<p>I agree that the attitude of some people on this thread is incredibly conceited and snobbish. UChicago is certainly not a safety school, not even when the acceptance rate was ~35 %. Labelling it as a safety is not only incredibly ignorant, but offensive to those who really wanted to go to Uchicago and nowhere else. I was ecstatic to learn that I was admitted, not because it was my “prestigious safety” but because it’s an amazing school with incredible professors and great academics. In fact, I would be happy to go to any of the schools I applied to simply because I fell in love with every single one! Basing your choice on the rank and acceptance rate of the school is incredibly shallow and quite frankly makes you undeserving of admission. </p>
<p>To those of you who got waitlisted/rejected…I’m sure you’ll be great wherever you decide to go. I know it may sound clich</p>
<p>I honestly don’t think that most people posting on this string are trying to be snobbish. Are some of them coming off that way? Yes. But it’s really the disapointment that is talking there. I think it’s a natural coping mechanism. Let’s face it. If you were applying to U of C, you were probably an excellent student - great grades, rigorous course work, good SAT scores. In short, you were a solid candidate. So when you received the notification that your weren’t accepted - or waitlisted - (and you’re not really used to the rejection) - yeah your ego takes a hit. It’s hard. It’s very hard. But again, being accepted or rejected to any school doesn’t define you as a person. How you handle that rejection is what defines you. Yes, be disappointed. Sure, cry a little. And yes, burn that rejection or wait-listing letter (that feels good!) But in the end, those who were accepted are no better than you as a person - and you are no better than any other person who was rejected from a school in which you were accepted. </p>
<p>It’s not the school that makes the person. Will a few schools open up doors for you that others may not? Sure. But, you will be quickly shown the door if you as a person don’t measure up. It the sum of the person - not the place of the education - that matters. Keep that in mind…and check the unfounded intellectual arrogance at the door. </p>
<p>If you applied to U of C - I’ll stipulate that you’re smart!</p>
<p>It is sad to see such pomposity. To all of you who applied to UChicago for the sake of its ‘prestige’ and ‘low’ acceptance rate, you might want to think about your motives for going to university: is it for the academics or just to look good?</p>
<p>If you do indeed get into HYPSM, don’t expect an easy ride. These schools are all academically rigorous. If you decided to spend about 15 minutes on your UoC essay and copy-pasted it from other essays, you might want to re-evaluate your motives for college.</p>
<p>Seriously - Just drop out. It’s not like your doing it for the academics anyways.</p>
<p>Oh, and I didn’t think for a second I would get in - despite the grades, the strong political ECs, the strong recs & 2 UK offers from strong unis - so I made sure my essays were interesting and passionate. So many people seem to think the essays deserve minimal effort, but that’s stupid. Your essays are the only actual indication of your passion and strengths that you can provide: Are your extracurriculars filler or based on interest? Do you care about academics or is this just some “next step”? The essay sets your tone and the admissions officers spot this.</p>
<p>Hopefully you’ll get into the prestigious school of your dreams, but it won’t reduce your shallowness nor will it strengthen your character.</p>
<p>Congrats ragnarjonsson on your acceptance! That’s awesome. I hope you pick U of C and that you have a wonderful college experience. </p>
<p>Those who are shallow? Well, you can’t do much with a puddle, other than to wait for the sunshine to suck it dry! ha! Good luck with whatever you decide to do.</p>
<p>@ksharonda10: Thanks. I’m stuck between UoC & Brown for US universities (mainly due to Brown’s independency which I’d like for English Lit. but I’m more into UoC overall), & I’m still undecided about whether I should “firm” Imperial College London… I love the school, but I’m then ‘stuck’ with Biology only, not a broader curriculum. (I’m aiming for Law at Master’s so I am quite liberal in my undergraduate degree choice).</p>
<p>Tricky stuff.</p>
<p>(& I’m sorry if I sounded harsh, but I’ve loved UoC for quite some time and it is frustrating to see such arrogance) :/</p>
<p>You are in a great spot ragnarjonsson. What a choice - U of C and Brown (and the Imperial College). But, I think you’ve already narrowed down the field. The second you use the word “stuck” that rules out Imperial College. Take a swin over the Atlantic and visit us for a few years. </p>
<p>But between Chicago and Brown…man, that’s a tough choice. Regardless, in the end, you’ll come out a winner. They are both excellent schools. You really can’t go wrong with either. Follow your heart and your gut. </p>
<p>Which one do you think you will make you feel most “at home?” That’s where you should go.</p>
