<p>Hi,
I sent my FAFSA before the deadline with estimates for 2011 Tax Returns. We just got 2011 Tax Returns. Do I need to update the FAFSA with this new information, or do I just need to fax in the 2011 tax returns?</p>
<p>furedeikun-- please email <a href=“mailto:college-aid@uchicago.edu”>college-aid@uchicago.edu</a> with this question.</p>
<p>Grace, </p>
<p>If we are named a National Merit Finalist, should we update admissions?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>Can you comment on how UChicago extends likely letters to regular decision applicants, and how you anticipate that to occur within this year’s decisions?</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>I was deferred from the University of Chicago in the EA cycle in December. Would sending in supplemental info or essays help me be considered for the accepted pile? I was waiting to hear if I became a National Merit Finalist (I just heard back today) so I could send admissions any extra info at the same time. I’m not sure if this is big a enough change to send in? Also, I was wondering if I would be able to send in websites that I mentioned in my EA Common App (an online archive that I manage for my school’s newspaper, an art supplement, and another club website). Would this go under the Art Portfolio on the UChicago account? Thanks</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>I understand most colleges want to see 4 years of math and science, but do colleges typically require physics or AP Physics as far as science is concerned. I am not planning to major in engineering, so is it ok if I take AP Chem for my Junior year and AP Biology for my Senior year?</p>
<p>Thanks much</p>
<p>Hi Grace, </p>
<p>So nice of you to answer our questions! ^-^
Does the admission office reply applicants’ emails frequently? I have sent several emails but haven’t got replies. Do you reply only to those who are very hopeful to get in? Maybe I’m a little too worried…I’m deferred in EA round, and I very much want to get in (and I’m making endeavors…)!</p>
<p>Thanks a looooot.</p>
<p>moneybags and bubblyperfection, yes, please update us if you have become a national merit finalist, and congrats! Please feel free to email that to us as an update, at either <a href=“mailto:collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu”>collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu</a> or by emailing your regional counselor. Bubblyperfection, you may also feel free to upload the website information in to the Portfolio section of your account.</p>
<p>gangster, likely letters are sent to a very small number of students in the Regular Decision round. The vast majority of our eventually accepted students will not receive a likely letter. They are not something to stress about :)</p>
<p>bearcat96, yes, please feel free to take whichever classes you think will be most beneficial to you within the sciences.</p>
<p>lyr10, we try to respond individually to most requests that come in to our office, whether they are sent to our general account or to a regional counselor; due to the sheer volume of e-mail we receive (hundreds per day!), we try to prioritize responses to students who have questions, and so while we will certainly read through your email and note in your file your continued interest in UChicago, we may not be able to respond. It is certainly not a reflection on you! We just have a lot to get through.</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>Do you think it is a mistake to commit from an early decision acceptance if you need merit aid? People are telling me they use that money to lure students that are undecided. My son loves U Chicago and really wants to commit, but we really need more money</p>
<p>Thanks, Grace!</p>
<p>matonh, although I know your son must be quite eager to put the deposit down, I would hesitate to deposit until you are absolutely sure that you can afford for him to attend; our $500 deposit is non-refundable even if your family must decline for financial reasons even after he has committed to attend, and I know it can be hard on students to have to withdraw after they have accepted their place-- it is much more difficult than the wait to accept. We are considering students for merit aid whenever our committee meets (about once monthly) so I would encourage him to (and I know how hard it is to do so as a former UChicago student!) wait it out until you can see if merit is an option or a final workable financial aid package comes in.</p>
<p>Hi Grace, my brother has given SAT and scored 1680. I know that it’s quite low. Is it going to hurt his admissions?</p>
<p>Hey Grace! </p>
<p>I have a very important question. I am an international student and did IGCSE’s and A Levels.However, the problem is that through out my high school I did not take a single science course. Does this reduce my chances of getting in to zero?</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>Do you consider weighted or unweighted gpa more important? </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Hi Grace!</p>
<p>I applied to UChicago via Regular Decision, but I don’t think I ever got an email about setting up a “myUChicago” Account. However, I did email my admissions counselor, and he said that admissions has received all parts of my application. Should I contact someone about my problem or stop worrying about it as UChicago has already received all they need from me? </p>
<p>Please let me know. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>How important is it to have 3-4 years of laboratory sciences, as is recommended according to UChicago’s website?</p>
<p>I’m an international applicant and have had only 2 years of science in high school. I was on the local curriculum in the first 2 years and did only social sciences, languages, and mathematics, before changing to an international school to do the IB Diploma. I have been taking IB Biology at standard level this year and last year, and have been consistently getting a “7” (highest grade) in the subject. </p>
<p>I applied RD to UChicago and indicated as my “academic interests” Economics (1st), Philosophy (2nd), and Politics (3rd) in the Common App. How much is not having 3-4 years of sciences in high school going to affect my chances of admission? Thanks.</p>
<p>sahitya, we do not have a score requirement for admissions, nor a cutoff that we require for application; however, your brother’s score does fall outside of our middle 50% range of 1420–1530 (without the writing section, so, on a 1600 point scale). About 25% of our accepted students fall below this range, so if he is still very interested in applying, he is certainly welcome to, and we do accept students outside of that range; however, making sure that grades, course rigor, and other portions of the application (essays included) are very strong before applying may be a wise choice to remain competitive for acceptance. </p>
<p>jojocircus and shootastar (since you have similar questions), we suggest, but do not require, students to take 3-4 years of science coursework in school. You are certainly welcome to apply if you have not taken any science courses, but we do strongly suggest that students take science coursework in high school, as coursework in the physical and biological sciences is a required portion of our Core curriculum regardless of a student’s chosen major. Shootastar, in your situation, it seems like you have been able to take some science coursework with your school change and have done well in it, so having two years only should not be of much concern.</p>
<p>sum, we consider your transcript and course record more important, to pick a third option here-- while we look at a student’s GPA (some schools offer weighted only, unweighted only, written evaluations only, GPA on a semi-weighted 12 point scale, the list goes on and on-- so we have no preference between the many options), what is most important to us is seeing the kinds of courses you have taken and your relative success in those courses. Our accepted students are traditionally those who have done well (well does not mean perfectly, but still those who have had success) in the most rigorous curriculum available at their school. </p>
<p>merryli-- your admissions decision will be made available through your UChicago Account when it is ready, so I definitely suggest setting the account up! The account generation email is automatically generated and often winds up in a Spam filter, so check there to see if you received it and it just went to Spam. If you don’t see an e-mail from us there, contact your regional counselor again, and they will be able to reset your account password so that you can log in.</p>
<p>I took the January SATs, and I think the scores were sent to UChicago last week. I didn’t see an update on my UChicago account. Will I receive confirmation or the scores on the UChicago account later, or should I just rest assured that UChicago received my scores?</p>
<p>Hi Grace,</p>
<p>I’d like to thank you for spending so much time helping out everyone! Although this thread does not apply to me (I’m a current undergraduate not at UChicago), I am thoroughly impressed by your attentiveness and desire to answer most/all questions. You have my respect!</p>
<p>/offtopic</p>