This is the official thread for those applying EA/ED to University of Chicago!
University of Chicago offers Early Action and Early Decision for freshman admissions.
The Early Action (EA) deadline for Fall 2027 admission is November 2.
The Early Decision (ED) I deadline for Fall 2027 admission is November 2.
The Early Decision (ED) II deadline for Fall 2027 admission is January 4.
For more information visit the University of Chicago page on College Confidential.
See updates and discuss results with other University of Chicago applicants.
Are you planning to apply early to University of Chicago? Why University of Chicago? What questions do you have about applying early? Comment in the thread below, the CC community is here to help!
Does ED usually have better admission percentages at UChicago? I don’t want to waste this one-time opportunity for an increase in acceptance chance, but UChicago is my top school, so applying ED is still a good idea anyway right? I’ve heard some schools can be worse for ED because there will be less applicants in EA2 or something like that and the school may choose the same amount of students from each pool, or ED is so full of athletes, legacy students, and other people already getting full-rides and stuff like that, and I wouldn’t want to be overshadowed. Maybe this is me overthinking or going off bad information, but any thoughts or advice?
Is it your top school and via the net price calculator affordable?
Why is it wasted if you get deferred?
Would you rather ED to say - Wake Forest (just an example), get in and then have no shot at U Chicago?
ED is a choice - and not one that is needed. It should be used - when you have a top choice and you can afford it. I don’t get why students who have a top choice apply to another school for better odds when they’d be bound? Until Chicago says no, no other school should warrant ED consideration.
Chicago is the type of school that wants to move people to ED - they’ll say, you’re in EA but if you ED and they’ll sell you on that because they want the assured butt in seat. Case Western is another like that.
I don’t see that they list data but early decision data is often faulty because it includes athletes, invited guests like donors, Questbridge, and more. So a higher percentage of acceptance may mean little.
That said, if it’s your top choice and you can afford it, ED is not wasted - no matter what answer you get.
But in what world would a non binding applicant have better odds than a bound one?
That’s how I think anyway. Sadly, they don’t post their data (at least in the common data set) to see the true #s.
Good luck.