Updated: Monday, November 24, 2025
Are you considering applying to the University of Chicago? Whether you are beginning the college search process or finalizing your list, this is a great opportunity to learn all about UChicago and hear expert tips on how to get in from IvyWise college admissions counselors Victoria, former Assistant Director of Admissions at UChicago, and Christine, former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown.
The University of Chicago, commonly known as UChicago, is a private research university located within a 217-acre botanical garden in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. UChicago was established in 1890 on the founding principles of academic freedom and free expression — principles that are still upheld to this day through interdisciplinary collaboration, world-class academics and research, and a distinctive campus culture.
Its reputation as a “Midwest Ivy” or “Ivy Plus” institution attracts students from around the U.S. and the world, making admission extremely competitive. If you dream of becoming a Maroon, it’s crucial to learn all you can about what UChicago looks for so you can position yourself to be a competitive applicant.
How to Get into University of Chicago: Table of Contents
Students applying to UChicago have several application rounds to consider, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to be strategic when you apply and think about which option is the best fit for you.
UChicago offers four admission options — each with its own timeline. These deadlines may fluctuate slightly from year to year. Here are the deadlines for fall 2026 admissions:
| Application Deadline | Decision Date | Reply Date | |
| Early Decision I | November 3, 2025 | Mid-December | Mid-January |
| Early Action | November 3, 2025 | Mid-December | May 1 |
| Early Decision II | January 5, 2026 | Mid-February | Mid-March |
| Regular Decision | January 5, 2026 | Late March | May 1 |
It’s worth noting that UChicago has a special Summer Session Early Notification (SSEN) option for students who have participated in a UChicago pre-college program. Eligible students may submit an Early Decision application from September 1 to October 15 and receive an admissions decision before November 1.
As you apply to the University of Chicago and other schools on your list, you are likely to see multiple application options: Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, and rolling admissions. UChicago offers three of these four options:
Institutions that offer rolling admissions accept students on a rolling basis instead of providing a specific timeline. However, once the class is full, they stop accepting applications. UChicago does not offer rolling admissions.
When Regular Decision notifications are released, students will receive one of three decisions: admitted, waitlisted, or denied. If you receive a waitlist decision, you can choose to accept your spot on the waitlist; however, waitlist admission rates at highly selective schools like UChicago tend to be very low. You may want to enroll at another college that accepted you.
Students who apply Early Decision I or Early Action to UChicago will either be accepted or deferred. A deferral is when your application is held for reconsideration, typically with the Regular Decision applicant pool. It can sometimes be hard to know what to do if you have been deferred, as schools can have different deferral policies.
UChicago will give you the opportunity to apply Early Decision II, which you might wish to do if it is still your top choice. Otherwise, you can choose to wait for the Regular Decision round. In the meantime, you will need to ensure your school counselor sends UChicago your mid-year transcript, and you will want to submit a Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). You will also be required to complete a Defer Response Form, which will be sent to you by email.
UChicago’s extremely low admissions rate is comparable to the Ivy League schools, making it a reach for most students.
You will be competing for admission against thousands of students with impressive academic and extracurricular profiles, so it’s important to have a strategic plan as early as possible. After all, the admissions committee will evaluate your entire high school record — the earlier you start, the stronger your application will be.
So, what does University of Chicago look for? This renowned university seeks to enroll intellectually curious students who align with their values of diversity and inclusion, civic mindedness, and academic freedom. The admissions committee reviews students holistically, looking at hard (quantitative) factors like GPA, course rigor, the strength of your school, and your standardized test scores. Soft (qualitative) factors are also important: letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and your personal statement and supplements.
To build your profile, focus on getting the best grades you can in the most challenging courses available to you. You will want to make an impact both inside and outside of the classroom by finding ways to develop your leadership skills and looking for opportunities to dive deep into your interests. The goal is to submit a compelling, authentic, and cohesive application that tells the story of who you are, what motivates you, and why you are a great fit for UChicago.
If you’re considering UChicago, the best way to know if it’s a great fit for you is to visit the campus. You can register for an information session and campus tour, or sign up for one of UChicago’s open houses in the spring, summer, or fall. During the open house, you can experience classes, talk to admissions staff and current students, and take a campus tour.
Can’t make it to campus? Sign up for one of UChicago’s regional info sessions or see them at a college fair. UChicago also offers virtual tours and programming.
You have opportunities to connect with UChicago students through a campus tour or by participating in an open house. Both are great opportunities to get your questions answered about student life and what you can expect.
Aside from the opportunities to meet students through undergraduate admissions programming, you can find other ways to learn about student life. Read the student-run newspaper, “The Chicago Maroon,” and follow UChicago students on social media to learn more about day-to-day life on campus.
UChicago accepts the Common App or Coalition Application. The application includes several required materials: supplemental essays, teacher evaluations, mid-year report, transcript, secondary school report, and the application fee or fee waiver. Additionally, students can include optional materials.
The University of Chicago does not specify that applicants need to have a certain GPA, but you can assume with its high selectivity that a strong GPA is crucial for admission. UChicago’s most recent Common Data Set shows that the majority of first-year students who enrolled in fall 2024 had a GPA of 3.75 and above.
