Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 20:01     Subject: Re:What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
My kid was deciding among Columbia Yale and Chicago. Preferred Chicago.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 19:58     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:Say what you will about their admissions tactics, it’s a world class education in a Hogwarts environment. I understand the appeal



My kid is there. He’s the old Chicago type: intellectual, nerdy, likes the core curriculum. Everyone told us he’s the U Chicago type. Loved the essay prompt. Says there are alot like him there but also non nerdy types who still work hard and are really engaged in the work (and party on the weekends).
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 19:49     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:UChicago doesn’t care about admitting the best kids. They care about looking very selective. And the way they do that makes me think a lot less of the school. They seek to get as many applications as possible regardless of the students qualifications just so they can reject them RD and drive down their admit rate even more. The fact that they admit nearly their entire class through ED
1 and ED2 and accept less than 1% of RD applicants allows them to appear way more selective than they would be if they didn’t play these games. Also the way they use their waitlist (aka ED3) is just gross. No respect for that school.


Even with the gamesmanship the stats of their accepted students are still the same of those going to Ivies. Average SAT 1540. Average ACT 35. Math, Economics, Physics, ext are top programs globally.

You are 100% right they play the ED1 game to the hilt and it heavily favors the well to do. Kids have to have their best SAT scores by the end of junior year. Most kids don't just after they are due.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 18:28     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
UChicago doesn’t care about admitting the best kids. They care about looking very selective. And the way they do that makes me think a lot less of the school. They seek to get as many applications as possible regardless of the students qualifications just so they can reject them RD and drive down their admit rate even more. The fact that they admit nearly their entire class through ED
1 and ED2 and accept less than 1% of RD applicants allows them to appear way more selective than they would be if they didn’t play these games. Also the way they use their waitlist (aka ED3) is just gross. No respect for that school.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:43     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:Our friend's kid is a freshman there. He is a nerdy, smart white kid who went to public school in Baltimore County. He's traveled extensively, plays multiple instruments and speaks several languages. His parents have PhDs and are published researchers.


Did he want to go to Chicago?
How does he like it?
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:41     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I partially blame college counselors. Especially in the DC area, private school counselors and admissions consultants push Chicago as THE ED2 option. I know multiple Big 3 kids who were dinged or deferred REA or ED at their top choice schools who then applied to Chicago ED2 with a little "advice." Thankfully, they seem fairly happy there but it doesn't sound as quirky or intellectually distinct. It sounds like what some on DCUM call a lower Ivy, which is fine but different than what many expect.


So let's say the kid is dinged ED/REA at their top choice school. Where should they then apply? What are their options? Remember - most kids in that situation are not in the best mind set, especially if a lot of their friends got in ED. Many want to be done, so they go the ED2 Chicago route.

Seems fairly pragmatic to me.


Applying regular decision to the schools they actually prefer RD is the clear option. I already know a couple who speculate about what might have happened RD.
There are at least 3-4 schools with ED2 that I'd call better than Chicago but that is more subjective.
Get ready for, "is University of Chicago like CUNY?" It isn't like the name alone gets you too far (they've been more than happy to sell the rights to the grad school names too).
At least make Booth give a little more money like Kansas does before they name an athletic facility for their favorite booster
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:35     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Our friend's kid is a freshman there. He is a nerdy, smart white kid who went to public school in Baltimore County. He's traveled extensively, plays multiple instruments and speaks several languages. His parents have PhDs and are published researchers.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:34     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If I remember this right the application asked for each parent's alma matter? Is it possible they saw the father's Ivy (and legacy status) and made that part of their math? I wonder about that. Is that a thing?


The kid was applying ED1 - that's the most you can do to demonstrate commitment.


+1
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:30     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:If I remember this right the application asked for each parent's alma matter? Is it possible they saw the father's Ivy (and legacy status) and made that part of their math? I wonder about that. Is that a thing?


The kid was applying ED1 - that's the most you can do to demonstrate commitment.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:27     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:I partially blame college counselors. Especially in the DC area, private school counselors and admissions consultants push Chicago as THE ED2 option. I know multiple Big 3 kids who were dinged or deferred REA or ED at their top choice schools who then applied to Chicago ED2 with a little "advice." Thankfully, they seem fairly happy there but it doesn't sound as quirky or intellectually distinct. It sounds like what some on DCUM call a lower Ivy, which is fine but different than what many expect.


So let's say the kid is dinged ED/REA at their top choice school. Where should they then apply? What are their options? Remember - most kids in that situation are not in the best mind set, especially if a lot of their friends got in ED. Many want to be done, so they go the ED2 Chicago route.

Seems fairly pragmatic to me.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:21     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Years and years ago when I was there as a grad student, the undergrads were brilliant and quirky, and didn’t seem Uber wealthy or private school types.

I have the feeling that’s changed now. The College is much larger, and there seems to be a lot of emphasis on ED, which means wealth to me. I also hear of kids attending who just would NEVER have chosen Chicago back in the day- they are normal and smart but not brilliant, well rounded etc.

Does someone on here know OLD Chicago and NEW Chicago? Has it changed? Is it still a good, friendly, dorky place, life of the mind? It is it like lots of other schools now?

Thanks in advance.


I went to Chicago back in the day My DC (similar to me in many of the traits you mentioned) goes to Swarthmore which still has those types.


Swarthmore and Caltech are the schools I'm familiar with that come to mind.


And Reed College



All so much smaller than Chicago though, right?
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:11     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:typically just students who cant get into hpsm and edII to uchicago


I think about 80% are ED1. They don't even apply to HYP. I'm sure many are just playing the odds. But some are probably really into the Core and/or economics?


The ED 2 pool has the best students who didn’t win the HYPSM lottery. Many ED1 kids want to get in ahead of the ED 2 talent pool.
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 16:09     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Years and years ago when I was there as a grad student, the undergrads were brilliant and quirky, and didn’t seem Uber wealthy or private school types.

I have the feeling that’s changed now. The College is much larger, and there seems to be a lot of emphasis on ED, which means wealth to me. I also hear of kids attending who just would NEVER have chosen Chicago back in the day- they are normal and smart but not brilliant, well rounded etc.

Does someone on here know OLD Chicago and NEW Chicago? Has it changed? Is it still a good, friendly, dorky place, life of the mind? It is it like lots of other schools now?

Thanks in advance.


I went to Chicago back in the day My DC (similar to me in many of the traits you mentioned) goes to Swarthmore which still has those types.


Swarthmore and Caltech are the schools I'm familiar with that come to mind.


And Reed College

Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 15:57     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
Anonymous wrote:typically just students who cant get into hpsm and edII to uchicago


I think about 80% are ED1. They don't even apply to HYP. I'm sure many are just playing the odds. But some are probably really into the Core and/or economics?
Anonymous
Post 12/11/2023 15:54     Subject: What kind of kids go to University of Chicago now?
typically just students who cant get into hpsm and edII to uchicago