@quoderatuhhh can you add @NikkuWadde 
im not in the group me
I have read many posts on this thread (and others) about how UChicago is filled with students that really, really want to be there. Many have suggested that the best way to show this to admissions is to apply ED or EDII. I question this conclusion. First, there are plenty of families that want to compare financial aid packages or hope to receive merit offers from UChicago or others and therefore apply EA or RD. Second, if UChicago protects its yield by accepting too many ED/EDII kids, then they may affect the overall happiness of their freshman class. There is a very good reason that rigorous schools like UChicago and MIT have historically eschewed ED that no one has brought up. Namely, EA allows early admitted students the opportunity to visit the school as prospective students and truly decide whether the fit is good. If an admitted EA student stays overnight and sits in on classes and then decides it is not a good fit, there is no need to enroll. The non-matriculating student may hurt yield but in the end it is good for the individual student, the school and the student body as a whole.
An analogy would be the exit door right before the start of the roller coaster at a theme park. Sure you get in line with your friends and family expecting to get on the ride, but right before you commit it is very wise for the theme park to have a door just in case you change your mind (no one else wants to ride the coaster with an unhappy park goer…and the staff does not want to clean up the mess of a sick rider). Those that apply ED won’t find the exit door so easily and the school may be stuck with more matriculating students that would be better off --and happier-- elsewhere. Sure, I know that most ED applicants have done their homework and are very, very sure that they are ready for 4 years at UChicago (if you or your child was admitted ED, then please understand that I believe your commitment). But for sure, there are other ED applicants that would truly benefit from a non-financial reason to exit before matriculation. Applying ED to UChicago is not like applying ED to the Ivys or high ranking LACs. Those schools largely have some form of grade inflation, some quite large amounts of grade inflation! Applying to UChicago is more like applying to MIT. At MIT there is no ED because if you are not willing to work hard (or the fit is not right), MIT wants to give you every opportunity to exit before you matriculate. MIT will work you hard. Chicago will work you hard. Now that UChicago is embracing some apparently “strong” form of ED (meaning lots of ED acceptances and mostly EA deferrals), then they will attract more students merely chasing USNWR rank either for their own reasons or because they are advised to do so to increase odds of admission. This no longer promises to make the best fit for each student, UChicago or its students body as a whole. Of course you can disagree, but let’s at least agree that in the past the ability for an early applicant to choose NOT to enroll did have some kind of a benefit for all concerned. Otherwise the EA admissions for so many years would not have been sense.
Sorry this got so long…kindly be polite with any dissent! lol
@Sam-I-Am I agree with you to some extent that UChicago is very different from the Ivies and someone who has not done their research could do themselves a disservice applying ED. People who are only going by rankings and prestige though probably aren’t the types to ED UChicago because it’s not HYPS and because despite it’s wonderful rankings and rep there is still a large percentage of the population who has no idea what it is. Admitted student days can help an undecided person make a decision but it’s not like an exact science where you sit in on one class and have that A-HA moment. My son sat in on 2 classes that were both upper level and he only understood a few words here and there. He did get a small amount of useful knowledge–the upper level classes were super small and that he would be really smart by the time he got to them. He went to other admitted student weekends for other schools and actually enjoyed the classes more to be totally honest because they were intro level classes and made him feel smart. The facebook groups and groupme type groups were really what helped him decide. UChicago he found like minded people right away and one school he eliminated almost right away from his online interaction. He’s a 2nd year and he is still good friends with people from that initial online interaction. No matter how well thought out a decision is whether it is made in November or May there are still people who have regrets and questions. UChicago does have a fairly wide range of students though they are all super smart. People who realize they don’t want to put in the academic work can find somewhat easier classes and if you don’t double major and come in with AP credits you can get by taking only 3 classes per quarter which lightens things up considerably.
Written like a true insider, acdchai. Thank you!
To think that the school has dropped its standards or changed its student body by accepting a larger portion of ED students is insulting to the students who applied ED and the admissions counselors who accepted them. You discredit the judgment of the institution.
Do you really think families that signed the ED contract hadn’t carefully considered its meaning? All knew that they were forgoing other opportunities. Do you really think that UChicago admission committee opened up the college to a lot of bottom fish just for yield? The admissions staff made their decisions using the same set of criteria that they used in prior years.
I think that many, many, applicants are worthy of acceptance, but the college just can’t take them all. The differences between applications becomes microscopic. SAT2 780, ACT 34 vs. SAT2 740, ACT35. Excellent essays and letters of rec for both. One is a published writer; the other presented at Siemens.
