RED PROGRAM

University of Chicago (UChicago)

School Type

Private

Writing Requirements

Common App Personal Essay 

College Questions

Optional Materials

Optional Art
Creative
Research
Other Supplements

Acceptance Rate

4.8%

Admissions Type(s)

Early Decision I (ED I)  
Early Decision II (ED II)
Early Action (EA)    
Regular Decision (RD)

Deadline

ED I: Nov 3
ED II: Jan 5
EA: Nov 3
RD: Jan 5

Overview

Writing Requirements

Question 1
University of Chicago Question 1: Required

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.*

 

Question 2  
University of Chicago  Question 2: Extended Essay (Required; Choose one)

 

  • In an ideal world where inter-species telepathic communication exists, which species would you choose to have a conversation with, and what would you want to learn from them? Would you ask beavers for architectural advice? Octopuses about cognition? Pigeons about navigation? Ants about governance? Make your case—both for the species and the question. Inspired by Yvan Sugira, Class of 2029
  • If you could uninvent one thing, what would it be — and what would unravel as a result? Inspired by Eitan Fischer, Class of 2027
  • “Left” can mean remaining or departed. “Dust” can mean to add fine particles or to remove them. “Fast” can mean moving quickly or fixed firmly in place. These contronyms—words that are their own antonyms—somehow hold opposing meanings in perfect tension. Explore a contronym: a role, identity, or experience in your life that has contained its own opposite. Inspired by Kristin Yi, Class of 2029
  • The penny is on its way out—too small to matter, too costly to keep. But not everything small should disappear. What’s one object the world is phasing out that you think we can’t afford to lose, and why? Ella Somaiya, Class of 2028
  • From Michelin Tires creating the Michelin Guide, to the audio equipment company Audio-Technica becoming one of the world’s largest manufacturers of sushi robots, brand identity can turn out to be a lot more flexible than we think. Choose an existing brand, company, or institution and propose an unexpected but strangely logical new product or service for them to launch. Why is this unlikely extension exactly what the world (or the brand) needs right now? Inspired by Julia Nieberg, Class of 2029
  • Statistically speaking, ice cream doesn’t cause shark attacks, pet spending doesn’t drive the number of lawyers in California, and margarine consumption isn’t responsible for Maine’s divorce rate—at least, not according to conventional wisdom. But what if the statisticians got it wrong? Choose your favorite spurious correlation and make the case for why it might actually reveal a deeper, causative truth. Inspired by Adam DiMascio, Class of 2025
  • 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!

 

Recommendations:

  • School Report Required
  • Final Report Required
  • Teacher Evaluation(s): 2 Required, 1 Optional
  • Other Evaluation(s): 0 Required, 3 Optional

Optional Materials

Recommended Video Profile

If you would like to add your voice to your application, you have the option to submit a two-minute video introduction in lieu of the traditional college interview, which is not part of our application process. Your recording does not need to be extensively rehearsed or polished, and the video does not need to be edited. You may record your video introduction using the platform of your choice, and then upload either a file of or link to the introduction into your UChicago Account. If there is any important information relevant to your candidacy you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here.

 

Supplemental Materials: Optional Art, Creative, Research, or Other Supplements

Students may submit supplemental material representing a significant talent, passion, or achievement by self-upload through their UChicago Account. These materials include, but are not limited to, creative writing projects, highlights from music/dance/visual art/theater performance, school capstone projects such as AP Capstone or the equivalent, research projects, business plans, or other work of note. Students may also elect to submit results of AP exams on an optional and self-reported basis. 

 

Schoolhouse.world Statistics or Calculus Mastery Certification

Students are welcome to submit schoolhouse.world certification to their application. Once you’ve completed certification in a specific subject area, you’ll be able to download a PDF document verifying your completion. You can upload this PDF to your UChicago Account. Learn more and view FAQs at schoolhouse.world/certification.

 

Schoolhouse.world Dialogues

Dialogues is a program that aims to foster the ability to have civil and respectful conversations around controversial topics. Students participating in Dialogues can attend events which will match them with a opposite minded individual on a topic of their choosing. Each event will help students grow as speakers, thinkers, and compassionate, open-minded individuals. As part of our continuing partnership with Schoolhouse.world, UChicago will accept Dialogues portfolios in applications. Explore programs.

About Chicago

About Chicago

• Chicago, IL
• Founded in 1890
• Private institution
• Total undergraduate enrollment in previous year: 5,388
• Urban campus
• 4.8% acceptance rate

 

School Is Known For 

• Rigorous academic and enrichment programs
• Booth School of Business
• Law School
• Pritzker School of Medicine
• Harris School of Public Policy
• Former President Barack Obama taught at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years 

 

Culture 

• Rich campus life in a big-city setting
           • Situated in Hyde Park in Chicago
• The Chicago Maroons
          • 18 NCAA Division III teams that compete in the University Athletic Association 
          • Strong basketball and wrestling programs

• Majority of students live on campus
          • Freshmen required to live on campus 
          • On-campus students are placed in “houses” within their dorm, which serve as tight-knit communities and provide academic and social support

• More than 450 student organizations
• 94 Nobel Prize winners

 

button