No one wants to be rejected, but if you are reading this blog, it happened. First off, sorry! Whether you applied ED or EA, the University of Chicago was important enough for you to apply early. Especially if you applied ED, this might feel like a major setback, but application season is far from over, and it's time to pivot! We want to help by telling you how.
First off, it is hard to get into UChicago during any round. While they didn’t release their ED acceptance rate last year, their overall acceptance rate was just under 5%. That is really low! While we would guess their ED is higher, it is likely still low, given the rest of their stats. Just because you didn’t get in doesn’t mean you aren’t still a great student.
But what comes next? Well, the short answer is more work! Follow these steps for the best chance at an RD round that will make you forget about your ED round rejection.
Need more help? Contact us. We help students get in after rejections!
Step 1: Breathe
Give yourself 2-3 days to get into the right headspace. Often, a rejection can make students spiral a little. We work with many UChicago applicants, and we say this with love, but they tend to be at least a little type A. We would bet that you are a very high achiever and set high standards for yourself. This can make it especially hard to deal with rejection. We get it, but you don’t want to bring that energy into the next steps. If your vibe is off, it is only going to be harder to put your best foot forward. Take some deep breaths and be kind to yourself. Give yourself a pause, and then come back for these next steps.
Step 2: Strategize
Strategy is a massive component of our jobs from the moment we start with a student to when they send their last application in. Your strategy needs to include a balanced college list of around 8-12 schools. We have a whole blog about making a great college list, but the TLDR is that you should have a healthy mix between targets, safeties, and even a couple of reaches. Yes, just because you were rejected doesn’t mean you need to delete all your reach schools. However, you should make sure that these reaches don’t feel like a huge stretch.
Furthermore, the majority of your list should be targets and safeties that you actually like. Don’t just think of them as backups. They all need to be real possibilities, aka schools that you would happily attend. A good exercise is to think about what you liked about UChicago. Was it a specific program? Look for schools that offer similar programs. Maybe it was the quirky and studious vibe. If so, check out schools like Carleton College (also in the Midwest, if that matters) or Reed in Oregon. Maybe it was the location in a bustling city. In that case, maybe Northeastern or Emory might be a good fit. Perhaps you loved UChicago’s robust core curriculum, then schools like Fordham or Purdue might call to you. There are so many schools out there, and if your list is a little lacking, it is time to do some research and round it out.
Especially take notice if any of the schools you are interested in offer an ED2 round. We highly suggest our clients apply to an ED2 school. (Also, guess what? Out of the schools we mentioned above, Carleton, Reed, Northeastern, Emory and Fordham all offer an ED2 round.) Schools want to protect their yield rate and do that by accepting students at a higher rate during ED2. You really should make a good ED2 strategy as it is your best chance at getting into a great school. We have our clients choose ED1 and ED2 schools early on as part of crafting a great strategy, but it isn’t too late if you haven’t already.
One more thing: reaches, targets, and safeties can’t be based on hunches. To make a truly balanced list, you need to back it up with data. It can be hard to check your list without expert advice, so reach out to a counselor, whether a trusted school counselor or a private counselor like us. We can help you create a strategy that works for you.
Step Three: Essays
Essays are extremely important. You need to get started on your supplemental essays. Deadlines come fast between ED decisions and RD deadlines. Especially if you have added new schools or changed your list, you need to be on top of finishing your supplemental essays and ensuring that they are the best they can be. To help, we publish tips for college-specific supplemental essays in a series of blogs every year.
Furthermore, and we know that you probably don’t want to hear this, you need to relook at your Common App Essay. Most likely, you need to rewrite it or at least give it a good edit. We work with students coming off a recent rejection every year, and we always take another look at their Common App essay. It almost always needs to be rewritten or at least reworked.
The Common App essay is a powerful tool if used correctly. While it is only one of many admissions factors, it is your chance to tell your own story and showcase your glowing personality. Schools like UChicago receive hundreds of qualified applicants with great grades and scores. The difference between getting in and not getting in can easily come down to whether the reader connected with your writing or not. We specialize in helping students craft eye-catching essays that often get them into schools where they were statistically not likely to be accepted. So please, listen to us; you need to relook at your essays. You want your essays to be as strong as they can be because they will help differentiate you at elite schools. If you don't know where to start, we just published our Official Common App Essay Guide for 2024-2025, and if you are still nervous about rewriting your essays, we can help.
Step Four: Ask for Help
Hey, we just said that! Deadlines come fast. Emotions are high. It's the perfect time to talk with an expert. We offer a specific package for students in your exact position, the “It’s Going to Be Okay” package. It is an intensive that ensures that the next two weeks lead you to success. We look at your Common App, flag parts that need to be amended, and help you execute it. Let us go through your work with a fine-toothed comb and hold your hand through the difficult editing and strategizing that you will need to do.
Getting rejected is no fun, but if you follow these steps, you will set yourself up for success in the next round. If you need more help or are stressed out, We would love to help you!
Need expert advice? We have you covered! Contact us here.