Is this still the prevailing reality at UChicago - where "fun goes to die"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I realize this article is 5 years old, but is this still the reality at UChicago?

For Better or Worse, You Are UChicago

The instinct to distance oneself from the slurry of stereotypes that circulate campus is powerful—however, doing so only makes life harder.
By Manya Bharadwaj
September 8, 2021

It’s no surprise that the University of Chicago, with its self-proclaimed motto of being a place “where fun goes to die,” has so many miserable students. One source even shows that we had the eighth most depressed student body in the United States in 2019. Students here love to complain, and while students at other colleges do so as well, there’s something different about the conversations that we have. They’re less tongue in cheek and more resigned, frustrated, and bitter.

Many cite academic rigor as the main culprit. This is certainly a tough school (in fact, UChicago was recognized as the fifth-toughest college in the country in 2017). But any student who committed to this place knew what they were getting into. We did it either because we knew we could handle the toughness or because it was something we wanted from our college experience. Other schools of comparable difficulty on that list such as Princeton or Georgetown don’t have the same reputation for misery that we do, so I don’t think the academic difficulty is responsible for the cynicism that is so predominant on this campus. Rather, I think it’s often because of something a little more overlooked: the lack of togetherness in our student body. From what I’ve observed, the unflattering stereotypes that students have of one another are responsible for a certain sense of divisiveness in the community, fueling disdain for the school rather than pride. It’s a form of deep-rooted pessimism that’s fueling a fundamentally disjointed, unhappy environment.

UChicago students don’t seem to like one another—or at least the idea of what they represent. This school has so many student stereotypes that are each considered emblematic of a core aspect of the University, and these aren’t generally positive, which breeds a distaste for the school itself. One common example: With economics being our most popular major comes the archetype of the econ/finance bro, and this character tends to be disliked most by students who hate UChicago for being what they describe as a cold, cruel, capitalist institution. I’m most definitely guilty of a similar aversion myself, albeit to a much different (and probably the most common) UChicago archetype.

The archetype I’m envisioning is the one who works too hard but doesn’t know how to have fun; someone who is solely academically oriented and far too theoretically focused to be a part of the practical, real world; someone who is socially awkward and perhaps a little too eccentric for me to have enough in common with. So I try, both consciously and subconsciously, to distance myself from that stereotype by emphasizing myself as someone who is well-rounded, well-adjusted, and sociable. I know with full certainty that there is a plethora of well-rounded, well-adjusted, and sociable people at this school. But I can never fully shake this image out of my head because it’s been frequently reinforced by my experiences during my two years here. Take, for example, the advice I got from a networking call I had with a recent UChicago alum in February. “When you get to the interviews, make sure they know that you can have a conversation with them,” he told me. “UChicago kids have a reputation for being weird and awkward, so it won’t be hard to stand out from the rest once you do that.” It’s one of many moments when I’ve found myself disheartened by what the image of the classic UChicago student seems to be.

I want to emphasize that I don’t hate UChicago; I’m having a wonderful experience and I don’t regret coming here. But I’ve realized that I, just like every other cynical student, have somewhat alienated myself from this university because of its unflattering stereotypes. We have no school spirit. Instead, we each justify ourselves by saying that we’re not quintessential. But in clinging so firmly to our exceptionality, we’re reinforcing a norm defined by nerdiness, social ineptitude, and factionalism. Perhaps, instead, if we could embrace ourselves as part of UChicago’s culture, not as exceptions to it, we could add a bit of dimension to the perception of our school. We have to stop telling ourselves that we’re not like other UChicago students—that we’re different.

Manya Bharadwaj is a third-year in the College.

It’s been updated to “Where fun goes to be shot in a gang-related drive-by.”

Yes, in sheltered NOVA stay at home mom circles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do the Chicago fraternities and sororities do joint events with the Northwestern fraternities and sororities? (My friend’s DD said the NU Greek orgs often host events downtown.)

Same question for Hillel for anyone whose kids are involved at either school.

Seems like joint events would be a great way for the more social kids at these two schools to expand their social communities.

