• College Admissions

          A global boutique college consulting firm that works with a limited number of students each year, guiding them through the entire application process.

        • Ivy League Consultant
        • Admissions consulting for students looking to attend Ivy League and highly selective schools.
        • Essay Editing
        • We meticulously edit your essays to ensure clarity, coherence, and correctness, aligning them with the expectations of the admissions process.
        • International Student Consultant
        • Leading college admissions firm providing unmatched guidance for international students wanting to study at top tier US colleges.
        • Athletic Recruitment
        • We help students-athletes through the recruiting process at Ivy League, D-1, and D-III levels.
        • Transfer Admissions
        • Looking to transfer to a more selective school? We can help provide guidance through this challenging process
        • Counseling Services

          We provide a variety of options for our clients as they work through the pre-application process and admissions cycle.

        • School Packages
        • We offer 8-school and 15-school packages for students applying to US colleges.
        • Hourly Consulting
        • Our consultants are available on an hourly basis with discounts provided for 10 and 20 hour blocks.
        • Extracurricular Activities
        • We provide individualized assistance for all of our clients in regard to what activities to focus on throughout the pre-application process and admissions cycle.
        • IvySummit Research Institute
        • We work closely with our research partners to create a timeline and plans to maximize research opportunities for each client.
        • VIP: College Concierge
        • We travel with a limited number of our international clients every year to visit 40-50 boarding schools and colleges.
        • VIP: Application and Essay Intensive
        • We will meet with a client over a 7–10 day period at an agreed upon location and produce a finished common app personal statement and extracurricular activities section
        • VIP: Unlimited
        • We work with a limited number of our clients to guide them through applications to an unlimited number of schools.
        • Boarding Schools
        • We provide help with boarding school selections, essay editing, and interview preparation.
        • College Acceptances

          With record-low acceptance rates and record-high applications, students must produce a world-class application that separates them from the thousands of talented applicants.

        • MIT
        • We guide students through MIT's distinctive application process, focusing on course selection, project development, and essay refinement.
        • CalTech
        • We align your talents with Caltech's innovation-driven ethos through targeted guidance.
        • Stanford
        • We shape your application to reflect Stanford's innovation and entrepreneurial spirit.
        • Harvard
        • We craft applications that align with Harvard's heritage of excellence, unlocking your potential for success.
        • Princeton
        • We fine-tune your pathway to success by aligning your unique potential with Princeton's prestigious standards.
        • Yale
        • We tailor your application to resonate with Yale’s commitment to excellence and innovation.
        • Columbia
        • With an eye on Columbia's intellectual rigor, we help mold your profile to fit their culture of ambitious learning and growth.
        • Johns Hopkins
        • Focusing on your medical and research aspirations, we align your talents with Johns Hopkins' world-renowned programs.
        • Vanderbilt
        • Emphasizing personal growth and achievement, we'll shape your application to reflect Vanderbilt's vibrant community and academic strengths.
        • UC Berkeley
        • Targeting UC Berkeley's passion for entrepreneurship and social change, we facilitate your journey to be part of their trailblazing environment.
        • UCLA
        • Matching your creativity and innovation with UCLA's diverse fields, we guide your application to thrive in their dynamic setting.
        • UVA
        • In line with UVA's rich traditions and public service focus, we craft your profile to mirror their community's values.
        • Cornell
        • Aligning with Cornell's multifaceted academic pursuits, we ensure your application highlights your unique capabilities and passions.
        • Georgia Tech
        • Integrating your technological and scientific interests, we tailor your application to fit Georgia Tech's forward-thinking approach.
        • Northwestern
        • With Northwestern's blend of arts and sciences, we work to sculpt your application to resonate with their interdisciplinary vision.
        • Dartmouth
        • Emphasizing your engagement with global challenges, we design your application to reflect Dartmouth's commitment to meaningful impact.
        • UPenn
        • Balancing your business acumen and innovative thinking, we align your application with UPenn's blend of tradition and modernity.
        • Carnegie Mellon
        • Highlighting your prowess in technology and the arts, we craft your application to echo Carnegie Mellon's interdisciplinary excellence.
        • Duke
        • Integrating your leadership qualities and academic strengths, we tailor your application to meet Duke's diverse and dynamic environment.
        • UChicago
        • Through your intellectual curiosity and rigorous inquiry, we shape your application to connect with UChicago's academic ethos.
        • Brown
        • Tailoring your passions, we guide your application to fit Brown's unique curriculum.
        • Rice
        • Navigating Rice's emphasis on collaboration and innovation, we fine-tune your application to resonate with their community values.
        • About Us

          A global boutique college consulting firm that works with a limited number of students each year, guiding them through the entire application process.

