<p>Fewer students apply to Chicago because of its reputation for not being easy. But generally, those students who do apply are high-caliber. So, there is some self-selection that goes on. For example, there are 4.0 students (high ACTS, most difficult courses taken in hs ) in my son’s school who don’t want to apply to Chicago because of its reputation.
If I were you, I wouldn’t be too sure that the applicant pool to Chicago is not as strong as the those applying to the schools in the Ivy athletic league.</p>