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This guide will outline everything you need to know about getting into the University of Chicago (UChicago), including requirements, recommendations, and expert tips.
If you’re just here for the requirements, click here.
The acceptance rate at UChicago is 4.48%. In the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, UChicago had 43,612 applicants and only accepted 1,955 students. That means roughly 1 in 22 students were accepted.
Below is a table outlining UChicago’s acceptance rate for the past four admissions cycles:
| Year | Number of Applicants | Number of Accepted Students | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 43,612 | 1,955 | 4.48% |
| 2023 | 38,631 | 1,849 | 4.79% |
| 2022 | 37,522 | 2,039 | 5.43% |
| 2021 | 37,958 | 2,460 | 6.48% |
The acceptance rates based on the previous four admissions cycles reveal that UChicago was 30.86% more selective in 2024 than it was in 2021. This underscores just how much more competitive the school has become.
In 2021, UChicago rejected 93.52% of applicants, but in 2024, it rejected 95.52% of applicants. That means the average rejection rate over the past four years is 94.58%, while the average acceptance rate over the past four years is 5.42%.
This means that, on average, over 19 out of every 20 applicants have been denied admission to UChicago in recent cycles.
UChicago doesn’t publish its ED acceptance numbers. ED pools are usually smaller and more competitive, so the ED rate might be somewhat higher.
UChicago is extremely difficult to get into. In the 2024-2025 admissions cycle, 95.52% of applicants were rejected. Students must show exactly what UChicago is looking for throughout the entire application process.
The average GPA at UChicago is 3.95. For context, the national average high school GPA is 3.0, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. This means the average admitted UChicago student earns grades over a full letter grade higher than the average U.S. college student.
The average SAT score of admitted students at UChicago is 1540. In comparison, the national average SAT score is approximately 1050, meaning UChicago's admitted students score around 360 points higher than the typical U.S. test-taker, on average.
A 1410 SAT score places the University of Chicago students in the top 6% of all test-takers nationwide, according to College Board data. That puts UChicago’s admitted class among the most academically elite in the country.
The average ACT score of admitted students at UChicago is 29.5. For comparison, the national average ACT score is just 19.4, meaning admitted students to UChicago score over 10 points higher than the average U.S. test-taker, on average.
A 35 ACT score places you in the top 5% of all test-takers nationally. That means UChicago’s incoming class is composed of students who outperform 95% of test-takers across the country.
UChicago looks for applicants who are academically outstanding, intellectually curious, and original thinkers who will thrive in its unique, rigorous, and collaborative environment. Show admissions officers not just what you’ve accomplished, but how you think and why you belong at UChicago.
We analyzed UChicago’s latest 2023-24 Common Data Set (CDS), a standardized document that all schools submit, detailing the statistics of the previous admissions cycle.
| Academic | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of Secondary School Record | X | |||
| Class Rank | X | |||
| Academic GPA | X | |||
| Standardized Test Scores | X | |||
| Application Essay | X | |||
| Recommendation(s) | X |
According to the CDS, UChicago considers three academic elements “Very Important”:
The only factors marked “Considered” are Class rank, academic GPA, and test scores.
UChicago doesn’t factor class rank as much as other academic factors. Additionally, UChicago doesn’t evaluate test scores as much as course rigor, recommendations, or the essay.
On UChicago’s first-year applicant page, it highlights:
“There's no one piece of information—academic and extracurricular records, essays, letters of recommendation, or SAT/ACT scores—that alone determines whether you would be a good fit for the College. Instead, we want you to, through your application, show us who you are in your own voice.”
This means that taking advanced classes like AP or IB is a good start, but UChicago is especially interested in how students go beyond the classroom. For example, reading academic material on your own, doing independent research, or asking complex questions in class can help show that you care deeply about learning.