It just seems like you are upset that for whatever set of significant reasons, you were unable to apply ED and got deferred EA. Well, the college is giving you the chance to resolve those significant reasons and apply EDII. If you still have unresolved issues, then UChicago presents serious issues for you and the college (and you) should recognize that. Please remember it’s a no loans school, so the “compare finances” argument is not really legitimate. Perhaps you are looking for your child to attend for a price that is substantially below your family contribution amount determined by FAFSA. I respect that, but you can understand why then your child will not be at the front of the line?
@hohocheer, wow that’s really rude^. I think that people are just trying to understand the new set up in applying to UChicago. It use to be simple - EA and RD. The new system does take adjusting with how to best use it for the particulars of your family situation. I disagree that just because you’re applying in the EA or RD pile you don’t have UChicago as a serious contender or even as your first choice.
Can anyone @quoderatuhhh or others PM me for my D to join Groupme? She had issues joining earlier. Thanks!!
"The differences between applications becomes microscopic. SAT2 780, ACT 34 vs. SAT2 740, ACT35. "
If this were really what they were seeing then the mid 50% range wouldn’t start at 32 . . . .
How should I update UChicago about my recent accomplishments? I know they say to upload it to the portal, but I was recently deemed a Regeneron Top 300 Scholar, so I am not sure what exactly I would upload. Any ideas?
ACT Middle 50% 32-35
This stat means about 25% of students scored below 32 and about 25% scored above 35, with 50% scoring between 32-35. They are seeing tons of 34 and 35s.
If they are seeing “tons” of 34’s and 35’s, then they are also seeing even more “tons” of 32’s and 33’s, since the mid-50% range of accepted scores ranges from 32 - 35 and there happens to be more of the latter to begin with out there in the population of applicants. In fact, their median is likely to be no higher than 33. So 34 and 35 are on the high side. Also, keep in mind that UChicago superscores everything so we really don’t know whether those ranges represent single scores or not. They could well be superscores.
In reality, they aren’t determining among “microscopic” differences of high-end test scores. They accept a variety of decent-to-great stats because they believe that all those applicants can do just fine at UChicago. What they need, then, is for applicants to self-select into UChicago. Selecting a large number of ED applicants probably is associated with really great outcomes, like higher freshman retention, higher 4-6 year grad rates, and - very important - higher values of alumni giving down the road. What that does mean, however, is that if you superscored a 32, and someone else scored a “one and done” of 34, but you are ED and the other person is EA, your chances of being accepted, all else equal, are higher, simply because you have signaled more obviously that this is your #1.
In case anyone was interested in the admissions ratings process, there are three main rating variables.
1-5 : Academics
A-E : Personality - Extra Curricular, Essay responses, etc.
XYZ : UChicago fit - engagement
Highest rating is 1AX
Lowest rating is 5EZ
At this stage, the only variable a student could impact would be engagement.
@hohocheer "ACT Middle 50% 32-35
This stat means about 25% of students scored below 32 and about 25% scored above 35, with 50% scoring between 32-35. They are seeing tons of 34 and 35s."
Actually, to be technical here, that stat really means that about 25% of students scored 32 or below (not 25% scored below 32) and about 25% scored 35 or above (not 25% scored above 35). It may be that only 10 percent of the class has scores of 31 or lower - there is no way to know from this particular stat.
You are correct, however, that there are a ton of people applying with 34s and 35s. When the mid-range of test scores is this high, it’s really hard to rely on your test score to be the thing that makes you stand out. On the other hand, if you have a test score of 31 or below, you probably need a strong hook or a really unique story to have a chance.
Does anyone know the EA rates for this year? I surpisingly got in EA, with a 31 ACT and a 3.7 GPA (I know…).
I’ve tried to find both the Facebook and the Groupme, but I can’t - does anybody have a link?
@Watertrap1 https://www.facebook .com/groups/1368700236484255/ (delete the space between facebook and .com when you enter it into your url bar)
@Watertrap1 There are two groupmes but here’s the link to one of them https://■■■■■■■■■■■/join_group/27528379/KzTGXO. I don’t have the link to the other since I’m not the one who made it. Basically the same people are in both.
can anyone tell me, as an ED admitted student, do I need to submit my senior year transcripts? Thanks.
Yes, you will.
@fbsdreams What exactly is engagement? Also, how did you get this information?
Search for the selection criteria I previously posted.
Engagement falls under UChicago fit and how the candidate "fits : will they add value to campus/class, how motivated they are to attend, visits, contact, questions, etc.
Aside from stronger scores submitted, this is the only category that can be impacted now imho.