collageTransfer-Profile
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
- Private4 year
- 6,891Full + Part time Students
- 1:5Faculty to Student Ratio
- 1%Transfer Student Ratio
Since the University of Chicago’s founding in 1890, the Graham School of Continuing Liberal and Professional Studies has served as the center of its lifelong learning. The Graham School is dedicated to curating and disseminating the University’s rich content for a broader set of learners in ever more innovative ways, helping the University engage civically, globally, and with the latest developments in teaching and learning. By extending the reach of the University through professional programs, by spanning the educational continuum through bridge and partnership efforts, and by supporting a commitment to ongoing education in the liberal arts, the Graham School offers courses, certificates, and degrees to over 4,500 students annually.Will my credits transfer?Request More Information
Overview
| Founded | 1890 |
|---|---|
| Full-Time Undergraduate | 6,891 |
| Transfer Students | 26 |
| Programs | 186 |
| Courses | 1,879 |
| Equivalencies | 1,985 outgoing |
Financial Information
| In-State Tuition | $57,642 |
|---|---|
| Out-of-State Tuition | $57,642 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,800 |
Scholarships and Financial Aid:Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a CSS Profile or our free UChicago Financial Aid Worksheet. The University of Chicago meets a student’s full demonstrated need throughout their undergraduate career at UChicago. The number of quarters for which you receive financial aid will depend on your transfer credit evaluation, which you will receive after you are offered admission.Tuition and Fees:Estimated tuition is $57,642, while room and board on-campus costs roughly $17,004 per year, and we will work with your family to create a comprehensive aid package that fits your circumstances.
Information for Transfer In Students
Accepts Transfers:Transfer students play a meaningful role in life in the College. If you have already completed at least one term as a full-time student in a degree-seeking program at another college or university, you should apply as a transfer student.Technical/Vocation Credit Accepted:Technical and vocational courses are not eligible for transfer credit.Credit For Life Experience:Prior learning experiences including work experience, trainings, certifications, etc. are not eligible for transfer credit.
Application Deadlines for Transfer
| Transfer Early Decision | February 15 |
|---|---|
| Transfer Rolling Decision | March 1 |
Transfer Application Requirements
Official Transcripts:An official transcript should be sent from your high school. Request that official college or university transcripts from every post-secondary school you have attended be sent directly to the Office of College Admissions.Essay:The UChicago Supplement requires one extended essay of your choice and one short-answer essay on why you would like to attend. In addition, transfer applicants must submit a short essay telling us why you are planning to leave your current college.Application Fee:We do not charge an application fee for students applying for need-based financial aid. For students not applying for need-based financial aid, our application fee is $75 and can be submitted through the Coalition Application.Associates Degree Required:Courses taken during high school, or that were used toward an awarded associate’s degree, are not eligible for transfer credit.Other Requirements:If you would like to add your voice to your application, you have the option to submit a two-minute video introduction. You may also submit supplemental material representing a significant talent, passion, or achievement.Apply Here:https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/transfer-applicants
Transfer Credit Policy
Minimum Grade:We grant transfer credit for liberal arts courses that carry at least 3 semester or 4 quarter hours of credit and were passed with a grade of C or better (in some cases a grade of B or better is required) from an accredited baccalaureate institution.Credits (Min/Max):More than half of the requirements for a major and/or minor must be met by registering for courses bearing University of Chicago course numbers.
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How to Transfer into an Elite College
Trying to calculate your chances of gaining acceptance into an elite college or university through the transfer admissions process is about as easy as handicapping a cat race. Unlike the regular admissions process, there is enough fluctuation in admission-related variables from year-to-year to make even the best prognosticator about as accurate as Miss Cleo (RIP).
If you find yourself pining to gain acceptance as a transfer into an elite college or university, be prepared to enter an impossible-to-predict game. Dartmouth’s recent history demonstrates this truth quite well. In the last few years, the transfer admissions rate has bounced from 4% (in 2019-20) to as high as 29% (in 2020-21) as they have accepted between a handful and 75+ students per year. On average, a transfer applicant to a prestigious school will face slightly poorer odds than a typical applicant for undergraduate admission. For example, Stanford accepts just 3.9% of transfers versus 4.3% of freshmen. The University of Chicago takes in 5% of transfer applicants compared to 6% of regular applicants. Washington and Lee, which admits 19% of freshman applicants, typically welcomes just 13% of transfer hopefuls.