        • Our Process
        • From your extracurricular descriptions to line-by-line essay editing, we will perfect every component of your application to earn you a spot at a top-tier school.
        • Meet the Team
        • With our expertise, we will work one-on-one with you to craft a unique story that highlights your accomplishments and sets you apart from the competition

UChicago

UChicago
Home > College Acceptances > UChicago

UChicago Uncovered: Your Playbook for Admission

Welcome to the University of Chicago, a place where you’re just as likely to find students debating the nuances of Kant’s philosophy over lunch as you are to find them in a heated discussion about the best deep-dish pizza in town. 

Located in the heart of the Windy City, UChicago is home to bright minds, fostering an intellectual fervor that could put your favorite chess tournament to shame. With just over 16,000 students, the school radiates an exclusive charm, offering a vibrant community where the word ‘curiosity’ might as well be the city motto. So grab your favorite thinking cap, and let’s delve into what it takes to become a part of UChicago’s intellectual powerhouse.

UChicago

Admissions and Applications

The acceptance rate here is often seen playing limbo – how low can it go? Last we checked, it was dancing around the 7% mark, showing that the Maroons are a selective breed indeed.

But don’t think this is all a game of numbers. 

Sure, a high GPA and stellar SAT/ACT scores will make them sit up and take notice. But that’s just the appetizer, and UChicago is looking for the whole meal. The UChicago admissions office wants students who not only shine academically but also contribute to a stimulating intellectual environment. 

Now the best way to show your intellectual horizons to the UChicago admissions office is via your essays so let’s take a look into them.

Essays

So Uchicago requires two essays. The first one is the typical “why us” 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.

To answer this prompt, first, show your homework. Detail the specific programs, resources, and opportunities at UChicago that align with your academic and personal goals. Maybe it’s a particular major, or a research opportunity, or even a student organization. Show them you know UChicago and can picture yourself there.

Next, talk about the community. UChicago is known for its vibrant intellectual culture. How does that vibe resonate with you? Can you see yourself engaging in late-night debates in the dorms or joining the Scavenger Hunt?

Lastly, link it all to your future. How will these UChicago-specific experiences prepare you for what comes next, whether it’s a particular career, graduate studies, or just lifelong learning?

Remember, authenticity is key.

Now UChicago’s second essay is quite unconventional and you can choose between 6 different options:

  • Essay Option 1:
    Was it a cat I saw? Yo-no-na-ka, ho-ka-ho-ka na-no-yo (Japanese for “the world is a warm place”). Może jutro ta dama da tortu jeżom (Polish for “maybe tomorrow that lady will give a cake to the hedgehogs”). Share a palindrome in any language, and give it a backstory.
  • Essay Option 2:
    What advice would a wisdom tooth have?
  • Essay Option 3:
    You are on an expedition to found a colony on Mars, when from a nearby crater, a group of Martians suddenly emerges. They seem eager to communicate, but they’re the impatient kind and demand you represent the human race in one song, image, memory, proof, or other idea. What do you share with them to show that humanity is worth their time?
  • Essay Option 4:
    UChicago has been affiliated with over 90 Nobel laureates. But, why should economics, physics, and peace get all the glory? You are tasked with creating a new category for the Nobel Prize. Explain what it would be, why you chose your specific category, and the criteria necessary to achieve this accomplishment.
  • Essay Option 5:
    Genghis Khan with an F1 race car. George Washington with a SuperSoaker. Emperor Nero with a toaster. Leonardo da Vinci with a Furby. If you could give any historical figure any piece of technology, who and what would it be, and why do you think they’d work so well together?
  • Essay Option 6:
    And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun!

University of Chicago isn’t kidding when they say they want you to take a little risk and have fun. Their essay options read like the script for an avant-garde comedy. But don’t be fooled, there’s a method to the madness. These essays are about creativity, critical thinking, and showcasing your unique perspective.

Now, these are not your average “tell us about your extracurricular activities’ type questions, they are like a mind-bending roller coaster through Wonderland. So, here’s some general advice to tackle them:

  • Think Outside the Box: The prompts are unconventional, so your answers should be too. Don’t be afraid to get creative and play around with ideas. This is your opportunity to show off your unique thinking.
  • Know Your Audience: UChicago is known for its intellectual rigor and vibrant community. Show them you can fit right in by showcasing your intellectual curiosity and unique perspective.
  • Be Authentic: Although the prompts are far from ordinary, they still want to get to know the real you. Make sure your answer reflects your values, passions, or interests.
  • Have Fun: Yes, you read it right. The prompts are designed to be fun and stimulating. So, if you’re not enjoying writing your response, chances are, the admissions officers won’t enjoy reading it either.
  • Revise, Revise, Revise: A brilliant concept can be overshadowed by sloppy execution. Make sure to polish your essay. Keep it concise, coherent, and free of grammatical errors.