<p>Cue7,</p>
<p>Yes, chicago has been there within top 10’ish last few years. But, U Chicago is still considered as “nouveau riche” if you know what I mean. You yourself remind us over and over again, that the acceptance rate was over 50% less than 10 years ago. Competitive kids look at this, and automatically think this is not a prestigious school! It’s been only last few years that the acceptance rate fell below 30%, and last year was, what, like 18% overall, right? And this is still very high for super elite schools. Again, we can snicker all we want about these mindless kids and their parents, but they are the customers and they vote with their feet. </p>
<p>Just like Penn had to be there for a while before its reputation got solidified, Chicago has to be there as a consistent presence for a few more years shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Stanford and MIT before it comes natural in the mind of these kids and their parents. </p>
<p>Top students here apply to the usual suspects of “near by” top elite schools like Penn, Columbia, Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore etc in addition to other Ivy’s and Ivy likes. They will apply to these. When it becomes a flying distance, then they start thinking. Stanford? Yeah, worth it. Northwestern? Ummm… but I heard enough good things about them. Ok. Throw it in. Duke? Cool. I hear that they do very well in NYC…</p>
<p>U Chicago simply does NOT cross this threshold, YET. Have them stand shoulder to shoulder a few years with Stanford and MIT, I think that will do the trick.</p>
<p>PS. Regardless of all these, I can tell you that U Chicago is doing a very poor marketing job in this community. I can tell by the lack of enthusiasm among the guidance counselors. They just go “ughhhhh… dunno” attitude. I bet if you can just change GC’s attitude and up their enthusiasm, it will have an impact.</p>