How Is The Review Process Different If I Do Not Submit My Test Scores
The test-optional review is not fundamentally different than the test-inclusive review. It is important to understand that selecting the test optional review will not put you at a disadvantage for our review process. Applications will be reviewed holistically with or without test scores. You can review application decision criteria on our first-year requirements page.
How Do I Tell Uic That I Am Interested In Being Reviewed Without Test Scores
When completing the UIC-specific questions on the Common Application, you will be asked for your Preferred Testing Plan where you can select if you would like to include your scores with your application. Selecting yes or no will determine whether or not test scores will be used in your application review.
Please note, if you select a test optional review, UIC Admissions will not consider your ACT or SAT test scores, even if you send, or have previously sent ACT or SAT scores.
If you do not select test-optional, the scores will be considered and required.
Cultivate At Least One Or Two Tier 1
Extracurricular activities can be broken down into 4 tiers depending on how involved you are with them. For example, being a nationally-ranked soccer player would be considered a Tier 1 activity. Additionally, winning prestigious national awards like the Intel Award would also be considered Tier 1.
Tier 2 activities encompass holding major leadership positions or winning a state-level title. For example, being president of Model UN or making all-state orchestra would be Tier 2 activities.
Tier 3 and Tier 4 activities are more participatory extracurriculars. Tier 3 activities would be minor leadership positions in high school clubs. Tier 4 activities include participating in high school clubs without holding a leadership position, or general volunteerism.
Do you want to get involved in more extracurriculars, but dont know where to start? Heres a list of the best extracurriculars for college.
Your application will be seen as more competitive for Top 20 schools if you participate in more Tier 1 and Tier 2 activities, or if you have one or two highly developed interests. This is called a spike, and signals your dedication and interest in a certain area or field . Remember, admissions officers want to accept diverse, passionate students, so having exceptional achievements in one or two areas is a great way to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
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University Of Chicago Goes Test
If there were such a thing as a Lady Gaga-type rock star in the world of college admissions, itd be the admissions office at University of Chicago. In my estimation, it must be one of the most well-funded undergraduate admissions offices in the country, with the marketing prowess of Apple, and the school has never been shy of making bold, newsworthy moves.
In August 2016, UChicago Dean of Students Dr. John Jay Ellison wrote his famous letter to the incoming class of 2020 rejecting safe spaces and trigger warnings on campus in favor of rigorous debate, discussion, and even disagreement. It was met with a firestorm of both intensely negative and glowing reactions. Every year, at the anticipation of eager prospective students, UChicago is one of the very first schools to release the prompts for supplemental essays in its application, which have long been renowned for their wit and provocation. Here are the most recent bunch. And now, on the fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord, two thousand eighteen, University of Chicago hath commanded that thou shalt not necessarily submit standardized test scores as part of the required application for undergraduate admission:
You May Still Want To Take The Act Or Sat
Even though a number of schools have done away with the SAT and ACT requirements, that doesnt mean you should skip the tests altogether. The submission of your test scores is optional. But if you do well, they could provide insight into your skills and knowledge. You are still welcome to submit your scores even if its not required.
Also, you may discover you want to apply to a college that does require the SAT or ACT scores still. Dont close those doors just because you didnt feel like taking the tests. Its important to do your research into each colleges application guidelines to ensure youre not missing any information.
The University of Chicago wont be the last college in the United States to become test-optional. It will make other research universities review their own policies. However, that doesnt mean you should skip these standardized tests entirely. Its important to submit information that will highlight your skills and achievements. This may just be your SAT or ACT score. Remember to look carefully into each schools application requirements to ensure youre supplying all the necessary documents and information. And make sure to check out the University of Chicagos new scholarship and financial aid offerings along with all the other changes they made to their application process.
Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the USfor FREE!
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Will I Still Qualify For Merit Scholarships If I Don’t Submit A Test Score To A Test
Students with an ACT test score qualify for more scholarships. Even test-optional colleges often require a test score when awarding merit-based scholarships. Without an ACT score, you could be missing out on thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
At Indiana State University, “Standardized test scores are not required for undergraduate applicants. The SAT or ACT will be required for certain merit-based scholarships. Students wishing to be considered are advised to send official scores to the Office of Admission.”
Looking for more useful tips and information? Explore College & Career Planning Resources from ACT!
A version of the this article appeared on theACT website.
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Write Engaging And Creative Essays
UChicago is known for its creative and whimsical supplemental essay prompts. For example, some previous years prompts asked whats so odd about odd numbers? and Youre on a voyage in the thirteenth century, sailing across the tempestuous seas. What if, suddenly, you fell off the edge of the Earth? These essay prompts certainly look different than nearly every other school, but allow admissions to judge applicants based on creativity, writing skills, and how well they can articulate their ideas in a short essay. You should spend an ample amount of time brainstorming ideas and preparing your essay. We have a guide to the UChicago essays to help you out!
Dont forget to also spend time on your Common App essay. Weve compiled resources on how you can write a great Common App essay to give you a head start.
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Do Not Submit Your Sat/act Scores If
- You got a low SAT/ACT score. If you failed to hit your goal score on test day, withhold your scores and instead focus on strengthening other key parts of your college applications. This way, your SAT/ACT scores won’t end up counting against you during the admission process.
