Why all the Chicago bashing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

So far.this year, Harvard took 3, UPenn took 7, Cornell took 4, Stanford took 4 and Columbia took 3 from HW. So all of those kids are top 10%? How many kids in a HW class? Already.in the 20%, no? UChicago only has 2. All 7.of the Penn admits are.#1-5? Please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

They self-select in terms of either recognizing they do not have the intangibles to otherwise get in to a top school and/or because they are risk averse.

I really don’t get the defensiveness with Chicago. We all know it’s an easier admit. It is still probably a top 20 school. So what’s the problem?

Either you care about its top 10 ranking (too much) or you don’t really believe the self-selection argument you are making.

It used to be an intellectual place. Those days are gone. (Unfortunately, as I loved the old Chicago.) The only school that is arguably still like that (Swarthmore having gone pre-professional) is Reed.

Why is it so hard to accept that the self-selection is not always based on risk aversion. UChicago still has the reputation of being nerdy and intellectual, at least compared with many/most other T10 schools. For instance, my UChicago kid could have easily gotten into ED Cornell, Dartmouth or Upenn. But they knew that it was the wrong fit for them. (And I know this because kids from our school get in with worse stats and ECs).

Risk aversion is taking silly pol sci at Brown and have fun for 4 years

Yes, all the Brown nepo babies are scoring 1520+, sure they are....they go to Brown because they don't want to take another math class.

[Anonymous]

The college board has gotten rid of these recognitions since last year but Holton was very good at using them to get URM a boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

So far.this year, Harvard took 3, UPenn took 7, Cornell took 4, Stanford took 4 and Columbia took 3 from HW. So all of those kids are top 10%? How many kids in a HW class? Already.in the 20%, no? UChicago only has 2. All 7.of the Penn admits are.#1-5? Please!

Why are you bringing Harvard Westlake up in a discussion about Holton? Just go away. We don't care about your LA school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

So far.this year, Harvard took 3, UPenn took 7, Cornell took 4, Stanford took 4 and Columbia took 3 from HW. So all of those kids are top 10%? How many kids in a HW class? Already.in the 20%, no? UChicago only has 2. All 7.of the Penn admits are.#1-5? Please!

HW is full of hooks. You can't look at instagram for that purpose. Too many hooks.

Fortunately they publish unhooked data annually, from which we can see Chicago reaches down to 3.2 unhooked kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

It’s a well-regarded DMV private.

There is no private in the DC area that is reliably sending unhooked 3.5 students to Dartmouth or Penn. And I don’t think Cornell either. Pray tell, what is the private school in the DMV that is sending 3.5 students to Dartmouth?

The median of the (weighted) GPA distribution at our school is around 3.9. Only last year, there were 4 kids with 3.8-3.9 going to UPenn (2), Dartmouth (1) and Cornell (1). Not athletes or legacies. It’s all on Scoir/Naviance.

Is this Holton? What you conveniently didn't mention is that all 4 of these girls were URM and Holton was very good at getting them the College Board "National African American scholar" or national hispanic scholar" recognitions to get this point across to admissions departments.

Are you sure these are helpful? Race is not a factor anymore.

Well it mysteriously was last year when all these kids with mid grades were admitted to Ivies and the are all URM.

Is it possible they are all first gen or low income? Colleges shift to that angle this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

It’s a well-regarded DMV private.

There is no private in the DC area that is reliably sending unhooked 3.5 students to Dartmouth or Penn. And I don’t think Cornell either. Pray tell, what is the private school in the DMV that is sending 3.5 students to Dartmouth?

The median of the (weighted) GPA distribution at our school is around 3.9. Only last year, there were 4 kids with 3.8-3.9 going to UPenn (2), Dartmouth (1) and Cornell (1). Not athletes or legacies. It’s all on Scoir/Naviance.

Is this Holton? What you conveniently didn't mention is that all 4 of these girls were URM and Holton was very good at getting them the College Board "National African American scholar" or national hispanic scholar" recognitions to get this point across to admissions departments.

Are you sure these are helpful? Race is not a factor anymore.

Well it mysteriously was last year when all these kids with mid grades were admitted to Ivies and the are all URM.

Is it possible they are all first gen or low income? Colleges shift to that angle this year.

It was last year when the awards were still given and the colleges mysteriously used them despite not using them. That will all change this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

So far.this year, Harvard took 3, UPenn took 7, Cornell took 4, Stanford took 4 and Columbia took 3 from HW. So all of those kids are top 10%? How many kids in a HW class? Already.in the 20%, no? UChicago only has 2. All 7.of the Penn admits are.#1-5? Please!

