What’s in the water in Chicagoland? (Univ. of Chicago & Northwestern)

[Anonymous]

Just stop.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’ve observed with increasing interest that the two main universities in the Chicago area, Northwestern and Univ. of Chicago have exploded both in popularity and general awareness but also seem to be climbing the rankings steadily. What are these colleges doing right? Niece is interested in both and a ton of her friends have either or both of those two schools on their wish-lists.

Getting back to the title of the original poster….

This whole thread starts with the supposition that America’s third largest city, located in the Midwest, has two highly rated universities in its metropolitan area that really should not be there. If they were on the coasts, then the OP never would have mentioned either one.

Dimwitted alcoholic Big Ten alums control the city of Chicago. Notre Dame kids don't bother going to Chicago after graduation anymore; almost all of our son's friends are headed to Manhattan and the District. I say that to say, Chicago is fine if you grew up within a few hundred miles of it and you were a frat boy or sorority girl at some Big Ten degree mill. Otherwise you're going to feel like and be considered an outsider.

I know precisely no one that fits this description, that when to UChicago. My niece graduated from there a few years back, and I know her friends fairly well. They range from child of a cab driver, to international student from Asia. Not a single frat boy or sorority girl, and less than 50/50 on being from IL or nearby.

Big Ten degree mill? UChicago isn’t even in the Big Ten, and Northwestern is hardly a degree mill. I think that PP might be the one who’s drunk.

Learn to read. The degree mills are Ohio and Michigan state, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois. All of their drunken dimwitted graduates beeline to Chicago. Unless you want to be surrounded by provincial meatheads and unreformed sorority girls, Chicago is not ideal.

In other words, if you don’t want to live on a Midwest backwater after college, why go to college somewhere so cold and miserable in the first place?

Virginia Tech is a degree mill. The University of Maryland is a degree mill. I won’t even mention the rest of the public schools in the DMV area since they aren’t worthy.

[Anonymous]

Wow, reading through this the anti-Chicago bias on this forum is out of control. Is it insecurity on the part of DMVers? Genuine question.

— New Yorker who used to live in DC for a couple of years.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This thread reads like a paid infomercial program.

Positivity bothers you. Classic DCUM.

it's not even positivity -- it's just facts. Northwestern and U of Chicago have always been top tier, sought after schools that attract high achieving students (albeit generally different in vibe).

They are great schools. You wish the administrators at U Chicago were as confident, they are not. So much so they have to adopt ED to lock students, then still not enough, and have to device an ED II to lock more rejects by other top schools. High schoolers were bombarded by Chicago's flyers every couple of weeks throughout the year to invite them to apply. This is the only school doing this much ad aside from U of Pheonix. If not for that we already know it is a legitimate school we would think this is some scam. Why so? How about some confidence.

This. Couldn't agree more to the above post. I'm shocked that a school this high in ranking acts like a mediocre super-expensive private school desperate to get the rich kids enrolled. As hard to get into as U Chicago is, it's unbelievable how low they will go for a kid from an expensive private school. And no school ranked in T25 mails out this much glossy marketing materials to ALL types of kids they have no intention of accepting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread reads like a paid infomercial program.

Positivity bothers you. Classic DCUM.

it's not even positivity -- it's just facts. Northwestern and U of Chicago have always been top tier, sought after schools that attract high achieving students (albeit generally different in vibe).

They are great schools. You wish the administrators at U Chicago were as confident, they are not. So much so they have to adopt ED to lock students, then still not enough, and have to device an ED II to lock more rejects by other top schools. High schoolers were bombarded by Chicago's flyers every couple of weeks throughout the year to invite them to apply. This is the only school doing this much ad aside from U of Pheonix. If not for that we already know it is a legitimate school we would think this is some scam. Why so? How about some confidence.

This. Couldn't agree more to the above post. I'm shocked that a school this high in ranking acts like a mediocre super-expensive private school desperate to get the rich kids enrolled. As hard to get into as U Chicago is, it's unbelievable how low they will go for a kid from an expensive private school. And no school ranked in T25 mails out this much glossy marketing materials to ALL types of kids they have no intention of accepting.

There is that point. Well taken. And what the AOs at Chicago say that also rings true is the fact that UChicago is looking for a particular type of kid. Quirky. Nerdy. Creative, non linear thinker. Maybe on the introverted side. I’ve heard them say that part of the reason they send out all the glossies and want so many applications is because they are looking for a type that you can’t see well before the application. And I’ve also heard them say that they rely on ED so much because they like applicants who self-select. It’s a strong signal that they kid thinks they fit the type so much that they’re willing to spend their ED card on UChicago.

Is that true? Could be at least partly true.

[Anonymous]

I mean, they're two of the best schools in the US, and always have been.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread reads like a paid infomercial program.

Positivity bothers you. Classic DCUM.

it's not even positivity -- it's just facts. Northwestern and U of Chicago have always been top tier, sought after schools that attract high achieving students (albeit generally different in vibe).

