The LANGUAGE ARTS MAGAZINE Skill Vocabulary Word Bank Form

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This answer is fairly long, about 7000 words. So I have divided my answer into 9 parts wherein each part can be read independently. However reading the entire answer in one go will serve as RC practice, so that would be advisable.What I have mentioned below helped me in my journey from 66% -> 99.85% in CAT. I have tried my level best to be as detailed as possible. GK as a section is not there in CAT as of now but is very important in the other papers like XAT, IIFT, SNAP, etc. So, I have included that as well. I have also put in a little bit about how to attempt mocks and then analyse them to improve further. A little bit on GD-PI-WAT as well, so that this answer serves all your needs.I would like to point out that I have been an average student all my life and am a GEM (General Engineer Male), yes pun intended. My 10/12/B.Tech scores are 83/79/66. With that I made it to IIM Calcutta, so the first thing that you should now do is stop worrying about your previous grades. 99% of the people reading this will surely have better grades. So, if I can you obviously can get through and study at an IIM.My CAT 2015 score card:QA: 99.8%LRDI: 99.96%VA: 87.33%OA: 99.85%This answer is divided into the following parts:A.) How to start?B.) QA -> Quantitative AbilityC.) LRDI -> Data Interpretation and Logical ReasoningD.) VA -> Verbal AbilityE.) GK -> General KnowledgeF.) How to attempt mocks? (Non-CAT exams at the end)G.) How to analyse mocks?H.) Study Material and mocks from which institute?I.) GD-PI-WAT prepA.) How to start CAT prep?Register at any site which lets you attempt and review a mock for free. You could try hitbullseye. If you have already enrolled for a test series or for a classroom programme, then attempt one of their mocks. Many of you would be like bhai abhi toh padhai start bhi nahi ki, mock deke kya hoga aur upar se aadhe questions toh samajh bhi nahi aayenge aur maths ke formula bhi yaad nahi hain. Additionally while attempting the mock, there will be multiple instances when you will feel like getting up because you are not used to solving questions for 3 hours at a stretch. Your brain will also try to deceive you into grabbing your smart phone for checking Whatsapp. You will feel like drinking water, you will also be tempted to check FB. The point of this test is to make sure that all this doesn’t happen when you actually attempt CAT. Now you would be thinking what is the point in attempting a mock when I don’t know $hi+.Precisely my point! The main reason for this mock was to identify what you know, what you don’t, where you stand and how much hard work is required.Once you are done with the mock, check the solutions and find the topics which you already know, which you attempted correctly. Some problems would have been there which you would have been sure of but you got them wrong because you were out of touch and forgot the formula or recalled an incorrect formula. You probably forgot the plural of fish. Fish or fishes? Or does it depend on whether I am talking about a species of fish or multiple units of the same species? Then you will realise that a little brush up of a few topics (which you are out of touch with) will dramatically improve your score. Work on these topics first and then move on to topics which you have no clue about. This mock decides your future course of study.Now, on to the preparation phase.B.) QA -> Quantitative AbilityStart off with this site. http://arithmetic.zetamac.com/Click on start and then check your score. You know where you stand. Keep practising a few times every day and your score will keep improving. If you can hit 50-55 consistently in the default 120 seconds, you will easily hit 99.5% in CAT in this section. If you are targeting 99.5+ then I would also like you to memorise the following:B1.) Reciprocals, Squares and Cubes up till 30. Pay attention here, some values will get repeated. As for 1/7. Remember that it is .142857. For other go up to 2-3 decimals,whatever you are comfortable with. I would prefer 3 decimals though.B2.) Power of 2 up till 12Power of 3 up till 8Power of 4 up till 6Power of 5-6 up till 5Power of 7-10 up till 4Power of 11-13 up till 3Again same as above. Some values will be the same. 4^6 has already been covered till 2^12 and so on. Don’t just mug up blindly, pay attention to the numbers.B3.) Square Root up till 10B4.) Factorial up till 10B1-B4: Now most of you would be like, dude they give an inbuilt calculator. But then other exams don’t have that calculator. Additionally who do you think will take lesser time in solving a question? A person who uses the calculator for finding 12^3 or someone who just knows it is 1728. Believe me when I say that this is very important for your LRDI section as well. This will decide whether you get stuck at 99.5% or go beyond that. This is the deciding factor. Please memorise these values.B5.) A few important numbers like 999=27*37, 1001=7*11*13, 21^3=9261.B6.) Some numbers have the property wherein the sum of the factorial of the digits is equal to the no itself. 1, 2, 145 and 40585. Please remember these.B7.) There are 15 primes till 50, 25 till 100, 46 till 200 and 168 till 1000.B8.) How to find the sum of the first n natural nos. Sum of squares of n natural nos. Sum of cubes, sum of 4th powers. Please remember the formulas. Specially the last one (fourth power), most people forget that.B9.) Scale is not allowed in any of the exams. What the CAT authorities mean is that the scale which we used back in school that is not allowed. They never said anything about using your hand as a scale. Check the length of your fingers. Also check the length of the 3 sub division on your fingers. Use your right or left hand, whatever suits you. Please make sure that you remember these values by heart. These values will help you solve 90% of the geometry questions. Also, buy a protractor and make sure you can make the angles 30, 45, 60, 90 properly. First with the protractor and then without it. Based on the question, make a rough figure. Then based on your lengths, find the answer and then scale up to the value given in the question. Geometry has a lot of formulas, memorize them or use this approach. Approximation ftw!B.10.) Unitary Method. Make sure you are good with this, half the QA syllabus can be solved using unitary method. Do you think whatever has been mentioned in B9 is basically Unitary Method at the end for getting the answer?Most of the students go for solving the maximum no of problems. Don’t do that. Focus on the basics, don't go for solving questions directly like most students. Most students don’t score 99+. You are different, work differently. This is how you should be doing it for any given chapter day wise. First day go after the formulas and try to understand why a certain formula is there. Make sure that you have memorised all the formulas for that chapter. If you were to set the paper, what could be a possible question? Read a formula, try to frame questions on that formula and then memorize the formula. Just memorizing all formulas in one go won't help, because you will probably forget. If you can do this, then you would have solved all the questions by the time you finish reading the theory.Example: Let's say you are studying Numbers. You see the formulas for HCF and LCM of 2 nos. Then you see the factors of a number. Now think of possible questions on this. Let's say 72.1.) How many odd factors are there?2.) How many even factors are there?3.) What is the sum of the odd factors?4.) What is the sum of the even factors?5.) What is the product of the odd factors?6.) What is the product of the even factors?7.) How many factors are squares of natural numbers?8.) How many factors are cubes of natural numbers?Good going, you just completed half the chapter! Similarly think of more questions that you can make. The exercise at the end is filled with such questions. It depends on your thinking. Focus on this. If basics are fine,questions won't be a problem.Would you memorize 456*876 and 235*9865 and things like that or learn how multiplication works?If you think that you lack imagination when it comes to maths and can’t do the above, then no problem. As mentioned above, by the end of the first day you would be done with memorising all the formulas. That’s it. Don’t solve anything. Just make sure all the formulas are deeply rooted in your brain and you can recall them anytime you want. Now take a break for a day. On the 3rd day, start solving problems. But remember that you are to solve by recalling the formula not by turning over the pages and looking at the formula. If you cannot recall, then please make sure you memorize the formulas again. Solve a few problems. Take a day’s break and continue solving on the 5th and similarly on the 7th day as well. This way apart from the formula getting imprinted in your brain multiple times, you will also understand which formulas are asked more often than others. Some chapters are connected to one another. Make groups of such chapters. If working on a group, try to complete all the topics in that group. For example:Ratio Proportion, Unitary Method, Percentage, Profit and Loss.Simple equations, Simultaneous equations, Inequalities, Time speed distance and work, Quadratic.Progression.Numbers, Bases, Miscellaneous equations.Surds and Indices, Logarithms.Mensuration.Geometry.Coordinate Geometry.Probability and PnC.Functions and Graphs.For people trying to clear the cut off in this section. The first 3 with mensuration and a bit of geometry/numbers will be enough.C.) LRDI -> Data Interpretation and Logical ReasoningData Interpretation is speed and practise. The site mentioned in the Quant region and B1-B4 there would be of immense help. These will increase your speed. Generally each and every DI set has at least a problem on percentage or ratio.Today when you start, start off with the sole intention of solving all the questions of a given set. When you can do that on a daily basis. Move to 2 sets a day. When you can do that. Move to 3 sets daily and then to 4 sets. Keep solving as many questions as you can. Time taken per question will decrease with practise. A few months after you were born, you started to crawl, then you started walking and finally you started running. Same thing here. Don’t think about speed now. Speed comes gradually. Let nature take its course.Logical Reasoning, as the name suggests is based on how well you can interpret and analyse things. LR checks your thought process, it checks how you tackle problems. Get this book "Puzzles" by George J. Summers. When you watch a football match, why do you watch it? Probably because you want your team to win or you want to see a good contest and enjoy. Similarly, once you have bought this book, think about your objective. It’s not about getting the correct solution, it’s about improving your thought process. And additionally the puzzles in this book are tough. You could think of it as the daddy of Irodov. Engineers will get the joke! You won’t be able to solve most of the problems and frankly speaking I don’t expect you to. However, what I do expect from you is to read a question. Try to understand what has been given. Try to understand what is being asked. Think about it for say 10-15 minutes. Write down whatever approach you can think of. If you could not solve it, look at the hints and their solution scheme. Were you thinking in the right direction?Analyse the difference between the method given in the book and your method.Try to understand what you missed because of which you could not solve the puzzle. Try again for 30 minutes. If you can solve it, good enough, if not maybe try again. After a few more tries look at the solution. Remember you bought the book to improve your thought process, not to solve each question in the first attempt. Trying a puzzle for 5 minutes and then looking at the solution will take you nowhere. Solving again and again till the time you get the answer is what the book was bought for. To make sure that you can think and get the answer on your own. The answer at the end is just for verification. 1-2 puzzles a day. 3 at max, not more than that. You have to improve your thought process,not complete the book as fast as possible. Your scores in the LR section will improve in a month’s time and then it will stay at 99%.Another very important point would be to memorize the alphabet-number conversion table. A=1, B=2, C=3 and so on. You will come across questions on this in your mocks as well as in the exams.D.) VA -> Verbal AbilityI had 69 and 72 in English in 10 and 12 respectively. My verbal score in CAT went up from 43 -> 87%. Whatever I have written below is what I did to make sure that I cleared the verbal cut off comfortably. If you are looking at a 99+verbal score, then you would be better off by reading the other answers to this question for improving your verbal section. This part is not for you kindly move on to the LRDI section. If you however $uck at English just like me, then this just might help you in clearing the sectional cut off. I tried memorizing words from the GRE word list. My language skills were not good enough to use words like persiflage, perspicuous, ubiquitous, scintillating, etc. in sentences. So, I would keep memorizing and then keep forgetting these words. I had never read novels so I had never come across such words as well. So, I came to the conclusion that memorising words won’t help me. But, a decent vocabulary is needed for CAT. So, I bought this book “Word Power Made Easy” by Normal Lewis. Managed to complete the chapters in a few months. I didn’t do the word list at the end. I would request you to buy this book and complete the chapters.Another thing that seemed obvious to me was that whether you look at RCs or Para Jumbles or Para Completion or Para Summary. All these have basically been written by some person who had a very good command over the English language. So all these things should logically have a flow of thought with which the author would have written the entire thing. You just have to understand that flow. If you can understand an RC, then understanding a paragraph from that RC will obviously be very easy for you. Think about it, a PJ or a PC or a PS are basically paragraphs taken from an RC. You just have to understand the flow in which the entire thing was written by some person who had a decent understanding of the English language. But, then I again had a problem. The Verbal