We at the University of Chicago are proud to offer undergraduate education to students from all backgrounds and with any intellectual interests. Our goal is to provide an environment where our students can thrive and contribute to the intellectual and cultural life of the College; a place where people who differ from one another in many ways are treated as individuals and encouraged to pursue their passions. We know that your application will be reviewed by our admissions committee on its own merits—there is no one piece of information that could tell us on its own whether or not you would be a good fit for UChicago.
University Of Chicago Undergrad Admissions
An education at UChicago is not for the faint of heart.
If you are like many students, your college application process is a stressful time. You may have heard about the unique curriculum and academic rigor at UChicago, but what does that mean for you?
- If you like reading Shakespeare and Chaucer in Middle English, then our College Core courses are for you! The College Core at UChicago extends over four years and includes:
- The Great Works of Literature
- Western Civilization (Ancient Greece through the Renaissance)
- Comparative Studies in Race, Ethnicity, Gender & Sexuality (CSEG&S) with a focus on Africa or Asia/Oceania
- Advanced math classes are also an important part of our curriculum. You will take Calculus I and II as well as Applied Analysis during your first year at college. This rigorous coursework prepares students to study physics later on if they choose to do so; it is also designed to prepare graduates who want careers in science or engineering fields.
The spirit of free and open inquiry that permeates UChicago classrooms extends to our application process as well.
At the University of Chicago, you can ask questions. You can challenge your beliefs and think critically about what you believe to be true. You may even find that some of your most long-held convictions turn out to be wrong—and that’s OK! At UChicago, we understand that everyone comes from a different background and has different experiences. We value diversity in all its forms: academic diversity, religious diversity, racial/ethnic diversity and more.
When you come here as an undergraduate student, we want you to feel like you belong at this university—and one way we do that is by making sure our application process is accessible for everyone.
UChicago considers all aspects of an applicant’s record and personal experiences; there is no one piece of information—academic and extracurricular records, essays, letters of recommendation, or SAT/ACT scores—that could tell us on its own whether or not you would be a good fit for the College.
As you can see, there is no one piece of information that can tell us on its own whether or not you would be a good fit for the College. The admissions committee considers all aspects of your record and personal experiences; it’s not enough to have high grades and test scores and then add in some extracurricular activities. You should write about what matters most to you, taking into account the kinds of things that are important at UChicago.
We know it may seem strange to think about your application outside of a numbered grade or test score, but this approach means that students who are different from one another in many ways are all treated as individuals.
We know it may seem strange to think about your application outside of a numbered grade or test score, but this approach means that students who are different from one another in many ways are all treated as individuals. You can get into the collegiate university with just about any intellectual background or activity history; it’s more about who you are now than what you’ve done in the past.
Support is available for students who wish to apply for need-based aid.
The University of Chicago is committed to meeting the full financial need of all admitted students, regardless of their ability to pay. Our need-blind admission policy ensures that qualified students without resources can attend college without worrying about how they will pay for it.
The University provides need-based aid to students through its Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS). Need-based aid includes scholarships and grants awarded based on eligibility criteria defined by OFAS and the Office of Student Financial Services. The awards are made possible through generous contributions from alumni, parents, corporations, foundations, and trustees as well as federal funds provided by the government.
Closing
We want to give you the best possible chance of being admitted, so we encourage you to follow the advice above and be as thorough as possible in your application. We look forward to reading your application and learning more about who you are!