Did you know the University of Chicago has launched a brand-new “ED 0” round?

In last year’s admissions cycle, the University of Chicago (UChicago) quietly introduced a unique early application option, unofficially dubbed the “ED 0” round (official name: Summer Student Early Notification, SSEN).

This round happens even earlier than the traditional ED I and ED II — and is the most mysterious of UChicago’s five application pathways, as it doesn’t even appear on the main “How to Apply” page of their website.

Who can apply?

Only high school students who have completed an official UChicago summer program (either online or in-person) are eligible for the ED 0 round.

Timeline

• Submission window: September 1 – October 15

• Decisions released: Within about three weeks of submission, no later than November 1

How is it different from ED I? 

ED 0 is essentially an earlier version of ED I:

• It’s still binding (meaning if you’re admitted, you must enroll).

• But decisions are announced even earlier than ED I, and if you’re rejected, you still have time to pivot and apply ED I to another school with a November 1 deadline — including Ivy League universities.

If you have any questions towards college application, feel free to reach out to us, our consultants are more than happy to provide more insights to you! 

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