section in CAT was supposed to be of 1 hour and as soon as I would start reading an RC, 8-10 minutes down the line I would feel drowsy. I would start thinking about checking FB or Whatsapp or practically doing anything apart from reading that stupid RC. All those Speed reading techniques, skimming, reading the question first and all. None of that mattered. I understood what my problem was. COMPREHENSION and CONCENTRATION. By the time I was in the 2nd para I would have forgotten what was written in the 1st para. It’s called a READING COMPREHENSION for a reason. Never trade comprehension for speed.How to improve comprehension and concentration?Both will improve gradually with time. First step is to make sure that you don’t feel drowsy when reading for an hour. You will be required to do that in the exam. So you need to build your stamina to concentrate. Start off by reading 2-3k word long articles on News, sport and opinion from the Guardian's global edition | The Guardian. Register on the website and you will get a mail every morning at 10am. Read all the articles from there. Make sure you read at a stretch for an hour. Read everything from Culture to Technology to Art to Literature. In the beginning you will feel sleepy within a few minutes of starting. Slowly you will gain rhythm. Within 15 days you will be able to read 1 hour at a stretch. In a month’s time you will start retaining information as well. Then focus on just 1 category every day. Like only Philosophy or only Art or only culture. With that your stamina and concentration will increase further and since you are reading about only 1 thing for 1 hour, your knowledge in that topic will also increase. This can be done at home, but preferably in office to better utilize your time. PJ PC PS are all extensions of an RC. All will seem easy once you are comfortable with RCs. Here News, sport and opinion from the Guardian's global edition | The Guardian you will be reading 2000-3000 word long articles. Once you are used to this, 500-600 word passages in CAT and other exams will be a piece of cake for you!For verbal, always eliminate choices and then mark rather than directly trying to find the correct answer. This section is different from the other sections,so it has to be dealt in a different manner. Please eliminate choices and then answer. If in doubt, leave. As for the grammar section, I have no idea when to use have and when to use has. Same with is/are and things like that. Neither can I spot grammatical errors in sentences. So, I mostly leave such questions.But I always read them. You can always answer a few of them based on instinct. Some sitters are always there in every paper.E.) GK -> General KnowledgeAll the papers except CAT have this section. Some have a sectional cut off,some don’t. This section can be answered in about 5 minutes. It has the highest marks/min for any section. This section is the key to a high percentile. This section will give you the points for speaking in a GD and PI and also for writing in WAT. So, if you plan on getting through to a good B-School don’t ignore it. There would be 2 methods to prepare for this.E1.) Start reading any newspaper. Go through the headlines and all. Make sure you are updated with what is happening in the country. After a week or so, you will realise that it’s mostly the same thing that keeps getting repeated everyday in the paper. Think of it from the point of view of the exam. There will be MCQs. So they won’t ask for your opinion on Kejriwal vs Modi. Leave all the pages on politics. That’s sheer wastage of time. Don’t waste time on that stuff! Make sure you remember the schemes which Mr Modi keeps rolling out. At least remember the important ones. Did any big firm buy another one? Any Indian who won some award abroad. Who won which Grand Slam? Who won the Pulitzer Prize? Who won the Arjuna Khel Ratna Award? India is working on the Chabahar port with which country? Malcom Turnbull is from which country? I think you would have understood what is expected from you. MBA is about business. Focus on economic and business news more than others. Noble Prize in economics fort his year? How many Deputy Governors are there in the Reserve Bank? Make a doc file with these details. You file would look somewhat like this.https://docs.google.com/document...This is what I had made for this year, so no this won’t help you! You will have to make one with the current affairs of this year. Since you will be working the entire year making this, so by the time the exams are a week away, you will have such a file. You might however think that this is too much work. In that case I would suggest you try the second and relatively easier method compared to this.E2.) Whichever is the first exam for you which will have a GK section, keep 4 days before that exam for making this file and memorizing it. Gather all the monthly booklets which are given to Time students. Each book has about 100 questions. Memorize the ones you think are important. CL and Time both will also have a few sheets on GK, current affairs, etc. Get those as well. CL GK compendium. Hitbullseye gk pdfs are also there. You can get most of these online for free or search on Pagalguy, someone would have uploaded it there for sure. Whatever you think is important, please memorize that. 4 days is more than enough to complete all the material I have mentioned above. By going through the monthly magazines you will also be able to keep track of what is happening in India and also round the globe.The regular reading (The first method, reading daily) means that when the exam sare about to start, you would have completed most of the things. The last 4 days will serve as a revision for you. I did both the above things. So if you have time go for it. A close friend of mine, Prateek, he was preparing for UPSC. He was of immense help! Whenever I would meet him, we would talk about how things going on in our country. Served as revision for him and I would stay updated with facts. So, if you can find someone who is preparing for UPSC religiously,i t would be great. You will also have a contact who is an IAS officer. If you want to score even higher in GK get a small yearbook from some shop. Small ones general contain 100 odd pages, going through that will serve as revision as well.F.) How to attempt mocks (Non-CAT exams at the end)The first step here is to make sure that you can sit and concentrate properly for 3 hours at a stretch. FB, Whatsapp, drowsiness, drinking water or the sudden urge to go to the washroom during these 3 hours have to be removed.Kindly take care of such things which might disturb you, especially the last 2 and then start a mock. When you are attempting the mock, the only thing in your mind should be about maximising your score! Another point that you should keep in mind in that no one cares about what you know and what you don’t. The only thing that matters is your score. So please keep your ego aside when attempting the paper. Yeh question kaise nahi bana, kal hi toh banaya tha and then you spend the next 15 mins on it and still end up marking the wrong answer. Please don’t! You have a fight with your girlfriend and then you are like “I am not texting her first”. Yes I was talking about that very ego of yours, please get rid of it when you are attempting a mock. If you can’t solve a question then please move on to the next one. The examination hall is not the place to derive a formula and then solve the concerned problem. Anyways, I could go on but I think I have made my point.Remember that half the paper is very easy, mostly formula based. Your approach should be to attempt these questions first. Make sure that you have touched the 97-98% mark and then move on to the difficult questions for improving your score.F1.) QA -> Quantitative AbilityYou are not supposed to start from question no 1 and then continue till 34. Most of the times you will not even be able to look at some of the problems in the end. So we will follow a Round by round approach. About 50% of the problems are direct formula based. When you start this section (Round 1), keep the above point in mind. So, as soon as you look at a question. Can you solve it in a minute by using a formula? If the question with a formula was given to a 5th grader, would he be able to solve it. If yes, then solve this question. Use the values given in the question, get the answer and then move on to the next question. If you see a question and you are like, yaar yeh toh banaya hua hai, 2-3 min lagega, lamba question hai. Or if you are like sirf cases likhne hain, phir count kar lunga, phir answer. Such questions which you know you can solve but are not direct formula based, are to be left out now. These have to be attempted in the 2nd round. Getting my point? If formula based, then attempt else next. Within 30 minutes you should have attempted about 16-17 questions and you would have seen all the questions. That will get you at least 97-98% in this section.Now Round 2, there were a few questions which you had seen earlier and were pretty confident about. This is where your brain will help you. The human mind is so awesome that even though you just looked at it once but solved different questions and totally forgot about it, you brain was working on that question subconsciously without you having any idea about it. Now, when you read the question, you will take a lesser amount of time to solve it compared to what you would have taken had you solved it in the first round itself. You could go for Round 3 as well, your choice! But 2 rounds are needed. Please stop with a single round method which most of you are used to now.Why this approach?Many people are most often not able to see the entire paper,so they miss sitters. This round by round technique helps you go through the entire paper and thereby select the easiest ones which in turn maximises your score. You won’t get a prize if you solve a question that only 10 students out of 2 lac could solve. The marks per question is the same. Since you solve the easier problems first, the chances of your committing mistakes goes down considerably. A question which you have solved but incorrectly is not wasted time and only a -1 for your score. Instead of 3 you get a -1. So such a question effectively hits you with lost time and a -4. This method reduces the no of such questions. Hence, this approach.F2.) DILR -> Data Interpretation and Logical ReasoningIf you have tried solving the book which I had mentioned above, you would by now have a fair idea about how to make a table for solving LR problems. 5 people, 5 countries, 5 cars, 5 pets. All of us have solved such puzzles,haven’t we? You would obviously have 4 columns but which would be the first and which would be the second, etc. That determines how fast you will be able to solve the set. Oh, you thought it didn’t make a difference? It does! Sometimes you are better off soling set theory problems by a table. This is where your practise and experience comes into play. Making the proper table means half the work is done then and there. You just have to put in the values and tick mark the correct answers now.Now about how to attempt. When you start the section, go through the 4 LR sets.1-2 sets will be very easy. Take a couple of minutes and try to identify the easier ones. Look at the questions. Do you see any question wherein it asks how many cases are possible or questions of that sort? Such sets are to be solved at the end. Look for sets wherein directly by looking at the questions, you know that there is one unique solution. Use the answer options to further reduce your time for soling that set. Now start with such sets. First advantage of this method will be that you will feel good, because you will be done with a couple of sets in 10-12 minutes. Additionally you will be in a flow and your chances of cracking a difficult set will go up. Now compare this to the case when you start the section, and think that looking at all the questions means losing a few minutes. I am James Bond, so I will start with the first set. 10 minutes later you haven’t completed a single question and now for the remaining 50 minutes you will keep thinking, yaar 10 min faaltu mein barbaad ho gaye. Good luck solving that section and the next with such a mind-set.Many a time it will happen that the set you picked up, is going nowhere and yet time is passing on. For such sets, wherein you have already spent 4-5 minutes but haven’t been able to mark even a single question. Please leave that set.You might be tempted to think sirf 2 min aur, aur phir 4 questions ban jayenge. Please don’t commit that mistake. 5 minutes is the threshold in which you should have been able to mark at least 2 questions. Worst case scenario 1. If you are at 0. Please move on. You are better off solving that set later on,preferably at home!Same with DI sets, go through the sets, select the easier ones, and complete them. You will be left off with 2 sets. Again with 2 options, it always easy to select the easier one. This way most of the times, you will end up solving the toughest set at the end or you will probably leave it. All questions have the same marks, so isn’t it better to solve easier ones? Additionally tougher problems will also take a toll on your brain, your effectiveness for the next section might go down. Do you want that to happen?Sometimes a set will be easy but a question in there will be extremely tough.Beware of such questions, these are put in place to derail your momentum. 