University of Chicago and Washington U. in St. Louis

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Of course your son's friends like Chicago because they go there and obviously must somehow fit there. Their efforts to expand admissions is like how Berkeley tries to pretend they are liberal, open and accepting when really they are conservative, elitist and judgmental at core.


Yes, they fit there, but not b/c they're nerrds. In fact, two play varsity soccer (one guy, one girl) and one is an artist. I wonder if you might be a little "judgmental" -- or at least outdated -- in your views.
Anonymous
OP here. Thanks for the feedback. I was looking for anything you won't find in the college guides (Fisk, Princeton Review, etc). I did remember reading some years back the U of C ahd JHU were the schools least liked by their alumni. But that was at least ten years ago. Met a few alum from JHU who did nothing but confirm the survey.
Anonymous
I posted about the puppy/kitten club, and I don't see how anybody could have any problem with that idea. It sounds wonderful to me -- I wish I had had such an opportunity when I was cramming for exams at Princeton!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I posted about the puppy/kitten club, and I don't see how anybody could have any problem with that idea. It sounds wonderful to me -- I wish I had had such an opportunity when I was cramming for exams at Princeton!


Penn and Cornell both have vet schools and also offer stressed undergrads the opportunity to visit and play with puppies and kitties.
Anonymous
One of my cousins graduated from U of Chicago within the last ten years. She speaks very positively of her years there--she's not "nerdy" but definitely brilliant and majored in physics.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:One of my cousins graduated from U of Chicago within the last ten years. She speaks very positively of her years there--she's not "nerdy" but definitely brilliant and majored in physics.


What does she do now?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of my cousins graduated from U of Chicago within the last ten years. She speaks very positively of her years there--she's not "nerdy" but definitely brilliant and majored in physics.


What does she do now?


medical school
Anonymous
Both schools are top-tier if you checked the US News Rankings and both are fairly tough to get into. My kid is at an Ivy but I know other kids from her top private that gladly went to both schools and were some of the top students from the class. So whoever is downgrading either school...doeesn't have current knowledge.
Anonymous
I graduated a dozen or so years ago from the UC and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world. The experience changed my worldview. It was the place where I made fabulous lifelong friends and where I met my amazing husband. We also made our own fun--explored the city, instead of wasting away at frat parties (though, those definitely exist). I specifically wanted a school that didn't emphasize sports over athletics. I worked really hard, took graduate level courses at times, and went way beyond my own expectations of my intellectual capabilities.

That said, at the end of four years, I was burnt out. (But, I also went to a really demanding prep school, so who knows).
Anonymous
DH went to WashU and loved it. Chicago was close enough that he and friends sometimes drove to, but otherwise enjoyed St. Louis. Loved WashU's campus, school, campus life. Did okay--he's an MD today.
Anonymous
I also went to the U of C (15 years ago - cough, sputter). It was (and I believe still is) a haven for the intellectually curious. It's a place where people love to debate over every topic under the sun. One thing that likely is not stressed in your college "review" books is that the U of C really leans heavily on the theory of a subject. To that end there is no undergrad business degree, no engineering degree, no applied art or music degrees (on theory or history), nothing that is "practical". It does however do a better job at preparing an undergraduate for graduate school than just about any other school out there. It's demanding. Some people like that, some people don't. What's fun and interesting to you is all relative. And I loved every minute of it (although I too was burned out after 4 years). GL with your decision!
Anonymous
Hard to go wrong with either school, especially wash u as it really has everything a top school
Should have without the same attitude you may encounter at an Ivy. However, if the student aspires for a Phd o. Law degree, they may be better prepped at chicAgo.
Anonymous
My brother went to Wash U. Great school. He had a fabulous time, got a great job after graduating and is going to a super grad school in September.

Win all around.
Anonymous
University of Chicago is very academic. Not as social. These days its really difficult to gain admission to Wash U. Students who apply there would also be happy at Swarthmore, though Swarthmore is more socially liberal.
Anonymous
Wait. I wrote that wrong. Students that would be happy at University of Chicago are the same that would be happy at Swarthmore. Both have student bodies that are very intellectually curious. Wash U is more social.
Forum Index » College and University Discussion
Go to: