Chicago's Uncommon Transfer Application

Go to the new blog!

2008-07-11T13:52:00.001-07:00

This blog is now defunct; further entries will be made on the new blog:

https://blogs.uchicago.edu/collegeadmissions/

Transfer decisions are ready!

2008-05-20T07:32:00.000-07:00

Applicants can log into the online application to retrieve their decisions. We ended up admitting around 40 students each round, early and regular. A small handful of students were wait listed, and you can claim your spot on the waiting list online. We also put decisions in the mail last Friday. Even if you didn't get an email notifying you that your decision was ready to check online, your decision is ready to check online.

Transfer credentials are closed

2008-05-07T07:19:00.001-07:00

In case you didn't notice, credentials closed on April 30. If you have further questions about your credentials, please call the office at 773-702-8650 or email questions@phoenix.uchicago.edu.

Transfer decisions are available!

2008-04-16T13:23:00.001-07:00

Early action transfer decisions are available online -- just log into the online application to view your decision letter. We also put paper decisions in the mail yesterday. We also sent an email (which you probably got) an hour and a half ago notifying you that it's high time to log into the Uncommon Application and check your decision. So, if we received an early action application from you... log in and check your decision!

A few notes for admitted students...

Transfer credit - transfer credit evaluations will be sent out next week, so watch for those.

Financial aid - we will not be sending any financial aid decisions until after May 1 when we get the freshmen out of the door. If this is an issue, or you're worried about your application being complete or correct, you should call the aid office at 773-702-8655.

Transfer credentials are open

2008-04-16T09:45:00.000-07:00

Regular notification transfer applicants can now check their credentials online by logging into the online application and clicking "Check credentials."

However! We are still processing credentials, so there is no need to resend anything that is missing (unless, of course, you know for a fact that you forgot to send it in the first place.)

Later this month we will finish our work and encourage students whose applications remain incomplete to send us missing documents. Until then, there is no need to do anything.

Credentials are open!

2008-03-24T12:38:00.001-07:00

Early action transfer applicants can check their credentials by logging into the online application and clicking Check Credentials.

If something is missing, we need it to be resent. It doesn't matter if you didn't send it, if you thought you sent it, if you obviously sent it and it fell behind the office couch - we need it. Many documents can be faxed or even emailed to get them here faster, but some cannot.

Documents that can be emailed or faxed:

Email: questions@phoenix.uchicago.edu (please include a subject line)
Domestic Fax: 773-702-8599
International Fax: 773-702-4704

Application for Admission: Form 1
Three Essays
Secondary School Report: Form 2
Dean of Students' Recommendation: Form 3A
College Instructor's Recommendation: Form 3B
College Instructor's Recommendation: Form 3C
College/University Courses: Form 3D
SAT/ACT score report

Documents that must be mailed:

$60 fee (please make checks out to The University of Chicago)
College or high school transcript

In a few days we'll send an email to students whose applications remain incomplete. Credentials checking will close again on April 1 as we prepare to send decisions.

Baseball team's trip to Japan

2008-03-17T06:41:00.001-07:00

There was a pretty cool article in the Chicago Tribune the other day about our baseball team's spring break trip to Japan. In turns out that they're revisiting a rivalry started back in 1910. I hope they do OK!

Have you received everything?

2008-03-12T07:21:00.001-07:00

We are still working on processing transfer credentials. At some point later this month we will open credentials checking online. We will let you know on this blog when credentials checking is available.

You're still welcome to apply early action

2008-03-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

Early action applicants should submit their applications by midnight tonight!

Also, you may request an alumni interview until midnight on March 5.

Transfer early action deadline

2008-03-03T08:29:00.000-08:00

The transfer early action deadline has passed, but we've gotten a lot of emails from students who meant to apply early and were a little late. The application closed right at midnight, which is not something we wanted to have happen, and I'm not quite sure why it did. We're not strict deadline people over here. I'm working on opening it back up so that students who wanted to apply early action can still do so. I'll let everyone know later when we have the early action deadline opened again.

Alumni interview requests are now open

2008-01-04T07:39:00.000-08:00

To request an alumni interview, just log into the online application, click "Request an alumni interview," check the box, and then click "Save & Continue." Your interview request will be processed over the next few days. There is no need to submit your application before requesting an interview, or having your interview. The deadline to request an interview is March 1, whether you are applying early or regular.

On-campus interviews are available to transfer applicants starting this month, and going until mid-March for early candidates and mid-April for regular candidates.

Ask a transfer student...

2007-11-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hi there, prospective transfer students.

Around this time, you're probably beginning to think about the road that lies before you in transferring from your current school. I was in your shoes two years ago.

There are lots of questions about lots of things regarding the transfer process that are rather unique to transfers - I had a lot of questions 2 years ago that I didn't have when I applied as a freshman.

If you have questions about any part of the transfer process - from questions regarding the admission process, application, and required documents to questions about what goes on after you're admitted and whether you will make that crucial decision to matriculate as a new transfer student at the University of Chicago.... about things like transfer credit, housing, the Core (in 2 or 3 years), your major, B.A. Papers, and anything else - you can ask me. I've been through the process before, and I've learned a lot since I've been here.

You can post here or e-mail me directly at transfer@phoenix.uchicago.edu.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Transfer application is available!

2007-10-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

You can now create a new transfer account at uncommonapplication.uchicago.edu.

The PDF application will be available to download later this month, but you should also make an account online -- all of the PDFs you need to give to instructors and deans are available there.

Transfer application will go live next week

2007-10-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Expect to be able to begin your online transfer applications at the end of next week. Hooray!

Transfer essay questions are the same as freshmen, which are available here.

Application Calendar

2007-08-24T09:32:00.001-07:00

If you are using Google Calendar (or would like to start but didn't have anything to subscribe to), I created an Application Calendar that has important dates and deadlines during the College's application cycle this year. As you can see, nothing is really happening for a while, but I will update the calendar with important dates as we go on through the year.

While you apply to college, I'm applying to grad school

2007-07-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be applying to public policy and education master's programs this fall, so I'll be taking standardized tests, visiting campuses, and trying to get recommendations just like everyone else. I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing if you keep me posted on your questions and concerns.

I use a Machintosh, though that is not the "official" computer of the office or the university (the admissions office uses PCs, but the university will support anything.) At any rate, I was playing around on the Apple website and I saw, not an iPhone, but a calendar of ACT and SAT dates that you can subscribe to. Neat! There are also popular calendars that do not have to do with college admissions that you can subscribe to.

Even if you are an "older" applicant and have been out of high school or college for a while, you must submit an SAT or ACT score that is less than five years old. If you are planning on transferring and have never taken a standardized test, consider taking one this fall.

Maybe we should publish a calendar with our dates and deadlines. I'll start thinking about that.

The graduate applicants have it so much better, though, since when you take the computer-based GRE, you can take it basically any day at any time at these testing centers around the country. It's very nice.

No commuters in 2008

2007-07-03T08:53:00.001-07:00

Students starting in 2008 will no longer be permitted to commute from home -- everyone must live on campus. Older students can still petition to live off campus, but that will be discouraged.