5-7 minutes per set is what you should be looking at. Always look at the questions and attempt. You don’t have to attempt all questions from a set. Even 3 attempts for a set is fine. Again, you know the term that I am talking about!Keep that aside when attempting a mock.F3.) VA -> Verbal AbilityI get tired of reading and lose interest quickly. So RCs at the end seems a bad idea. So, I start off with RCs. Again as soon as you start this section. Glance through all the RCs in a minute and check if any of them is from a subject you like. Your reading speed and comprehension will be higher in this case. Again as mentioned above, just because you read an RC, doesn’t mean you have to attempt all the questions. Even 4 out of 6 questions from an RC is good enough. Just attempting for the sake of increasing attempts is sheer stupidity. Please don’t think ki aree yaar itne marks toh already aa hi rahe hain exam mein. Dusron ko thoda mauka de deta hun -2 leke. Please don’t do that. Eliminate options and then attempt. When in doubt leave. Move on to the single questions after the RCs.Note -> For non-CAT mocks which you attempt online.First and foremost thing is that apart from CAT, most are pen paper based, but at home you attempt online papers for these. Take a few print outs of the OMR sheet and check how many minutes you need for marking the answers. Keep a 5 min buffer for your safety. Let’s say we talk about IIFT. It’s a 2 hour paper in real. However I need 20 minutes just for marking the bubbles. So, there is absolutely no point in attempting the online paper at home for 2 hrs. Submit the test after 100 minutes. Don’t worry if people attempt for 2 hours and your rank is low. Your score in the main exam matters, not in this one. Similarly for SNAP and XAT as well. Form a basic strategy of how you would like to attempt the paper for the 100 minutes(whatever your time is after you have checked marking in the OMR sheet). Like for Snap, I had a strategy of 5-6 minutes for gk then 16-18 minutes for verbal, then 35-40 minutes for LR. Then maths and as soon as it would be 90 minutes after the start, I would mark all the answers. Then solve and again mark in the last 5 minutes. Similarly make your strategy for IIFT, SNAP, XAT, etc. and stick to it.G.) How to analyse mock?The instant you submit a mock, you will have a score in mind, itna toh banta hai. 1 sec later the page reloads and you see your score and you go, are yaar itne toh 2 section milake hi aa jane chahiye the. This is why analysing the mock is important. You knew a certain score was achievable but your score went down drastically because of silly mistakes. Analysing mocks will take care of such mistakes. Once the solutions and result for a mock are out. First of all check up all the problems which you couldn’t solve. That’s what you have to learn.Then look at the time taken by the topper in solving a question. Look at your time. Did you take 200 seconds whereas the topper took 30 seconds? That’s because there is a technique you don’t about. Learn that technique. Write it in your notebook where you write formulas. That was about identifying and learning things which the toppers know. You have to be one of them. Go through the mocks and find such methods. AdditionallyThen there will be a category of questions you were sure of but you somehow used your talent and got it wrong and after looking at the solution you are like aree yaar yeh koi kaise galat kar sakta hai. But as a matter of fact, you did! This will happen mostly in counting problems (Numbers). Even if you had 100 in English in 10 and 12 you will still come to know that you had been using some Grammar rule incorrectly or there is some exception you had no clue about. But, after a -4 you will remember them! You will sometimes come to know that a certain word which you have been using all your life can also be used in a totally different context. Thank You without an exclamation mark? Sarcasm! Oxymoron, alliteration, etc. Learn what these mean. Such mistakes will make sure you remember all these. Sometimes you will take the diameter as the radius and solve. Sometimes 2*3 will become 5 and sometimes 7*19 will become 114. Don’t rush through problems. The paper is set so as to give you enough time. Slow and steady wins the race.Then another section in the results shows the % of people who attempted a question and % of people who got it right. You are supposed to attempt the easy ones first, then the average difficulty questions. Finally attempt a few difficult ones or totally leave them out. Here you can check which questions you were supposed to attempt but didn’t. Also the questions which you were supposed to leave but being the Bond that you are, you nonetheless decided to attempt it thereby losing marks and giving others a chance to overtake you. If your family is worth billions of dollars, you could do that, but given that you are still reading this, I doubt it! So whenever you look at such questions, try to think about what was in your mind during the mock which made you do such a thing. Try not to commit the same mistake again.Yes, I agree all this will take more than 3 hours. Who told you getting into a good B-school was easy?H.) Study Material and mocks from which institute?The study material from the top 3 institutes namely Time, CL and IMS is mostly the same. I have seen and used it, so use whichever you want, it won’t make a big difference. A few new ones like Hitbullseye and test funda are also coming up. Haven’t used the material by these 2 so can’t comment. In terms of content the level of questions is higher in Time. I mean tougher questions here, so you are better prepared for CAT, but then you could also argue about why put in more effort than required. In CL, the theory and explanations for quant is way better that that in others. Theory for quant is literally non-existent in Time. IMS is good for verbal. As mentioned above, please use that book for LR and also that book for Verbal. I have not mentioned the names of the books, because if you scroll up and check you will then remember the name when you have to tell it to the shopkeeper! That LR book will help make a strong base for you and then completing the LR material from these institutes will give you practise and improve your skills further. For those who keep talking about Arun Sharma, please please please use proper material. Do you really think 1 book is good enough for your CAT preparation and others are stupid who go through all that? If you think you are smart enough and don’t need all that and 1 book is enough. Good Luck with CAT!Mocks basically tell you where you stand when compared to the toppers in the country. Time has the most no of people attempting its Aimcats. So having that is a must. Next in line, with the maximum no of people attempting the mocks would be CL. After that you have IMS, test funda and all. Aimcats are pretty tough when compared to actual CAT but are extremely important because it gives you a true picture of where you stand and how much more effort you need to put in. CL mocks are close to the CAT level especially in terms of quant. IMS mocks are close to CAT level in verbal. I would suggest Time + CL/IMS. You can however take all the 3 if you want. Or maybe some other institute’s mock series. It’s mostly about practise.The mock questions are mostly the same. It’s just the values that they keep changing every year. Same with the material. Whether you look at the material of this year or that of 5 years ago, you will realise that it’s mostly the same. So, you are better off buying old material from someone or from a secondhand book store. I have uploaded some mocks and some prep material. Here’s the link for that.https://drive.google.com/open?id...https://drive.google.com/open?id...I also found some useful material from total gadha. Here’s the link for thathttp://totalgadha.com/mod/forum/...http://totalgadha.com/mod/forum/...I.) GD-PI-WAT prepFrankly speaking, getting a score is easy. This is the tougher part. This requires more hard work because in here, you will be up against the best in the country. Most of the people attending the interviews will come prepared, so here your odds will be higher. So, please work hard for this. GDPI prep as such should be dealt with in a different question. So, won’t go into the details here, but just an over view of what is expected of you. If you had done the GK and current affairs part as mentioned above, you will be easily able to manage the WAT. You will also have ample of points for speaking in a GD. Similarly questions on current affairs in a PI will also be a piece of cake for you. What remains is the HR part. In here, you have to understand that you can guide the interview and you can force them to ask exactly what you have prepared. But that requires a little thinking. Tell me about yourself is a standard question which is used to initiate an interview. It is mostly followed by your strengths and weaknesses. The main thing here is that you have to try to make a story and link everything that you have done in your life till now with why you want to do an MBA. The interviewers are smart people, they have been doing this for years. They are extremely good at catching liars. So think this through well. This part of your prep needs your utmost dedication and hard work. Prepare your answers properly. It is really tough to explain how to prepare for GD-PI. You will be better off at some institute where someone can guide you individually. However, what I can still do is upload all the GDPI material that I have and share it with you. But do keep one thing in mind, this contains some files on the current affairs of 2015, so that will be of no use for you. The other stuff is pretty much relevant. Here’s the link for that.https://drive.google.com/open?id...I hope you convert your dream college. May the force be with you!

Q. What does it take to get into the University of Chicago?A. Tuan Nguyen's answer to What kind of students get into the University of Chicago?To maximize your chance of admission into the University of Chicago:Earn a 4.23 GPA or Higher (Greater emphasis on rigors of secondary school record, than GPA or class rank)Get a 33 on the ACT, a 2235 on the SAT, or Higher (Greater emphasis on standardized tests)Have the Extracurricular Advantage (Greater emphasis on character and personal qualities)Emphasis on Recommendations and EssaysHow to Get Into University of Chicago (Student-Tutor)University of Chicago: Profile Class of 2020US News Rankings and ReviewsCollegeData College ProfileQuestions | Noodle: University of Chicago StudentsPresident Barack Obama speaks to students at the University of Chicago Law School on April 7, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama addressed his U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland as he hopes members of the Republican party will give Garland a hearing and a vote in Washington. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)How to Get Into University of Chicago: Admissions RequirementsCo-authored by Renae HintzeUChicago considers itself “One of the world’s premier academic and research institutions”.Sound too good to be true?They may be tooting their own horn, but Students and faculty from UChicago have made great strides over the years, such as developing the first cloud-based computing system to process cancer data (in 2013) – I mean, wow. I still burn my popcorn in the microwave sometimes.With an average of 27,500 students applying every year, the UChicago acceptance rate comes in at only 9%. I already know what you’re thinking… 9%?! So what does it take to be part of that??Without further ado, I bestow you these 12 Steps to increase your student’s UChicago Admissions chances! (Number 10 is pretty unique.)Step #1: Earn a 4.0 GPA or HigherCheck this out… It’s a chart of University of College Admissions statistics. See all those little blue and green dots? They represent the students that were accepted. And check out where they’re pow-wowing up around the top – it says “4.0”.While we could argue that there ARE acceptances below a 4.0, and that the blue dots at the top represent students who didn’t attend, your student should aim for a 4.0 or higher to increase their University of Chicago admissions chances.Having a 4.0 or higher is also a good indication that your student will succeed at UChicago. The average GPA for students enrolled is 4.23!Step #2: Get a 33 ACT, 2235 SAT, or HigherAs we mentioned in our article on how to get into UC Berkeley, Ivy Leagues review their applications holistically, meaning they take all things into consideration.Ok, but exactly how real is this holistic approach??On the same chart of University of Chicago admissions statistics that you just saw above, the majority of acceptances thicken signNowly around a 30 ACT and 2070 SAT score. I circled it for ya here.So in order to have the BEST chances of meeting University of Chicago admissions requirements, you should aim for the middle-ground (or higher) of accepted scores: a 33 ACT or 2235 SAT score.But what about the SAT subject test you may ask?No SAT subject tests are required for your application, but we’re going to recommend your student takes them… Remember the 9% admittance rate?UChicago Admissions are super competitive, so you really want to take every opportunity there is to stand out. Have your student study hard for at least two and submit those scores.And don’t forget about Super Scoring!Super Scoring…what’s that?The University of Chicago uses what’s called “Super Scoring”, (or Score Choice) when accepting your ACT and SAT test scores. It means that if you submit multiple test scores for either the ACT or SAT, they will take the highest score you submitted!Step #3: Have the Extracurricular AdvantageWe’ve got something for this too! Remember our article on Extracurricular Activities increasing your Ivy League admissions chances?Well, UChicago is no exception to all that. Here is a pie chart that shows the actual anatomy, if you will, of the University of Chicago in terms of their Extracurricular make-up.So what can you take out from this infographic above? What seems to be to focus?YES, you got it! It seems like there are three categories that are prominent here.U of Chicago Extracurricular Prominent Categories:AthleticsMusicVolunteeringI’m not saying these are the only extracurriculars that the University of Chicago cares about. BUT the fact that the majority of current UChicago students are involved in these categories does say something for the extracurricular habits of students accepted.So maybe you’re not an athlete and don’t play an instrument… But anyone can volunteer! AND there’s quite the variety of community service options open to students these days.Here are some Volunteer tips!Make hygiene kits for the homelessVolunteer at a food bank, food pantry, or soup kitchenBring new or lightly used toys and stuffed animals to a children’s hospital.Teach computer skills to the elderlyThese are just a few specific examples I took from TeenLife’s 10 Community Service Ideas for College-Bound Teens and 50 Community Service Ideas for Teen Volunteers.Step #4: Create a UChicago AccountA UChicago Account is simply an online account where you can access all the information you’ll need as both an applicant, and a student of UChicago.With a UChicago account, you can:Check the status of your applicationUpdate informationApply for financial aidView your admission decisionGet started with your UChicago Application.Step #5: Complete the Universal and Common ApplicationsThese are two