Chicago C/O 2019 Applicants (2015-2016) Forum

[SD619]

For all who are nervous about interviews let me be of potential slight reassurance.

First,all of my questions were from the list. No surprises. Second, my interview seemed to be a bit cold- don't get me wrong, I tried my best, but my interviewer had a technique that I wasn't familiar with (I didn't get much reassurance on my answers and it was all very business-like)

Finally, I was accepted last week!

So be calm, and remember, you guys are going to do so well! Can't wait to see you all at ASW

[gamerish]

Is going back under review after an interview considered UR2 or UR3 (idk if we count the interview requested update as UR2)?

And mine was quite nice. Not at all icy or rude.

[jtg21]

Is going back under review after an interview considered UR2 or UR3 (idk if we count the interview requested update as UR2)?

Pretty sure that is UR2. It happens immediately after the interview. I think I was UR3 by the end of the week, and I had my interview on a Monday.

[Ivy2015]

Has anyone received an email after their interview on the same day basically saying thank you and to check out their website/come visit/etc?

[Tycho]

Has anyone received an email after their interview on the same day basically saying thank you and to check out their website/come visit/etc?

I did. It's a standard, automated e-mail (albeit one that makes for a nice touch).

[KMart]

So I've seen conflicting accounts regarding whether or not Hyde Park is a safe area to live in. Granted, I'm not a big city kid - I grew up in rural Tennessee - so perhaps I'm just overhyping myself regarding safety in major US cities. Anyone have definitive knowledge on this topic?

I mean it's a city, don't be stupid and don't go to the wrong areas. Chicago's crime is mostly gangs and it's mostly on the South Side. Hyde Park is on the south side. We are a mile from the most dangerous block in the entire city. That being said, the neighborhood itself is fine (although it is a city so the general city rules apply, but they would apply anywhere else). I've never felt unsafe but I also wouldn't recommend riding the L here to anyone.

[03282016]

[schocolate]

Or you can go the university's route and pretend the Green Line doesn't exist.

[GrayGamut]

Or you can go the university's route and pretend the Green Line doesn't exist.

I saw that they didn't even list it as a public transportation option in their viewbook and literally LOL'd.

[buffy123]

For all who are nervous about interviews let me be of potential slight reassurance.

First,all of my questions were from the list. No surprises. Second, my interview seemed to be a bit cold- don't get me wrong, I tried my best, but my interviewer had a technique that I wasn't familiar with (I didn't get much reassurance on my answers and it was all very business-like)

Finally, I was accepted last week!

So be calm, and remember, you guys are going to do so well! Can't wait to see you all at ASW

what was you time between interviewing and being accepted?

[clarf]

Woop woop, in via status checker today.

FR2 on Berkeley today doesn't seem so bad now.

Even after your interview disaster? That's awesome!!

I got accepted today as well, but it would take a massive unexpected scholly to pull me away from Harvard (Thanx WinterComing for letting me know it'll be weeks until I know about that )

Yeah, it's a bit of a miracle tbh.

Still waiting to hear back from Harvard myself, so Chicago is my top choice atm.

[cndngrl4321]

I got waitlisted on ED. What is admissions trying to tell me?! I was 10000% expecting a rejection.
If it helps, I'm a reverse splitter.

[EnderWiggin]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

[lurkin_hard]

Does anyone know if applying for financial aid by submitting the Needaccess form affects, in any way, the magnitude of merit scholarships?

[killingmesoftly]

I had my interview recently and felt not so confident about it...I feel like I babbled on too much and wasn't as coherent as I could have been. All of the questions were ones I expected though. Then again, I felt great about my Columbia interview but it's been radio silence from them ever since and it's been a while. People who have interviewed at Columbia and Chicago, what did you think about the two in comparison?

[WinterComing]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

Agreed, not just in reference to Chicago, but just about every school. When I called my parents at Harvard's request and asked them to file their taxes two months earlier than they normally would, they weren't exactly thrilled.

[JusPassItToWill]

I had my interview recently and felt not so confident about it...I feel like I babbled on too much and wasn't as coherent as I could have been. All of the questions were ones I expected though. Then again, I felt great about my Columbia interview but it's been radio silence from them ever since and it's been a while. People who have interviewed at Columbia and Chicago, what did you think about the two in comparison?

