College Crunch

About the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is located in Hyde Park, which is on Chicago’s South Side. Minutes from downtown, it is well known for its emphasis on critical thinking. Students and faculty engage each other in interesting discussions. Attending U of C gives attendees the opportunity to make a difference in the community.

U of C is home to 4,900 undergraduate students and 9,800 graduate students. Just over 2,100 faculty and other personnel are employed at U of C. The ratio of students to faculty members is 4:1. The 211-acre campus includes a mix of architectural styles. English Gothic and modern buildings come together in an interesting mix that gives the grounds a unique character.

Programs at University of Chicago

Prospective U of C students can choose from 49 majors and 22 minors. The University has four graduate divisions:

• Biological Sciences
• Humanities
• Physical Sciences
• Social Sciences

U of C also has six graduate professional schools:

• Divinity School
• Booth School of Business
• Law School
• Pritzker School of Medicine
• Irving B. Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies
• School of Social Service Administration

U of C is known for achievement in law, economic, and science. Researchers at the University were responsible for discovering REM sleep and developing carbon 14 dating. A very impressive 81 Nobel Prize winners have been U of C students, faculty members, or researchers.

Admission Requirements for University of Chicago

Prospective U of C students need to submit the following information:

• Common Application Form and the University of Chicago Supplement (available online) and the application fee ($65 as of March 2009)
• Secondary School Report and High School Transcript
• Teachers’ Evaluation Forms (Recommendations from an English or Social Studies teacher and one from a Science or Mathematics teacher is required)
• SAT or ACT scores
• Midyear grades from first semester or trimester (if applicant is in high school)

Applicants to U of C are also required to submit a short essay about why they want to go to school there and their answer to one of the essay questions on the U of C web site. The questions are updated each year.

If you would like to have a decision about whether you are accepted to U of C by mid-December, the deadline for submitting your materials is November 1. For regular notification of a decision, the due date for your application materials is January 2. Accepted individuals are required to reply to the University by May 1 to indicate whether they will be attending U of C or not.

Tuition/Room and Board

For undergrad students, the tuition is $36,891. If you are planning to live on campus, room and board will cost an additional $11,697. You will also need to budget $3,121 for books, $210 for an activities fee, and $531 for the health service fee. The total cost of attendance per year is $52,450.

Sports at the University of Chicago

At U of C, it’s not all work and no play. Athletes attending the University have performed well in their athletic endeavors. The school has won University Athletic Association (UAA) team championships in:

• Basketball (men)
• Cross country (women)
• Football
• Soccer (men and women)
• Softball
• Indoor track and field (men)
• Wrestling

Reviews of the University of Chicago

The University of Chicago has consistently ranked in the top 50 liberal arts schools on numerous lists. Reviews are almost universally positive. Here are some online reviews:

http://www.college-admission-essay.com/universityofchicagoadmission.html

http://www.admissions.com/school-profile/university_of_chicago