different online application sites that allow schools to view student’s applications, and teachers to give college recommendations to those students.For filling these guys out, all you need to do is go to their homepage and follow the steps they give!Start your Universal College Application here and/or start your Common Application here.Step #6: Do Well on the UChicago SupplementNow this is an important one so LISTEN UP! The UChicago Supplement is available through either your UChicago Account or Common Application.The University of Chicago Supplement requires:Extended Essay (You’ll have 5 prompts to choose from)Short essay on why you want to go to UChicagoOptional essay on art or mediaSo what do these essays look like?You can expect to see (and write about) some pretty uncommon things on your essay. Literally, the University of Chicago takes prides in having uncommon essay prompts.What do they mean by using the term “uncommon”?How about a prompt asking you about the latest trends of society?Or a prompt that just catches you completely by surprise?The following were two REAL prompts used for the UChicago extended essay.In other words, you can expect the unexpected when it comes to the University of Chicago extended essay. And here’s some specific examples of essay answers to uncommon UChicago prompts. Your student can read these and get a feel for the tone they want to capture and follow some of our tips we have provided below.University of Chicago Extended Essay “Do’s and Don’ts”:Extra Tip: You don’t have to write about yourself to answer the question. You can, but it’s totally up to you!Step #7: Have a Good Secondary School ReportThey want a secondary school report too? How about my right foot??But remember at a 9% acceptance rate, you are being considered for one of the world’s premiere universities. So yeah, they want it.The secondary school report is basically a recommendation from your student’s advisor. It will ask for the basics, like grades and test scores, but it will ask a few more unique questions too – how organized your student is and what their personality is like, for instance. So make sure to keep your advisor on your good side.Step #8: Get 2 Stellar Recommendations from TeachersSchedule a meeting well in advance to meet with your counselor/advisor and submit this recommendation via either University College Application or the Common Application (I mentioned these earlier!)In another blog I talked about creating the “Ideal Candidate” for the school that your student wants to attend.You can use some of those same categories to find the teachers for your student’s recommendations!Now that you know what kind of teacher to ask, make sure your student gives them plenty of time to write the recommendation.What’s plenty of time?Teachers are busy. A week before the deadline is probably even pushing it, so give them 2 or more. And when you do ask for a recommendation, make sure to have a brag sheet prepared.A brag sheet? You mean you want me to brag about myself?Yup. Think of it this way: Let’s say you’re in a room with 10 people. If all 10 of you applied to the University of Chicago, that means only one of you would be accepted, if any.You need to do everything you can to BE that one! So your teacher needs to know your accomplishments in order to write you a stellar recommendation letter that stands out and fits exactly what the university is looking for.Provide a sheet with the following:Volunteer WorkLeadership PositionsInvolvement in Music and the ArtsClubsCultural ExperiencesHonors and AwardsCommunity ServiceEmploymentIn other words… just follow the steps to fill out our Student Profile.Step #9: Submit a Mid-Year ReportMid-Year report? Didn’t I already submit all my grades?You did. Now they want to make sure you didn’t start slacking afterwards.Your student needs to ask their Academic Advisor to send a mid-year report with grades or transcript your first semester or first trimester.Their school may have their own form for this, or the counselor can use the UCA or CA’s form. Either will work — just make sure this gets done, and looks good!Step #10: Use Extra Opportunities to Stand OutThis means the supplemental criteria offered as an option for University of Chicago admissions.There’s a Portfolio in your student’s UChicago account where they can submit any type of artwork, writing, or anything else they are substantially proud of. This is another chance for your student to shine in the eyes of UChicago.So that portrait of Beyonce they painted in art, or that awesome mini-novel they wrote for English class… those will work.What about the UChicago Interview?Interviews for the University of Chicago admissions are conducted on and off the campus.Face-to-face is always a good way to show your interest in something. That’s why I recommend that your student does one of these.On-Campus interviews your student is interviewed by a fourth-year student in the Office of College Admissions in Rosenwald Hall. And, guess what? The University actually has a current list of the UChicago student interviewers. When your student goes for their interview, they’re bound to see one of these lovely faces there.For Off-Campus interviews: Off-campus interviews are conducted by UChicago alumni. For off-campus interviews, your student should come armed with the following:Knowledge of UChicagoA few questions for the alumnusYou can only book one or the other so your student can either schedule their on-campus interview or schedule their off-campus interview on their UChicago Account.Step #11: Meet Your DeadlinesStep #12: Qualify for a Merit ScholarshipYes, UChicago has merit-based scholarships!However, they’re not exactly the same criteria as you’ve heard from us in reference to a merit scholarship.Basically how it works is when the University of Chicago receives your student’s application, the admissions counselors will review it for possible scholarship awards in addition to them being admitted.So they aren’t automatically awarded after admission, but they’re automatically considered.And they will look at everything: GPA, test scores, personality, and what you did in High School. They might even call your twice removed cousin and see what you did at your 2nd birthday… Ok maybe not that far, but you get the idea.If your student is found eligible for a scholarship, they can receive up to $15,000 per year. (The lowest they can receive is $5,000 per year).ConclusionJust to keep things fresh, let’s review the steps we talked about.To meet your UChicago Admissions Requirements:Earn a 4.23 GPA or HigherGet a 33 on the ACT, a 2235 on the SAT, or HigherHave the Extracurricular AdvantageTo Meet your UChicago Application Requirements:Create a UChicago AccountComplete the Universal and Common ApplicationsDo Well on the UChicago SupplementHave a Good Secondary School ReportGet 2 Stellar Recommendations from TeachersSubmit a Mid-Year ReportUse Extra Opportunities to Stand OutMeet Your DeadlinesApply for Financial AidBioLatest PostsTodd VanDuzerCo-Founder & CEO at Student-TutorHOW TO GET INTO UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO / U CHICAGO ADMISSIONS / U CHICAGO EXTENDED ESSAY / U CHICAGO INTERVIEW / U CHICAGO SUPPLEMENT /UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ADMISSIONSAdmissions & AidProfile for the Class of 2020Apply The Application U Chicago Supplement Essay QuestionsClass Profile Preparing for CollegeVisitingAcademicsStudent LifeHousing & DiningAfter GraduationCosts & AidContact UsApplications to University of ChicagoNumber of Applicants 31,411Number Accepted 2,498Number Enrolled 1,591Distribution by RegionInvolvement in High School ActivitiesCommunity Service 81%Editorial (newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook) 26%Music 44%Religious Organizations 12%Student Government 31%Theater 17%Varsity Athletics 53%Standardized TestingACT Middle 50% 32-35SAT Middle 50% 1460-1550ACT Score Range (Admitted Students) 20-36SAT Score Range (Admitted Students) 1020-1600DiversityAsian 19.04%Black or African American 8.61%Hispanic or Latino 12.95%Other 8.74%International 13.7%Gender DistributionUniversity of Chicago5801 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 | (773) 702-1234#3 (tie) in National UniversitiesOverviewRankingsApplyingCost & AidAcademicsStudent LifeServicesMapMore ▾2017 Quick StatsTUITION & FEES $52,491 (2016-17)ROOM AND BOARD $15,093 (2016-17)TOTAL ENROLLMENT 12,962APPLICATION DEADLINE Jan. 1More from this SchoolUndergraduateGlobalGraduateView All 7 Photos »University of Chicago is a private institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,844, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 217 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of Chicago's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 3. Its tuition and fees are $52,491 (2016-17).The University of Chicago, situated in Chicago’s Hyde Park community, offers a rich campus life in a big-city setting. The Chicago Maroons have more than 15 NCAA Division III teams, which compete in the University Athletic Association, and have strong basketball and wrestling programs. At Chicago, freshmen are required to live on campus, and more than 50 percent of students choose to remain on campus, while others live in off-campus apartments and houses. On-campus students are placed in "houses" within their dorm, which serve as tight-knit communities and provide academic and social support. Chicago offers more than 400 student organizations.The University of Chicago is comprised of the College and a number of graduate and professional schools. Its postgraduate offerings include the highly ranked Booth School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine, Harris School of Public Policy Studies and Department of Geophysical Sciences, as well as a top-ranked graduate program in economics and a well-regarded Divinity School. Since 1987, the school has hosted the four-day long "University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt," now a venerable university tradition. Famous alumni include former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics recipient Milton Friedman, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and author Kurt Vonnegut Jr.General Information1890 YEAR FOUNDEDQuarter ACADEMIC CALENDAR$6,553,570,933 2015 ENDOWMENTSchool Mission and Unique QualitiesContent is provided by the school.The University of Chicago is universally recognized for its devotion to open and rigorous inquiry. The strength of our intellectual traditions, intense critical analysis, and free and lively debate draws from our engaged scholars who continually seek creative solutions to complex problems. Our College graduates have made discoveries in every field of academic study; they are ambitious thinkers who are unafraid to take on the most pressing questions of our time. Their accomplishments have established the University's legacy as one of the world's finest academic institutions. The University of Chicago is affiliated with 89 Nobel Prize winners, over 260 Guggenheim Fellows, 32 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellows, and 24 Pulitzer Prize winners.UChicago is also renowned for the unparalleled resources it provides its undergraduate students. Our 217-acre campus contains six libraries with over 11 million print volumes; over 150 research centers and institutes, including the new Institute for Molecular Engineering and the Institute of Politics; world-class theaters, museums, and art centers; and three of the nation's top professional schools in law, business, and medicine. Rooted in Hyde Park, a neighborhood home to both our campus (certified as a botanical garden) and over 60 percent of the private homes of our faculty, UChicago offers a true campus-based community within the context of a major American city. Our students engage the city of Chicago and its many neighborhoods through groundbreaking research and scholarship, unparalleled internship opportunities, and a commitment to community service. Just as Chicago is a global city, the University of Chicago remains a truly international university: we offer over 45 faculty-led study abroad programs in over 20 countries, including those in conjunction with our centers in Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, and Paris.Yo Yo Ma with Woodlawn Campus Students University of Chicago Charter SchoolUChicago maintains a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, ensuring that every classroom experience exemplifies our commitment to close interactions between students and faculty in small, discussion-style seminars. Our famous Core curriculum - courses in eight subject areas that all students, regardless of their major, are required to take - provides students with a common vocabulary and a well-balanced academic experience, while allowing them the flexibility to explore their own particular interests within those eight subject areas.The Office of Career Advancement helps students translate what they are studying in our classrooms to their future careers. Career Advancement counsels students through individual meetings and larger pre-professional programs, the UChicago Careers In programs. There are eight different UChicago Careers In programs that cover sectors ranging from business and law to health professions and journalism, arts, and media. Additionally, Career Advancement connects students with over 1700 Metcalf internship opportunities - fully funded internships across a range of industries that are only available to UChicago students. Students also enjoy a highly successful Division III sports program; a small but active Greek life community; over thirty-five student theatrical productions a year; a rich music scene; and extraordinary opportunities in politics, music, theater, commerce, and neighborhood life in the city of Chicago.The University's Financial Aid program is extraordinary thanks to the new No Barriers program. No Barriers is a comprehensive plan to increase access to college, support students as they receive an empowering education, and prepare them for lifelong professional success. Families who apply for financial aid do not have to pay a college application fee to UChicago. All of UChicago's need-based financial aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid. No loans are included as part of financial aid packages at the University of Chicago.University of Chicago - CollegeData College ProfileQuestions | Noodle University of Chicago Studentskatherine16, University of Chicago '16 Aug 12, 2015Everyone is so