Chicago's new Provisional Acceptance program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know someone who was shut out of the Ivys with a 1600. Took this option from Chicago and is doing great.

But … I thought the purpose of this program was to keep low-stats kids out of the school profile. Why not just admit the 1600 kid as a freshman?

Just because someone on Reddit said that was the purpose of the program doesn’t make it the purpose of the program!

You’re right. There’s no point in trying to figure out what they’re doing. It’s just one more random, senseless, inexplicable part of college admissions.

[Anonymous]

It’s a great school and they play games. They need to due to location and finances. Both can be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a poster (or posters) on there who now call anyone who posts about Chicago admissions practices as a "Chicago hater."

None of us hate Chicago. The simply do a lot of things with admissions that are not done by other top20 schools:

-ED0
-practice of regularly taking middle-of-the-pack kids who apply ED from some private high schools
-new guaranteed transfer program (which has been done for years by Cornell)

ED0 was not middle of the pack kids. Where do you get this information?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a poster (or posters) on there who now call anyone who posts about Chicago admissions practices as a "Chicago hater."

None of us hate Chicago. The simply do a lot of things with admissions that are not done by other top20 schools:

-ED0
-practice of regularly taking middle-of-the-pack kids who apply ED from some private high schools
-new guaranteed transfer program (which has been done for years by Cornell)

ED0 was not middle of the pack kids. Where do you get this information?

Yes, top stats that we know of, national awards

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke has ED and RD.
Princeton has single-choice early action and RD.

Chicago has SSEN or ED0, ED1, EA, ED2, RD and now provisional acceptance. Is it all just a game to them?

Yes, it's game theory, don't hate the players, hate the game (admissions process). For the home of Economics, this is what they do, I admire it, super smart to match university/student. This is an intellectual approach of matching, from one of the most intellectual places. For those that don't know, game theory is the mathematical study of strategic interactions between rational decision-makers. This is what every college should be doing. They are just outsmarting you lol

You don't know what game theory is, do you?

The problem is that Chicago is not transparent, esp. re EA (which has an acceptance rate near 0% and is merely a mechanism to get more applications/ try to get those students to switch to ED 2.

It's the lack of transparency that people (ok, me) resent.

PP isn't entirely wrong. UChicago is just playing the hand it was dealt with; they would lose kids to top Ivys if competing for them without these tactics. They have to use gamesmanship to get as many full pay, smart kids through the door as possible, which they appear to be doing successfully. And none of this detracts from the fact that the school is truly a great research university. If anything, their strategy will likely pay dividend with a robust alumni base in the future. Also, having a school where the admissions outcome for a bright, high stat kid is more predictable than some isn't a bad thing. With so much criticism lobbed at UChicago, perhaps its worth scrutinizing others as well.

I fully agree with you. Always surprised how the same people who dump on UChicago have no issues with Princeton and Brown accepting athletes with 1200 SAT scores (yes, you can see that on Scoir!).

[Anonymous]

The high school sending the most students to Chicago is Horace Mann (NYC). This is one of the most rigorous and selective schools in the country. They probably can get middle of the pack kids into Chicago bc they would be top kids anywhere else.

Other schools sending many are Stuy, Pine Crest, Choate, Phillips (both). The only DC school on the list is Sidwell. These are nit exactly middling students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The high school sending the most students to Chicago is Horace Mann (NYC). This is one of the most rigorous and selective schools in the country. They probably can get middle of the pack kids into Chicago bc they would be top kids anywhere else.

Other schools sending many are Stuy, Pine Crest, Choate, Phillips (both). The only DC school on the list is Sidwell. These are nit exactly middling students.

