The University of Chicago is one of the top schools in the United States, and is frequently mentioned in the same sentence as Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale, and other top colleges, like Stanford. Located in Chicago, Illinois, it is an exceptional school ideal for analytical, curious, and internally-motivated students who want to gain an understanding of the world around them so that they can change it. 7,600 undergraduate students call the university, most often called UChicago, home, and experience a liberal arts educational experience with the backbone and resources of a research university.
UChicago is grounded in a Core Curriculum that creates a shared foundation undergirding the experience for every student. The Core Curriculum is comprised of discussion-based classes capped at 19 students, and is part of a quarter system that means you take fewer courses at a time and are able to focus more on each one.
It’s not a surprise that UChicago is popular with international students. The combination of an exceptional school in an exciting city that is easily accessible by plane from anywhere in the world is hard to resist. 16% of the class of 2027 came from abroad, and international students account for 24% of the UChicago community overall. Students come from over 100 countries.
The university receives nearly 40,000 applications annually, and the acceptance is only 4.7%. The school is known for having a very high yield rate, as well, meaning that a very high percentage of students who are accepted choose to enroll. This is skewed, or rather determined, by a high ratio of the class being filled in the early application round. UChi prioritizes students who definitively and confidently prioritize them, so it’s important to remember that applying early is your strongest tool.
There are more tools and tips that can help you get into UChicago as an international student, though, and we break them down below.
If you’re an international student planning on applying to colleges in the US, send us an email. We make applying to college easy.
What is UChicago looking for from International Students?
International applicants to the University of Chicago follow the same process as all other students, but there are some things that you should keep in mind to make sure that your application is as easy to say “yes” to as possible for the admissions officers and application readers.
Courses + Grades
The University of Chicago doesn’t do boring. They are looking for quirky kids who think differently while succeeding at a very high level in a traditional classroom setting. They also want to see a transcript that shows the highest grades in the hardest classes you have access to.
To be fair, UChicago says over and over that each applicant is “more than your GPA.” But your grades are, in fact, the most important piece of your application. What you achieve in the classroom right now signals to the university how you will perform in the UChicago classroom. What you do now, and if you chase exceptionalism while also prioritizing your passions and creativity, is crucial to them.
So, is it all about grades? No. But are grades ultimately the most important piece of your application to the University of Chicago? Yes. They are the foundation of your application.
If you don’t feel like your school offers courses that push you to them max of what you can do academically, UChicago also loves to see when applicants seek out opportunities outside of what is offered to you automatically. Consider adding a few academic programs, accredited online courses, or university classes to your resume to confirm for UChicago that you are a student at heart, not just at school.
The Weirdest Essays in College Admissions
No matter how much you love your classes, though, you need to have something to write about other than what you do in the classroom. Remember what we said about them liking quirky kids? That’s really obvious from their iconic essay prompts. “Provocative” they say. “Annoying,” we sometimes feel — but they can also be super fun if you lead into them. The essay prompts are chosen from ideas submitted by newly admitted students, and they really understand the assignment, often coming up with things that are a little wild. The essay prompts are chosen from ideas submitted by newly admitted students, and they really understand the assignment, often coming up with things that are a little wild. For example, a 2023-2024 essay prompt was:
Exponents and square roots, pencils and erasers, beta decay and electron capture. Name two things that undo each other and explain why both are necessary.
– Inspired by Emmett Cho, Class of 2027
To meet the standard of quirk in these prompts, you’re going to need to do things outside of your normal school day to meet the level of what they request, showing that you are exploring and pushing yourself academically and personally.
In the Class of 2027, the most popular activities outside of the classroom were:
Community Service: 85%
Varsity Athletics: 69%
Music: 54%
Student Government: 38%
Editorial (newspaper, literary magazine, etc.): 23%
You could just write about school and nothing else, yes. It’s not mandatory that you involve yourself in things and chase your curiosity — but it sort of is if you want to get into UChicago. You don’t need to check all the boxes above, but you should pick at least one from the list (and ideally two) that you can commit significant time to weekly for at least 6 months before applying.
Standardized Tests
The University of Chicago is test optional, meaning that you aren’t required to submit an ACT or SAT score. They also have an interesting policy called the “No Harm” testing policy. This means that they only assess test scores as a neutral or positive aspect of an application, not a negative. Submitting your scores, they say, can only help you.
Do we buy this? Well, we agree with you if you’re thinking that it sounds a bit too good to be true, but we also trust that UChicago is being honest and upfront with applicants. Our advice is to submit scores, and to try to score as well as you possibly can, including investing time in test prep.
For the class of 2027, the ACT score range for admitted students was 21-36. The SAT score range for admitted students was 1080-1600. This is widely skewed, though, by the “No Harm” policy, and, while the university doesn’t make their decision on whether to let a student in based on standardized tests, we strongly suggest that any international applicant submits a strong ACT or SAT score. A high score underlines your academic achievements and gives them additional confidence in your college preparedness.
The University of Chicago also does not require English Proficiency Testing, but they do encourage it for some international applicants. Ultimately, it’s up to you, but if you haven’t gone to school in English for at least the last two years, we highly recommend submitting an English Proficiency Test score. Like the SAT/ACT, a high score will assuage any concerns the admissions officials may have around your preparedness to attend college in the United States.
The Video
In another move to make their application unique and, dare we say it, challenging, the University of Chicago recommends that students submit a two-minute video introducing themselves to the admissions committee. This is an amazing opportunity to bring your culture and community into the mix. It’s a short video, and you can do it just talking to a camera at your desk — but why would you do that if you can do more?
We regularly see that these videos make a huge difference for applicants when they are creative, inventive, and led by passion, so it’s worth the effort. Show a part of your community, a piece of your culture, and who you are.
One final thought: your most powerful tool as an international applicant to the University of Chicago is early decision. They want to see you be you, and they don’t want cookie cutter. Even more so, though, is that they want to see that you want them. By applying early, you tell them that, in addition to you being awesome, you know that you want to be at UChicago — quirks and all.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the University of Chicago application, we get it. It’s a bit of a beast. Luckily, we’re also pros at helping students write outstanding essays that stand out. So, send us an email.