I agree with a lot of what you are saying, and I think it’s entirely possible that they have multiple reasons. Going test optional certainly can help with outreach…but it also undoubtedly will help them look more selective because more people will apply.
I’m usually not a cynic, but I don’t think stopping to release stats is an attempt to make things more sane. In the case of U Chicago, I think it would be quite important for a student to know that their chances of getting in ED I are 30% and their chances of getting in RD is 3%. I think they realize if people realized how hard it was to get in RD (and it is a very low number) they may decide it’s not worth the effort, especially since they have a unique application. I can’t help but think part of the reason is they don’t want to look too easy ED, and unrealistic RD. That’s just the cynic in me.
I’m trying to help a student that might be a good fit for Chicago and he is a URM. Not sure he can pull the trigger on either of the ED options for various reasons so I’m not sure he will apply RD in the end…might not be worth the energy. But having some stats would definitely help the situation.
I hope they decide to release stats this year. I personally think they are useful…only one piece of the puzzle, but a big piece.
At an admitted student reception, the UChicago rep said 15,000 early applicants with a 7% acceptance. She did not distinguish between ED and EA though.
“I agree with a lot of what you are saying, and I think it’s entirely possible that they have multiple reasons. Going test optional certainly can help with outreach…but it also undoubtedly will help them look more selective because more people will apply.”
Well, early apps jumped +2,000 this year so could be. A lot of schools were up 15% so Chicago wasn't alone. But Test Optional could easily have been a factor.
“In the case of U Chicago, I think it would be quite important for a student to know that their chances of getting in ED I are 30% and their chances of getting in RD is 3%.”
they do unofficially announce the RD rate - and the EA-deferred to RD admit rate - to those admitted students at the April overnight. No way is ED 30% (skeptical it was two years ago); however, once that info. is "known" the EDI rate is no longer 30% but much lower. It's possible that the reason why so many EDI's were rejected this year was because there was perception that ED is an "easier" admit. For a less stellar app - it's not, and a lot of those weren't even deferred this year (unlike previous years).
“I think they realize if people realized how hard it was to get in RD (and it is a very low number) they may decide it’s not worth the effort, especially since they have a unique application.”
Last year's RD rate didn't improve from the year before, and yet application numbers were up. So go figure. Keep in mind that RD rates are plummeting among ALL of the top uni's. UChicago isn't the lowest. This might have the impact of pushing some apps. into the early cycle, but then UChicago has always had a huge number of earlies.
“I can’t help but think part of the reason is they don’t want to look too easy ED, and unrealistic RD. That’s just the cynic in me.”
They are doing what they feel will maximize the quality of the class. It doesn't give the individual applicant much bargaining power :) They also know that we are all doing the math. Last year's overall admit rate was 7% with large numbers of ED's. Not hard to figure out the relative rates of admission. Also, they change the "rules" mid-stream; this year, for instance, they allowed deferred EDI's to join the EDII pool. So it's a wild ride applying to UChicago! But it's also totally the choice of the applicant.
“I’m trying to help a student that might be a good fit for Chicago and he is a URM. Not sure he can pull the trigger on either of the ED options for various reasons so I’m not sure he will apply RD in the end…might not be worth the energy. But having some stats would definitely help the situation.”
UChicago meets full demonstrated need with decent scholarship money for first gen (if applicable). He might choose EA or RD is he’s a particularly competitive applicant. He can also talk to admissions and get their advice on which application policy would work best for him.
Edit: someone can apply EA and then, if deferred, switch to EDII. That’s another option.
“I hope they decide to release stats this year. I personally think they are useful…only one piece of the puzzle, but a big piece.”
More info. is more helpful than less - totally agree. I like what MIT does - full disclosure of admit rates including admission by those deferred to regular.
I agree with a lot of what you said but I do think it is easier to get in ED than RD…most everywhere, not just U Chicago. This is the consistent advice coming out of top counselors and prep schools and there have been articles written on the topic. I know one prep school that is trying to get 100% of their students to apply to ED schools.
The ED rounds definitely include athletes, legacies, etc. that skew the results somewhat. But I still think they are easier…and it might simply be that your passion for the school shows more because it’s truly your number one.
ED has been around a while but the ED phenomenon is spreading like wile fire in my neck of the woods over the last few years…people know that if they have a school that is their top choice or almost their top choice, that’s their best shot (if ED is even offered). I think some school’s actually admit this right on their website. It’s the trade off for committing early.
That doesn’t mean that a kid that has much lower stats will get in ED…but I have seen a lot of disparities at many schools between who gets in ED with what scores, for example, and then who gets rejected/waitlisted with even better scores. I’m seeing a lot of this.
That would actually be a great topic for a thread if it doesn’t exist already.
I think we are going to continue to see more and more schools jump on the bandwagon before it starts to hurt their numbers. I know a few schools that have added ED that I thought never would. And maybe more to come?
I think getting in early to your top choice is such a great thing. What concerns me though are the kids that are missing the opportunity (don’t know about it, don’t want to pull the trigger, parents say no, whatever) and then are getting like six waitlists in March. I know someone this happened to last year. And none of the waitlists panned out. He couldn’t pull the trigger on ED I or ED II. Lesson learned. And this year I know of a girl that was deferred at a school that normally would have been a slam dunk for someone with her stats…but she applied EA and they now offer ED. And some of her friends got in with lower GPA’s and scores. Two of them. But she’s still in the game, so let’s see.
ED will have a higher admit rate. But that doesn’t mean your personal chances are higher. There’ s a difference. Counselors who are encouraging 100% of the class to apply ED are setting those kids up for failure (unless you are talking a very small student population at that school . . . ). The higher admit rate results from the relatively small number of kids for whom that school is a genuine #1. When EVERYONE does it because it’s perceived to be “easier”, they miss the point of ED.
Perhaps this is why UChicago doesn’t bother releasing its ED stats
Another issue: fit doesn’t 100% translate into higher stats, though often there is significant overlap. When UChicago introduced EDI and EDII, the stats weren’t compromised in the least, even though they admitted over 50% of the Class of '21 through EDI/EDII. By introducing ED, they segmented the early market into those who specified a clear preference for UChicago vs. those who didn’t/couldn’t - for whatever reason (all of them perfectly valid). My D was admitted EDII and we got pretty good Fin. Aid. so it’s not the case that those kids are closed out of the ED option.
I applied regular decision, expecting to hear about whether or not I was accepted in March, but last night I received an email saying I was offered provisional acceptance because my app stood out. Did this happen to anyone else?? I am so confused ???
Given that they are closed today, this decision could well be delayed. Therefore, even if it WAS 2/15 slam dunk - it may not be anymore. They will post a date soon enough on social media so just watch for that.
Anyone here apply Regular Decision? If yes. did you get an email with access to your portal? My November 29 emails stated I would get an email in January but I never did! ???