I don't see that as evidence that the students are middle of the pack. I think it's the top private schools recognizing that with 5% and lower admit rates even their unhooked students have virtually no chance of getting into an Ivy+ unless they utilize one of U Chicago's numerous ED rounds, which is exactly why UChicago uses that strategy. Collegiate's School profile shows UChicago as the #1 single destination for their students over the past 5 years with 26 students matriculating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high school sending the most students to Chicago is Horace Mann (NYC). This is one of the most rigorous and selective schools in the country. They probably can get middle of the pack kids into Chicago bc they would be top kids anywhere else.

Other schools sending many are Stuy, Pine Crest, Choate, Phillips (both). The only DC school on the list is Sidwell. These are nit exactly middling students.

I don't see that as evidence that the students are middle of the pack. I think it's the top private schools recognizing that with 5% and lower admit rates even their unhooked students have virtually no chance of getting into an Ivy+ unless they utilize one of U Chicago's numerous ED rounds, which is exactly why UChicago uses that strategy. Collegiate's School profile shows UChicago as the #1 single destination for their students over the past 5 years with 26 students matriculating.

I agree. Apparently OR believes that hooked students from Choate, Horace Mann, Collegiate etc are somehow better or more worthy than unhooked students, when it's usually the exact opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a team of Chicago PR on DCUM. They must be tracking any Chicago related threads. Show up immediately any minute Chicago was discussed, then accusing any one having honest opinions as haters.

If they pay a million to their AOs, I would not be surprised that they are doing PR on several prominent college related forums including DCUM.

Thank you for my morning laugh! You have to be joking, PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke has ED and RD.
Princeton has single-choice early action and RD.

Chicago has SSEN or ED0, ED1, EA, ED2, RD and now provisional acceptance. Is it all just a game to them?

Yes, it's game theory, don't hate the players, hate the game (admissions process). For the home of Economics, this is what they do, I admire it, super smart to match university/student. This is an intellectual approach of matching, from one of the most intellectual places. For those that don't know, game theory is the mathematical study of strategic interactions between rational decision-makers. This is what every college should be doing. They are just outsmarting you lol

You don't know what game theory is, do you?

The problem is that Chicago is not transparent, esp. re EA (which has an acceptance rate near 0% and is merely a mechanism to get more applications/ try to get those students to switch to ED 2.

It's the lack of transparency that people (ok, me) resent.

PP isn't entirely wrong. UChicago is just playing the hand it was dealt with; they would lose kids to top Ivys if competing for them without these tactics. They have to use gamesmanship to get as many full pay, smart kids through the door as possible, which they appear to be doing successfully. And none of this detracts from the fact that the school is truly a great research university. If anything, their strategy will likely pay dividend with a robust alumni base in the future. Also, having a school where the admissions outcome for a bright, high stat kid is more predictable than some isn't a bad thing. With so much criticism lobbed at UChicago, perhaps its worth scrutinizing others as well.

I fully agree with you. Always surprised how the same people who dump on UChicago have no issues with Princeton and Brown accepting athletes with 1200 SAT scores (yes, you can see that on Scoir!).

There is a vast difference between accepting a few athletic recruits with low test scores and U Chicago accepting so many students ED that they have the highest yield in the USA. Do you really think that U Chicago attracts more fervent admirers than HYPS or is U Chicago just taking advantage of nervous students who want to get in “somewhere good” and are willing to give up their choices for a large admissions preference from Chicago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke has ED and RD.
Princeton has single-choice early action and RD.

Chicago has SSEN or ED0, ED1, EA, ED2, RD and now provisional acceptance. Is it all just a game to them?

Yes, it's game theory, don't hate the players, hate the game (admissions process). For the home of Economics, this is what they do, I admire it, super smart to match university/student. This is an intellectual approach of matching, from one of the most intellectual places. For those that don't know, game theory is the mathematical study of strategic interactions between rational decision-makers. This is what every college should be doing. They are just outsmarting you lol

You don't know what game theory is, do you?

The problem is that Chicago is not transparent, esp. re EA (which has an acceptance rate near 0% and is merely a mechanism to get more applications/ try to get those students to switch to ED 2.

It's the lack of transparency that people (ok, me) resent.