smart and so interesting. People really care about learning, about the things they're doing, and about each other. I constantly feel challenged and motivated to push myself harder. There's a crazy amount of opportunities and professors/advisers/Resident Heads want to help you every chance they can.Admitsee student at University of Chicago, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015The core curriculum, size, resources, and values are aspects of UChicago that I find most appealing. To me, the Core seems to provide a common language that unites a unique mixture of students. I enjoy interacting with students who are passionate about subjects that differ from my own interests, so surely Core disciplines would be some of my favorites. Moreover, I admire the core curriculum itself "eager to indulge in a rich foundation of knowledge." The medium sized student body also fits my ideal college experience: just large to meet new people, but small enough to see familiar faces. Additionally, Chicago is my favorite city in the United States, which is peculiar considering I live thirty minutes outside Manhattan. When I visit family in the Windy City, I relish the friendly Midwestern mentality and the deep-dish pizza. Since my perfect college experience includes a stimulating nearby city, UChicago is ideal. In terms of academic resources, I plan to major in Public Policy on the Pre-medicine track both of which the College is distinguished for. In fact, I hope to engage in undergraduate public policy research, concentrating in urban healthcare allocation. Finally, the University's values, such as involvement in surrounding community, appreciation of humor, and holistic approach to academics, resonate with my own beliefs.jasonzhao3, University of Chicago '18Aug 12, 2015The students here actually genuinely love learning, and will discuss pretty intellectual topics casually. I have heard a ridiculous amount of Marx or Durkheim themed jokes. The school has a definite sort of 'quirkiness.' The housing system is also great in that you enter college with an already existing network of supportive students. It's like having a college family with its own strange quirks and traditions. The city of Chicago is also just great and offers many unique opportunities and sights to see.DeltaXue, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015This school is so ridiculously quirky in every fashion possible. First the architecture: the quad looks like it came straight out of 18th century England or something, yet we have buildings that look like some futuristic setting (see Booth School of Business or Renee Granville-Grossman). It's a wonderful mix and I appreciate the beauty of the juxtaposition. It's also a really small campus so everything is very lively a lot of the time. Smaller college wide traditions include $1 Milkshake wednesdays (YES THE BEST), Lascivious Ball (semi-naked dance party sponsored by the college!), Kuvia ( get up at 6am every day to go do sun stances, though I already do that for crew, and earlier), and so much more. Culture is wonderful at this school, but there are those that choose to not participate in it and are locked into their work. I don't believe them, and I don't respect them because they choose to not participate in said events. They will be the people telling college students in the future to enjoy the moment because they did not themselves. Seriously, enjoy college culture.aros888, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015It's very nice to have a city school, for one. There are so many opportunities for internships, work, etc. For UChicago more specifically, I very much enjoy the common core. There are a large number of required classes (though you can pick among a set of options), generally concentrated around the "common" readings of great works, from people like Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Durkheim, etc. It's not work that will directly apply to anything you do, but the critical thinking and writing skills you gain are useful, and the actual work is very interesting.Fifty Years of Clinical Legal Education at Chicago LawBest Law Schools#1 Yale University New Haven, CT#2 Tie Harvard University Cambridge, MA#2 Tie Stanford University Stanford, CA#4 Tie Columbia University New York, NY#4 Tie University of Chicago Chicago, IL#6 New York University New York, NY#7 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA#8 Tie University of California—​Berkeley#8 Tie University of Michigan—​Ann Arbor#8 Tie University of Virginia Charlottesville, VABest Business Schools#1 Harvard University Boston, MA#2 Tie Stanford University Stanford, CA#2 Tie University of Chicago (Booth) Chicago, IL#4 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Philadelphia, PA#5 Tie Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) Cambridge, MA#5 Tie Northwestern University (Kellogg) Evanston, IL#7 University of California—​Berkeley (Haas) Berkeley, CA#8 Tie Dartmouth College (Tuck) Hanover, NH#8 Tie Yale University New Haven, CT#10 Columbia University New York, NY#1 Harvard University Boston, MA#2 Stanford University Stanford, CA#3 Tie Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD#3 Tie University of California—​San Francisco#3 Tie University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) Philadelphia, PA#6 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO#7 Columbia University New York, NY#8 Tie Duke University Durham, NC#8 Tie University of Washington Seattle, WA#8 Tie Yale University New Haven, CT#11 Tie New York University (Langone) New York, NY#11 Tie University of Chicago (Pritzker) Chicago, IL#11 Tie University of Michigan—​Ann Arbor#14 University of California—​Los Angeles (Geffen)#15 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN#16 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA#17 Northwestern University (Feinberg) Chicago, IL#18 Tie Cornell University (Weill) New York, NY

Q. How difficult is it to get into the university of Chicago?A. Tuan Nguyen's answer to What does it take to get into the University of Chicago?To maximize your chance of admission into the University of Chicago:Earn a 4.23 GPA or Higher (Greater emphasis on rigors of secondary school record, than GPA or class rank)Get a 33 on the ACT, a 2235 on the SAT, or Higher (Greater emphasis on standardized tests)Have the Extracurricular Advantage (Greater emphasis on character and personal qualities)Emphasis on Recommendations and EssaysHow to Get Into University of Chicago (Student-Tutor)University of Chicago: Profile Class of 2020US News Rankings and ReviewsCollegeData College ProfileQuestions | Noodle: University of Chicago StudentsPresident Barack Obama speaks to students at the University of Chicago Law School on April 7, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama addressed his U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland as he hopes members of the Republican party will give Garland a hearing and a vote in Washington. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)How to Get Into University of Chicago: Admissions RequirementsCo-authored by Renae HintzeUChicago considers itself “One of the world’s premier academic and research institutions”.Sound too good to be true?They may be tooting their own horn, but Students and faculty from UChicago have made great strides over the years, such as developing the first cloud-based computing system to process cancer data (in 2013) – I mean, wow. I still burn my popcorn in the microwave sometimes.With an average of 27,500 students applying every year, the UChicago acceptance rate comes in at only 9%. I already know what you’re thinking… 9%?! So what does it take to be part of that??Without further ado, I bestow you these 12 Steps to increase your student’s UChicago Admissions chances! (Number 10 is pretty unique.)Step #1: Earn a 4.0 GPA or HigherCheck this out… It’s a chart of University of College Admissions statistics. See all those little blue and green dots? They represent the students that were accepted. And check out where they’re pow-wowing up around the top – it says “4.0”.While we could argue that there ARE acceptances below a 4.0, and that the blue dots at the top represent students who didn’t attend, your student should aim for a 4.0 or higher to increase their University of Chicago admissions chances.Having a 4.0 or higher is also a good indication that your student will succeed at UChicago. The average GPA for students enrolled is 4.23!Step #2: Get a 33 ACT, 2235 SAT, or HigherAs we mentioned in our article on how to get into UC Berkeley, Ivy Leagues review their applications holistically, meaning they take all things into consideration.Ok, but exactly how real is this holistic approach??On the same chart of University of Chicago admissions statistics that you just saw above, the majority of acceptances thicken signNowly around a 30 ACT and 2070 SAT score. I circled it for ya here.So in order to have the BEST chances of meeting University of Chicago admissions requirements, you should aim for the middle-ground (or higher) of accepted scores: a 33 ACT or 2235 SAT score.But what about the SAT subject test you may ask?No SAT subject tests are required for your application, but we’re going to recommend your student takes them… Remember the 9% admittance rate?UChicago Admissions are super competitive, so you really want to take every opportunity there is to stand out. Have your student study hard for at least two and submit those scores.And don’t forget about Super Scoring!Super Scoring…what’s that?The University of Chicago uses what’s called “Super Scoring”, (or Score Choice) when accepting your ACT and SAT test scores. It means that if you submit multiple test scores for either the ACT or SAT, they will take the highest score you submitted!Step #3: Have the Extracurricular AdvantageWe’ve got something for this too! Remember our article on Extracurricular Activities increasing your Ivy League admissions chances?Well, UChicago is no exception to all that. Here is a pie chart that shows the actual anatomy, if you will, of the University of Chicago in terms of their Extracurricular make-up.So what can you take out from this infographic above? What seems to be to focus?YES, you got it! It seems like there are three categories that are prominent here.U of Chicago Extracurricular Prominent Categories:AthleticsMusicVolunteeringI’m not saying these are the only extracurriculars that the University of Chicago cares about. BUT the fact that the majority of current UChicago students are involved in these categories does say something for the extracurricular habits of students accepted.So maybe you’re not an athlete and don’t play an instrument… But anyone can volunteer! AND there’s quite the variety of community service options open to students these days.Here are some Volunteer tips!Make hygiene kits for the homelessVolunteer at a food bank, food pantry, or soup kitchenBring new or lightly used toys and stuffed animals to a children’s hospital.Teach computer skills to the elderlyThese are just a few specific examples I took from TeenLife’s 10 Community Service Ideas for College-Bound Teens and 50 Community Service Ideas for Teen Volunteers.Step #4: Create a UChicago AccountA UChicago Account is simply an online account where you can access all the information you’ll need as both an applicant, and a student of UChicago.With a UChicago account, you can:Check the status of your applicationUpdate informationApply for financial aidView your admission decisionGet started with your UChicago Application.Step #5: Complete the Universal and Common ApplicationsThese are two different online application sites that allow schools to view student’s applications, and teachers to give college recommendations to those students.For filling these guys out, all you need to do is go to their homepage and follow the steps they give!Start your Universal College Application here and/or start your Common Application here.Step #6: Do Well on the UChicago SupplementNow this is an important one so LISTEN UP! The UChicago Supplement is available through either your UChicago Account or Common Application.The University of Chicago Supplement requires:Extended Essay (You’ll have 5 prompts to choose from)Short essay on why you want to go to UChicagoOptional essay on art or mediaSo what do these essays look like?You can expect to see (and write about) some pretty uncommon things on your essay. Literally, the University of Chicago takes prides in having uncommon essay prompts.What do they mean by using the term “uncommon”?How about a prompt asking you about the latest trends of society?Or a prompt that just catches you completely by surprise?The following were two REAL prompts used for the UChicago extended essay.In other words, you can expect the unexpected when it comes to the University of Chicago extended essay. And here’s some specific examples of essay answers to uncommon UChicago prompts. Your student can read these and get a feel for the tone they want to capture and follow some of our tips we have provided below.University of Chicago Extended Essay “Do’s and Don’ts”:Extra Tip: You don’t have to write about yourself to answer the question. You can, but it’s totally up to you!Step #7: Have a Good Secondary School ReportThey want a secondary school report too? How about my right foot??But remember at a 9% acceptance rate, you are being considered for one of the world’s premiere universities. So yeah, they want it.The secondary school report is basically a recommendation from your student’s advisor. It will ask for the basics, like grades and test scores, but it will ask a few more unique questions too – how organized your student is and what their personality is like, for instance. So make sure to keep your advisor on your good side.Step #8: Get 2 Stellar Recommendations from TeachersSchedule a meeting well in advance to meet with your counselor/advisor and submit this recommendation via either University College Application or the Common Application (I mentioned these earlier!)In another blog I talked about creating the “Ideal Candidate” for the school that your student wants to attend.You can use some of those same categories to find the teachers for your student’s recommendations!Now that you know what kind of teacher to ask, make sure your student gives them plenty of time to write the recommendation.What’s plenty of time?Teachers are busy. A week before the deadline is probably even pushing it, so give them 2 or more. And when you do ask for a recommendation, make sure