Why is the University of Chicago so desperate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their essays are very challenging to write though. They are not just an extra line on the common ap.

And they are far more interesting. Kids who are intrigued by the essays are exactly the ones who would do well there. That kid may or may not have a 4.0+ GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3.6 1300 SAT DD has gotten around 20 mailers from the University of Chicago when the 50% range of admitted students is 1490-1560.

Are they that desperate to increase applications to look better in the rankings?

Yes. Exactly that. There is an article somewhere that goes in to all the details about how they made themselves a high-reach hard to get in to school. They focused their resources on whatever it would take to get their rankings up in the US News list of top colleges.

I don't believe that selectivity is still used in the rankings...

[Anonymous]

Their admit rate used to be in the 70% in 80’s-90’s. They know what it’s like to be on the other side looking in.

[Anonymous]

They're not desperate. They're smart.

[Anonymous]

Chicago has wisely used every "trick in the book" to boost their reputation. It has had great academics and first rate graduate programs for a long time. But their students complained about it being "where fun went to die" and many seemed to begrudge their Ivy rejections. Their climb up started with being one of the first to apply "demonstrated interest" to identify the applicants who want to be there. For a while they prioritized prep schoolers to increase their social desirability. And as their applicant pool got stronger, they stopped relying on high stats alone and started being more "holistic." Now that they have reached the upper reaches of selectivity, the mass mailings are one of the remnants of their "social climbing" past. But, it can be justified as a way to boost diversity and reach high achieving students headed to regional colleges who don't considered themselves elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 3.6 1300 SAT DD has gotten around 20 mailers from the University of Chicago when the 50% range of admitted students is 1490-1560.

Are they that desperate to increase applications to look better in the rankings?

Yes. Exactly that. There is an article somewhere that goes in to all the details about how they made themselves a high-reach hard to get in to school. They focused their resources on whatever it would take to get their rankings up in the US News list of top colleges.

I don't believe that selectivity is still used in the rankings...

It is not. But most people don’t actually read the ranking methodology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Their admit rate used to be in the 70% in 80’s-90’s. They know what it’s like to be on the other side looking in.

The 80-90s were 20-30 years ago. Everyone’s admit rate was higher.

[Anonymous]

And in 1995 Penn’s acceptance rate was 30%. Tulane’s was 60% in 2001. No more relevant to today than what U of Chicago was a generation ago.

Chicago does market. They also invested significant sums in improving both the undergrad experience and facilities, which has also driven more applications. It has one of the most generous programs for low-income and first-gen students. But you won’t get them to apply if the name of the school isn’t ‘out there.’

[Anonymous]

We get stuff from University of Chicago all the time. I have to say it's making the school more appealing to my kid. The reputation of University of Chicago is that it is academically intense and full of grinds. They are going out of their way to highlight "fun" aspects of the school. We've gotten stuff about the big scavenger hunt they have, and stuff about an interdisciplinary class on dinosaurs. If they are trying to change our perception of the school, it worked for my family.

[Anonymous]

What is wrong with a school for grinds? Where are they supposed to go? Am I the only one with a geek that would rather study then go a football game? Nothing I can do about it. My supernerd is interested in U of Chi.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with a school for grinds? Where are they supposed to go? Am I the only one with a geek that would rather study then go a football game? Nothing I can do about it. My supernerd is interested in U of Chi.

I’ve got one of those too. He isn’t at U of Chicago but has actually been getting out and about more in college than I expected.

Re Chicago I think it is good for even the “grind” students to see that there’s more going on besides class and study. And no one will be accepted to Chicago if they can’t handle the work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with a school for grinds? Where are they supposed to go? Am I the only one with a geek that would rather study then go a football game? Nothing I can do about it. My supernerd is interested in U of Chi.

This is my kid, too. I keep trying to get her to be more well-rounded but she’s not interested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is wrong with a school for grinds? Where are they supposed to go? Am I the only one with a geek that would rather study then go a football game? Nothing I can do about it. My supernerd is interested in U of Chi.

This is my kid, too. I keep trying to get her to be more well-rounded but she’s not interested.

lol. Maybe they will all go to U of Chi and become friends!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 3.6 1300 SAT DD has gotten around 20 mailers from the University of Chicago when the 50% range of admitted students is 1490-1560.

Are they that desperate to increase applications to look better in the rankings?

They need someone to pay their 100K tuition.

[Anonymous]

No one apply, especially for class of 2025. Terrible school.