Another very important part of your application is the essay. UChicago’s essay prompts are unusual on purpose. A strong UChicago essay does not just show your personality. It shows how you think. This means you should try to write something original, thoughtful, and intellectually curious.
| Non-Academic | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interview | X | |||
| Extracurricular Activities | X | |||
| Talent/Ability | X | |||
| Character/Personal Qualities | X | |||
| First Generation | X | |||
| Alumni/ae Relation | ||||
| Geographical Residence | X | |||
| State Residency | X | |||
| Religious Affiliation/Commitment | ||||
| Volunteer Work | X | |||
| Work Experience | X | |||
| Level of Applicant’s Interest | X |
The only non-academic factors that the University of Chicago marks as “Very Important” are Extracurricular Activities, Talent/Ability, and Character/Personal Qualities.
UChicago actively shapes its community with people who contribute beyond the classroom. It wants students with depth, initiative, and integrity. If you’re deeply committed to an unusual hobby, started a niche nonprofit, or showed resilience through hardship, that’s proof of personal substance.
You should take every opportunity you can to speak to who you are in your application. This includes your essays, extracurriculars, and requesting your letters of recommendation.
However, interviews and demonstrated interest aren’t considered. This suggests that UChicago’s review process values each applicant clearly on paper. UChicago doesn’t consider campus visits when deciding if you’re a good fit for acceptance.
UChicago highlights how admissions officers evaluate applicants:
“What is your story? Why did you choose to pursue certain opportunities? What activities are most meaningful to you? The very best way to approach your UChicago application is to simply be yourself and write in your own voice.”
That means you should build your application around who you are, not just statistics. Show who you are, how you think, and what excites you in your extracurricular activities, as they’re marked “Very Important.” Use your essays, interview, and personal statement to show your Talent/Ability and Character/Personal Qualities, as they’re both marked “Very Important.”
An ideal applicant at the University of Chicago is not just academically excellent, but intellectually original. If you’re someone who reads for fun, questions assumptions, enjoys academic debate, and has a talent for connecting seemingly unrelated concepts, you’re already aligned with the school’s culture.
UChicago’s ideal student also demonstrates intellectual risk-taking. That means they’ve chosen challenging courses, not just to impress colleges, but because they’re drawn to complexity. The ideal UChicago applicant should have an impressive 3.95+ GPA, a 1540+ SAT score, and a 35+ ACT score.
Beyond academics, UChicago looks for students who pursue their interests with focus and depth. That could be a long-term passion project, a self-taught skill, or leadership in a niche community.
A successful UChicago applicant tells their story authentically. Their writing isn’t robotic or performative; it shows a distinct voice, a capacity for abstract thought, and a willingness to tackle difficult or unconventional questions. Students who thrive on mental play and nuanced reasoning tend to stand out at UChicago.
Your activities should reflect genuine engagement with the university’s culture, not just another application strategy. Strong character and personal authenticity matter just as much as achievement. UChicago isn’t impressed by polish, it’s impressed by purpose.
Here are the admissions requirements to get into UChicago.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Common Application | Required |
| Essay | Required |
| Letters of Recommendation | Required |
| High School Transcript | Required |
| Mid-Year Report | Required |
| Interview | Option |
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Fee Waiver Available? | Available |
| Test | Requirement | Scores Due |
|---|---|---|
| SAT or ACT | Optional | ED I by November 1, EA by November 1, ED II by January 6, RD by January 6 |
| Subject | Recommended Units |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 4 |
| Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 3 |
| Social Studies | 3 |
| History | 2 |
| Academic Electives | 0 |
| Total | 19 |
| Admission Type | Offered? | Deadline | Notification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Admission | Yes | January 6 | Late March |
| Early Decision I | Yes | November 1 | Mid-December |
| Early Action | Yes | November 1 | Mid-December |
| Early Decision II | Yes | January 6 | Mid-February |
The University of Chicago does not require high school applicants to complete any specific set of courses for admission. Instead, the university encourages students to pursue the most challenging and rigorous coursework available to them, regardless of the specific path or subject area.