HW is full of hooks. You can't look at instagram for that purpose. Too many hooks.

Fortunately they publish unhooked data annually, from which we can see Chicago reaches down to 3.2 unhooked kids.

So do Brown and Penn and Princeton (though the rest of Princeton’s were above 3.8, in fairness to them).

Meanwhile, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Duke all reached down to 3.4 unhooked kids.

Among top schools, only Caltech, MIT, and Hopkins pulled solely from the top group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

While you were on the phone, why did you ED?
OP’s premise is that those in her milieu apply precisely because they are obsessed with rankings and it is the best way (easiest) to attend a T6 school.
How are you different? Would you have gone if it was ranked 20?

I ED'd because I visited the school and loved it. I'm studying Economics (popular choice), and I knew that ED would actually give me some boost. If it was ranked 20, I probably would have explored my other top ED choices more, but I applied when it was ranked #13 or so. I don't think anyone I've met here applied ED just because its supposedly the 'easiest' top 10 school to be admitted to. That sentiment seems like something manufactured by this forum.

I appreciate your honesty. But if you cared enough about rankings such that 7 notches might (probably?) have changed your ED decision, what gives you such confidence that Chicago’s increase in rankings by 7 has not changed many others’ decision?

No matter where they are ranked in the top 20, UChicago's education quality doesn't change. I doubt that it being ranked #20 when I applied would have swayed my ED decision––it would've only made me slightly less "sure" about it because I admittedly look at the rankings, but not in an obsessive way. I feel sorry for whoever is compelled to switch a binding agreement to a college just because of an increase from #13 to #7. These rankings really don't matter that much, and they shouldn't have such a grip on families/students to sway big decisions like that. Besides, in the early 2000s, UChicago was ranked consistently from #3-#6. Only now that people are upset over having to ED there to have solid chances of admission do they debate its "true" ranking.

I also think your question about whether I would change my decision lacks nuance. If Harvard was ranked #20 instead of #3, would people stop applying? Many people would say no, because Harvard is unmatched in many areas of study, undergraduate education, and lay prestige. Whats so different about this hypothetical with UChicago? Additionally, there isn't a reality where Harvard or UChicago are ranked #20 because they deserve their higher spots based on merit. I don't see a reason why they would be ranked #20 in this alternate reality you refer to.

Just apply where you want, and don't get hyper-fixated on where a news company decides to rank universities. It’s unproductive.

How I long for the old Chicago where the vast majority of students were not pre-professional Econ and STEM hacks, and where not a one student would so lower themselves intellectually by making such a misfit analogy as part of their “argument.”

If you want to bash my argument, provide a counterargument. All that you've said is that it's "misfit" followed by horrible grammar. It just seems like you felt targeted by my argument and lashed out––something most of us learned not to do in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

I think this is generally correct.

For those of us who are a little older, Chicago was always known as the "intellectual" school. We visited three years ago - and it still seemed like one of the smart schools. Good vibe. Smart kids. Generally very good professors. Tons of opportunities. Great city. Very nice campus.

But private school families seem to have some disdain for it. Personally, I think Chicago should embrace their roots and be the intellectual school, never mind the Sidwell and Dalton families. Chicago has raised their profile enough in recent years. They should remember their identity - and be the difficult, passionate, intense, nerd school that made Chicago Chicago.

No one has distain for it. Everyone thinks of it as a highly intellectual place.

We are simply saying (for the one millionth time) that Chicago routinely takes kids with middle-of-the-class GPAs whereas the other top15 schools do not.

At our school, college counseling will suggest Chicago as a sure-thing ED2 for any top kid who was rejected ED1/SCEA from another top20 school. They will also suggest Chicago for families who want prestige and/or a high academic school but have a kid without top grades. Scoir/Naviance do not lie. Chicago takes kids down to a 3.5 at our school every year. As such, it has lost some of it's sparkle. As the saying goes, "I don't want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member." Chicago suffers from some of this at top privates.

Again, that may be true at your private. Our DMV private sends 3-4 kids to UChicago (out of 80-90) every year. The students who are encouraged to apply are top notch. Last year, they were all in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, with average SAT/ACT of 1540/35 (per Scoir). The rest of the top ten kids get into Ivy Plus schools, so it is truly the case that the UChicago students self-select into applying there.

p.s. At our private, it’s Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn that take middle-of-the-GPA-distribution kids, not UChicago.