They are great schools. You wish the administrators at U Chicago were as confident, they are not. So much so they have to adopt ED to lock students, then still not enough, and have to device an ED II to lock more rejects by other top schools. High schoolers were bombarded by Chicago's flyers every couple of weeks throughout the year to invite them to apply. This is the only school doing this much ad aside from U of Pheonix. If not for that we already know it is a legitimate school we would think this is some scam. Why so? How about some confidence.

This. Couldn't agree more to the above post. I'm shocked that a school this high in ranking acts like a mediocre super-expensive private school desperate to get the rich kids enrolled. As hard to get into as U Chicago is, it's unbelievable how low they will go for a kid from an expensive private school. And no school ranked in T25 mails out this much glossy marketing materials to ALL types of kids they have no intention of accepting.

There is that point. Well taken. And what the AOs at Chicago say that also rings true is the fact that UChicago is looking for a particular type of kid. Quirky. Nerdy. Creative, non linear thinker. Maybe on the introverted side. I’ve heard them say that part of the reason they send out all the glossies and want so many applications is because they are looking for a type that you can’t see well before the application. And I’ve also heard them say that they rely on ED so much because they like applicants who self-select. It’s a strong signal that they kid thinks they fit the type so much that they’re willing to spend their ED card on UChicago.

Is that true? Could be at least partly true.

NO. Completely disagree. Instead, what happens is that the B+/A- kids at expensive private schools are told to ED at Chicago because they don't have a shot at getting into a top tier school but because of the connection the school has with UChicago, if they ED, they have a decent chance. I know 6 kids from these private schools that have gone to UChicago. None of them are "quirky, nerdy, creative, non-linear thinkers." They are all just students below top tier in their HS and ED at Chicago because it gets them into a school ranked in T25 that they would otherwise never have a shot at getting into. The "quirky, nerdy, creative, non-liner thinkers" image and all that you've said may apply to the non-tony private school students & public school students.

[Anonymous]

Idk about UChicago but Northwestern is if anything underrated. Definitely on a nice upward trajectory based on kids we know in the last couple of application cycles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread reads like a paid infomercial program.

Positivity bothers you. Classic DCUM.

it's not even positivity -- it's just facts. Northwestern and U of Chicago have always been top tier, sought after schools that attract high achieving students (albeit generally different in vibe).

They are great schools. You wish the administrators at U Chicago were as confident, they are not. So much so they have to adopt ED to lock students, then still not enough, and have to device an ED II to lock more rejects by other top schools. High schoolers were bombarded by Chicago's flyers every couple of weeks throughout the year to invite them to apply. This is the only school doing this much ad aside from U of Pheonix. If not for that we already know it is a legitimate school we would think this is some scam. Why so? How about some confidence.

This. Couldn't agree more to the above post. I'm shocked that a school this high in ranking acts like a mediocre super-expensive private school desperate to get the rich kids enrolled. As hard to get into as U Chicago is, it's unbelievable how low they will go for a kid from an expensive private school. And no school ranked in T25 mails out this much glossy marketing materials to ALL types of kids they have no intention of accepting.

There is that point. Well taken. And what the AOs at Chicago say that also rings true is the fact that UChicago is looking for a particular type of kid. Quirky. Nerdy. Creative, non linear thinker. Maybe on the introverted side. I’ve heard them say that part of the reason they send out all the glossies and want so many applications is because they are looking for a type that you can’t see well before the application. And I’ve also heard them say that they rely on ED so much because they like applicants who self-select. It’s a strong signal that they kid thinks they fit the type so much that they’re willing to spend their ED card on UChicago.

Is that true? Could be at least partly true.

NO. Completely disagree. Instead, what happens is that the B+/A- kids at expensive private schools are told to ED at Chicago because they don't have a shot at getting into a top tier school but because of the connection the school has with UChicago, if they ED, they have a decent chance. I know 6 kids from these private schools that have gone to UChicago. None of them are "quirky, nerdy, creative, non-linear thinkers." They are all just students below top tier in their HS and ED at Chicago because it gets them into a school ranked in T25 that they would otherwise never have a shot at getting into. The "quirky, nerdy, creative, non-liner thinkers" image and all that you've said may apply to the non-tony private school students & public school students.

So what you mean is that it isn’t always true. In which case, both could be true. It’s so interesting that people from “tony private schools” can have all the facts before them (even be the author of said facts) and think that the conclusion to draw is the one that matters to them, not the other also true conclusions that might apply to lesser people. Check your privilege please.

[Anonymous]

Amazing how unaware some posters are. There are no right strategies for enrollment management at top schools. There are only tradeoffs. Reach strategy produces it's own unpleasant effects. Tob think that the recruitment strategies of HYPS don't have deleterious effects on society, students, faculty and eventually their own reputations is just being naive and uniformed.