What I’ve heard from my DS is that a TON of Northwestern kids flock to Hyde Park to go to UChicago frat parties. How the turn tables.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a junior, he definitely attends lots of parties. He is part of a fraternity.
They go to bars, clubs, comedy shows, baseball games, really enjoy Chicago.
Truly Chicago is a unique city in USA.
Exams weeks are very intense according to him.
Quarter system in general is harder.
All of his friends manage to get a very good internships first this summer

DC is interested in UChicago and is trying to get a sense of the social life. Deep down he's probably more on the "nerdy" side but doesn't present that way. He's not a big drinker but is very social and loves to have fun. Would this be a good fit for him?

He would thrive at a UChicago fraternity.

[Anonymous]

i understand the social scene is really off at U Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UChicago has a big greek culture and lots of parties every weekend. Feels a little like MIT circa 1990 where they had the biggest party culture of any Boston area school and also the most academic work.

Is there a party scene at UChicago that is not reliant on Greek Life? DS is not a fan of Greek Life rules/dues/humiliatiion hazing, etc. But does want to socialize, have fun, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i understand the social scene is really off at U Chicago.

In what way? Is it social awkwardness, neurodiversity, sheltered traditional nerds, annoying know-it-alls, what specifically??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:let’s be real folks, this isn’t vanderbilt - it’s a grinder mentality so buyer beware. Of course we will get the typical DCUM “oh my DC luvs it” comments, but it is academically intense and social aspect is a distant second

Do you have a kid there?

These days, everybody has a kid there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:UChicago has a big greek culture and lots of parties every weekend. Feels a little like MIT circa 1990 where they had the biggest party culture of any Boston area school and also the most academic work.

Is there a party scene at UChicago that is not reliant on Greek Life? DS is not a fan of Greek Life rules/dues/humiliatiion hazing, etc. But does want to socialize, have fun, etc.

Not likely he could get into a frat party without being a brother or gay. Rush at UChicago is very low stakes and luckily there are people there who aren’t a part of a frat but go downtown to sports games and bars/clubs.

[Anonymous]

It took over from Duke as to being where wealthy parents send their kids. Top predictor of admission: family income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son is a junior, he definitely attends lots of parties. He is part of a fraternity.
They go to bars, clubs, comedy shows, baseball games, really enjoy Chicago.
Truly Chicago is a unique city in USA.
Exams weeks are very intense according to him.
Quarter system in general is harder.
All of his friends manage to get a very good internships first this summer

DC is interested in UChicago and is trying to get a sense of the social life. Deep down he's probably more on the "nerdy" side but doesn't present that way. He's not a big drinker but is very social and loves to have fun. Would this be a good fit for him?

He would thrive at a UChicago fraternity.

At accepted students days the frats were on their lawns hanging out/having fun, seemed like a lot of nice kids. Case Western flats were put too when we visited and they seemed a tad more nerdy if interested My brother was in a top frat at Cornell and they were clean cut nerdy extremely nice, serious students. I think similar at all top 50 flats, although I think Vandy and Lehigh etc may be a tad rowdies, Michigan too.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, pp, frats not flats and rowdier!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took over from Duke as to being where wealthy parents send their kids. Top predictor of admission: family income.

You say this every thread that mentions Chicago, Ivan. It won’t suddenly become true the more you repeat it. Average HHI of a Duke student is $186k whereas it’s $135k for Chicago. And I’m a Duke alum so I don’t say this out of spite.

[Anonymous]

UChicago: proving you can, in fact, major in stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:UChicago: proving you can, in fact, major in stress.

Do you ever stop to think some kids crave a faster.pace, they are at that level? My kid was SO bored in school and the slow pace was torture. Loves the quick pace, it's just how some kid's brains work. Not everyone wants to drag along for 1t weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not another UChicago thread

UChicago is in demand. 49k applicants this year, according to the Dean of Admissions. You can claim that's driven by aggressive marketing, but an applicant is an applicant, no matter how they discovered the university.

I agree with you - just tired of uchicago haters