The University of Chicago (UChicago) is recognized as one of the best colleges in the U.S.—it’s a top producer of Nobel Prize winners and calls one of the nation’s largest and most vibrant cities home. UChicago is known for attracting intellectually curious students who are high achievers both inside and outside of the classroom and are often thought of as a bit quirky. Don’t let UChicago’s reputation for admitting unconventional students fool you, though; like other highly rated colleges, admissions are extremely selective.
Applicants to the University of Chicago generally have sterling academics—they possess impressive GPAs, graduate near the top of their class, and have scored exceptionally well on standardized tests.
Note: It takes more than great grades and spectacular test scores to secure admission to the University of Chicago, however, they will ensure that an applicant receives serious consideration. Top schools like UChicago use a screening tool known as the Academic Index —an applicant’s entire academic performance represented by a single numerical score—to weed out candidates they deem unqualified. Failing to meet the university’s academic benchmark can result in the denial of an applicant without their application having been thoroughly reviewed.
The University of Chicago practices test-optional admissions, which means that applicants are not required to share their SAT or ACT scores. But just because applicants aren’t required to share their standardized test scores, it doesn’t mean they shouldn’t. It’s generally considered a smart strategy to share scores that fall within the university’s middle 50% of accepted applicants—this is particularly true for scores on the high side of the range.
Plan to apply to the University of Chicago? Here’s what you need to know.
The University of Chicago accepts two applications: the Apply Coalition Powered by Scoir and the Common Application. Applicants are also prompted to create a UChicago Account . There is a $75 application fee; however, UChicago doesn’t charge an application fee to students applying for need-based financial aid, veterans, and veteran dependents.
The University of Chicago has four paths for admission: Early Action (EA), Early Decision 1 (ED 1), Early Decision 2 (ED 2), and Regular Decision (RD).
Application Path
Application Deadline
Early Action
Early Decision 1
Early Decision 2
Regular Decision
Both Early Decision 1 and Early Decision 2 are binding and students accepted through them are committed to attending the university. UChicago doesn’t publish statistics for ED applicants, although these candidates are traditionally accepted at higher rates than those who apply via other admissions paths.
Early Action and Regular Decision are non-binding and accepted applicants have until May 2 to decide whether to attend the university or not. The overall acceptance rate at UChicago is just 6.47%.
Supplemental Essays: The University of Chicago requires applicants to compose two supplemental essays as part of their application. One essay is universal and composed by all applicants; for the other essay, the applicant is asked to respond to one of six prompts. UChicago is well-known for its offbeat essay questions and the opportunity they provide applicants to flex their personalities and interests.
Students are required to choose one of the next six prompts to respond to.
The University of Chicago supplemental essays are described as everything from fun to befuddling to peculiar. The uniqueness of UChicago’s supplemental prompts also often makes them tricky for applicants accustomed to composing more straightforward essays. CollegeVine can help you make sense of the university’s sometimes-confusing essay questions. Our article, How to Write the University of Chicago Essays 2022-2023 , provides advice for handling the notoriously unusual questions and strategies for how to create attention-grabbing responses. For those who’ve either already started composing or written their essays, our CollegeVine Essay Review provides free essay feedback from other students and paid expert essay evaluation.
Video Profile: UChicago allows students to submit a two-minute video in place of a traditional college interview, which is not part of the university’s application process. The production quality of the video is not nearly as important as its content—students should share their thoughts and perspective on their specific potential to contribute to UChicago. The video profile isn’t required, but it is “recommended” and candidates serious about attending the university are strongly encouraged to create and submit one.
Supplemental Materials: Students applying to UChicago may submit supplemental materials that highlight a significant talent, passion, or achievement. Supplemental materials cover a host of fields and materials including creative writing projects, performances, research projects, and business plans.
Students who applied for Early Action and Early Decision 1 will receive notification by mid-December. Those who applied Early Decision 2 will hear back by mid-February, while those who applied for Regular Decision will receive notification by late March.
Application Path
Application Notification