If you are considering a visit, weekday visits when classes are in session will give you the best picture of life at Chicago. All visitors are welcome to take a tour and attend an information session. Seniors in high school can stay overnight, have an admissions interview, or visit a class. See why our campus was designated a botanical garden, and why Hyde Park is a model of international and racial diversity.
Tours
Weekday Tours
The Office of College Admissions is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except on major holidays*. One-hour walking tours led by current students depart from the admissions office every weekday, immediately followed by information sessions about admission and financial aid led by an admissions counselor. No reservations are necessary for families to take tours or to sit in on information sessions, and they are open to all grades and ages (see below for large group tours).
December through February: tours depart at 10:30 a.m.
March through November: tours depart 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Visitors should feel free to drop by outside of the normal tour times to pick up admissions literature and a walking guide.
* The office and the university are closed on the following major holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. We are closed most Saturdays and all Sundays.
Saturday Tours
From September 27 to November 22, the office will be open on Saturday mornings for tours, interviews, and an information session. Again, no reservation is necessary for tours or information sessions. High school seniors wishing to schedule interviews should see below.
| Time | |
|---|---|
| Tour | 9:00 a.m. |
| Information Session | 10:00 a.m. |
| Tour | 11:00 a.m. |
Getting here
The Office of College Admissions is located on the first floor of Rosenwald Hall, in the center of the main quads, at 1101 E 58th Street (marked on the interactive map below with a green schoolhouse).
Students are willing to give directions if asked, preferably in exchange for a small gift or cupcake.
View Larger Map
As in any large city, parking can be a challenge. If you choose to drive to campus (and there are alternatives), please allow an extra 30 minutes to secure a parking space and walk to Ids Noyes Hall. Street parking may be available, though spaces are difficult to find after 7:30 a.m.
We recommend that visitors park at the University of Chicago Hospitals garage, three blocks west of the admissions office, at 59th Street and Maryland Avenue (the blue parking symbol on the left of the interactive map). Park your car and bring the ticket to the admissions office for a discounted validation sticker. The price is $6.00 for 24 hours.
The visitors’ garage at 55th Street and Ellis Avenue provides parking for $4.00 per hour with a $20.00 maximum charge (the blue parking symbol at the top of the map above). Parking is free from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and on weekends and holidays. We do not have validation stickers for this lot.
Interviews
Interviews are not required for admission into the College. However, we encourage you to have one so that you can learn more about the University of Chicago and we can get to know you better; the interview is both informative and evaluative. The interview is meant to be a conversation, not a grill session, so come with questions and be ready to talk about yourself. Each of the two options described below is treated equally in the selection process.
On-campus interviews
To schedule an on-campus interview, call the Office of College Admissions at 773-702-8650 at least two weeks in advance and before you make travel reservations. If you schedule an interview and find out that you cannot make it to campus, please call the admissions office to cancel.
| Interviews Begin | Interviews End | |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Early Action | May 1, 2008 | November 3, 2008 |
| Freshman Regular Notification | May 1, 2008 | January 12, 2009 |
| Transfer | January 12, 2009 | April 3, 2009 |
Alumni interviews
Students who do not live in the greater Chicago area and who are unable to visit campus before the application deadline may request an interview with an alumnus/a in their area. After you submit your Common Application and receive an email with instructions on how to log into this website, log in and click “Request an alumni interview.” We will start accepting interview requests in September.
Candidate requests are due in November for Freshman Early Action applicants, January for Freshman Regular Notification applicants, and March for Transfer applicants.
Overnight visits
Overnight visits allow seniors in high school to experience firsthand the academic and social life at the University of Chicago. Visiting seniors eat dinner in a dining hall with their student host and spend one lovely night on their floor. If you would like to spend the night on campus, please call at least three weeks in advance and before you make travel arrangements.
Overnight visits are available for one night, Thursday or Friday, during the months of October, November, January, and February. In April, overnight visits are available for admitted seniors in high school every weeknight, Monday through Friday. Reservations may be made by calling 773-702-8650 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Remember to bring a sleeping bag, toiletries, pillow, and a change of clothes and something to sleep in. Let your parents know how to reach you and when to meet you the next morning. You must arrive in the admissions office by 4:00 p.m. on the night of your overnight. If you have scheduled an overnight stay and find out that you cannot make it to campus, please call the admissions office to cancel.
Large group tours
The University of Chicago is happy to try to schedule group tours for high school seniors and juniors from schools, extracurricular groups or community organizations. Please call us at 773-702-8650 at least three weeks in advance to set up a tour for a large group.
Please note that we can no longer accommodate groups of students who are not in 11th or 12th grade. Tours for younger students and other parties can be arranged through the University of Chicago’s Community Service Center. The UCSC may be reached at 773-753-GIVE or ucsc@uchicago.edu.
