University of Chicago ED rejection?

[Anonymous]

“ It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.”

I don't think that’s quite right, or at least it’s not right in my kid’s case. He finds lots to like about UChicago and doesn’t think it’s beneath him—he’d be honored to go and applied ED2. It’s just the he was deferred in the early round by Yale and it sucks that he can’t wait-and-see if he gets in to Yale. The lack of RD at UChicago is a major bummer for kids who genuinely like the place, would be happy there, but want a chance to know their options.

In other words: it’s possible to be very excited by UChicago and still think their approach to RD is a major bummer for applicants, even if entirely rational from UChicago’s perspective.

In a better world, they’d leave more room for hope in RD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. Genuinely confused why UChicago is the subject of so much controversy on DCUM. DC didn’t apply for college, but attended one of UChicago’s fully funded (not pay-to-play) high school enrichment programs which had an 11% acceptance rate. Multiple ED0 applicants (and admits) from DC’s cohort because UChicago truly was their first choice college. At least one dorm mate received a full ride to boot.

I'll say this til the cows come home - many mistakenly regard UChicago as a backup... dare I even say... a safety... for their kids who they think have a decent shot at HYPSM+Ivy.
So when their kids ED or EDII and get rejected, then SUUUUUURRREEEELLLLY that rejection was because of misleading/shady/deceptive practices by the school. It stings harder than a rejection from HYPSM. How dare you UChicago reject my kid when you are a mere tier or two or three below what my kid really deserves?!



TL;DR- It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.

Chicago is a wonderful school and that's why my kid applied EA. He applied nowhere ED (or REA) as he has no clear choice. Subsequent to his being deferred, I found out that close to 0% of EA students are accepted. Appparently, that's common knowledge among better parents but I didn't know it. People say that there is no functional difference btw 5% and near 0%, but I disagree. Kid would have applied RD (after more essay practice) and probably still been rejected. So the end result would have been the same. But a 5% chance and a near zero % chance are not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.”

I don't think that’s quite right, or at least it’s not right in my kid’s case. He finds lots to like about UChicago and doesn’t think it’s beneath him—he’d be honored to go and applied ED2. It’s just the he was deferred in the early round by Yale and it sucks that he can’t wait-and-see if he gets in to Yale. The lack of RD at UChicago is a major bummer for kids who genuinely like the place, would be happy there, but want a chance to know their options.

In other words: it’s possible to be very excited by UChicago and still think their approach to RD is a major bummer for applicants, even if entirely rational from UChicago’s perspective.

In a better world, they’d leave more room for hope in RD.

I'd say ED in general is a negative for students, and a boon for colleges who need to use tools like ED to increase yield. Students should be able to compare the full context of all offers before accepting and not play roulette with one or two schools so early in their senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.”

I don't think that’s quite right, or at least it’s not right in my kid’s case. He finds lots to like about UChicago and doesn’t think it’s beneath him—he’d be honored to go and applied ED2. It’s just the he was deferred in the early round by Yale and it sucks that he can’t wait-and-see if he gets in to Yale. The lack of RD at UChicago is a major bummer for kids who genuinely like the place, would be happy there, but want a chance to know their options.

In other words: it’s possible to be very excited by UChicago and still think their approach to RD is a major bummer for applicants, even if entirely rational from UChicago’s perspective.

In a better world, they’d leave more room for hope in RD.

So with an ED2 backup, you are simultaneously feeding the supposed beast while bemoaning that it is unfair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.”

I don't think that’s quite right, or at least it’s not right in my kid’s case. He finds lots to like about UChicago and doesn’t think it’s beneath him—he’d be honored to go and applied ED2. It’s just the he was deferred in the early round by Yale and it sucks that he can’t wait-and-see if he gets in to Yale. The lack of RD at UChicago is a major bummer for kids who genuinely like the place, would be happy there, but want a chance to know their options.

In other words: it’s possible to be very excited by UChicago and still think their approach to RD is a major bummer for applicants, even if entirely rational from UChicago’s perspective.

In a better world, they’d leave more room for hope in RD.

Exactly this for mine too. Liked it a lot, but wanted ability to see all options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.”

I don't think that’s quite right, or at least it’s not right in my kid’s case. He finds lots to like about UChicago and doesn’t think it’s beneath him—he’d be honored to go and applied ED2. It’s just the he was deferred in the early round by Yale and it sucks that he can’t wait-and-see if he gets in to Yale. The lack of RD at UChicago is a major bummer for kids who genuinely like the place, would be happy there, but want a chance to know their options.

In other words: it’s possible to be very excited by UChicago and still think their approach to RD is a major bummer for applicants, even if entirely rational from UChicago’s perspective.

In a better world, they’d leave more room for hope in RD.

So with an ED2 backup, you are simultaneously feeding the supposed beast while bemoaning that it is unfair?

