Admissions Tips for Chicago
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18 Nov 2004, 10:31
Hi, everyone. I just had a great conversation with a current student at Chicago. She used to work in admissions. Here are some of the tips I received:
1. GMAT score: A score that's below 630-650 will cast doubt in the admissions counselors' mind on your ability to handle the academic rigor at Chicago. On the other hand, great essays might boost your chances. Example is a woman who had a great story and a unique background and got in with a 500 score. They don't have a strict cut-off for GMAT scores. But if you have at least a 650, the GMAT seems to matter less, and they look at your essays. It seems that they don't weight your AWA score heavily since they can judge your writing ability based on your essays.
2. Essays - Have a consistent story and theme. Furthermore, you need to give specifics about why you want to go to Chicago. Even in the creative essays, the reasons you give should tie into your story. Reveal who you are and your personality. "Don't be a jerk!" They look for people whom they want to be in class with.
The aforementioned tips came from one former admissions counselor only, and may not reflect the views of the other counselors. I hope these tips help nevertheless.
Sincerely,
Questor