The University of Chicago may not be a member of the Ivy League, but it’s certainly an equally exclusive institution. With an acceptance rate of less than 5.5%, getting an acceptance letter from the University of Chicago is an uphill battle.
It’s unclear how many students Chicago defers. However, they do work hard to make everything clear, simple, and action-oriented for students who’ve been deferred. There are a few steps you’ll have to take in the next few weeks to increase your chances of admission, but first there’s a big decision that can make an enormous difference even before you start work on an update letter.
If you applied to Chicago Early Decision I, you are automatically in consideration for Early Decision II admission. If you didn’t apply Early Decision I, you have the opportunity, they say, to elect “to move into our binding Early Decision II application pool.” If you are certain that you want to go to Chicago, this is the single most impactful thing you could do to increase your chances of getting in.
It's not the only thing you should be doing though.
Writing an Update Letter
The University of Chicago lays out what they want you to do after a deferral, and we wish more colleges would follow their model. Instead of leaving you to guess about what to do next, they made it clear — and in what order.
First, you’ll need to complete the deferral response form, which will be made available to you after you receive the deferral decision. Then, you need to remind your school counselor to send a mid-year transcript. After that comes the update letter. Unlike nearly any other college, Chicago requests that you send an update letter directly to your regional admissions counselor.
“We don’t need a novel, but a thoughtful note of one to two paragraphs sent by email can help us understand and consider your continued interest…”
Chicago is so clear about what they want that there is literally no excuse to go against it. Do not send them a three-page letter. Do not send them an argumentative email.
Do write a draft first. Do have a friend, counselor, or parent proofread it. Do understand that this is likely the only time you’ll be able to communicate directly with one of the humans reading your application.
After you submit your update letter, you need to consider whether to submit additional materials through the “Portfolio and Upload Materials” section of your Chicago account. While they allow you to do this, it’s not an invitation to go crazy. The letter to your regional admissions counselor is the most important piece in this puzzle, and the supplemental materials should be limited to awards, recognitions, or other notable items. Do not rewrite your essay. Do not rewrite your supplements. Do not send a multi-page argument for why you’re awesome. Please. Seriously. Don’t do it.
Finally, you also have the option to send test scores if you did not send them originally. Only do this if your test scores are strong relative to the scores of the Class of 2026 admitted students. If your scores are not competitive, do not send them.
If this all feels more than a tad overwhelming, you aren’t alone. While it’s good news that Chicago really lets you make the case for why you’re worth admitting, they also give you a lot to do in a short period of time. We specialize in helping students like you wade through this frustrating process, so get in touch if you’re having a tough time.
Revisiting Your College List
As you work on your updates for Chicago, you need to go back to your college list and give it a serious look. Being deferred from the University of Chicago does not mean you aren’t qualified to attend a top tier institution. If you weren’t qualified, they would have rejected you. They didn’t reject you, so you have a chance. But a chance doesn’t mean it’s likely that you’ll get in. On average, less than 10% of students who are deferred by elite institutions are eventually accepted.
If you want to end up somewhere you’ll love for college, you need to make sure that you have a college list that offers you opportunities that are reaches, targets, and safety schools that you’d be happy to attend. If you’re struggling with this, reach out to us for help.
Work Hard…and Smart
You want to go to the University of Chicago, so we know that you’re willing to work hard. Now isn’t the time to let up. Chicago will receive your mid-year grades, so if there’s an opportunity to give them a boost that will help you out in a big way. But be careful not to burn yourself out. You have a lot of college applications to write, and compelling supplements are — at this point — more important than a small increase in your grades (which we’re sure are already stellar).
Schedule in Unscheduled Time
Last, but certainly not least, you need to give yourself some time to take a chill pill. Planning some rest and relaxation into your schedule will actually improve your work across all of your college applications, and make you happier in the process.
If a deferral has you freaking out, send us an email. We help students like you bounce back from deferrals by crafting compelling applications.