I wouldn’t have phrased it this harshly, but do agree with the underlying sentiment. It makes no sense to excoriate UChicago for trying to optimize its own options just as PP’s deferred-from-Yale son is trying to optimize his.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

Can’t say that it is great if they need to resort to these practices and force students to ED. Ivy’s, Duke etc. don’t do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:“ It's when you think you're punching down and then get denied. It's entitlement.”

I don't think that’s quite right, or at least it’s not right in my kid’s case. He finds lots to like about UChicago and doesn’t think it’s beneath him—he’d be honored to go and applied ED2. It’s just the he was deferred in the early round by Yale and it sucks that he can’t wait-and-see if he gets in to Yale. The lack of RD at UChicago is a major bummer for kids who genuinely like the place, would be happy there, but want a chance to know their options.

In other words: it’s possible to be very excited by UChicago and still think their approach to RD is a major bummer for applicants, even if entirely rational from UChicago’s perspective.

In a better world, they’d leave more room for hope in RD.

Exactly this for mine too. Liked it a lot, but wanted ability to see all options.

Yes. My kid wanted to see options too so despite the fact that UChicago was and always has been his number 1, he applied EA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

Can’t say that it is great if they need to resort to these practices and force students to ED. Ivy’s, Duke etc. don’t do that.

UChicago doesn’t force anyone to apply, much less ED. If you wish to attend, your best option is to apply ED. Why is this so offensive to people? Again, my DC is HYPSM-bound so I truly don’t have a dog in this fight, but many of his summer program cohorts loved their experience at UChicago enough to ED0. They also got the aid they needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

Can’t say that it is great if they need to resort to these practices and force students to ED. Ivy’s, Duke etc. don’t do that.

Sure you can. You just have to have perspective on what a university is and what happens there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the arguments about their actual ED acceptance rate rely on hypothetical info, since they don't release actual stats. So here's a question: Do you actually know anyone who was REJECTED by Chicago in the early decision round? (not EA - binding ED).
At our school 4/5 known ED applicants were accepted (and the 5th was deferred). This suggests a possibly insanely high ED accept rate - like 80%.
I think due to Chicago's reputation and location there is a certain amount of self-selection, but still.

Yes. A friend of DC’s was deferred EA two years ago, then rejected ED2 after he made the switch. Friend went Columbia RD, so obviously not an unqualified applicant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

Can’t say that it is great if they need to resort to these practices and force students to ED. Ivy’s, Duke etc. don’t do that.

UChicago doesn’t force anyone to apply, much less ED. If you wish to attend, your best option is to apply ED. Why is this so offensive to people? Again, my DC is HYPSM-bound so I truly don’t have a dog in this fight, but many of his summer program cohorts loved their experience at UChicago enough to ED0. They also got the aid they needed.

Why do they have EA and RD then? To get some application fee from the students that maybe will help them with their financial troubles?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

Can’t say that it is great if they need to resort to these practices and force students to ED. Ivy’s, Duke etc. don’t do that.

UChicago doesn’t force anyone to apply, much less ED. If you wish to attend, your best option is to apply ED. Why is this so offensive to people? Again, my DC is HYPSM-bound so I truly don’t have a dog in this fight, but many of his summer program cohorts loved their experience at UChicago enough to ED0. They also got the aid they needed.

Why do they have EA and RD then? To get some application fee from the students that maybe will help them with their financial troubles?

or to give people choices?
It sounds as if no matter how many people say they got in EA or RD, people will just choose to believe what they want to believe.
My own kid was accepted EA last year. A friend's kid was accepted RD 4 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure it is a great school, but I just can't think of UChicago in the same category as other T20 because of the shady games they play with ED0, ED1, ED2 and ED3 (aka waitlist - z list) and manipulation of yield with zero transparency. Neither of my kids who ended up at HYPSM would even consider applying to UChicago primarily because of this.

+1

They are a good school. If they want to be a great school, then they need to be more transparent and also get rid of forcing everyone to do some form of ED.

Except they are already a great school. Schools are far more than their rounds of admissions.

Can’t say that it is great if they need to resort to these practices and force students to ED. Ivy’s, Duke etc. don’t do that.

UChicago doesn’t force anyone to apply, much less ED. If you wish to attend, your best option is to apply ED. Why is this so offensive to people? Again, my DC is HYPSM-bound so I truly don’t have a dog in this fight, but many of his summer program cohorts loved their experience at UChicago enough to ED0. They also got the aid they needed.

Why do they have EA and RD then? To get some application fee from the students that maybe will help them with their financial troubles?

Because their system works for them. If it doesn’t work for some students, then those students can choose not to apply. Scoir at DC’s school clearly shows that the vast majority of admitted students get in ED, and very rarely an EA or RD applicant does too. DC considered this information and opted out of applying altogether, but didn’t vilify the school as some people here are.