- You did far better on your AP tests and/or IB tests than you did on the SAT/ACT. If you’re applying to a test-flexible school and you performed better on your other tests than you did on the SAT/ACT, you’ll get a far bigger boost to your application by submitting those scores in place of your SAT/ACT scores.
- You meet the minimum class rank or GPA requirement for your school. If your school automatically admits students who meet a certain class rank or GPA requirement, there’s no point in submitting your SAT/ACT test scores. Doing so shouldn’t hinder your application, but it won’t help it either!
The University of Arizona in Tucson.
Us Citizens And Permanent Residents & Canadian Citizens
The University of Chicagos consideration of applications for admission is need-blind for citizens of the U.S. and Canada as well as U.S. permanent residents. This means that for these applicants, submitting an application for need-based financial aid will have no bearing on admission to the College. Canadian citizens should follow the directions for .
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Sat/act Writing Section Requirements
Both the SAT and ACT have an optional essay section.
University of Chicago considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don’t need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you’re applying to may require it.
Common Sat Questions And Comparisons
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 1400 SAT score?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an 41% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 1200 SAT score?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an 23% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 1100 SAT score?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an 11% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 3.9 GPA?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an 30% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 3.5 GPA?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an 17% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 3.2 GPA?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an < 10% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 3.0 GPA?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an < 10% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
- Will I get into University of Chicago with a 2.5 GPA?Assuming you have the same GPA as an average admitted student, you have an < 10% chance of getting accepted at University of Chicago
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What Is The University Of Chicago Looking For
It is clear that nearly all students at UChicago have stellar GPAs and test scores. When admissions officers evaluate students, they look for factors besides academic performance, and seek to understand how and why their applicants are intellectually motivated. Admissions officers at UChicago look at your entire profile, including GPA, test scores, extracurricular activities/work experience, class rank, recommendations, and essays when making an admissions decision. All these factors are important and taken into consideration. Below is a list of especially important factors admissions officers take into consideration when choosing students.
What Kind Of Academic Profile Do I Need
If you are planning not to submit SAT or ACT scores to a prospective college, ask yourselfwhat other components of my application stand out? Determine whether your grades, essays, and/or extracurricular record can truly distinguish you as an applicant and will inspire your prospective colleges to vote Yes. These application materials will be even more heavily scrutinized now that your admissions officers are without an essential piece of information, which although biased, can still provide for meaningful comparisons between you and the rest of the applicant pool.
A test score-free application is going to be transcript-reliant which is fine for students hailing from most public and private high schools across the United States. Colleges have a general understanding of the curriculum, level of rigor, and grading standards at most U.S. secondary schools. However, as Andrew Belasco told the The Washington Diplomat, international or non-traditional students do not share this luxury, making going test-optional a less legitimate option in these circumstances.
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Achieve At Least A 40 Gpa While Taking The Most Challenging Classes Available
The average UChicago GPA is likely very high, as 99% of all students were in the top 10% of their graduating class. To get the highest GPA possible, you should be taking the hardest classes at your school for the GPA weight and getting strong grades. To learn more, we have a whole post about how many AP classes you need for top schools.
How exactly do admissions officers determine whether your transcript is competitive, given how different school standards are? Admissions officers use something called the Academic Index , which is a score composed of your GPA, course rigor, and SAT/ACT scores. Selective schools may filter out students if their AI is lower than their desired thresholds. If your AI clears a schools standards, you should at least get your application read.
If your GPA is lower than average, and youre a freshman or sophomore, check out our tips for increasing your GPA. If youre a junior or senior, it will be harder to increase your GPA, so the easiest way to increase your Academic Index score is to get a higher ACT or SAT score.
Submit Your Sat/act Scores If
- You got a high SAT/ACT score. If you reached your goal score and are well above your school’s average, submitting your test scores will definitely give you a leg up in the admission process by further emphasizing your academic potential.
- Your school recommends submitting them. Even if the SAT/ACT is optional for a school, some schools still strongly suggest sending them in. In these cases, it’s usually best to just listen to your schools and submit your test scores anyway.
- You didn’t take any SAT Subject Tests, AP tests, or IB tests . Test-flexible schools allow you to submit other test scores in place of SAT/ACT scores. But if you didn’t take any other tests or didn’t do as well as you’d wanted to on them, go ahead and submit your SAT/ACT scores.
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Chances Of Getting Into University Of Chicago
Acceptance Rate
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Will you get accepted?
Find out how likely you are to get accepted at UChicago based on your GPA, test scores, and even extracurricular activities. Then, get custom recommendations for how to improve your odds – completely for free.
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How hard is it to get into UChicago and can I get accepted? The school has a 6% acceptance rate . Last year, 2,137 out of 34,641 applicants were admitted making UChicago an extremely competitive school to get into with a very low chance of acceptance – even for applicants with the highest scores and grades. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent. University of Chicago typically accepts and attracts “A” average high school students.Of those applicants who were admitted, 81% chose to enroll. This indicates that admission to the school is highly desirable and it may be a primary choice for many students.Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
Test Optional
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required for admission to University of Chicago. If you submit test scores, they will be considered with your application, but they are not mandatory. 53% of students submit SAT scores and 58% submit ACT scores.