Dartmouth, Cornell and UPenn will take 3.5 GPAs from your DMV school? Unhooked?
Name the school please!!

So far.this year, Harvard took 3, UPenn took 7, Cornell took 4, Stanford took 4 and Columbia took 3 from HW. So all of those kids are top 10%? How many kids in a HW class? Already.in the 20%, no? UChicago only has 2. All 7.of the Penn admits are.#1-5? Please!

No Princeton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

While you were on the phone, why did you ED?
OP’s premise is that those in her milieu apply precisely because they are obsessed with rankings and it is the best way (easiest) to attend a T6 school.
How are you different? Would you have gone if it was ranked 20?

I ED'd because I visited the school and loved it. I'm studying Economics (popular choice), and I knew that ED would actually give me some boost. If it was ranked 20, I probably would have explored my other top ED choices more, but I applied when it was ranked #13 or so. I don't think anyone I've met here applied ED just because its supposedly the 'easiest' top 10 school to be admitted to. That sentiment seems like something manufactured by this forum.

I appreciate your honesty. But if you cared enough about rankings such that 7 notches might (probably?) have changed your ED decision, what gives you such confidence that Chicago’s increase in rankings by 7 has not changed many others’ decision?

No matter where they are ranked in the top 20, UChicago's education quality doesn't change. I doubt that it being ranked #20 when I applied would have swayed my ED decision––it would've only made me slightly less "sure" about it because I admittedly look at the rankings, but not in an obsessive way. I feel sorry for whoever is compelled to switch a binding agreement to a college just because of an increase from #13 to #7. These rankings really don't matter that much, and they shouldn't have such a grip on families/students to sway big decisions like that. Besides, in the early 2000s, UChicago was ranked consistently from #3-#6. Only now that people are upset over having to ED there to have solid chances of admission do they debate its "true" ranking.

I also think your question about whether I would change my decision lacks nuance. If Harvard was ranked #20 instead of #3, would people stop applying? Many people would say no, because Harvard is unmatched in many areas of study, undergraduate education, and lay prestige. Whats so different about this hypothetical with UChicago? Additionally, there isn't a reality where Harvard or UChicago are ranked #20 because they deserve their higher spots based on merit. I don't see a reason why they would be ranked #20 in this alternate reality you refer to.

Just apply where you want, and don't get hyper-fixated on where a news company decides to rank universities. It’s unproductive.

How I long for the old Chicago where the vast majority of students were not pre-professional Econ and STEM hacks, and where not a one student would so lower themselves intellectually by making such a misfit analogy as part of their “argument.”

If you want to bash my argument, provide a counterargument. All that you've said is that it's "misfit" followed by horrible grammar. It just seems like you felt targeted by my argument and lashed out––something most of us learned not to do in 3rd grade.

Dear Econ Major,

Don’t start sentences with “It.”
Never use “that” two times in one sentence.
My use of the phrase “not a one” was fully intended.
I cannot request PayPal or Venmo from you, so can be of no further assistance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:U Chicago is a wannabe T20 and most people see through it. That is why they spend so much time and effort into marketing. They would beg every student and their dog to apply. Good schools do not have to stoop this low.

Depends on what your definition of T20 is. If you are going to compare two schools, you need to measure by the same metric.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

While you were on the phone, why did you ED?
OP’s premise is that those in her milieu apply precisely because they are obsessed with rankings and it is the best way (easiest) to attend a T6 school.
How are you different? Would you have gone if it was ranked 20?

I ED'd because I visited the school and loved it. I'm studying Economics (popular choice), and I knew that ED would actually give me some boost. If it was ranked 20, I probably would have explored my other top ED choices more, but I applied when it was ranked #13 or so. I don't think anyone I've met here applied ED just because its supposedly the 'easiest' top 10 school to be admitted to. That sentiment seems like something manufactured by this forum.

I appreciate your honesty. But if you cared enough about rankings such that 7 notches might (probably?) have changed your ED decision, what gives you such confidence that Chicago’s increase in rankings by 7 has not changed many others’ decision?

No matter where they are ranked in the top 20, UChicago's education quality doesn't change. I doubt that it being ranked #20 when I applied would have swayed my ED decision––it would've only made me slightly less "sure" about it because I admittedly look at the rankings, but not in an obsessive way. I feel sorry for whoever is compelled to switch a binding agreement to a college just because of an increase from #13 to #7. These rankings really don't matter that much, and they shouldn't have such a grip on families/students to sway big decisions like that. Besides, in the early 2000s, UChicago was ranked consistently from #3-#6. Only now that people are upset over having to ED there to have solid chances of admission do they debate its "true" ranking.

