<p>@DavidTaleb your essay was interesting. i enjoyed it. you definitely have a chance. don’t lose hope. you might be pleasantly surprised next week…</p>
<p>hey all! 2018er here! just wanted to send you guys positive vibes and wish you luck for next wednesday! whatever happens, just know that it is not the end of the road! everything will work out in the end, even if it may not feel like it at the moment. </p>
<p>if you guys have any questions about uchicago, admissions, etc., feel free to shoot me a PM!</p>
<p>@davidtaleb Are you sure you want criticism though? I mean, you already submitted your application. At this point there’s nothing more that you can do. It sounds like you’re happy with your essay, and I think you should hold on to that feeling haha god knows I wish I liked mine. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you next week! </p>
<p>@neontissues Thank you so much!!! </p>
<p>@neontissues Hi. Thank you for taking the time to answer questions. Really appreciate it!
THIS is why I love UChi! Everyone is just so helpful and collaborative unlike many of the other ‘elite’ universities. Okay my question. </p>
<p>I probably wont get in. But if I do, how tough is the UChi curriculum? I mean, I love the challenge and to quote Frank Wright, ‘The human race built most nobly when limitations were greatest’, but realistically, to see where I stand, can a person who only done Calculus AB and doesn’t write well ( I intend to improve this) perform in UChi?</p>
<p>@ogacihcu Yep! I do! To quote Voltaire, ‘perfect is the enemy of good’. </p>
<p>@davidtaleb If you’re sure. </p>
<p>There are a few little grammatical errors. For example in the first sentence I think you meant to compare yourself to Dolarhyde and actually compared yourself to the quote itself. In the second paragraph you reference the classics (plural) with the word ‘it’ which is wrong but it’s not a big deal. I think your use of ‘and thus’, also in the second paragraph, is a little off which says to me that you’re overextending yourself by using vocabulary that you’re not comfortable with. As a side note, I love when people do this because I think it’s nice when someone goes out on a limb to try a new word because they want to expand their vocabulary. In the third paragraph you say ‘with’ but almost certainly mean ‘in’.
In my personal opinion the word ‘eternalness’ is a little clunky and could be replaced with ‘eternity’ for a slightly smoother read. Again, in my personal opinion quoting “What’s so odd about odd numbers?” twice is a little strange. The repetition distracts from the sentiment that you’re trying to express, so I might have chosen two different uncommon prompts. I would have said ‘a Phoenix’ instead of ‘the Phoenix’, but since you said ‘the’ I’m assuming you meant the UChicago mascot in which case, I think it should be capitalized although I’m not 100% sure. There are parts that you could have cut out to a slightly smoother effect but that’s true in any essay and your voice definitely shows through. </p>
<p>Most of those criticisms are just my personal opinions, and please don’t think that your essay isn’t good! You’ve expressed very clearly that you’re passionate about UChicago. I could list ten problems with mine for every one that I found in yours, and at the end of the day you come through as a dedicated, motivated guy/girl who has a lot of great reasons for attending UChicago instead of another school which is the whole point of this essay. The admissions office has said before that typos aren’t the end of the world. Hopefully I’ll see you at orientation!!! </p>
<p>I’m sorry if this makes you feel bad. It’s so much easier to find fault than it is to create something so please don’t take me too seriously. The admissions counselors aren’t looking for things that aren’t right. </p>
<p>@DavidTaleb P.S. Kudos to you for being able to take criticism at this point. I definitely wouldn’t feel good about that. You are truly a strong person. </p>
<p>@ogacihcu Wow…I am definitely behind. You guys are truly exceptional. It is hard not to progress in such a community. I hope we both get in too! It will be exciting. </p>
<p>Anyway, </p>
<p>I was not trying to compare myself to Dolarhyde, but rather, his sentiments of becoming. There is a subtle touch of Heraclitus in there, which I hope UChi would pick up!</p>
<p>And regarding the classics (plural), wasn’t I referring to them as a group, thus “it”?</p>
<p>Regarding the/a phoenix, I was actually referring to both: the renaissances and being a UChi student.</p>
<p>The rest…I agree! Could be better! </p>
<p>@ogacihcu Btw, I am born in the year of the rooster on august, also known as the august rooster, which in Chinese mythology symbolizes the phoenix. I dunno…but I have a feeling that it is fate…I dunno…Arghh…probably wont get in though :(</p>
<p>so weird how nothing specific has been said</p>
<p>Ya it was tough seeing so many friends find out about their schools last night when we don’t even have a date yet :/. But they HAVE to send an email friday at least, since their announcement is always a week before the decision day, and i am now assuming friday must be day…Right?</p>
<p>i still think it will be a surprise</p>
<p>I called them yesterday about the decision, and the admission representative said that we will hear the answer “sooner than you can expect”</p>
<p>@Maximio: Maybe Monday, then?</p>
<p>oh my god really?</p>
<p>They announced last night it’s the 18th. </p>
<p>@DavidTaleb I didn’t say your essay ‘could be better’! I think it’s exactly what it should be as long as your voice comes through, and it definitely does. You’re fine. That’s really interesting, about the Phoenix! You’re not behind any of us. We’re all in the same boat in the applicant pool. (I’m not an expert, but I’m almost certain that the phrase ‘the classics’ should be treated as plural. If you think about ‘the classics is…’ vs. ‘the classics are’, it’s easier to tell.)</p>
<p>@Maximo Oh my god, I’m so worried. For people who get in it’s going to be an amazing surprise, but the rest of us are just going to be biting our nails and worrying for an extra week so that we can be rejected. Aaaahhh this would be kind of fun if UChicago wasn’t so selective and I thought I had an honest shot at an acceptance. </p>
<p>So that call combined with the guy from the ViewChicago Live saying to keep next week open, would indicate that it’s going to be early next week. </p>
<p>Coming off the heels of being deferred, I’m trying not to be too anxious.</p>
<p>Edit: @Maroonsfan, where did they announce it? Tumblr?</p>
<p>@Maroonsfan That’s not on their tumblr or their admissions website, and we didn’t get an email, which is how they said we’d be notified. Where did you see an announcement??!!!</p>