Watch out, it's an admissions counselor!

<p>libby, i know it's stated clearly in the website that foreign language teachers are not supposed to write for 3a recommendation, but i didn't read about it until now. i think she already sealed the letter and it's really too late to ask any of my english/history teachers (limited letters), so should i just not apply?</p>

<p>Same question as hrhcow -- my son's intended major relates to foreign language, his major EC surrounds foreign language, his awards all relate to foreign language, so he asked his foreign language teacher (who's had him since tenth grade) to write his rec. If it's already gone out, will it just be ignored?</p>

<p>Going along with the recommendations question, both my science and math teacher retired last year and disappeared. My math teacher for this year hardly knows me, as he doesn't really communicate with the students - he just lectures and then leaves. Should I really try to hunt down the retired teachers or beg my current math teacher to write something down for me...even though the only thing he knows about me is my grade in the class?</p>

<p>In addition, on the essay - I'm writing on my own essay topic, but it would be much more powerful if I omit the topic/prompt. Is this all right?</p>

<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

<p>Another finaid question.</p>

<p>So how much will it hurt if someone can only afford to pay 20000 a year? Will he be severely disadvantaged or only slight? Compared to someone who does not need aid at all, I mean. Btw, I'm international.</p>

<p>I'd like to append this to my question:</p>

<p>May I get a recommendation from my IB Psychology teacher? Or does that not count as a hard science?</p>

<p>Libby,
We are planning a visit to campus in January after final exams. Is it worth it to come on a Friday? I understand most classes meet M-Th...should we contact the specific department for what classes are available for visiting or will admissions have this info now for a mid-Jan. visit?
Thanks!</p>

<p>I was wondering if we have a better chance of admission if we apply through the early action next year? Also, if we aren't accepted during early action would our application be reviewed later during the regular application pool or just be rejected?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, if we aren't accepted during early action would our application be reviewed later during the regular application pool or just be rejected?

[/quote]

Early action applicants are accepted, rejected, or deferred to the regular decision round. If you're deferred, sending in updates and extra supplements can sometimes make a difference.

[quote]
I was wondering if we have a better chance of admission if we apply through the early action next year?

[/quote]

Chicago (and Libby) has said in the past that applying early does not help your chances; the expectations are roughly the same for both. The EA pool is probably slightly more competitive because it has applicants who aren't relying on their senior grades or test scores to help.</p>

<p>I was deferred and would love to provide Chicago with supplements to my application. Does this include an interview? Can I send virtually anything? I'm thinking another teacher recommendation and writing sample? Please let me know what kind of supplements are acceptable, and if I could just send them directly to the admissions office by mail. Thank you!</p>

<p>Dear Libby,
I'm at a loss of what to do and I thought that perhaps I could turn to you for advice.
First of all, I hope that whatever family emergency there was has been resolved!</p>

<p>Ms Pearson, I applied early to the University of Chicago, and at some point the admissions office sent an email that they did not receive certain documents that my guidance counselor had sent out multiple times.</p>

<p>In my presence, the high school's guidance office called my admissions officer, Jeffrey Hreben. After a relieving conversation, Jeff let a secretary in my guidance office know that there must have been a computer glitch, and that in fact all the documents but one had been sent. He told us that the other document could be sent by fax, which we did immediately and several times. I spoke with him by phone, and he told me not to worry- that no matter what I wouldn't be deferred because of bureaucratic problems.</p>

<p>Today, however, I received an email from the admissions office, saying that my application was incomplete "well past the deadline" and that they have the "intention" to defer me to regular admissions. </p>

<p>Libby, I must admit that I have slowly fallen in love with this wonderful school, and if I do get deferred or rejected, then it would be a pity if it were for purely administrative problems. Tomorrow I will speak to my guidance counselor, but is there also any way to personally contact you to reconsider your decision? </p>

<p>It would be absolutely lovely if you could help me in any way. I felt desperate when I received this email, but then I remembered that the admissions office consists of human beings and not some automota sending out intimidating emails!</p>

<p>I thank you for your time,
and all the best to you!</p>

<p>Dear Libby,
phew!
Jeffrey called my mother, and the university found my missing credentials. The office won't be deffering me! I'm so happy...My results will be mailed in several days.</p>