It's just that DCUM posters agree with the social engineering tradeoffs made by HYPS, but are triggered by tradeoffs made by Chicago, Northwestern, Northeastern, Vanderbilt, USC, etc.

[Anonymous]

Amazing how unaware some posters are. There are no right strategies for enrollment management at top schools. There are only tradeoffs. Each strategy produces it's own unpleasant effects. To think that the recruitment strategies of HYPS don't have deleterious effects on society, students, faculty and eventually their own reputations is just being naive and uniformed.

It's just that DCUM posters agree with the social engineering tradeoffs made by HYPS, but are triggered by tradeoffs made by Chicago, Northwestern, Northeastern, Vanderbilt, USC, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The US has many fine schools, but UChicago is the last serious university in America.

I actually believe this might be true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve observed with increasing interest that the two main universities in the Chicago area, Northwestern and Univ. of Chicago have exploded both in popularity and general awareness but also seem to be climbing the rankings steadily. What are these colleges doing right? Niece is interested in both and a ton of her friends have either or both of those two schools on their wish-lists.

Nobody cares about either undergraduate college in real life, it’s just US News obsessed middle class strivers spamming message boards. And truth be told both campuses are not really in Chicago; NU is in a boring northern suburb and UC is 30 minutes south of downtown surrounded by a war zone.

This just sounds bitter and jealous

And not even true. U of C is a 10 minute drive from the Loop. With uber, the whole city is very close.

And "war zone?" Please. North of U of C is Bronzeville, a vibrant historically interesting neighborhood on the climb. South is Woodlawn/South Short, also historically black neighborhoods with increasingly interesting commercial outlets. There is violent crime on the south side, but I really hate the (often racist) hyperbole.

Totally agree that describing the South side as a war zone is racist hyperbole.

But it’s more like a 20 minute drive from campus to the Loop. DD routinely took buses/the L/Ubers to various places in the City and never had any problem either wrt safety or accessibility. She definitely experienced living in Chicago and Hyde Park was her neighborhood (not a suburb or a different city).

Any other parents of recent UChicago grads who can comment on safety and how their DC felt there? It is DD's #1 choice but we are all starting to worry a little about crime. For context, DH and I grew up in the NYC and Philly and DD wants an urban campus and all that comes with it. But stories of violent crime sometimes in broad daylight near campus and on public transit into downtown have us wondering. Tour guide was evasive when another parent asked about crime but did say that she and her friends uber everywhere instead of transit because they feel safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, reading through this the anti-Chicago bias on this forum is out of control. Is it insecurity on the part of DMVers? Genuine question.

— New Yorker who used to live in DC for a couple of years.

As a New Yorker you probably read the NYT. Did you see the recent murder breakdown in the Chicago area?

War zone allowed to happen. And there you have why I would never send a child to that Chicagoland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve observed with increasing interest that the two main universities in the Chicago area, Northwestern and Univ. of Chicago have exploded both in popularity and general awareness but also seem to be climbing the rankings steadily. What are these colleges doing right? Niece is interested in both and a ton of her friends have either or both of those two schools on their wish-lists.

Nobody cares about either undergraduate college in real life, it’s just US News obsessed middle class strivers spamming message boards. And truth be told both campuses are not really in Chicago; NU is in a boring northern suburb and UC is 30 minutes south of downtown surrounded by a war zone.

This just sounds bitter and jealous

And not even true. U of C is a 10 minute drive from the Loop. With uber, the whole city is very close.

And "war zone?" Please. North of U of C is Bronzeville, a vibrant historically interesting neighborhood on the climb. South is Woodlawn/South Short, also historically black neighborhoods with increasingly interesting commercial outlets. There is violent crime on the south side, but I really hate the (often racist) hyperbole.

Totally agree that describing the South side as a war zone is racist hyperbole.

But it’s more like a 20 minute drive from campus to the Loop. DD routinely took buses/the L/Ubers to various places in the City and never had any problem either wrt safety or accessibility. She definitely experienced living in Chicago and Hyde Park was her neighborhood (not a suburb or a different city).

Any other parents of recent UChicago grads who can comment on safety and how their DC felt there? It is DD's #1 choice but we are all starting to worry a little about crime. For context, DH and I grew up in the NYC and Philly and DD wants an urban campus and all that comes with it. But stories of violent crime sometimes in broad daylight near campus and on public transit into downtown have us wondering. Tour guide was evasive when another parent asked about crime but did say that she and her friends uber everywhere instead of transit because they feel safer.

DD was a 2020 grad. Relied primarily on public transit (with the occasional Uber). Went all over the city, day and night, alone and in groups. Only crime she experienced in 4 years was bike theft from her apt building’s backyard overnight in a case where she did secure the bike properly (the thief only had to clip a wire in a chain link fence to liberate it). For context DD grew up in DC and was a regular bus/Metro user and pedestrian.