<p>Wow. I was really offended by some of the posts in here. Maybe the Chicago adcoms recognized that you guys didn’t really want to go to the school. At all schools of its caliber, I’d imagine that fit is enormously important because they want to maximize 4-year graduation rates/class retention and they can afford to select for fit and maintain the quality of student.</p>
<p>If it means anything, my friend got waitlisted from Chicago after getting accepted to Caltech RD.</p>
<p>It’s actually shocking to see that there are only two scandinavians so far (the other is a Swede). I’d thought I would see at least, you know, 5 of us. haha.</p>
<p>Wow I totally shoulda done that for my Why Chicago essay!!!11! Instead of saying why I actually liked the school, I should have said that I liked Chicago because it fit the role for my prestigious safety. Then, maybe, I would have been accepted instead of rejected!</p>
<p>motion…you are in such a good place and I don’t know if you even realize it. I’m jealous - eat-your-heart-out jealous - that you were offered full scholarship at Pitt. You are incredible. Please don’t allow the U of C rejection to get to you. The admissions people there don’t know YOU. It’s not a validation of your worth. </p>
<p>I’m 2nd in my class of 300 students - 4.75 GPA - 2170 SAT. Granted, the SAT isn’t amazing, but it’s not bad. What was I offered in scholarship money? $12,000 from Fordham. Don’t get me wrong - I’m very thankful for Fordham for that. But even with $12,000 I can’t afford the regular tuition. I would love to be in your shoes.</p>
<p>You remind me a little bit of my older brother. An incredibly intelligent guy, but has always carried around some bitterness. I love sarcasm. It’s great humor. But sometimes sarcasm carries over into bitterness. I’m not saying that’s where you’re at…but just be mindful that there’s a thin line between the two - and bitterness breeds unhappiness.</p>
<p>idk if someone has already said this, but chicago had sooo many more applicants this year (42% increase). so even if it was originally your easiest school (don’t get me wrong, i thought it was mine), it may very have ended up one of your hardest, especially if you applied rd (the school wouldn’t have expected the massive surge, so it over-accepted during the ea round). hopefully that makes someone feel better about themselves [:</p>
<p>Yes, I do realize that I’m in a good position and am grateful for the fact that I am in such a position. I’m sorry that I came across as being bitter. Trust me, I’m not…I just like to be sarcastic sometimes (as is the case currently). Also, I know that the rejection is not a validation of my worth - just read what I wrote when I created the decisions thread.</p>
<p>I hope that you can find a way to figure out your financial situation, though, I still must add, I’m rather jealous of your acceptances :P. Congrats and, again, I hope everything works out for you in the end.</p>
<p>You will do amazing things motion. So far, I’m limited to Pitt or Penn State. Not a bad place to be. As a family, we can afford both places - without any grants or scholarships. I realize know those two places are my choices. But boy, would I love to be “stuck” with a full tuition offer at either one. </p>
<p>Like many of you, I’ve applied to dream schools like Princeton, Brown, Columbia, U of VA, and U of C. My safeties were Pitt, Penn State, Michigan and Fordham. I’m thankful I was accepted to the 4 of them. </p>
<p>Yea I agree with what a lot of people are saying with this post. I didn’t think much about uchicago so i was surprised when i didn’t get accepted. It’s not that it was my ‘prestigious safety’… i didn’t think much about it because i don’t really want to go there…So obviously i didn’t think I’d b waitlisted/rejected. It’s not the end of the world, though. Congrats to all of those who got in! It’s a great school and I shouldn’t have been so over confident about getting accepted…that was uncool of me.</p>
<p>Still, I know uchicago to have a ‘quirky’ atmosphere. I’ve never been but a lot of people i know that go there are a little eccentric and very happy there. Not that there is anything wrong w/ being eccentric! I just think from the few ppl i know that go there, it probably wouldn’t be the best fit more me. I can’t presume that i know exactly what the school is like based on these people, or that i know that it won’t be a good fit for me, but i know i’m not going there so i believe it wasn’t right for me. you guys are right that we shouldn’t just apply to schools for prestige, it should be about FIT! I applied last minute because i knew it was a good school and my parents urged me to go for it, not because i truly wanted to go there.</p>
<p>i’ve decided to commit to one of my safeties! haha! now i’m in control! i can’t get rejected anywhere else because I reject them! I choose to not go to their school! HAHA! I have TRICKED the system! TAKE THAT! </p>
<p>…i know what ALL of you are thinking. i’m so clever :D. i know, ur jealous u didn’t think of it ;)</p>
I’m stuck between UoC & Brown for US universities (mainly due to Brown’s independency which I’d like for English Lit. but I’m more into UoC overall), & I’m still undecided about whether I should “firm” Imperial College London… I love the school, but I’m then ‘stuck’ with Biology only, not a broader curriculum. (I’m aiming for Law at Master’s so I am quite liberal in my undergraduate degree choice).</p>