Are you interested in the University of Chicago? Use one of the school’s four Early application rounds to demonstrate to admissions officers that you mean business. In particular, students who apply through one of UChicago’s binding Early Decision 0 (yes we really did write Early Decision 0, a.k.a. the newly instituted Summer Student Early Notification round), I, or II rounds, due September 1st to October 15th, November 1st, and January 6th, respectively, have an edge over their Early Action and Regular Decision counterparts because they’ve committed to enroll if admitted. 

Early Decision admits account for UChicago’s incredibly high yield rate, which beats out all other schools in the country (including even Harvard!) because most students are accepted via one of these rounds. So, in case we haven’t made it clear, now is the time to kick your application into high gear and apply Early. Let’s review Ivy Coach’s top tips for crafting the most competitive application possible.

2 Tips for UChicago Early Action/Early Decision Applicants

1. UChicago Does Care About Demonstrated Interest

The idea that elite universities don’t care about Demonstrated Interest is a major misconception. Even though just about all highly selective colleges consider Demonstrated Interest, very few own up to it! UChicago wants to fill its campuses with students who can’t imagine themselves anywhere else — hence its preference for Early Decision applicants. Why would it take a chance on students who might not matriculate?

To demonstrate your interest in UChicago, you can do a few things beyond applying Early. To get started, schedule a tour of campus and information session. Admissions officers love to see you make the effort. Visit campus, attend a lecture open to prospective students, meet with current students to discuss life on campus, and ask practical questions during your time there. Try to get a feel for campus life so you’re ready to commit when the time comes.

2. Your UChicago Application is All About the Essays

The University of Chicago is infamous across highly selective institutions for its quirky essay prompts, which require applicants to think outside the box. For the first wonderfully weird prompt of the 2024-25 admissions cycle, they ensure whatever you’ve written has been written just for them:

“Choose one of the six extended essay options below and upload a one- or two-page response. Please include the prompt at the top of the page. Past extended essay prompts can be found on our website.

• We’re all familiar with green-eyed envy or feeling blue, but what about being “caught purple-handed”? Or “tickled orange”? Give an old color-infused expression a new hue and tell us what it represents. – Inspired by Ramsey Bottorff, Class of 2026

• “Ah, but I was so much older then / I’m younger than that now” – Bob Dylan. In what ways do we become younger as we get older? – Inspired by Joshua Harris, Class of 2016

• Pluto, the demoted planet. Ophiuchus, the thirteenth Zodiac. Andy Murray, the fourth to tennis’s Big Three. Every grouping has something that doesn’t quite fit in. Tell us about a group and its unofficial member, why (or why not) should it be excluded? – Inspired by Veronica Chang, Class of 2022

• “Daddy-o”, “Far Out”, “Gnarly”: the list of slang terms goes on and on. Sadly, most of these aren’t so “fly” anymore – “as if!” Name an outdated slang from any decade or language that you’d bring back and explain why you totally “dig it.” – Inspired by Napat Sakdibhornssup, Class of 2028

• How many piano tuners are there in Chicago? What is the total length of chalk used by UChicago professors in a year? How many pages of books are in the Regenstein Library? These questions are among a class of estimation problems named after University of Chicago physicist Enrico Fermi. Create your own Fermi estimation problem, give it your best answer, and show us how you got there. – Inspired by Malhar Manek, Class of 2028

• 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!“

If these unorthodox prompts haven’t convinced you yet, take it from us — UChicago wants you to take risks with your answers! Don’t be afraid to break from the college application essay tradition. But remember that you must still fill your response with details that showcase your singular admissions hook. It’s easier said than done, so give yourself plenty of time to write. 

The second prompt is a slightly more straightforward “Why UChicago?” Essay:

“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.“

Both prompts give you two pages of word count wiggle room, but we at Ivy Coach recommend writing 650 words maximum for each. Admissions officers will not read beyond 650 words. Do your best to convey your love of UChicago with specific details relating to the school’s history, traditions, culture, programs, and resources within this benchmark. And remember: don’t name-drop individual professors or courses! These details are fickle, but institutional priorities are forever!

How Ivy Coach Helps Students Get Into UChicago in the Early Round

A mere 4.8% of applicants gained admission to the University of Chicago’s Class of 2027. We at Ivy Coach are not daunted by these odds. In fact, 75% of our package clients have gained admission to UChicago over the last five years. We know that admissions officers are looking for academically ambitious students willing to commit Early and blaze their own paths with their essays.

If you’d like to optimize your child’s odds of admission to the University of Chicago by working with former UChicago admissions officer Hannah Skaran of Ivy Coach, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.