Exact same experience as you. Felt great about Columbia, and yet haven't heard back from them (applied in Mid November). Was really thrown off by the Chicago interview and didn't do as well as I hoped, but in the end, I was accepted a couple weeks after the interview. I hope you hear back soon!

[yes_plz1868]

.

[killingmesoftly]

I had my interview recently and felt not so confident about it...I feel like I babbled on too much and wasn't as coherent as I could have been. All of the questions were ones I expected though. Then again, I felt great about my Columbia interview but it's been radio silence from them ever since and it's been a while. People who have interviewed at Columbia and Chicago, what did you think about the two in comparison?

Exact same experience as you. Felt great about Columbia, and yet haven't heard back from them (applied in Mid November). Was really thrown off by the Chicago interview and didn't do as well as I hoped, but in the end, I was accepted a couple weeks after the interview. I hope you hear back soon!

I'm glad that someone else feels the same way...hopefully good news will come in the next few weeks. And thanks! Congratulations on Chicago and best of luck with Columbia!

[GrapesOfLaugh]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

Agreed, not just in reference to Chicago, but just about every school. When I called my parents at Harvard's request and asked them to file their taxes two months earlier than they normally would, they weren't exactly thrilled.

My parents don't look forward to my calls right now because of these financial aid deadlines.

[Ivy2015]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

Agreed, not just in reference to Chicago, but just about every school. When I called my parents at Harvard's request and asked them to file their taxes two months earlier than they normally would, they weren't exactly thrilled.

My parents don't look forward to my calls right now because of these financial aid deadlines.

Pretty sure you can just estimate you parent's tax info

[WinterComing]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

Agreed, not just in reference to Chicago, but just about every school. When I called my parents at Harvard's request and asked them to file their taxes two months earlier than they normally would, they weren't exactly thrilled.

My parents don't look forward to my calls right now because of these financial aid deadlines.

Pretty sure you can just estimate you parent's tax info

You can fill out NeedAccess and FAFSA with estimates, but then you're required (I'm pretty sure) to go back and fill in the real numbers once they're available. So it's basically twice the work to do it that way (which is what I did, stupidly).

The Harvard thing is totally different, because they have their own separate aid application. I haven't done it yet, but I've gotten the impression from the instructional video that estimates won't cut it.

[landshoes]

Does anyone know if applying for financial aid by submitting the Needaccess form affects, in any way, the magnitude of merit scholarships?

I don't know for sure. Are you worried about getting less merit aid?

I applied for need aid, and I didn't have any trouble getting a substantial merit scholarship. I don't know if that answers your question!

I can also say that the financial aid office at the Law School is EXTREMELY nice and very easy to work with.

[cantorb]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

Agreed, not just in reference to Chicago, but just about every school. When I called my parents at Harvard's request and asked them to file their taxes two months earlier than they normally would, they weren't exactly thrilled.

I haven't watched the video yet but I thought Harvard's doesn't even open until the 15th, and is only due April 1st?

[WinterComing]

Sorry to post this min-rant here as it only pertains to admitted students, but there's no Chicago C/O 2019 thread yet.

1. I realize the disastrous financial aid form that is NeedAccess probably takes FA offices a fair amount of time to process per applicant, but if your seat deposit deadline is in late April/early May, why make the financial aid application deadline in mid-February? Especially when there are a significant number of applicants the school will not even accept until after that deadline has already passed?

2. Why announce an already relatively early FA deadline date of Feb. 18th in admit e-mails and then send out another e-mail on Feb. 10th saying that "You must turn in the Need Access Application by no later than February 15, 2016" (UChicago bolded it in the message, not I)

Agreed, not just in reference to Chicago, but just about every school. When I called my parents at Harvard's request and asked them to file their taxes two months earlier than they normally would, they weren't exactly thrilled.

I haven't watched the video yet but I thought Harvard's doesn't even open until the 15th, and is only due April 1st?

I guess maybe we should move this conversation to the Harvard thread, but you're right. Harvard's app doesn't open until later in February. It's just that I'd like to have an offer back from them as early as possible, so I have some time to mull it over before making a final decision. The deadline for accepting the Ruby is April 19, which is coming up pretty quickly.