UChicago / Interview
The UChicago interview
Optional interview, and it carries minor weight in the decision. Here is how it works and how to prepare.
Optional interview
Optional alumni interview, ~30-45 min, virtual or in your area; offered to most applicants who request one through the application portal
How to prepare for UChicago
- UChicago interviews are conversational and intellectual in tone , come ready to discuss ideas, books, or topics you genuinely care about, not just your resume.
- Interviewers are alumni volunteers; expect wide variation in style, but nearly all ask why UChicago specifically , go beyond 'Core curriculum' to name specific courses, professors, or intellectual traditions.
- The interview is low-stakes in terms of admissions weight, but a strong one can reinforce your application's intellectual fit , UChicago values curiosity and original thinking over polished achievements.
- Request the interview as early as possible after submitting; availability is limited and not all applicants are matched with an interviewer.
Practice before the real thing
Rehearse real admissions-interview questions and get an honest read on your answers, what an interviewer hears, where you sound generic, and what to sharpen. We coach you; we never script you.
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