If you need help getting into UChicago, consider our UChicago admissions consultants to increase your chances of admissions success. Our former admissions officers have over 15 years of combined experience helping students get into the University of Chicago.
Here are some of our other tips to get accepted to UChicago.
UChicago’s Core Curriculum is the intellectual spine of the university. If your transcript shows early exposure to, or independent study in, areas that parallel Core sequences, you're already speaking their language.
UChicago isn’t looking for students with a bunch of unrelated AP courses. It’s looking for students who already engage with the type of material they’ll encounter in UChicago’s Core Curriculum.
The infamous extended essay prompt at UChicago is a cultural compatibility test. Students who succeed at UChicago demonstrate how they think.
Read past prompts and dissect what kind of thinking UChicago encourages: logical paradoxes, linguistic curiosity, and abstract connections.
Write a response that demonstrates not just creativity, but a structure of thought. Frame your answer like a Socratic dialogue or a philosophical argument with counterpoints to show that you’re already thinking like a UChicago student.
UChicago is extremely interdisciplinary and research-driven. Referencing general “research opportunities” is weak. Instead, identify a specific lab or institute that matches your interests and demonstrate how your current work, curiosity, or questions intersect with theirs.
Examples:
Students who pre-match themselves with institutional structures show admissions that they already “fit” into campus life. This is intellectual demonstrated interest, even if UChicago says it doesn’t track it.
UChicago doesn’t want superficial ambition. Admissions officers only spend around 12 minutes reviewing applications, so they’re looking for applicants who pursue knowledge for its own sake.
Structure your application around one central intellectual question you’ve chased across different contexts: coursework, extracurriculars, independent reading, or even contradictions in your personal life. Then show how that question connects to UChicago’s ecosystem.
For example, if your central question is, “How does language shape moral judgment?” you might link your background in linguistics, your interest in legal philosophy, and your plans to take Philosophical Perspectives on the Humanities and Meaning and Reference through the Department of Philosophy or the Institute for the Formation of Knowledge.
UChicago prioritizes character, creativity, and “talent/ability” at the highest level. But generic clubs don’t impress them. What does? Evidence of mastery or invention.
UChicago is looking for students who do things at a UChicago level already.
UChicago professors tend to be cerebral, contrarian, and theory-heavy. They prize precision of thought, especially in the humanities and social sciences.
Read UChicago faculty bios in your field. They almost always focus on “theoretical implications,” “epistemological frameworks,” “textual analysis,” etc.
In your essays and activities, mirror this analytical depth. Use terms like “framework,” “causality,” “methodological critique,” or “comparative analysis.”
Look at the current College Catalog and name one or two courses by title in your “Why UChicago” essay. Explain why those specific courses (not departments) match your intellectual path. Most applicants might not go that deep, so this is a perfect way to stand out.
Yes, UChicago accepts transfer credit for specific courses, depending on the subject and the grade received.
You should start preparing for the University of Chicago as early as 9th or 10th grade by enrolling in the most rigorous courses available, developing strong writing skills, and defining a clear intellectual identity.
Because UChicago values deep thinking, originality, and academic curiosity, early preparation should focus on building a focused set of interests, engaging with complex material (such as philosophy, economics, or literature), and pursuing meaningful extracurriculars that reflect your passions.
If you’re rejected from the University of Chicago, work on refining your application with an expert consultant. At Quad Education, our former UChicago admissions officers can help you identify your weaknesses and turn them into strengths so that you get accepted on your next attempt.
No, the University of Chicago does not require an interview; however, if you want to share more about yourself in your application, you can submit a two-minute video introduction. Your video doesn't have to be perfectly rehearsed or edited. You can record it using any platform you like.
To get into the University of Chicago as an out-of-state applicant, focus on building a standout academic record with advanced coursework, writing essays that reflect curiosity and critical thinking, and showcasing excellent extracurriculars.
Since UChicago does not consider state residency in admissions decisions, your location won’t disadvantage you. What matters most is how well you align with the university’s Core Curriculum and its culture of inquiry and independent thought.
