AVID Seniors Visit the University of Chicago

Today I took my AVID seniors to visit the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, and I came away just as impressed as they were.

Outside the Searle Chemistry Laboratory. A chemistry teacher had to stop here.

The first thing that surprised me was the size of the campus. I had no idea how big the university is. We walked for a long time and still only saw part of it.

Built to Look Old

The architecture was impressive. Many of the buildings feel centuries old, but the university was founded in 1890 by John D. Rockefeller, with the first classes held in 1892. The original campus was intentionally designed in a Gothic style modeled after the University of Oxford, using limestone, towers, and carved details to give a brand new school the feel of an ancient one. Even the chemistry building had its name carved in old-style lettering, which, of course, I had to photograph.

The same building’s name, carved in stone.

What It Costs

The most important thing my students learned today was about cost. Starting in fall 2027, which is exactly when my seniors would start college, UChicago will offer free tuition to students whose families earn less than $250,000 a year. Students whose families earn less than $125,000 a year will also have housing, meals, and fees covered. That means a world class education could be free for many of our families.

Getting In

UChicago is also extremely selective. The acceptance rate is under 5 percent, and the middle 50 percent of admitted students who submit scores earn between a 34 and 35 on the ACT. That is a high bar, but it is a reminder of why the habits we build in AVID matter.

Listening to our guide, it was clear that UChicago offers incredible opportunities for its students. I hope today helped my seniors see that schools like this are not out of reach, and that cost should never be the reason they don’t apply.

Sources

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