Ask away- it's UChicagoPSAC! - Page 13

Seashore · 11-06-2009, 12:09 PM

Many--probably most--schools that rely on alumni interviewers don't have the "staff" to pull off anything close to all the interviews that applicants would like to have. That's because they are not staff, they're volunteers. And as volunteers, they typically get some training, but they don't have the experience or insights of a real staff member.

Alumni interviews are nice to have, as much because they inform the applicant about the school. In some cases, an alumni interview may help an admissions officer visualize a candidate, but it's the rare school that puts much (or any) weight on them.

JHS · 11-06-2009, 12:30 PM

Remember, too, that Chicago has basically tripled the size of the College over the last 35 years, is experiencing huge growth in applications, too (like many colleges), and until recently was known for especially poor alumni relations. The ratio of applicants to engaged, experienced alumni interviewers is probably way out of whack compared to peer institutions.

Seashore · 11-06-2009, 12:46 PM

What has been really nice is that Chicago has been able to continue to offer on-campus interviews with admissions officers. Those interviews can really sell a student on a school, as well as provide the school with some initial impressions of the applicant. I'm guessing that the days that Chicago offers those interviews are numbered.

jackief · 11-06-2009, 04:08 PM

I'm sure my D will be disappointed to learn that she will not be able to have a Chicago alumni interview. She did however visit the college and so the marketing aspect of the interview would not be as important. And truly, if she had submitted her application before the last weekend she would have had a greater chance. Hopefully if she does get deferred (and not admitted at her ED school) she will have the opportunity, since Chicago is near the top of her list.

She still to my knowledge does not have an account created, so I really think the numbers for this year have increased much higher than predicted.

CountingDown · 11-06-2009, 10:42 PM

We are feeling really glad that in mid-Oct., S2 set up an admissions office interview for next weekend. We didn't know the cutoof date for those was 11/6 (as I previously posted), but he called the Admissions office who said not to worry, they noted it on his record and he should remind his interviewer that he's EA.

Also glad Southwest had really cheap fares! He will get to stay with his brother and wants to talk to people.

zinja · 11-08-2009, 02:59 PM

Hi,
I was wondering about the date of the decisions. I know the website says mid-December. However, the CSS profile mentioned 12/24 as the decisions date. What's the last possible date that UChicago mails them out? When were EA decisions mailed out last year? Because I may need to apply to more schools, depending on if I make UChicago (my top choice).
Thanks

*UChicagoPSAC* · 11-09-2009, 12:27 AM

Zinja- Dec. 24th is probably the latest you will hear back for EA decisions. We do not have a firm decision date for EA (it changes year to year, so last year's date is definitely not the standard for when decisions will be out this year, and literally just winds up being "whenever all decisions are made for the EA pool and we can get everything mailed out"), so expect to hear back by mid-December.

sing · 11-09-2009, 05:56 AM

Are EA decisions available on-line? D is based overseas and snail mail can take upwards to 2+ weeks depending on the postal service. Year-end is especially bad due to high volume of holiday mail.

*UChicagoPSAC* · 11-09-2009, 11:56 AM

Yes, decisions will be available online through the student's Chicago Account. You will receive an e-mail notification to the e-mail address you registered with when decisions are available (the decision will not be in the e-mail, but will direct you to the login page where you can see).

sing · 11-09-2009, 06:44 PM

Thank you for the prompt reply.

mom22girls · 11-11-2009, 01:45 PM

U of C website states: "Complete the Common Application and the University of Chicago Supplement. Both may be completed online on the Common Application’s website." Yet on the Common App website there is no link for a U of C supplement. Could someone please clarify this?

*UChicagoPSAC* · 11-11-2009, 04:18 PM

mom22girls, you may be having some problems with the Common Application. Once your student selects UChicago as a school she'd like to submit an application to, a link to the supplement should become available in the "Supplements" section. Contact tech support at Common App if this is not the case for you.

junho0716 · 11-12-2009, 08:16 AM

I have a question.... I am an early action applicant to Chicago University. All this time, i thought the University would inform applicants of interviews...and ID &passwords. But today, i just found out that i had to actually make my login account, and that the interview request date had already passed. I know that interview is not required...but i somehow feel really empty right now...

Am i in big trouble, regarding admission??

*UChicagoPSAC* · 11-12-2009, 09:33 AM

You're fine. Interviews are not required and not having an interview will not harm your application in the least- not everyone who requests an interview gets one anyway (not enough alumni interviewers to accommodate everyone!), so it's really not a big deal. Don't worry about it!

applicannot · 11-12-2009, 10:44 AM

If I forward my QuestBridge application to Chicago for the RD round, will it be read? Or are you guys like Stanford, who pays for QB but doesn't use the QB application? I'm sure you can't tell me how QB applicants fare RD, but you know, if you want to drop that, I wouldn't mind.