PP isn't entirely wrong. UChicago is just playing the hand it was dealt with; they would lose kids to top Ivys if competing for them without these tactics. They have to use gamesmanship to get as many full pay, smart kids through the door as possible, which they appear to be doing successfully. And none of this detracts from the fact that the school is truly a great research university. If anything, their strategy will likely pay dividend with a robust alumni base in the future. Also, having a school where the admissions outcome for a bright, high stat kid is more predictable than some isn't a bad thing. With so much criticism lobbed at UChicago, perhaps its worth scrutinizing others as well.

I fully agree with you. Always surprised how the same people who dump on UChicago have no issues with Princeton and Brown accepting athletes with 1200 SAT scores (yes, you can see that on Scoir!).

Princeton and Brown don’t have $6.2 billion in debt. Chicago does. Chicago has marketing experts helping utilities its scores to push up its rank on USNWR. This new move, along with ED1, ED2 and EO is all about driving up its yield percentage, which is poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there is a team of Chicago PR on DCUM. They must be tracking any Chicago related threads. Show up immediately any minute Chicago was discussed, then accusing any one having honest opinions as haters.

If they pay a million to their AOs, I would not be surprised that they are doing PR on several prominent college related forums including DCUM.

Believing this is a sign it is time to spend less time on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke has ED and RD.
Princeton has single-choice early action and RD.

Chicago has SSEN or ED0, ED1, EA, ED2, RD and now provisional acceptance. Is it all just a game to them?

Yes, it's game theory, don't hate the players, hate the game (admissions process). For the home of Economics, this is what they do, I admire it, super smart to match university/student. This is an intellectual approach of matching, from one of the most intellectual places. For those that don't know, game theory is the mathematical study of strategic interactions between rational decision-makers. This is what every college should be doing. They are just outsmarting you lol

You don't know what game theory is, do you?

The problem is that Chicago is not transparent, esp. re EA (which has an acceptance rate near 0% and is merely a mechanism to get more applications/ try to get those students to switch to ED 2.

It's the lack of transparency that people (ok, me) resent.

PP isn't entirely wrong. UChicago is just playing the hand it was dealt with; they would lose kids to top Ivys if competing for them without these tactics. They have to use gamesmanship to get as many full pay, smart kids through the door as possible, which they appear to be doing successfully. And none of this detracts from the fact that the school is truly a great research university. If anything, their strategy will likely pay dividend with a robust alumni base in the future. Also, having a school where the admissions outcome for a bright, high stat kid is more predictable than some isn't a bad thing. With so much criticism lobbed at UChicago, perhaps its worth scrutinizing others as well.

I fully agree with you. Always surprised how the same people who dump on UChicago have no issues with Princeton and Brown accepting athletes with 1200 SAT scores (yes, you can see that on Scoir!).

There is a vast difference between accepting a few athletic recruits with low test scores and U Chicago accepting so many students ED that they have the highest yield in the USA. Do you really think that U Chicago attracts more fervent admirers than HYPS or is U Chicago just taking advantage of nervous students who want to get in “somewhere good” and are willing to give up their choices for a large admissions preference from Chicago

Well that’s cute that you believe it’s just a few athletes with low test scores. Many of the top schools fill more than 3/4 of the class with their priority candidates - VIPs, athletes, legacies, etc. As for taking advantage of kids? Stop with the victim mentality. These are mostly well off kids with high stats and with the ability to decide how to play the game. You can’t whine just because one school thinks the applicants shouldn’t hold all the cards. What Chicago clearly wants is a match - they want you to want them and vice versa. Medical residency programs for example also do a variation of this. And lastly, Chicago is not just “somewhere good” - it’s somewhere great. All the belly aching about one school using a different strategy for admissions is ridiculous. Move on. Or go complain about Yale admissions with its love for field hockey and lacrosse recruits or Duke with it legacy ones. Spread the whine elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Duke has ED and RD.
Princeton has single-choice early action and RD.

