The University of Chicago is a school for the city life, which is no surprise considering it is located in the third most populous city in the US.
As a people-focused university, UChicago has a commitment to providing an education that is accessible and that creates leaders who give back to their communities.
UChicago is also known for being an urban research university; as such, students are able to conduct research that is about and for the city.
Students will be able to be part of a range of institutes that are involved in urban initiatives, including The University of Chicago Civic Engagement, The University of Chicago Harris Public Policy, The University of Chicago Division of the Social Sciences, and more.
Past and present home to excellence, including Nobel Laureates, Pulitzer Prize Winners, Rhodes Scholars, MacArthur Fellows, and even former President of the United States – Barack Obama – UChicago attracts and produces students and faculty of the highest caliber.
For transfer students looking to switch to UChicago, they will find an application process that is intensive. That said, the effort and time is worth the chance to be part of UChicago’s tradition of social change and opportunity.
Below is the basic information that transfer students will need to start their application process. To learn more, students should visit the University of Chicago admissions information page.
University of Chicago Transfer Acceptance Rate & GPA
The transfer acceptance rate at the University of Chicago is 5%.
There is no GPA requirement for UChicago’s admission process, but students will need to prove their academic record through submitting a high school transcript, all college transcripts, and two teacher evaluations. Most students who successfully transfer to Chicago have outstanding GPAs, however.
In addition, students who want to be considered a transfer will need to have completed one full-time term of college outside of high school.
To complete the application process, students have to fill out the Coalition Application, complete the University of Chicago Supplement essays, the transfer-specific essay, pay the $75 application fee if students aren’t applying for need-based aid, and finally create a UChicago student account.
Students can take comfort in the fact that they will not be required to submit SAT/ACT scores.
UChicago throws one more curveball at students in the application process by having them decide between two application paths.
Students who are sold on attending UChicago have the option to apply for the Early Decision deadline.
For those who are looking at multiple options and need time to compare offers of acceptance, they have the ability to do the Rolling Decision. Both have a different deadline for submission.
University of Chicago University Transfer Deadline
For the Transfer Early Decision application route, students need to have all documents in by February 10th.
As noted above, deciding to pursue early decision is a binding process. This means that if accepted, a student is obligated to attend the university.
For this application process, students will also need to submit an additional document called the Transfer Early Decision Agreement.
Students who want to keep their options open can opt for the Rolling Decision application route which has a priority deadline of March 1st.
Technically the application will stay open after the 1st, but students have the best chance of getting in if they submit early.
What is the Decision Date for UChicago Transfers?
For those who apply for the Transfer Early Decision, they will hear back on a decision by Mid-March, with a confirmation deadline of Mid-April.
Those who are doing the Rolling Decision will hear back in early April and be required to respond by June 5th.
Deciding Whether You Should Transfer to University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a good choice for any student, so the decision for transfers isn’t about whether UChicago is a ‘good choice’; the decision is more about whether this is a choice that fits a student’s goals and financial needs, and interests.
A UChicago blog post entitled Advice for Prospective Transfer Applicants confirms this idea of seeking to understand the individual needs of a student and how they align with what the university has to offer.
The writer lists some of the most important things that a transfer can do: learn about the university’s credit transfer policies, learn more about the university through virtual and on-campus tours, and ultimately craft strong admissions essays.
In other words, transfer students should put their research skills to work by exploring the inner workings of the school so they can gain the right information to make the choice that makes sense for them.
Outside of the blog articles advice, there are many ways to do this research process. Below are some ideas for where students can poke around to learn more about UChicago.
Social Media
This may seem obvious, but many students explore a university’s website and miss looking into a wide variety of other social media sources. By exploring Twitter feeds, Instagram stories, TikTock trends, Facebook events, and even LinkedIn connections students can learn a lot about the kind of messages a university is sending about its students and on-campus culture.
The School Newspaper
Student run newspapers and blogs have some of the best insider information about a university. Besides looking through the latest edition to see the most up-to-date news, students should look back at previous editions that were released during significant social events. By looking back, prospective students will get a small window into how the university has handled tough issues in the news and on-campus.
Podcasts
So many universities now have faculty and student-run podcasts that cover sports, current events, admissions, and even research methods.
At UChicago, the school has a podcast series all about navigating admissions. Being able to listen will give students the chance to find out more about UChicago on the run if they are finding it hard to sit down and look through a lot of online information.
Virtual Events
In the age of advanced technology, universities have adapted to online methods of learning, community, and recruitment. Whether it is giving students VR tours of campus or offering Zoom Information sessions with admissions counselors, students don’t even have to leave the comfort of home to experience life and academics at UChicago.
RECAP: How to Apply As a Transfer Student to University of Chicago
Determine Eligibility and Pick a Date
The first thing a transfer student needs to do is determine their eligibility. Eligibility hangs most heavily on how many credits a student has already taken at their former or current school. For UChicago, a transfer student is someone who has completed at least one full-time term.
Once a student has established their eligibility, they will need to consider when and how they want to apply to UChicago. Those who know for sure that the university is the school they want to attend can apply for the Early Decision deadline on February 10th. Choosing this path means that students are making a binding decision to attend UChicago if they are admitted.
For students who would like to keep their options open, they can apply for the Rolling Decision. Priority deadline is March 1st, but the application will stay open even after the March 1st deadline.
Collecting all the Information
It’s no secret that UChicago requires a lot of documentation. Students will be able to skip submitting SAT/ACT scores and don’t need to meet a specific GPA requirement, but they will have to work to show their academic qualifications.
The application materials for UChicago includes a high school transcript, all college transcripts, two teacher evaluations, the Chicago Supplement essays, the transfer essay, and the Coalition Application. Students who have applied for need-based aid will be exempt from paying the $75 application fee.
For students who are applying for the Early Decision deadline, they will also need to submit a Transfer Early Decision Agreement. Finally, apart from all the application information, the university requires students to set up a UChicago student account to keep track of their application status.
Hearing Back
The deadline for hearing back about a decision will depend on the application path a student picks. Students who are Early Decision will know by Mid-March if they have been accepted. Those who choose to do the Rolling Decision will know by early April.
