracy of the concordance tables in the upper range and ACT never agreed with Collegeboard to concord the two tests, hence their remains some uncertainty. However, once UChicago publishes the profile of the class of 2021 entering this fall you should be able to see the mid-50% range for the new SAT. You might consider holding off on sending the SAT till you have that information.

@astrofan From what I’ve heard from admissions officers, they just disregard the weaker score. I sent my first ACT (30) to them before ending up with a 34 and got admitted. They don’t really study your test scores too intensely. They just use it as a baseline to help determine if you’re capable of handling the intense thinking and work required at UChicago. Don’t sweat it too much! That energy would be better spent crafting interesting essays and working on your Common App. Those test scores are all excellent. I know plenty of people with worse scores who got in. They demonstrate that you’re bright and hardworking which is really all the information that is extrapolated from test scores.

Thanks for your comments. Also, a 1460 roughly translates to a 32-33 in the ACT.

Also, does giving a TEDx talk at in a major city look good on a application, especially for UChicago?

But my question is that if I am going to send my SAT Subject Test scores, will my SAT1 scores also get sent?

And does UChicago value or appreciate high Subject SAT scores?

They say on there website that the admissions committee only sees your best scores, so apparently other scores are not even considered.

Okay. Does anyone know how big a difference there is between the ED acceptance rate and RD acceptance rates?

Also, does applying ED making it “comparatively” more easier to get in UChicago? (I am talking about marginal benefits)

@astrofan I’m not totally sure how collegeboard does it. What I will say is that those subject test scores will do far more good than a slightly worse SAT than ACT score would do (which is 0 damage). Good subject scores tell a lot about how smart and hardworking you are so you should 100% send them. A Tedx talk is good too, especially if it’s about something you’re passionate about that’s reflected in other parts of your application.
Don’t focus too much on any indiviual part of the application. It’s about creating a cohesive brand for yourself. I’m not your specific admissions officer who will evaluate your application and I don’t know their exact internal policies for application review. But it sounds like you got a lot going for you so don’t worry about whether they’ll see an SAT score or care about a certain EC. Put what you care about! I’m sorry I’m not really answering your questions, but it’s pretty impossible to know what’s going to impress your specific AO.

Yes. Hmm. You are absolutely right. I believe what you say. Thanks.

Its approximately 2% RD and ED (really guessing) is around 30%.

If the difference you say is around 2%, how is that possible because isn’t RD acceptance rate around 8%?

No, RD rate is 2%. ED rate is approx 30% (and that is a guess), total acceptance rate is 8%

“But my question is that if I am going to send my SAT Subject Test scores, will my SAT1 scores also get sent?”

@astrofan when you go online to send your scores, you should be able to click on which dates you want to send and/or exclude. As your subject tests were not taken on the same day as your SAT1, just make sure not to check that one particular date. Just do a “dry run” (but quit before entering your credit card info) and get comfortable with how to send your scores. Keep in mind that a window will pop up describing UChicago’s official policy regarding whether to send all scores or participate in ScoreChoice.

Also, keep in mind that a 34 is an excellent score and you should be focusing on other aspects of your application at this point. The other posters are correct. Should you submit any of the SAT (reasoning, subject, or various combinations thereof), a 1460 won’t keep you from being admitted and 800’s won’t guarantee admission. Show them a strong application - not just strong test scores.

@astrofan Roughly the same stats as my son who will be reporting in a few weeks. He also had an 800 math and I believe it goes a long way if you are STEM focused (my son is tentative Econ and Math).

Focus on your essays and develop your hook. Your scores are already well representative of the University.

Good luck.

Regular Decision acceptance rate is 2%!!!

I didn’t know it was so competitive. Are you sure of that?

@astrofan that’s what Jim Nondorf announced at the admitted students overnights. Of course, that obviously included a whole bund of EA/ED deferreds as well as kids who are applying for the first time.