Deadlines
The University of Chicago offers first-year applicants two application plans.
The early action deadline is November 1. Early Action is for candidates who would like an admission decision in mid-December and a provisional financial aid assessment by early January. Candidates must complete and submit or postmark their applications by November 1 and may apply to other schools if they wish. In other words, Chicago’s early action program is non-binding; admitted students need not reply to the offer of admission until May 1. International students may only choose Early Action if they are not applying for financial aid.
Regular Notification is for candidates who would like an admission and financial aid decision by early April. Candidates must complete and submit or postmark their applications by January 2 and must reply to the offer of admission by May 1.
| Early Action | Regular Notification | |
|---|---|---|
| Application Due Date | November 1 | January 2 |
| Admission Decision by | Mid-December | Early April |
| Student-Reply Due Date | May 1 | May 1 |
Applicants may apply for entrance in the autumn quarter only; students are not admitted other quarters.
Required Materials
All of the following materials can be found on the Common Application website; some can be submitted online. You can print paper copies of the Common Application from the Common Application website. You are welcome to send your materials together in one package, or separately. Please include your full name on every sheet you submit, and do not staple or paper clip any materials.
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Application for Admission: Common Application, $65 Application Fee, and Chicago Supplement with Essays
Complete the Common Application and the University of Chicago Supplement. Both may be completed online on the Common Application’s website. If you choose to apply on paper, mail the Common Application and the Chicago Supplement, including your essays, along with your application fee.
To request an application fee waiver, please click the appropriate box on the Common Application and have your secondary school counselor submit the appropriate form or letter requesting a fee waiver on your behalf.
The Chicago supplement includes additional questions not included on the Common Application, along with our essay questions. One short essay on why you want to attend the University of Chicago is required, one on your favorite art and media is optional, and the extended essay from our student-generated essay questions is required.
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Secondary School Report
Ask your secondary school counselor to complete the Secondary School Report and to submit it along with an official transcript. All high school counselors and teachers have the option of submitting letters of recommendation and school forms online via the Common Application. High school counselors and teachers should follow the instructions on the Common Application for submitting these forms.
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Teachers’ Evaluations
Give these forms to teachers who know you well and can write about your strengths as a student. We require one recommendation from an English or social studies teacher and one from a science or mathematics teacher. Please follow these guidelines as closely as you can, but feel free to contact us if you have a question about what kind of teacher can write each recommendation. Foreign language teachers may not write either recommendation. All high school counselors and teachers have the option of submitting letters of recommendation and school forms online via the Common Application. High school counselors and teachers should follow the instructions on the Common Application for submitting these forms.
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Test Scores
Have official SAT Reasoning or ACT scores sent to the University of Chicago from the testing agency, even if your scores appear on your transcript. We do not require any SAT Subject Tests. Our SAT code is 1832; the ACT code is 1152. All testing must be completed prior to the application deadline. There is no need to arrange for rush delivery of your scores.
If you choose to submit ACT scores, we do not require the optional essay component. We do not use the writing section of the SAT in our admission process. We will use the sections of the SAT Reasoning test with the highest scores when evaluating applications, along with the highest ACT composite score.
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Midyear Report
Please have your high school counselor submit your midyear grades for your first semester or first trimester by February 1, 2009, or as soon as possible thereafter, using the Midyear Grade Report from the Common Application, or you may use your own school’s midyear report. You are also welcome to make update to your application by logging into this website and clicking “Update Your Application.”
Non-Required Materials
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Financial Aid Application
If you wish to apply for financial aid, complete the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE, Chicago’s Application for Financial Aid, and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before the deadlines indicated on the chart below. The Financial Aid PROFILE code number is 1832 and the FAFSA code number is 001774. For details on how to apply for financial aid, please refer to the Costs & Aid section of this website. The University of Chicago’s consideration of applications for admission is need blind for US citizens and permanent residents. Your application for need-based financial aid will have no bearing on your application for admission to the College.
The University of Chicago meets all of a student’s demonstrated need throughout the undergraduate years at Chicago.
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Interview
Interviews are not required for admission into the College. However, we encourage you to have one so that you can learn more about the University of Chicago and we can get to know you better. We offer alumni interviews around the world and we interview on our campus—each of the two options is treated equally in the selection process. To schedule an interview on campus, please call 773-702-8650. To request an alumni interview, log into this website (only after you have submitted the Common Application and created an account).
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Supplemental Materials
To submit supporting materials for music, theater and dance, or visual arts and film, use the Arts Supplement form from the Common Application. You may also submit an additional recommendation from anyone who knows you well (e.g., coach, music or foreign language teacher, member of your community). Please use the Teacher Evaluation form in the Common Application for this purpose.
You may also submit creative writing (a short sample of your best work) or scientific research (an abstract or research report).
If you choose to mail your submission, please be certain to include your full name on all documents.