Chicago has SSEN or ED0, ED1, EA, ED2, RD and now provisional acceptance. Is it all just a game to them?

Yes, it's game theory, don't hate the players, hate the game (admissions process). For the home of Economics, this is what they do, I admire it, super smart to match university/student. This is an intellectual approach of matching, from one of the most intellectual places. For those that don't know, game theory is the mathematical study of strategic interactions between rational decision-makers. This is what every college should be doing. They are just outsmarting you lol

You don't know what game theory is, do you?

The problem is that Chicago is not transparent, esp. re EA (which has an acceptance rate near 0% and is merely a mechanism to get more applications/ try to get those students to switch to ED 2.

It's the lack of transparency that people (ok, me) resent.

PP isn't entirely wrong. UChicago is just playing the hand it was dealt with; they would lose kids to top Ivys if competing for them without these tactics. They have to use gamesmanship to get as many full pay, smart kids through the door as possible, which they appear to be doing successfully. And none of this detracts from the fact that the school is truly a great research university. If anything, their strategy will likely pay dividend with a robust alumni base in the future. Also, having a school where the admissions outcome for a bright, high stat kid is more predictable than some isn't a bad thing. With so much criticism lobbed at UChicago, perhaps its worth scrutinizing others as well.

I fully agree with you. Always surprised how the same people who dump on UChicago have no issues with Princeton and Brown accepting athletes with 1200 SAT scores (yes, you can see that on Scoir!).

There is a vast difference between accepting a few athletic recruits with low test scores and U Chicago accepting so many students ED that they have the highest yield in the USA. Do you really think that U Chicago attracts more fervent admirers than HYPS or is U Chicago just taking advantage of nervous students who want to get in “somewhere good” and are willing to give up their choices for a large admissions preference from Chicago

Well that’s cute that you believe it’s just a few athletes with low test scores. Many of the top schools fill more than 3/4 of the class with their priority candidates - VIPs, athletes, legacies, etc. As for taking advantage of kids? Stop with the victim mentality. These are mostly well off kids with high stats and with the ability to decide how to play the game. You can’t whine just because one school thinks the applicants shouldn’t hold all the cards. What Chicago clearly wants is a match - they want you to want them and vice versa. Medical residency programs for example also do a variation of this. And lastly, Chicago is not just “somewhere good” - it’s somewhere great. All the belly aching about one school using a different strategy for admissions is ridiculous. Move on. Or go complain about Yale admissions with its love for field hockey and lacrosse recruits or Duke with it legacy ones. Spread the whine elsewhere.

THIS. There is someone obsessed with UChicago on this forum, maybe their child was rejected? I have no idea why someone would be so invested in being negative about one school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The high school sending the most students to Chicago is Horace Mann (NYC). This is one of the most rigorous and selective schools in the country. They probably can get middle of the pack kids into Chicago bc they would be top kids anywhere else.

Other schools sending many are Stuy, Pine Crest, Choate, Phillips (both). The only DC school on the list is Sidwell. These are nit exactly middling students.

I don't see that as evidence that the students are middle of the pack. I think it's the top private schools recognizing that with 5% and lower admit rates even their unhooked students have virtually no chance of getting into an Ivy+ unless they utilize one of U Chicago's numerous ED rounds, which is exactly why UChicago uses that strategy. Collegiate's School profile shows UChicago as the #1 single destination for their students over the past 5 years with 26 students matriculating.

I agree. Apparently OR believes that hooked students from Choate, Horace Mann, Collegiate etc are somehow better or more worthy than unhooked students, when it's usually the exact opposite.

I am OR and I agree with you. I didn’t mean to imply hooked kids from boarding schools are somehow “better” - not at all. The kids we see getting in from HM and Collegiate are extremely smart and ambitious students. But I think this is true whether kids have straight A’s or a handful of B+’s. Bc these are extremely rigorous schools.