to have a brag sheet prepared.A brag sheet? You mean you want me to brag about myself?Yup. Think of it this way: Let’s say you’re in a room with 10 people. If all 10 of you applied to the University of Chicago, that means only one of you would be accepted, if any.You need to do everything you can to BE that one! So your teacher needs to know your accomplishments in order to write you a stellar recommendation letter that stands out and fits exactly what the university is looking for.Provide a sheet with the following:Volunteer WorkLeadership PositionsInvolvement in Music and the ArtsClubsCultural ExperiencesHonors and AwardsCommunity ServiceEmploymentIn other words… just follow the steps to fill out our Student Profile.Step #9: Submit a Mid-Year ReportMid-Year report? Didn’t I already submit all my grades?You did. Now they want to make sure you didn’t start slacking afterwards.Your student needs to ask their Academic Advisor to send a mid-year report with grades or transcript your first semester or first trimester.Their school may have their own form for this, or the counselor can use the UCA or CA’s form. Either will work — just make sure this gets done, and looks good!Step #10: Use Extra Opportunities to Stand OutThis means the supplemental criteria offered as an option for University of Chicago admissions.There’s a Portfolio in your student’s UChicago account where they can submit any type of artwork, writing, or anything else they are substantially proud of. This is another chance for your student to shine in the eyes of UChicago.So that portrait of Beyonce they painted in art, or that awesome mini-novel they wrote for English class… those will work.What about the UChicago Interview?Interviews for the University of Chicago admissions are conducted on and off the campus.Face-to-face is always a good way to show your interest in something. That’s why I recommend that your student does one of these.On-Campus interviews your student is interviewed by a fourth-year student in the Office of College Admissions in Rosenwald Hall. And, guess what? The University actually has a current list of the UChicago student interviewers. When your student goes for their interview, they’re bound to see one of these lovely faces there.For Off-Campus interviews: Off-campus interviews are conducted by UChicago alumni. For off-campus interviews, your student should come armed with the following:Knowledge of UChicagoA few questions for the alumnusYou can only book one or the other so your student can either schedule their on-campus interview or schedule their off-campus interview on their UChicago Account.Step #11: Meet Your DeadlinesStep #12: Qualify for a Merit ScholarshipYes, UChicago has merit-based scholarships!However, they’re not exactly the same criteria as you’ve heard from us in reference to a merit scholarship.Basically how it works is when the University of Chicago receives your student’s application, the admissions counselors will review it for possible scholarship awards in addition to them being admitted.So they aren’t automatically awarded after admission, but they’re automatically considered.And they will look at everything: GPA, test scores, personality, and what you did in High School. They might even call your twice removed cousin and see what you did at your 2nd birthday… Ok maybe not that far, but you get the idea.If your student is found eligible for a scholarship, they can receive up to $15,000 per year. (The lowest they can receive is $5,000 per year).ConclusionJust to keep things fresh, let’s review the steps we talked about.To meet your UChicago Admissions Requirements:Earn a 4.23 GPA or HigherGet a 33 on the ACT, a 2235 on the SAT, or HigherHave the Extracurricular AdvantageTo Meet your UChicago Application Requirements:Create a UChicago AccountComplete the Universal and Common ApplicationsDo Well on the UChicago SupplementHave a Good Secondary School ReportGet 2 Stellar Recommendations from TeachersSubmit a Mid-Year ReportUse Extra Opportunities to Stand OutMeet Your DeadlinesApply for Financial AidBioLatest PostsTodd VanDuzerCo-Founder & CEO at Student-TutorHOW TO GET INTO UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO / U CHICAGO ADMISSIONS / U CHICAGO EXTENDED ESSAY / U CHICAGO INTERVIEW / U CHICAGO SUPPLEMENT /UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ADMISSIONSAdmissions & AidProfile for the Class of 2020Apply The Application U Chicago Supplement Essay QuestionsClass Profile Preparing for CollegeVisitingAcademicsStudent LifeHousing & DiningAfter GraduationCosts & AidContact UsApplications to University of ChicagoNumber of Applicants 31,411Number Accepted 2,498Number Enrolled 1,591Distribution by RegionInvolvement in High School ActivitiesCommunity Service 81%Editorial (newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook) 26%Music 44%Religious Organizations 12%Student Government 31%Theater 17%Varsity Athletics 53%Standardized TestingACT Middle 50% 32-35SAT Middle 50% 1460-1550ACT Score Range (Admitted Students) 20-36SAT Score Range (Admitted Students) 1020-1600DiversityAsian 19.04%Black or African American 8.61%Hispanic or Latino 12.95%Other 8.74%International 13.7%Gender DistributionUniversity of Chicago5801 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 | (773) 702-1234#3 (tie) in National UniversitiesOverviewRankingsApplyingCost & AidAcademicsStudent LifeServicesMapMore ▾2017 Quick StatsTUITION & FEES $52,491 (2016-17)ROOM AND BOARD $15,093 (2016-17)TOTAL ENROLLMENT 12,962APPLICATION DEADLINE Jan. 1More from this SchoolUndergraduateGlobalGraduateView All 7 Photos »University of Chicago is a private institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,844, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 217 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of Chicago's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 3. Its tuition and fees are $52,491 (2016-17).The University of Chicago, situated in Chicago’s Hyde Park community, offers a rich campus life in a big-city setting. The Chicago Maroons have more than 15 NCAA Division III teams, which compete in the University Athletic Association, and have strong basketball and wrestling programs. At Chicago, freshmen are required to live on campus, and more than 50 percent of students choose to remain on campus, while others live in off-campus apartments and houses. On-campus students are placed in "houses" within their dorm, which serve as tight-knit communities and provide academic and social support. Chicago offers more than 400 student organizations.The University of Chicago is comprised of the College and a number of graduate and professional schools. Its postgraduate offerings include the highly ranked Booth School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine, Harris School of Public Policy Studies and Department of Geophysical Sciences, as well as a top-ranked graduate program in economics and a well-regarded Divinity School. Since 1987, the school has hosted the four-day long "University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt," now a venerable university tradition. Famous alumni include former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics recipient Milton Friedman, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and author Kurt Vonnegut Jr.General Information1890 YEAR FOUNDEDQuarter ACADEMIC CALENDAR$6,553,570,933 2015 ENDOWMENTSchool Mission and Unique QualitiesContent is provided by the school.The University of Chicago is universally recognized for its devotion to open and rigorous inquiry. The strength of our intellectual traditions, intense critical analysis, and free and lively debate draws from our engaged scholars who continually seek creative solutions to complex problems. Our College graduates have made discoveries in every field of academic study; they are ambitious thinkers who are unafraid to take on the most pressing questions of our time. Their accomplishments have established the University's legacy as one of the world's finest academic institutions. The University of Chicago is affiliated with 89 Nobel Prize winners, over 260 Guggenheim Fellows, 32 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellows, and 24 Pulitzer Prize winners.UChicago is also renowned for the unparalleled resources it provides its undergraduate students. Our 217-acre campus contains six libraries with over 11 million print volumes; over 150 research centers and institutes, including the new Institute for Molecular Engineering and the Institute of Politics; world-class theaters, museums, and art centers; and three of the nation's top professional schools in law, business, and medicine. Rooted in Hyde Park, a neighborhood home to both our campus (certified as a botanical garden) and over 60 percent of the private homes of our faculty, UChicago offers a true campus-based community within the context of a major American city. Our students engage the city of Chicago and its many neighborhoods through groundbreaking research and scholarship, unparalleled internship opportunities, and a commitment to community service. Just as Chicago is a global city, the University of Chicago remains a truly international university: we offer over 45 faculty-led study abroad programs in over 20 countries, including those in conjunction with our centers in Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, and Paris.Yo Yo Ma with Woodlawn Campus Students University of Chicago Charter SchoolUChicago maintains a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, ensuring that every classroom experience exemplifies our commitment to close interactions between students and faculty in small, discussion-style seminars. Our famous Core curriculum - courses in eight subject areas that all students, regardless of their major, are required to take - provides students with a common vocabulary and a well-balanced academic experience, while allowing them the flexibility to explore their own particular interests within those eight subject areas.The Office of Career Advancement helps students translate what they are studying in our classrooms to their future careers. Career Advancement counsels students through individual meetings and larger pre-professional programs, the UChicago Careers In programs. There are eight different UChicago Careers In programs that cover sectors ranging from business and law to health professions and journalism, arts, and media. Additionally, Career Advancement connects students with over 1700 Metcalf internship opportunities - fully funded internships across a range of industries that are only available to UChicago students. Students also enjoy a highly successful Division III sports program; a small but active Greek life community; over thirty-five student theatrical productions a year; a rich music scene; and extraordinary opportunities in politics, music, theater, commerce, and neighborhood life in the city of Chicago.The University's Financial Aid program is extraordinary thanks to the new No Barriers program. No Barriers is a comprehensive plan to increase access to college, support students as they receive an empowering education, and prepare them for lifelong professional success. Families who apply for financial aid do not have to pay a college application fee to UChicago. All of UChicago's need-based financial aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid. No loans are included as part of financial aid packages at the University of Chicago.University of Chicago - CollegeData College ProfileQuestions | Noodle University of Chicago Studentskatherine16, University of Chicago '16 Aug 12, 2015Everyone is so smart and so interesting. People really care about learning, about the things they're doing, and about each other. I constantly feel challenged and motivated to push myself harder. There's a crazy amount of opportunities and professors/advisers/Resident Heads want to help you every chance they can.Admitsee student at University of Chicago, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015The core curriculum, size, resources, and values are aspects of UChicago that I find most appealing. To me, the Core seems to provide a common language that unites a unique mixture of students. I enjoy interacting with students who are passionate about subjects that differ from my own interests, so surely Core disciplines would be some of my favorites. Moreover, I admire the core curriculum itself "eager to indulge in a rich foundation of knowledge." The medium sized student body also fits my ideal college experience: just large to meet new people, but small enough to see familiar faces. Additionally, Chicago is my favorite city in the United States, which is peculiar considering I live thirty minutes outside Manhattan. When I visit family in the Windy City, I relish the friendly Midwestern mentality and the deep-dish pizza. Since my perfect college experience includes a stimulating nearby city, UChicago is ideal. In terms of academic resources, I plan to major in Public Policy on the Pre-medicine track both of which the College is distinguished for. In fact, I hope to engage in undergraduate public policy research, concentrating in urban healthcare allocation. Finally, the University's values, such as involvement in surrounding community, appreciation of humor, and holistic approach to academics, resonate with my own beliefs.jasonzhao3, University of Chicago '18Aug 12, 2015The students here actually genuinely love learning, and will discuss pretty intellectual topics casually. I have heard a ridiculous amount of Marx or Durkheim themed jokes. The school has a definite sort of 'quirkiness.' The housing system is also great in that you enter college with an already existing network of supportive students. It's like having a college family with its own strange quirks and traditions. The city of Chicago is also just great and offers many unique opportunities and sights to see.DeltaXue, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015This school is so ridiculously quirky in every fashion possible. First the architecture: the quad looks like it came straight out of 18th century England or something, yet we have buildings that look like some futuristic setting (see Booth School of Business or Renee Granville-Grossman). It's a wonderful mix and I appreciate the beauty of the juxtaposition. It's also a really small campus so everything is very lively a lot of the time. Smaller college wide traditions include $1 Milkshake wednesdays (YES THE BEST), Lascivious Ball (semi-naked dance party sponsored by