I also think your question about whether I would change my decision lacks nuance. If Harvard was ranked #20 instead of #3, would people stop applying? Many people would say no, because Harvard is unmatched in many areas of study, undergraduate education, and lay prestige. Whats so different about this hypothetical with UChicago? Additionally, there isn't a reality where Harvard or UChicago are ranked #20 because they deserve their higher spots based on merit. I don't see a reason why they would be ranked #20 in this alternate reality you refer to.

Just apply where you want, and don't get hyper-fixated on where a news company decides to rank universities. It’s unproductive.

How I long for the old Chicago where the vast majority of students were not pre-professional Econ and STEM hacks, and where not a one student would so lower themselves intellectually by making such a misfit analogy as part of their “argument.”

If you want to bash my argument, provide a counterargument. All that you've said is that it's "misfit" followed by horrible grammar. It just seems like you felt targeted by my argument and lashed out––something most of us learned not to do in 3rd grade.

Dear Econ Major,

Don’t start sentences with “It.”
Never use “that” two times in one sentence.
My use of the phrase “not a one” was fully intended.
I cannot request PayPal or Venmo from you, so can be of no further assistance.

You continue to deflect by pointing out supposed “grammar mistakes.” This is DCUM, not a PhD dissertation. I’m asking you to provide a reason for why my analogy was a “misfit,” which you haven’t given. Clearly not much is going on up there.

Plus, your hatred for my school and field of study reeks of jealousy. Deep down, I know you feel embarrassed about the diploma that hangs on your wall - or maybe the empty space where your nonexistent degree could be placed.

PS,
“Cannot” is improper grammar. “Can be of no use” is as well. And saying ‘that’ two times in a sentence is perfectly fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

While you were on the phone, why did you ED?
OP’s premise is that those in her milieu apply precisely because they are obsessed with rankings and it is the best way (easiest) to attend a T6 school.
How are you different? Would you have gone if it was ranked 20?

I ED'd because I visited the school and loved it. I'm studying Economics (popular choice), and I knew that ED would actually give me some boost. If it was ranked 20, I probably would have explored my other top ED choices more, but I applied when it was ranked #13 or so. I don't think anyone I've met here applied ED just because its supposedly the 'easiest' top 10 school to be admitted to. That sentiment seems like something manufactured by this forum.

I appreciate your honesty. But if you cared enough about rankings such that 7 notches might (probably?) have changed your ED decision, what gives you such confidence that Chicago’s increase in rankings by 7 has not changed many others’ decision?

No matter where they are ranked in the top 20, UChicago's education quality doesn't change. I doubt that it being ranked #20 when I applied would have swayed my ED decision––it would've only made me slightly less "sure" about it because I admittedly look at the rankings, but not in an obsessive way. I feel sorry for whoever is compelled to switch a binding agreement to a college just because of an increase from #13 to #7. These rankings really don't matter that much, and they shouldn't have such a grip on families/students to sway big decisions like that. Besides, in the early 2000s, UChicago was ranked consistently from #3-#6. Only now that people are upset over having to ED there to have solid chances of admission do they debate its "true" ranking.

I also think your question about whether I would change my decision lacks nuance. If Harvard was ranked #20 instead of #3, would people stop applying? Many people would say no, because Harvard is unmatched in many areas of study, undergraduate education, and lay prestige. Whats so different about this hypothetical with UChicago? Additionally, there isn't a reality where Harvard or UChicago are ranked #20 because they deserve their higher spots based on merit. I don't see a reason why they would be ranked #20 in this alternate reality you refer to.

Just apply where you want, and don't get hyper-fixated on where a news company decides to rank universities. It’s unproductive.

How I long for the old Chicago where the vast majority of students were not pre-professional Econ and STEM hacks, and where not a one student would so lower themselves intellectually by making such a misfit analogy as part of their “argument.”

If you want to bash my argument, provide a counterargument. All that you've said is that it's "misfit" followed by horrible grammar. It just seems like you felt targeted by my argument and lashed out––something most of us learned not to do in 3rd grade.

Dear Econ Major,

Don’t start sentences with “It.”
Never use “that” two times in one sentence.
My use of the phrase “not a one” was fully intended.
I cannot request PayPal or Venmo from you, so can be of no further assistance.

