Recent U Chicago Experiences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you trying to disguise their gender or are they non-binary? Non-binary may help with admissions.

Not trying to disguise gender and not non-binary. Is the school experience different for boys vs girls ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you trying to disguise their gender or are they non-binary? Non-binary may help with admissions.

Are you the same person who keeps trying to make this claim? Show any evidence anywhere where a school has an admissions boost for non-binary students.

[Anonymous]

My DCs love U Chicago. They are focused kids who went to a private high school which was known for academic rigor, so Chicago is on par with what they expected. The nine week quarter is hard- they don’t lighten the content despite what a pp said- the professors cram it in. One DC got admitted to a class and access to an honors problem set the night before it was due, and pulled an all nighter to get it turned in (would have been a zero grade otherwise). Other DC was assigned an entire book to read overnight (tale of Genji) for class discussion the next day.it is what it is.

But they also play a sport seriously and practice several times a week, travel to compete. and on weekends have time to see friends and go into the city for meals.

One more thing- culture is to hear other opinions respectfully- you can have whatever opinion, but be prepared to defend it with data and logic and get trashed if you can’t. DCs love people can agree to disagree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I want to make sure they have time for things like internships and study abroad and other activities that make you an interesting person.

U of Chicago might be one of the worst schools to achieve these goals.

Try U of Nevada at Las Vegas or U of Texas at El Paso.

Do you know kids who actually attend? The ones I know personally had internships, did weekly volunteer work in in the city, and were active members of clubs. They are great kids! I don't know about study abroad bc the ones i know well are freshmen and sophomores and the older kids were anxious to stay on campus bc of time lost to covid -- but i am sure Chicago would get you stats on that.

Yes, I personally know some. Yes. Some study abroad or get internships. It was the “interesting” part they lack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quarter system is a pain. I would really not send my kid to a school that is on a quarter system. you barely learn anything and are always rushed.

Quarter system/trimester system is great. No wasted time. Used by several schools including Dartmouth College, Northwestern, Carleton College, UCLA, Santa Clara University, and others. Some take 3 courses per term, while others take 4.

[Anonymous]

Academically very intense but interesting courses.
Definitely exchange programs are available in different countries. Booth school has a campus in London. U Chicago has a campus in Paris and other opportunities in other countries.
Everything seems competitive, including even joining some sport clubs or business clubs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I want to make sure they have time for things like internships and study abroad and other activities that make you an interesting person.

U of Chicago might be one of the worst schools to achieve these goals.

Try U of Nevada at Las Vegas or U of Texas at El Paso.

This is ridiculous. UChicago has a really strong internship program with alot of funding. And I think a huge percent of students go abroad. They have UChicago centers in Paris and some other major cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Another NP with a DC there. She is very proud to go there because it is a tough school. The free-speech subculture is real, and highly valued.

We are from Southern California, so I thought either the harsh weather and/or gray days would get to her, but it has not. Her one complaint is that it's in a dangerous neighborhood, so she feels at times trapped on campus.

If your kid wants to go, I agree...that says it all. It is a self-selecting school.

I passed through. The immediate area is not dangerous. Kind of nice actually. But there is such a thing as too far off campus

Top PP here. I respectfully disagree. It's pretty, but it's dangerous. Her Citizen app looks like a war zone at times.

[Anonymous]

I work in education and feel your child would like Dartmouth better. I feel Chicago is rough for a certain type of kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid likes U Chicago a lot and thinking about EDII'ing there. They are a very serious, earnest, into learning, speech and debate type kid. I'm the one who isn't sure it is the best choice. Friends my age who went there said it was overly intense with little student support. What is it like now? My kid really likes learning but I want to make sure they have time for things like internships and study abroad and other activities that make you an interesting person.

Why ED2 rather than 1? ED1 is usually a slightly better bump.
DC privates will probably be pushing Chicago ED2, so there could be additional competition. Did Chicago's area AO rep change? I'm not sure this year will be the quite the same with the AO's approach to the DC area given the ranking methodology changes too. We have a very diverse area racially and socioeconomically but Chicago has focused quite a bit on admitting certain private school kids over the last several years. The Big 3 has been sending surprising numbers there. It became an unhooked favorite.

[Anonymous]

100 percent. Do ED 1 if it is your first choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work in education and feel your child would like Dartmouth better. I feel Chicago is rough for a certain type of kid.

What is it you think would be better about Dartmouth ?

[Anonymous]

My DC is at UChicago- the only place DC applied and got in ED. UChicago likes kids who ED and takes a large portion of their students thru ED1.
DC loves it. The courses are challenging, but there is time for extra-curricular activities, explore Chicago and study abroad as others noted. If your DC is into debate, UChicago has a top college debate program and took home the top 3 college debate prizes last year- best team, best speaker and winners of the national championship. The team travels during the season and DC's closest friends are debaters. UChicago is placing more emphasis on helping students find internships and my DC already has an internship for next summer (not funded by UChicago). The only downside, in my view, is the location- too much crime. But my DC does not seem to mind. And in my view, DC has more than enough fun and still maintains high grades.

[Anonymous]

Academics are very demanding, interesting classes, quarter moves pretty fast.
Lots of opportunities for internships, travel overseas and excellent placement for graduates school.
As a freshman socially is more challenging to find your group of friends or activities that you can participate.
I would suggest first quarter of freshman year take 3 classes versus 4 so it is more free time
to enjoy other things and get involved

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I want to make sure they have time for things like internships and study abroad and other activities that make you an interesting person.

U of Chicago might be one of the worst schools to achieve these goals.

Try U of Nevada at Las Vegas or U of Texas at El Paso.

Do you know kids who actually attend? The ones I know personally had internships, did weekly volunteer work in in the city, and were active members of clubs. They are great kids! I don't know about study abroad bc the ones i know well are freshmen and sophomores and the older kids were anxious to stay on campus bc of time lost to covid -- but i am sure Chicago would get you stats on that.

Yes, I personally know some. Yes. Some study abroad or get internships. It was the “interesting” part they lack.

What makes a kid interesting to you? The kids I know are incredibly bright, good conversationalists, read a lot, and have hobbies. Almost all are pretty athletic (though not playing collegiate athletics). They are all interested and versed in current events. If I went into their interests and internships, it might give them away. I would say they are not party kids (one doesn't drink though happy to attend a party, the others are very social but not into a fraternity-type college scene). Uninteresting would not be how I would describe any of them.