Why all the Chicago bashing?

[Anonymous]

In our ORM community, Chicago is highly respected.

Often parents and kids out of reach for T5 would look into Chicago. Essentially it is the default T6 in practice. Its elite signaling is unambiguous, an ivy plus for sure.

Elite outcomes in: Law. Economics. Academia. Finance. Consulting. Policy.

A weak legacy preference. Extremely high academic intensity. Little emphasis on athletic recruitment. Often rewards exactly the ORM kids' profiles.

[Anonymous]

ORM = online reputation management ?

[Anonymous]

ORM = over represented minority ?

[Anonymous]

Maybe folks are disgusted with U Chicago supporters inappropriate use of acronyms ?

[Anonymous]

Probably due, in large part, to U Chicago's playing an admission's game that makes the school appear to be more selective than it actually is.

Maybe due somewhat to the neighborhood surrounding the school & safety concerns ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ORM = over represented minority ?

Asian?

[Anonymous]

It’s a great school and one of the best undergraduate educations out there.
People bash it because of its heavy use of ED. Many of those who bash it likely are upset that kids who they think are less qualified than theirs end up at a better school because they were willing to play the game and apply ED.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ORM = over represented minority ?

Asian?

My guess is that ORM = over-represented minority which, in this case, is probably Asian (guessing by the weird language used by OP in the thread starting post).

[Anonymous]

I like the school because they take smart students who might be too nerdy or quirky for Ivies.

[Anonymous]

Chicago is the one top15 school that will take kids down to the 50% percentile from top privates. It is also a very, very reliable bet for kids in the top 20% at these same high schools. As such, many kids from these privates will ED1/SCEA an Ivy or other top15 school and then if they don't get in they will ED2 Chicago.

As such, it gets a reputation as a safety school of sorts at these high schools. The gild is off the lily. Few kids get excited by Chicago.

Everyone agrees that it is a fantastic school but it's not one that kids from certain privates get excited by. Also in part because so many kids attend it. At these privates, up to 10% of the class will end up matriculating there.

[Anonymous]

Because Chicago wants kids that want Chicago. So all of these prestige-obsessed parents that just want their kid to get in somewhere that sounds impressive are mad that their kid’s odds are super low if they don’t ED. They feel entitled to a T10 and are mad that Chicago refuses to be that backup for them when the inevitable Ivy rejection comes through.

That, and most of the posters here are absolutely clueless about higher education beyond the admissions process.

[Anonymous]

Because people here complain about everything and need more interesting jobs. Chicago is a great school.

[Anonymous]

Always amused by U Chicago supporters who constantly let others know of their intellectual prowess. Not even clear that U Chicago is the best university in the Chicago area.

I acknowledge that U Chicago's law school is outstanding and its MBA school (Booth), while usually ranked lower than Northwestern-Kellogg, is outstanding.

Not sure, but, if I recall correctly, Northwestern University is ranked higher than U Chicago regarding undergraduate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because Chicago wants kids that want Chicago. So all of these prestige-obsessed parents that just want their kid to get in somewhere that sounds impressive are mad that their kid’s odds are super low if they don’t ED. They feel entitled to a T10 and are mad that Chicago refuses to be that backup for them when the inevitable Ivy rejection comes through.

That, and most of the posters here are absolutely clueless about higher education beyond the admissions process.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chicago is the one top15 school that will take kids down to the 50% percentile from top privates. It is also a very, very reliable bet for kids in the top 20% at these same high schools. As such, many kids from these privates will ED1/SCEA an Ivy or other top15 school and then if they don't get in they will ED2 Chicago.

As such, it gets a reputation as a safety school of sorts at these high schools. The gild is off the lily. Few kids get excited by Chicago.

Everyone agrees that it is a fantastic school but it's not one that kids from certain privates get excited by. Also in part because so many kids attend it. At these privates, up to 10% of the class will end up matriculating there.

Great post.

Very true for at least one super elite New England boarding school. The kids and their families focus on East Coast (Ivy League) schools and Stanford. U Chicago is an afterthought although recognized as a great school.