You continue to deflect by pointing out supposed “grammar mistakes.” This is DCUM, not a PhD dissertation. I’m asking you to provide a reason for why my analogy was a “misfit,” which you haven’t given. Clearly not much is going on up there.

Plus, your hatred for my school and field of study reeks of jealousy. Deep down, I know you feel embarrassed about the diploma that hangs on your wall - or maybe the empty space where your nonexistent degree could be placed.

PS,
“Cannot” is improper grammar. “Can be of no use” is as well. And saying ‘that’ two times in a sentence is perfectly fine.

Perchance the difference between Chicago ED students and students at more selective schools is decorum after all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel like this is the general consensus of the thread:

Those who are hyper-obsessed with rankings & prestige over academics & post-grad outcomes tend to think lower of UChicago because they attract the majority of their students from the ED pool (which, in their minds, must make the school an undeserving T10).

Those who know about academics, job placement, and support their children no matter what college they fall in love with think UChicago is an excellent school that equips students with the skills they need to do extremely well in their future.

Signed, a concerned UChicago student from the DC area.

While you were on the phone, why did you ED?
OP’s premise is that those in her milieu apply precisely because they are obsessed with rankings and it is the best way (easiest) to attend a T6 school.
How are you different? Would you have gone if it was ranked 20?

I ED'd because I visited the school and loved it. I'm studying Economics (popular choice), and I knew that ED would actually give me some boost. If it was ranked 20, I probably would have explored my other top ED choices more, but I applied when it was ranked #13 or so. I don't think anyone I've met here applied ED just because its supposedly the 'easiest' top 10 school to be admitted to. That sentiment seems like something manufactured by this forum.

I appreciate your honesty. But if you cared enough about rankings such that 7 notches might (probably?) have changed your ED decision, what gives you such confidence that Chicago’s increase in rankings by 7 has not changed many others’ decision?

No matter where they are ranked in the top 20, UChicago's education quality doesn't change. I doubt that it being ranked #20 when I applied would have swayed my ED decision––it would've only made me slightly less "sure" about it because I admittedly look at the rankings, but not in an obsessive way. I feel sorry for whoever is compelled to switch a binding agreement to a college just because of an increase from #13 to #7. These rankings really don't matter that much, and they shouldn't have such a grip on families/students to sway big decisions like that. Besides, in the early 2000s, UChicago was ranked consistently from #3-#6. Only now that people are upset over having to ED there to have solid chances of admission do they debate its "true" ranking.

I also think your question about whether I would change my decision lacks nuance. If Harvard was ranked #20 instead of #3, would people stop applying? Many people would say no, because Harvard is unmatched in many areas of study, undergraduate education, and lay prestige. Whats so different about this hypothetical with UChicago? Additionally, there isn't a reality where Harvard or UChicago are ranked #20 because they deserve their higher spots based on merit. I don't see a reason why they would be ranked #20 in this alternate reality you refer to.

Just apply where you want, and don't get hyper-fixated on where a news company decides to rank universities. It’s unproductive.

How I long for the old Chicago where the vast majority of students were not pre-professional Econ and STEM hacks, and where not a one student would so lower themselves intellectually by making such a misfit analogy as part of their “argument.”

If you want to bash my argument, provide a counterargument. All that you've said is that it's "misfit" followed by horrible grammar. It just seems like you felt targeted by my argument and lashed out––something most of us learned not to do in 3rd grade.

Dear Econ Major,

Don’t start sentences with “It.”
Never use “that” two times in one sentence.
My use of the phrase “not a one” was fully intended.
I cannot request PayPal or Venmo from you, so can be of no further assistance.

You continue to deflect by pointing out supposed “grammar mistakes.” This is DCUM, not a PhD dissertation. I’m asking you to provide a reason for why my analogy was a “misfit,” which you haven’t given. Clearly not much is going on up there.

Plus, your hatred for my school and field of study reeks of jealousy. Deep down, I know you feel embarrassed about the diploma that hangs on your wall - or maybe the empty space where your nonexistent degree could be placed.

PS,
“Cannot” is improper grammar. “Can be of no use” is as well. And saying ‘that’ two times in a sentence is perfectly fine.

Perchance the difference between Chicago ED students and students at more selective schools is decorum after all.

I won’t just sit here and allow all of you bored and screen-addicted parents to try to tear down my arguments without backing up your reasoning. But sure, blame it on MY decorum instead of DMV parents’ bullying and competition. Anything to take blame away from yourself, right?