That being said, if you’re dead-set on exiting your current institution for greener pastures, there are five strategies you can employ to improve your likelihood of success:
Tip #1: Do your research
While it is impossible to predict the transfer process on any given admissions cycle, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that there are a fair number of selective schools known to be “transfer-friendly.” Wesleyan University typically enrolls approximately 60 transfers each fall and 15 each spring; the acceptance rate in 2020-21 was 25%. Boston University sports a higher admission rate for transfers (54% in 2020-21) than regular applicants (20%). Many top-notch state universities including all schools in the University of California system, UNC—Chapel Hill, Clemson, and UVA offer similarly generous rates to transfer applicants. Baylor, Southern Methodist, American, Kenyon, and Skidmore are additional private institutions that sport significantly higher transfer acceptance rates than freshman acceptance rates.
Tip #2: Grades are king
Simply put, if you are looking to transfer to a competitive school, your college transcript, embryonic as it may be, needs to sparkle. If you are looking to transfer as a college freshman, your high school grades, especially those from senior year will take center stage. Candidates that had strong SATs but poor high school grades can no longer sell their “potential.” A 1490 SAT score and a 1.9 GPA your freshman year of college does not paint an appetizing student profile. Even if you are unhappy at your current school, put every ounce of effort into achieving stellar grades. It will be your best ticket onto the campus of your dreams.
Tip #3: Professor recommendations matter
As a student with aspirations to transfer into an elite university, chances are you stood out from the crowd in the eyes of at least one professor. In seeking letters of recommendation, target professors who took note of your eagerness to contribute to class discussions, your regular appearances at office hours for the purposes of seeking help and/or engaging in further intellectual discussion, or your research/term paper that ultimately received a very high mark.
If possible, you are seeking more than just a generic “He/She got an ‘A’ in my class” type of recommendation letter. If you are presently just beginning your college experience at a community or non-top choice school with the aim of transferring to a prestigious college next year, make it a point to exhibit these type of attributes as each semester unfolds. Remember that the goal is to leave a lasting impression. While your professor may ultimately be sad for their institution to lose a student of your caliber, chances are they will be more than happy to assist you in following your academic dreams.
Tip #4: How to approach transfer application essays
There are two main things that you want to highlight in a transfer admissions essay: 1) Why your prospective transfer school is a perfect fit for you; and 2) What unique attributes and talents you will bring to campus.
Share with your prospective new academic home what makes them attractive and unique. Smaller class size, a particular academic program, a more diverse environment, or even proximity to home are just a sampling of the legitimate selling points you can offer. Mention specific courses that you are eager to take at their institution, certain distinguished professors who you desire to study under, and unique clubs, activities, or campus traditions in which you are excited to partake. Take advantage of this chance to impress admissions officers with you expansive knowledge of their institution as well as a highly-specific accounting of how you will take advantage of your time there. Doing so will separate you from the pack of similarly-qualified transfer applicants.
This is also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your record of involvement on campus. It is far easier to sell yourself as someone who will be a contributing member of the campus community if you displayed these qualities at your previous college. Students with an eye on transferring are sometimes so focused on escaping their first institution that they fail to become involved in anything outside of the classroom and thus miss out on valuable opportunities to demonstrate leadership and passion—the very traits needed to transfer to a prestigious school.
Tip #5: Craft a positive narrative
Make sure that the reasons that you communicate for wanting to transfer do not end up sounding like a nasty Yelp review of your present school. While you may want to leave College X because the professors are all centenarian windbags and your roommate is breeding skunks to sell on Craigslist (is there really a market for that?), remember that the school to which you are applying wants to feel wanted. Think about it; would you rather listen to your girlfriend/boyfriend rant about their ex or hear them tell you what makes you awesome. Admissions officers considering a transfer student feel the same way.
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