@UChicago , I am sorry if this has already been asked. Your website says you can self-report ACT scores on the common app. Are self-reported scores looked at the same as official scores? Is there any disadvantage to self-reporting? Would you prefer official test scores? Also, your website says “You will not need to superscore your own results or recalculate your scores in any way; send your scores exactly as you receive them.” The common app asks for your highest composite score and the highest score for each section and the date of each high score. It does not ask for all the scores for all dates, essentially only giving you the information to superscore. Is that ok? Thank you.
@UChicago , I have a question about the application fee waiver. In the common app, it says “The University of Chicago offers an automatic fee waiver to students based on their intention to apply for need-based financial aid.” My son intend to apply Early Action/Decision, but we are dealing with some issues with IRS and may not be able to decide whether to apply for fin aid by the deadline. Should he check the “intend to apply fin add” option? Any issue if we decide later not to apply for fin aid? or apply but do not qualify for aid?
If a National Merit Semi Finalist is submitting an application, do they need to list Chicago as their choice on the National Merit application in order to be considered for Merit scholarships from U Chicago? Students are not notified that they are National Merit Scholars until late Spring. At what point is scholarship aid considered?
Hi everyone, So sorry for the delay in responding! I will try getting back to you within 48 hours from now on.
@friendfiend Admissions counselors are assigned a specific territory throughout the world, which they are responsible for and are the experts on. While an academic profile and transcript are considered in the context of a high school, admissions counselors do not necessarily read applications from the same high school back to back. Portfolios are first reviewed by admissions counselors, and if they would like additional feedback, the portfolios are sent to the respective academic departments.
@arana23, For universities that review applications holistically, fit through letters of recommendation and essays, along with outside involvement, are also important beyond test scores and transcripts. Of course, we want students to succeed in the classroom, but we want them to be strong members of the UChicago community as well.
@traviata Feel free to reach out to faculty members, but keep in mind that, like you said, they may be unable to accommodate a meeting. However, we have Molecular Engineering majors that work in the Office of College Admissions, so if you e-mail collegeadmissions@uchicago.edu, we would be happy to connect you with them.
@OMPursuit I think there are a few important things to note. One is that over two-thirds of UChicago faculty members live with their families in Hyde Park, and as a whole, Hyde Park has a nice residential feel to it as @kaukana noted. But, the University has taken several precautionary measures to ensure students feel and are safe on campus. One of those is the shuttle system which runs every 20 minutes throughout the evening, going beyond the bounds of campus. We also have a police force, security guards, and blue lights as well.
@pcmom1 We do not view self-reported scores any differently than official scores! Once a student is admitted, we ask for official scores to be sent, so we can verify them with the self-reported ones. The easiest way to self-report scores is to send screenshots of your scores to your admissions counselor (http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact). While you should feel free to super score on the Common App, we don’t want you accidentally missing a score, lowering your super score!
@bogeyorpar In this situation, your son should check the box, and we will not in any way penalize him if he does not end up applying for financial aid.
@okeydokeypokey In order to receive National Merit scholarships from UChicago, students should list UChicago as their top choice once they have been named National Merit finalists. Although this happens after students are admitted in the spring, we adjust scholarships accordingly.
@UChicago , I submitted my app for ED and was wondering if there is a date when early results are released?
UChicago tends to be a bit later than most. Last year it was around December 21st.
@kb123 We are still in the process of finalizing a date, but it’s usually in mid-December and we always communicate the date to our applicants once we have a decision notification date set.
@UChicago can supplemental material (EX art portfolio) come in late? if i submit tomorrow for the ED/EA deadline will that be fine? In addition, do the UChicago specific essays need to be uploaded today by 11:59 Chicago time or local time if you are submtiting on the UChicago portal and not the Common App?
@UChicago - My son applied ED-1 a couple of weeks ago. He received a letter confirming that Chicago received the application. The email also indicated that he would be hearing from Chicago if anything was missing. Should we assume admissions has everything or is there a way to confirm (doesn’t seem to be a way on the portal)?
@friendfiend If you submitted the materials on November 2nd, it’s not a problem at all, and your application will be considered without penalty.
@ProudDad1357 At this point, we are still processing materials, but within a couple weeks, we will send out an e-mail stating either that students’ application are complete, or we are missing materials. At that point, a checklist will be available through the UChicago Account. If students are still missing materials, they will be able to resubmit them without penalty.
@UChicago When should EA applicants expect to be contacted for alumni interviews? I checked the “Interested in an Off-Campus Alumni Interview” option in my UChicago Account sometime in late October and I submitted the app November 1st. Thanks!
@UChicago I am concerned that I made a mistake in setting up my UChicago Account. I added UChicago to my Common App before creating a UChicago Account. However, I didn’t get the PIN until now for some reason (I think it was a problem with my email). I created my UChicago Account by entering all of my info, etc. into the UChicago Account rather than simply activating the account according to the instructions I just got via email. I used the same email and birth date as I did on the Common App, and it looks like my UChicago Account is synced with the Common App to some extent because it got my ED agreement from the Common App and it is displaying the correct decision plan. Does this mean that my two accounts are indeed properly synced?
@UChicago I log into my account today, and thank you for your works to process all materials. And all of my checklist shows RECEIVED. But I still notice I need to ask my counselor to mail or fax my transcript to your admissions office, and I wasn’t aware of it for he has already submitted in CA and in checklist it shows received. I have already contacted with my counselor and he will mail official transcripts ASAP, arriving before 20th Nov. Is it OK? Or he should fax it anyway.
@UChicago Is it ok for my extended essay to be 3 pages if the third page is just a photo and a blurb explaining the photo? My total writing is less than two pages, but should I cut the whole document down to 2 pages total?
Do accepted EA candidates who also apply for financial aid get FA award info at the same time they are notified of their admission acceptance or do they have to wait until the Spring to find out about aid?
@classicmix54 Don’t worry if you didn’t receive an alumni interview! The interview is a completely optional part of the process, and we have on file that you requested an interview.
@phillip_p Please feel free to reach out to your regional counselor in order to see if the accounts properly synced: http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact.
@AkabaniShinosuke If the checklist marks the transcripts as received, we should have them on file, but you should feel free to check with your regional counselor: http://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/contact.
@philthephoenix We don’t have any hard word or page limits for our essays, so that will work!
@GraniteLand Students admitted through the Early Action round who applied for financial aid by November 15th will receive their financial aid award letter at the time of their acceptance. If students applied for financial aid after November 15th, it will take a little longer.
@UChicago Thanks. After making my initial post, the materials checklist did appear in my account, and it said everything had been received, including the Common Application and other materials I submitted through the Common App, like my teacher rec letters. In that case, can I assume it is indeed properly synced?
@Uchicago, in case of self reported SAT I score, would you also consider the other scores (SAT II) that College Boards mentions on the last page of the submitted score report?
@UChicago - Any update on when ED decisions will be available or when the communication will go out with the date?
@UChicago I applied ED and requested an alumni interview before the application deadline, but I haven’t received any invitation to interview. I understand that not everyone gets interviewed, but I was really looking forward to talking to an alumni and asking them about their experience. Is there any other way to find and reach out to UChicago alumni in one’s city outside of interview requests?