the college!), Kuvia ( get up at 6am every day to go do sun stances, though I already do that for crew, and earlier), and so much more. Culture is wonderful at this school, but there are those that choose to not participate in it and are locked into their work. I don't believe them, and I don't respect them because they choose to not participate in said events. They will be the people telling college students in the future to enjoy the moment because they did not themselves. Seriously, enjoy college culture.aros888, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015It's very nice to have a city school, for one. There are so many opportunities for internships, work, etc. For UChicago more specifically, I very much enjoy the common core. There are a large number of required classes (though you can pick among a set of options), generally concentrated around the "common" readings of great works, from people like Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Durkheim, etc. It's not work that will directly apply to anything you do, but the critical thinking and writing skills you gain are useful, and the actual work is very interesting.Fifty Years of Clinical Legal Education at Chicago LawBest Law Schools#1 Yale University New Haven, CT#2 Tie Harvard University Cambridge, MA#2 Tie Stanford University Stanford, CA#4 Tie Columbia University New York, NY#4 Tie University of Chicago Chicago, IL#6 New York University New York, NY#7 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA#8 Tie University of California—​Berkeley#8 Tie University of Michigan—​Ann Arbor#8 Tie University of Virginia Charlottesville, VABest Business Schools#1 Harvard University Boston, MA#2 Tie Stanford University Stanford, CA#2 Tie University of Chicago (Booth) Chicago, IL#4 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Philadelphia, PA#5 Tie Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) Cambridge, MA#5 Tie Northwestern University (Kellogg) Evanston, IL#7 University of California—​Berkeley (Haas) Berkeley, CA#8 Tie Dartmouth College (Tuck) Hanover, NH#8 Tie Yale University New Haven, CT#10 Columbia University New York, NY#1 Harvard University Boston, MA#2 Stanford University Stanford, CA#3 Tie Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD#3 Tie University of California—​San Francisco#3 Tie University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) Philadelphia, PA#6 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO#7 Columbia University New York, NY#8 Tie Duke University Durham, NC#8 Tie University of Washington Seattle, WA#8 Tie Yale University New Haven, CT#11 Tie New York University (Langone) New York, NY#11 Tie University of Chicago (Pritzker) Chicago, IL#11 Tie University of Michigan—​Ann Arbor#14 University of California—​Los Angeles (Geffen)#15 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN#16 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA#17 Northwestern University (Feinberg) Chicago, IL#18 Tie Cornell University (Weill) New York, NY

Q. What kind of students get into the University of Chicago?A. To meet your U Chicago Admissions Requirements:Earn a 4.23 GPA or Higher (Greater emphasis on rigors of secondary school record, than GPA or class rank)Get a 33 on the ACT, a 2235 on the SAT, or Higher (Greater emphasis on standardized tests)Have the Extracurricular Advantage (Greater emphasis on character and personal qualities)Emphasis on Recommendations and EssaysHow to Get Into University of Chicago (Student-Tutor)University of Chicago: Profile Class of 2020US News Rankings and ReviewsCollegeData College ProfileQuestions | Noodle: University of Chicago StudentsPresident Barack Obama speaks to students at the University of Chicago Law School on April 7, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama addressed his U.S. Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland as he hopes members of the Republican party will give Garland a hearing and a vote in Washington. (Photo by Joshua Lott/Getty Images)How to Get Into University of Chicago: Admissions RequirementsCo-authored by Renae HintzeUChicago considers itself “One of the world’s premier academic and research institutions”.Sound too good to be true?They may be tooting their own horn, but Students and faculty from UChicago have made great strides over the years, such as developing the first cloud-based computing system to process cancer data (in 2013) – I mean, wow. I still burn my popcorn in the microwave sometimes.With an average of 27,500 students applying every year, the UChicago acceptance rate comes in at only 9%. I already know what you’re thinking… 9%?! So what does it take to be part of that??Without further ado, I bestow you these 12 Steps to increase your student’s UChicago Admissions chances! (Number 10 is pretty unique.)Step #1: Earn a 4.0 GPA or HigherCheck this out… It’s a chart of University of College Admissions statistics. See all those little blue and green dots? They represent the students that were accepted. And check out where they’re pow-wowing up around the top – it says “4.0”.While we could argue that there ARE acceptances below a 4.0, and that the blue dots at the top represent students who didn’t attend, your student should aim for a 4.0 or higher to increase their University of Chicago admissions chances.Having a 4.0 or higher is also a good indication that your student will succeed at UChicago. The average GPA for students enrolled is 4.23!Step #2: Get a 33 ACT, 2235 SAT, or HigherAs we mentioned in our article on how to get into UC Berkeley, Ivy Leagues review their applications holistically, meaning they take all things into consideration.Ok, but exactly how real is this holistic approach??On the same chart of University of Chicago admissions statistics that you just saw above, the majority of acceptances thicken signNowly around a 30 ACT and 2070 SAT score. I circled it for ya here.So in order to have the BEST chances of meeting University of Chicago admissions requirements, you should aim for the middle-ground (or higher) of accepted scores: a 33 ACT or 2235 SAT score.But what about the SAT subject test you may ask?No SAT subject tests are required for your application, but we’re going to recommend your student takes them… Remember the 9% admittance rate?UChicago Admissions are super competitive, so you really want to take every opportunity there is to stand out. Have your student study hard for at least two and submit those scores.And don’t forget about Super Scoring!Super Scoring…what’s that?The University of Chicago uses what’s called “Super Scoring”, (or Score Choice) when accepting your ACT and SAT test scores. It means that if you submit multiple test scores for either the ACT or SAT, they will take the highest score you submitted!Step #3: Have the Extracurricular AdvantageWe’ve got something for this too! Remember our article on Extracurricular Activities increasing your Ivy League admissions chances?Well, UChicago is no exception to all that. Here is a pie chart that shows the actual anatomy, if you will, of the University of Chicago in terms of their Extracurricular make-up.So what can you take out from this infographic above? What seems to be to focus?YES, you got it! It seems like there are three categories that are prominent here.U of Chicago Extracurricular Prominent Categories:AthleticsMusicVolunteeringI’m not saying these are the only extracurriculars that the University of Chicago cares about. BUT the fact that the majority of current UChicago students are involved in these categories does say something for the extracurricular habits of students accepted.So maybe you’re not an athlete and don’t play an instrument… But anyone can volunteer! AND there’s quite the variety of community service options open to students these days.Here are some Volunteer tips!Make hygiene kits for the homelessVolunteer at a food bank, food pantry, or soup kitchenBring new or lightly used toys and stuffed animals to a children’s hospital.Teach computer skills to the elderlyThese are just a few specific examples I took from TeenLife’s 10 Community Service Ideas for College-Bound Teens and 50 Community Service Ideas for Teen Volunteers.Step #4: Create a UChicago AccountA UChicago Account is simply an online account where you can access all the information you’ll need as both an applicant, and a student of UChicago.With a UChicago account, you can:Check the status of your applicationUpdate informationApply for financial aidView your admission decisionGet started with your UChicago Application.Step #5: Complete the Universal and Common ApplicationsThese are two different online application sites that allow schools to view student’s applications, and teachers to give college recommendations to those students.For filling these guys out, all you need to do is go to their homepage and follow the steps they give!Start your Universal College Application here and/or start your Common Application here.Step #6: Do Well on the UChicago SupplementNow this is an important one so LISTEN UP! The UChicago Supplement is available through either your UChicago Account or Common Application.The University of Chicago Supplement requires:Extended Essay (You’ll have 5 prompts to choose from)Short essay on why you want to go to UChicagoOptional essay on art or mediaSo what do these essays look like?You can expect to see (and write about) some pretty uncommon things on your essay. Literally, the University of Chicago takes prides in having uncommon essay prompts.What do they mean by using the term “uncommon”?How about a prompt asking you about the latest trends of society?Or a prompt that just catches you completely by surprise?The following were two REAL prompts used for the UChicago extended essay.In other words, you can expect the unexpected when it comes to the University of Chicago extended essay. And here’s some specific examples of essay answers to uncommon UChicago prompts. Your student can read these and get a feel for the tone they want to capture and follow some of our tips we have provided below.University of Chicago Extended Essay “Do’s and Don’ts”:Extra Tip: You don’t have to write about yourself to answer the question. You can, but it’s totally up to you!Step #7: Have a Good Secondary School ReportThey want a secondary school report too? How about my right foot??But remember at a 9% acceptance rate, you are being considered for one of the world’s premiere universities. So yeah, they want it.The secondary school report is basically a recommendation from your student’s advisor. It will ask for the basics, like grades and test scores, but it will ask a few more unique questions too – how organized your student is and what their personality is like, for instance. So make sure to keep your advisor on your good side.Step #8: Get 2 Stellar Recommendations from TeachersSchedule a meeting well in advance to meet with your counselor/advisor and submit this recommendation via either University College Application or the Common Application (I mentioned these earlier!)In another blog I talked about creating the “Ideal Candidate” for the school that your student wants to attend.You can use some of those same categories to find the teachers for your student’s recommendations!Now that you know what kind of teacher to ask, make sure your student gives them plenty of time to write the recommendation.What’s plenty of time?Teachers are busy. A week before the deadline is probably even pushing it, so give them 2 or more. And when you do ask for a recommendation, make sure to have a brag sheet prepared.A brag sheet? You mean you want me to brag about myself?Yup. Think of it this way: Let’s say you’re in a room with 10 people. If all 10 of you applied to the University of Chicago, that means only one of you would be accepted, if any.You need to do everything you can to BE that one! So your teacher needs to know your accomplishments in order to write you a stellar recommendation letter that stands out and fits exactly what the university is looking for.Provide a sheet with the following:Volunteer WorkLeadership PositionsInvolvement in Music and the ArtsClubsCultural ExperiencesHonors and AwardsCommunity ServiceEmploymentIn other words… just follow the steps to fill out our Student Profile.Step #9: Submit a Mid-Year ReportMid-Year report? Didn’t I already submit all my grades?You did. Now they want to make sure you didn’t start slacking afterwards.Your student needs to ask their Academic Advisor to send a mid-year report with grades or transcript your first semester or first trimester.Their school may have their own form for this, or the counselor can use the UCA or CA’s form. Either will work — just make sure this gets done, and looks good!Step #10: Use Extra Opportunities to Stand OutThis means the supplemental criteria offered as an option for University of Chicago admissions.There’s a Portfolio in your student’s UChicago account where they can submit any type of artwork, writing, or anything else they are substantially proud of. This is another chance for your student to shine in the eyes of UChicago.So that portrait of Beyonce they painted in art, or that awesome mini-novel they wrote for English class… those will work.What about the UChicago Interview?Interviews for the University of Chicago admissions are conducted on and off the campus.Face-to-face is always a good way to show your interest in something. That’s why I recommend that your student does one of these.On-Campus interviews your student is interviewed by a fourth-year student in the Office of College Admissions in Rosenwald Hall. And, guess what? The University actually has a current list of the UChicago student interviewers. When your student goes for their interview, they’re bound to see one of these lovely faces there.For Off-Campus interviews: Off-campus interviews are conducted by UChicago alumni. For off-campus interviews, your student should come armed with the following:Knowledge of UChicagoA few questions for the alumnusYou can only book one or the other so your student can either schedule their on-campus interview or schedule their off-campus interview on their UChicago Account.Step #11: Meet Your DeadlinesStep #12: Qualify for a Merit ScholarshipYes, UChicago has merit-based scholarships!However, they’re not exactly the same criteria as you’ve heard from us in reference to a merit scholarship.Basically how it works is when the University of Chicago receives your student’s application, the admissions counselors will review it for possible scholarship awards in addition to them being admitted.So they aren’t automatically awarded after admission, but they’re automatically considered.And they will look at everything: GPA, test scores, personality, and what you did in High School. They might even call your twice removed cousin and see what you did at your 2nd birthday… Ok maybe not that far, but you get the idea.If your student is found eligible for a scholarship, they can receive up to $15,000 per year. (The lowest they can receive is $5,000 per year).ConclusionJust to keep things fresh, let’s review the steps we talked about.To meet your UChicago Admissions Requirements:Earn a 4.23 GPA or HigherGet a 33 on the ACT, a 2235 on the SAT, or HigherHave the Extracurricular AdvantageTo Meet your UChicago Application Requirements:Create a UChicago AccountComplete the Universal and Common ApplicationsDo Well on the UChicago SupplementHave a Good Secondary School ReportGet 2 Stellar Recommendations from TeachersSubmit a Mid-Year ReportUse Extra Opportunities to Stand OutMeet Your DeadlinesApply for Financial AidBioLatest PostsTodd VanDuzerCo-Founder & CEO at Student-TutorHOW TO GET INTO UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO / U CHICAGO ADMISSIONS / U CHICAGO EXTENDED ESSAY / U CHICAGO INTERVIEW / U CHICAGO SUPPLEMENT /UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ADMISSIONSAdmissions & AidProfile for the Class of 2020Apply The Application U Chicago Supplement Essay Questions Class Profile Preparing for CollegeVisitingAcademicsStudent LifeHousing & DiningAfter GraduationCosts & AidContact UsApplications to University of ChicagoNumber of Applicants 31,411Number Accepted 2,498Number Enrolled 1,591Distribution by RegionInvolvement in High School ActivitiesCommunity Service 81%Editorial (newspaper, literary magazine, yearbook) 26%Music 44%Religious Organizations 12%Student Government 31%Theater 17%Varsity Athletics 53%Standardized TestingACT Middle 50% 32-35SAT Middle 50% 1460-1550ACT Score Range (Admitted Students) 20-36SAT Score Range (Admitted Students) 1020-1600DiversityAsian 19.04%Black or African American 8.61%Hispanic or Latino 12.95%Other 8.74%International 13.7%Gender DistributionUniversity of Chicago5801 S. Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637 | (773) 702-1234#3 (tie) in National UniversitiesOverviewRankingsApplyingCost & AidAcademicsStudent LifeServicesMapMore ▾2017 Quick StatsTUITION & FEES $52,491 (2016-17)ROOM AND BOARD $15,093 (2016-17)TOTAL ENROLLMENT 12,962APPLICATION DEADLINE Jan. 1More from this SchoolUndergraduateGlobalGraduateView All 7 Photos »University of Chicago is a private institution that was founded in 1890. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,844, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 217 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of Chicago's ranking in the 2017 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 3. Its tuition and fees are $52,491 (2016-17).The University of Chicago, situated in Chicago’s Hyde Park community, offers a rich campus life in a big-city setting. The Chicago Maroons have more than 15 NCAA Division III teams, which compete in the University Athletic Association, and have strong basketball and wrestling programs. At Chicago, freshmen are required to live on campus, and more than 50 percent of students choose to remain on campus, while others live in off-campus apartments and houses. On-campus students are placed in "houses" within their dorm, which serve as tight-knit communities and provide academic and social support. Chicago offers more than 400 student organizations.The University of Chicago is comprised of the College and a number of graduate and professional schools. Its postgraduate offerings include the highly ranked Booth School of Business, Law School, Pritzker School of Medicine, Harris School of Public Policy Studies and Department of Geophysical Sciences, as well as a top-ranked graduate program in economics and a well-regarded Divinity School. Since 1987, the school has hosted the four-day long "University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt," now a venerable university tradition. Famous alumni include former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics recipient Milton Friedman, civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, former U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and author Kurt Vonnegut Jr.General Information1890 YEAR FOUNDEDQuarter ACADEMIC CALENDAR$6,553,570,933 2015 ENDOWMENTSchool Mission and Unique QualitiesContent is provided by the school.The University of Chicago is universally recognized for its devotion to open and rigorous inquiry. The strength of our intellectual traditions, intense critical analysis, and free and lively debate draws from our engaged scholars who continually seek creative solutions to complex problems. Our College graduates have made discoveries in every field of academic study; they are ambitious thinkers who are unafraid to take on the most pressing questions of our time. Their accomplishments have established the University's legacy as one of the world's finest academic institutions. The University of Chicago is affiliated with 89 Nobel Prize winners, over 260 Guggenheim Fellows, 32 MacArthur "Genius Grant" Fellows, and 24 Pulitzer Prize winners.UChicago is also renowned for the unparalleled resources it provides its undergraduate students. Our 217-acre campus contains six libraries with over 11 million print volumes; over 150 research centers and institutes, including the new Institute for Molecular Engineering and the Institute of Politics; world-class theaters, museums, and art centers; and three of the nation's top professional schools in law, business, and medicine. Rooted in Hyde Park, a neighborhood home to both our campus (certified as a botanical garden) and over 60 percent of the private homes of our faculty, UChicago offers a true campus-based community within the context of a major American city. Our students engage the city of Chicago and its many neighborhoods through groundbreaking research and scholarship, unparalleled internship opportunities, and a commitment to community service. Just as Chicago is a global city, the University of Chicago remains a truly international university: we offer over 45 faculty-led study abroad programs in over 20 countries, including those in conjunction with our centers in Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi, and Paris.Yo Yo Ma with Woodlawn Campus Students University of Chicago Charter SchoolUChicago maintains a student-faculty ratio of 5:1, ensuring that every classroom experience exemplifies our commitment to close interactions between students and faculty in small, discussion-style seminars. Our famous Core curriculum - courses in eight subject areas that all students, regardless of their major, are required to take - provides students with a common vocabulary and a well-balanced academic experience, while allowing them the flexibility to explore their own particular interests within those eight subject areas.The Office of Career Advancement helps students translate what they are studying in our classrooms to their future careers. Career Advancement counsels students through individual meetings and larger pre-professional programs, the UChicago Careers In programs. There are eight different UChicago Careers In programs that cover sectors ranging from business and law to health professions and journalism, arts, and media. Additionally, Career Advancement connects students with over 1700 Metcalf internship opportunities - fully funded internships across a range of industries that are only available to UChicago students. Students also enjoy a highly successful Division III sports program; a small but active Greek life community; over thirty-five student theatrical productions a year; a rich music scene; and extraordinary opportunities in politics, music, theater, commerce, and neighborhood life in the city of Chicago.The University's Financial Aid program is extraordinary thanks to the new No Barriers program. No Barriers is a comprehensive plan to increase access to college, support students as they receive an empowering education, and prepare them for lifelong professional success. Families who apply for financial aid do not have to pay a college application fee to UChicago. All of UChicago's need-based financial aid comes in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not need to be repaid. No loans are included as part of financial aid packages at the University of Chicago.University of Chicago - CollegeData College ProfileQuestions | Noodle University of Chicago Studentskatherine16, University of Chicago '16 Aug 12, 2015Everyone is so smart and so interesting. People really care about learning, about the things they're doing, and about each other. I constantly feel challenged and motivated to push myself harder. There's a crazy amount of opportunities and professors/advisers/Resident Heads want to help you every chance they can.Admitsee student at University of Chicago, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015The core curriculum, size, resources, and values are aspects of UChicago that I find most appealing. To me, the Core seems to provide a common language that unites a unique mixture of students. I enjoy interacting with students who are passionate about subjects that differ from my own interests, so surely Core disciplines would be some of my favorites. Moreover, I admire the core curriculum itself "eager to indulge in a rich foundation of knowledge." The medium sized student body also fits my ideal college experience: just large to meet new people, but small enough to see familiar faces. Additionally, Chicago is my favorite city in the United States, which is peculiar considering I live thirty minutes outside Manhattan. When I visit family in the Windy City, I relish the friendly Midwestern mentality and the deep-dish pizza. Since my perfect college experience includes a stimulating nearby city, UChicago is ideal. In terms of academic resources, I plan to major in Public Policy on the Pre-medicine track both of which the College is distinguished for. In fact, I hope to engage in undergraduate public policy research, concentrating in urban healthcare allocation. Finally, the University's values, such as involvement in surrounding community, appreciation of humor, and holistic approach to academics, resonate with my own beliefs.jasonzhao3, University of Chicago '18Aug 12, 2015The students here actually genuinely love learning, and will discuss pretty intellectual topics casually. I have heard a ridiculous amount of Marx or Durkheim themed jokes. The school has a definite sort of 'quirkiness.' The housing system is also great in that you enter college with an already existing network of supportive students. It's like having a college family with its own strange quirks and traditions. The city of Chicago is also just great and offers many unique opportunities and sights to see.DeltaXue, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015This school is so ridiculously quirky in every fashion possible. First the architecture: the quad looks like it came straight out of 18th century England or something, yet we have buildings that look like some futuristic setting (see Booth School of Business or Renee Granville-Grossman). It's a wonderful mix and I appreciate the beauty of the juxtaposition. It's also a really small campus so everything is very lively a lot of the time. Smaller college wide traditions include $1 Milkshake wednesdays (YES THE BEST), Lascivious Ball (semi-naked dance party sponsored by the college!), Kuvia ( get up at 6am every day to go do sun stances, though I already do that for crew, and earlier), and so much more. Culture is wonderful at this school, but there are those that choose to not participate in it and are locked into their work. I don't believe them, and I don't respect them because they choose to not participate in said events. They will be the people telling college students in the future to enjoy the moment because they did not themselves. Seriously, enjoy college culture.aros888, University of Chicago '17 Aug 12, 2015It's very nice to have a city school, for one. There are so many opportunities for internships, work, etc. For UChicago more specifically, I very much enjoy the common core. There are a large number of required classes (though you can pick among a set of options), generally concentrated around the "common" readings of great works, from people like Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche, Durkheim, etc. It's not work that will directly apply to anything you do, but the critical thinking and writing skills you gain are useful, and the actual work is very interesting.Fifty Years of Clinical Legal Education at Chicago LawBest Law Schools#1 Yale University New Haven, CT#2 Tie Harvard University Cambridge, MA#2 Tie Stanford University Stanford, CA#4 Tie Columbia University New York, NY#4 Tie University of Chicago Chicago, IL#6 New York University New York, NY#7 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA#8 Tie University of California—​Berkeley#8 Tie University of Michigan—​Ann Arbor#8 Tie University of Virginia Charlottesville, VABest Business Schools#1 Harvard University Boston, MA#2 Tie Stanford University Stanford, CA#2 Tie University of Chicago (Booth) Chicago, IL#4 University of Pennsylvania (Wharton) Philadelphia, PA#5 Tie Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan) Cambridge, MA#5 Tie Northwestern University (Kellogg) Evanston, IL#7 University of California—​Berkeley (Haas) Berkeley, CA#8 Tie Dartmouth College (Tuck) Hanover, NH#8 Tie Yale University New Haven, CT#10 Columbia University New York, NY#1 Harvard University Boston, MA#2 Stanford University Stanford, CA#3 Tie Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD#3 Tie University of California—​San Francisco#3 Tie University of Pennsylvania (Perelman) Philadelphia, PA#6 Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO#7 Columbia University New York, NY#8 Tie Duke University Durham, NC#8 Tie University of Washington Seattle, WA#8 Tie Yale University New Haven, CT#11 Tie New York University (Langone) New York, NY#11 Tie University of Chicago (Pritzker) Chicago, IL#11 Tie University of Michigan—​Ann Arbor#14 University of California—​Los Angeles (Geffen)#15 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN#16 University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA#17 Northwestern University (Feinberg) Chicago, IL#18 Tie Cornell University (Weill) New York, NY