Hi, I’ve requested the high school counselor send the Secondary School Report and was wondering if they will send the most recent progress report with the transcript. There is one really bad grade on there (30!!) that will need an explanation (work that was missed while absent that will be made up).
Your GC should generally explain any such circumstances in his/her recommendation.
Hi, I had a few questions about your preferences for the “Why UChicago” essay and the optional prompt. Is there any point where it gets too long? For the “Why UChicago” (question 1) essay, I basically wrote a normal length, 500ish word essay. Several paragraphs. Then I noticed that on the 2016 Supplement it calls for a 1-2 paragraph essay. Should I rewrite? I notice that in the “post your essay” thread, many who got accepted did not adhere to this rule.
Finally, for the optional essay, I wrote an opening paragraph about why I like reading/watchign movies, two body paragraphs about my favorites in each medium, and then a conclusion. I’ve seen people here do bullets.
I know, there probably is no preferred format, but as long as mine are not actively not-preferred, I’m okay. If that makes sense.
Disregard that earlier post – I’ve submitted!
I do have a few questions for now though.
- How do we link our UChicago accounts to our Common App? I made a UChicago Account in like July, but haven't really done anything with it since. Or, when you mention the portal, are you talking about something else? I haven't received an e-mail or anything from UChicago about my application submission -- should I?
- Interview, yay or nay? Is it bad to not take one?
- Not sure. I'll cross that bridge when I reach it.
- If you feel like you'll interview well, yes. If you're not sure or you feel nervous tin an interview setting, no.
@sn12345 You should view the word limit as a soft guideline. Focus first on writing a strong essay, and then worry about the word limit. Obviously don’t give us 20 pages, but if you’re a little over it’s not the end of the world. Keep in mind too: the best essays are often those that stay close to the word limit but still engage with the prompt.
@aych1686 Interviews can help us get to know you better on a personal level. They are taken into consideration but are just one part of the process. You should sign up for one if you know you are going to be able to have a good conversation about your academic and personal interests, as well as ask good questions about UChicago.
@dedex13 We will not see the most recent progress report. The secondary school report just details information about your school. Your transcript will give a listing of all your classes including your most recent, but will only include grades for those classes you have completed.
@tutututututuru Sorry for the delay on the previous question! As long as you have engaged with the prompt, and given us clear and specific reasons why you want to attend UChicago, don’t worry too much about the format. As for the optional favorites essay, you are correct! No there is not a correct/incorrect format!
As long as you’ve opened the account you should be fine. In mid-November we will use that account to confirm receipt of materials.
Interviews can help us get to know you better on a personal level. You should sign up for one if you know you are going to be able to have a good conversation about your academic and personal interests, as well as ask good questions about UChicago. They are optional, so if you do not sign up for one it will in no way affect your application.
So I suppose my account on UChicago will get linked to my application because of the personal information on it?
And thanks for the response! Much appreciated.
Hello UChicago!
I am a Canadian student seeking to apply for financial aid to Chicago. I am aware that the process is need blind for Canadians, but I still use the international forms, correct? Will Chicago realize that it is need blind as soon as they receive my aid application? Thanks!
Hey UChicago! Thanks for answering questions here.
I’m applying from a competitive school in the suburbs, and I have a few questions:
- Is there a limit to how many students you take per school? Our graduating class this year has approximately 700 students. This year, our class has set countless academic records, and has been one of the most accomplished classes academically in the past few decades. Because of this, there will be a reasonably high number of students applying EA to UChicago from our school. Will acceptances of others in my school negatively impact my chances of getting in, even if it's just a small amount? I'm asking this because in previous years, our school has peaked at 6-7 admits to UChicago, and we're easily tripling the amount of applicants this year.
- How much do you regard the optional essay prompt in your review process? I'm pretty proud of my answer to the optional "favorite things" prompt, and think that it's as good as or even better than my other supps. However, because it's optional, do you only look to this prompt when you need to choose between applicants, or is this prompt weighted the same as all of the other supps? Additionally, if my UChicago essays are pretty strong and my CommonApp essay isn't necessarily as strong, will my chances of getting in be significantly be reduced (basically asking if the CommonApp essay is viewed more critically than the UChicago ones).
Thanks again!
Hi UChicago, I just have a question regarding the recent news about the delays in October SAT scores.
I am applying EA and have recently submitted my application. I reported my scores on the Common Application as well, but was wondering whether I need to further validate them by sending a picture, via email, of my official scores? Or am I safe to wait until my score report is received?
Thank You 
Hi UChicago,
If I’m submitting an art supplement, where would I put descriptions of my art and artist’s statement? I only see a place for uploading images, and for each slide I’m only given a slot to enter the title.
Thank you
@tutututututuru Yes! It will be linked, but if you are having problems, feel free to send us an e-mail at collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu, and we would be happy to send you the e-mail with instructions for your specific account.
@Ferality That is correct! Your application will be read need-blind, but you should still apply for financial aid using the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA). We will know you are a Canadian citizen.
@tryin2Go2College We do not have a limit on the amount of students we admit from a particular high school. If other students are accepted from your school, it will not negatively impact your application or chances of acceptance. We will always review your optional essays, and a strong optional essay will strengthen your application. That said, in regard to your final question, there isn’t a specific weight placed on a certain part of your application. All parts are considered through holistic review.
@Achint10 We will accept self-reported scores from students who have been notified that their ACT or SAT score reports are delayed. To send self-reported scores, please forward the e-mail you received from the College Board notifying you that your scores are delayed, along with a screenshot of your multiple choice scores, to collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu. Make sure the screenshot you send clearly shows your name. Please note that we will compare self-reported to official scores once received, and will re-review your file if there is a discrepancy.
@phyish Please feel free to upload an additional document through the “Supp Writing” tab in the upload materials section.
@UChicago If my parents are separated/divorced, do you require information from the non-custodial parent as well for a Canadian citizen? For example - if my custodial parent is Canadian, but my non-custodial parent is German - how would both report finances?
@Uchicago On the Student Financial Aid worksheet, section B Family members - If the applicant is the only other family college and the admission decision is not yet known for 2016 to 2017, what college should be input into the field? It is a required field.
@UChicago I have clicked Submit button on UChicago Account. But I still can edit my art portfolio. I am wondering if UChicago has received my art portfolio. Because usually you can no longer to edit it after you submit it.
Thank you!
@UChicago for the additional recommendation, who do you recommend we choose? will a recommendation from a close friend be viewed as excessive and unnecessary considering its subjective nature?
@UChicago Thanks for your answer. I also had another question. Is the optional report (on CommonApp) required or preferred? When would my counselor need to send it by?
Thanks @UChicago! I’ll be seeing you soon! (well, at least my application will).
@UChicago Hello, thank you so much for your time, this thread has been a tremendous help throughout my application process.
As for my question, I write for an online news journal, and this is a huge extra-curricular for me – I love it. On the common app in the activity section, I added a link in the description to view all of my published material. I was wondering if an admissions officer would like me to send an actual portfolio of my work. If so, how would you recommend me do this? Should I submit it as supplemental writing on my UChicago account? Or is the link to my work enough? Thank you!
@UChicago Godzilla showed up! Is Mitch’s offer still valid?