Applying to College
Admission Requirements for Uchicago
This article provides a detailed breakdown of the necessary academic qualifications, test scores, extracurricular accomplishments, and personal character traits sought by UChicago in its prospective students.
Aug 4, 2023
Introduction
The University of Chicago, founded in 1890, boasts a storied history and a reputation as one of the world's leading intellectual institutions. With its commitment to rigorous inquiry and interdisciplinary scholarship, the university has fostered groundbreaking research and innovative thinking across various fields. Its illustrious faculty, including Nobel laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, continue to push boundaries and challenge conventional wisdom. The university's distinctive Core Curriculum, introduced in 1931, has cultivated a tradition of intellectual exploration and critical thinking, preparing students to navigate complex global challenges. Renowned for its vibrant academic environment and commitment to free expression, the University of Chicago has earned a reputation for producing independent-minded scholars and fostering intellectual curiosity. Today, the university remains at the forefront of cutting-edge research and continues to nurture the next generation of creative thinkers and leaders.
Quick Numbers
Acceptance Rate: 6.5%
Test Optional/Blind: Yes
Average SAT Score: 1545
Average ACT Score: 34
Average GPA: 3.9-4.0
Number of Letters of Recommendation (LORs): Two letters of Recommendation, with an optional additional one
Common Application Essay/Coalition/Questbridge: Yes
Number of Supplemental Essays: Two
Interview: Not offered
Video Portion: UChicago asks applicants to submit a 2 minute video about themselves. While it is not required, it is highly encouraged.
Early Decision/Early Action: UChicago offers two binding Early Decision programs called ED 1, and ED 2. The only difference is the date of application. It also offers a non binding early action program(EA).
Application Deadline: EA/ED 1- November 1st, ED 2/RD - January 2nd
Financial Aid Deadline: EA/ED 1- November 15th, ED 2/RD - Feb 15th
Tests
In terms of standardized test scores, the University of Chicago admits students with strong performance on the SAT and ACT exams. Typically, the 25th percentile SAT and ACT scores are 1490 and 34, respectively. This means that 25% of admitted students scored below these figures. On the other hand, the 75th percentile scores (meaning that 75% of admitted students scored below these figures) are usually around 1570 for the SAT and 35 for the ACT. These scores provide a range within which the bulk of admitted students' scores tend to fall and offer you a benchmark to aim for in your test preparation.
Essays
Common App Essay
In terms of the Common App essay, the University of Chicago, like many other schools, asks applicants to respond to one of the seven essay prompts provided by the Common Application, allowing students to showcase their unique perspectives and experiences in a personal and meaningful way.
Below is the full set of Common App essay prompts for 2023-24.
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.(This is a very dangerous prompt, and it is recommended to discuss it with your high school counselor before undertaking it.)
In addition, students have the option to tell colleges any additional information that they might want to know. For example, extenuating circumstances that may explain a drop in grades for a certain semester.
Supplementals
Question 1 (Required)
How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.
Question 2: Extended Essay (Required; Choose one)
Essay Option 1
Exponents and square roots, pencils and erasers, beta decay and electron capture. Name two things that undo each other and explain why both are necessary.
Essay Option 2
“Where have all the flowers gone?” – Pete Seeger. Pick a question from a song title or lyric and give it your best answer.
Essay Option 3
“Vlog,” “Labradoodle,” and “Fauxmage.” Language is filled with portmanteaus. Create a new portmanteau and explain why those two things are a “patch” (perfect match).
Essay Option 4
A jellyfish is not a fish. Cat burglars don’t burgle cats. Rhode Island is not an island. Write an essay about some other misnomer, and either come up with and defend a new name for it or explain why its inaccurate name should be kept.
Essay Option 5
Despite their origins in the Gupta Empire of India or Ancient Egypt, games like chess or bowling remain widely enjoyed today. What modern game do you believe will withstand the test of time, and why?
Essay Option 6
There are unwritten rules that everyone follows or has heard at least once in their life. But of course, some rules should be broken or updated. What is an unwritten rule that you wish didn’t exist? (Our custom is to have five new prompts each year, but this year we decided to break with tradition. Enjoy!)
Essay Option 7
And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun!
Conclusion
Navigating the admissions process for UChicago might seem daunting, but with the right tools at your disposal, it can be a manageable and successful endeavor. Delilah AI, with its advanced capabilities, is designed to guide you through one of the most challenging parts: writing your essays. It provides personalized suggestions and feedback, helping you craft compelling narratives that truly encapsulate your unique experiences, aspirations, and potential.
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