UChicago has test-optional admissions, meaning applicants can choose whether to submit ACT or SAT scores. Admissions has a “No Harm” testing policy — submitted test scores will only be reviewed if they enhance the applicant’s chance of admission. Additionally, UChicago will superscore if test scores from multiple sittings are submitted.
So, what is considered a good test score for UChicago? For the class of 2028, the middle 50% of enrolled students who submitted scores had a score range of 1510-1560 on the SAT and 34-35 on the ACT. If your score is within or above this range, we recommend that you submit your test scores.
The personal statement you submit to UChicago will be a response to one of the Coalition Application or Common App essay prompts. This essay will go to every college you apply to within that platform, so it’s important to write a personal statement that’s authentic and compelling.
In addition to your personal statement, UChicago requires you to write two supplemental essays. All applicants are required to respond to this prompt, which is a version of the common “Why this college?” 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.
The second essay is a response to one of the prompts submitted by newly admitted and current UChicago students. These prompts change each year but are always known for being thought-provoking and sometimes quirky.
UChicago requires recommendation letters from two teachers. The teachers you choose to write recommendations for you should be able to describe the impact you have made in the classroom, interactions with classmates, and academic interests.
In lieu of an admission interview, applicants have the option of submitting a two-minute video introduction. This is not required, but UChicago recommends a college application video submission since it adds another layer of context to your profile. You can record this video on any platform and upload it to your UChicago account. This is an opportunity to address anything that is not already in your application. Just be yourself!
Admissions officers will be reviewing your application to see how you align with UChicago’s values and how you might get involved on campus. For this reason, you must ensure you weave a narrative through all the components of your application that shows who you are, what impact you have made on your school and community, and how you are a good fit academically and personally for UChicago.
With admissions to UChicago being so competitive, it can be helpful to understand more about admission statistics and the students who are accepted. You can find this information in the Common Data Set or class profile. Out of the 43,612 applicants for fall 2024 admission, only 1,955 were admitted — 82% of these students were domestic, with the remaining being international students.
| Acceptance rate | 4.48% |
| Class size | 1,726 |
| Undergraduate majors | 68 |
UChicago’s Gothic-style campus is an intellectual oasis within a dynamic city offering numerous cultural, professional, and civic opportunities. As a center for serious inquiry, UChicago provides resources to match. The University of Chicago Library system, which holds over 13 million volumes, includes the stunning, dome-covered Joe and Rika Mansueto Library and the primary research hub, the Regenstein Library (“The Reg”). Students can enjoy borrowing privileges with other libraries and museums in the area, including the Chicago History Museum and the Art Institute of Chicago Library.
In addition, the campus is home to world-class museums that are integral to academic life. This includes the Smart Museum of Art and the renowned Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa (ISAC), which houses the largest collection of Egyptian art and artifacts outside of Egypt.
The extracurricular scene is known for its intellectual focus and famously quirky traditions. The 450+ student organizations reflect a range of interests from civic engagement and entrepreneurship to arts and comedy. Unique traditions include:
UChicago supports 20 NCAA Division III varsity sports teams. Known as the Chicago Maroons (named after the school color), they compete primarily in the University Athletic Association (UAA). The official mascot is Phil the Phoenix — the phoenix being part of the University’s coat of arms.
Wondering if UChicago is right for you? This is a place for those who are driven by the search for new evidence and the belief that the free exchange of ideas is fundamental —even if it means embracing a little bit of glorious intellectual eccentricity along the way.
There is no minimum GPA to be admitted; however, the majority of students admitted to UChicago for fall 2024 had a GPA of 3.75 or higher.
The Core is the distinctive general education requirement for all undergraduate students at UChicago. It’s a foundational set of courses designed to teach skills of critical inquiry, argumentation, and analytical thinking across diverse fields. The Core covers humanities, arts, civilization studies, social sciences, physical sciences, biological sciences, and mathematics.
Standardized tests are not required for admission. UChicago has a test-optional “No Harm” policy: If test scores are submitted, they will only be reviewed if they enhance the applicant’s chances of admission.
For fall 2026 admission, the Early Decision I and Early Action deadline is November 3, and the Early Decision II and Regular Decision deadline is January 5.
The House System is UChicago’s unique, residential community structure. The seven residence halls are divided into 48 distinct Houses. Your House is your micro-community, offering its own traditions, intramural sports teams, study breaks, and support system, including live-in faculty or staff members called Resident Heads.
The college admissions landscape is more competitive than ever, and being accepted to highly selective schools like UChicago can be even more challenging. That’s why most students can benefit from expert guidance as they navigate college prep and the application process. Because colleges look at all four years of high school, the earlier students start college prep, the better.
Here at IvyWise, every college admissions counselor has extensive experience working in admissions at top colleges and universities. They have read thousands of applications and know exactly what admissions committees look for, so they can position you to be the most competitive applicant possible. Schedule an Initial Consultation today to get your strategic plan for college admissions.
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