<p>Thank you very much,
-m.</p>

<p>Dear Ms Pearson</p>

<p>I am a first year student at the University of Warwick in the UK and am planning to apply as a transfer student to the University of Chicago. I was wondering about the following matters:</p>

<ol>
<li> Is it common for students from the UK to apply to the US as transfer students?</li>
<li> I want to include supplementary material and recommendation with my application. Do I need a Supplementary Information Form as indicated in the Freshman Application for the Transfer Application as I could not find said form in the latter application?</li>
</ol>

<p>Sincerely
Citygirl’06</p>

<ol>
<li>Is it common for students from the UK to apply to the US as transfer students?</li>
</ol>

<p>Yes, it is.</p>

<ol>
<li>I want to include supplementary material and recommendation with my application. Do I need a Supplementary Information Form as indicated in the Freshman Application for the Transfer Application as I could not find said form in the latter application?</li>
</ol>

<p>No, transfer applicants were not given this form, but you are still welcome to send supplementary materials and information.</p>

<p>I was deferred and would love to provide Chicago with supplements to my application. Does this include an interview? Can I send virtually anything? I'm thinking another teacher recommendation and writing sample? Please let me know what kind of supplements are acceptable, and if I could just send them directly to the admissions office by mail. Thank you!</p>

<p>You can literally send in anything you want to, even if it's just a note that says you're still interested in us. Our policy for interviews is that deferred applicants can only have an interview with the RN kids if they requested one as an EA applicant and didn't get one. So, if you've already interviewed, you don't get another one. If you didn't request one in the first place, you don't get to have one now. We're trying to keep the volume of interviews manageable for our alumni volunteers.</p>

<p>Off to the office holiday party! I'll answer more this evening.</p>

<p>Libby,
We are planning a visit to campus in January after final exams. Is it worth it to come on a Friday? I understand most classes meet M-Th...should we contact the specific department for what classes are available for visiting or will admissions have this info now for a mid-Jan. visit?
Thanks!</p>

<p>The best time to visit campus is whatever time is convenient for you, even if we're not open. Classes are meeting Friday morning, but Friday afternoons are mostly reserved for extra discussion sections and office hours.</p>

<p>Recommendations -- we understand when teachers leave or your school places restrictions on the number of teachers you can ask for recommendations... and you had to request your recommendations at the end of your junior year. We've seen it all. You should still apply.</p>

<p>But if it is at all possible, the 3B recommendation should be written by an instructor of math, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology, or any other science with a lab. The 3A should be written by an English, history, or social studies teacher. If you don't know how we view different disciplines, a good resource is this page:
<a href="http://www.college.uchicago.edu/about_the_college/departments_div.shtml%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.college.uchicago.edu/about_the_college/departments_div.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>We have four divisions, and psychology falls under the social sciences division.</p>

<p>Any official Ea stats?</p>

<p>Libby-</p>

<p>First off, thanks for keeping in touch with all of us on blogspot--I was getting nervous when I didn't get my decision by the 15th!</p>

<p>The biggest question I have about Chicago, is, why is its acceptance rate so high? I know the Uncommon App is a big reason for this (only serious students apply), but still--for such a well regarded and highly ranked University shouldn't admissions be more competitive? I am just curious why the percent is so high, and how much it is going to change this year. Thanks a lot!</p>

<p>Hello!
I am about to go in for an interview at University of Chicago...any suggestions? What should I expect?</p>

<p>Why is our acceptance rate so high...</p>

<p>Many people hold the misconception that admissions offices can arbitrarily set their acceptance rates. This is not true. We, all of us, have to accept enough people to fill our class. We have an incoming class of 1200. In order to get that many people to come, we have to admit 3600. This is because we have no binding early decision program, so no group of admitted students is yielding at a 100% rate. Also, students who get into our school usually also get into the Ivies and state programs or programs at smaller colleges that offer them tons of money. So, we are competing against them for a small group of incredibly talented students who have a lot of options. We'd rather keep the choice open than have binding early decision. We'd rather provide lots of need-based financial aid than award people based on "merit," which usually means based on their parents' education level (usually.) If 20,000 people applied, we'd still accept 3600.</p>

<p>libby, recently i read from the other forums that admission enter our essays into turnitin.com for plagiarism screening. is it true?</p>