University of Chicago - real experiences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is there - 2nd year. Ignore the people who hate on the school because of marketing and stupid stuff like that.

Kid is a science major and it is hard. Lots of work. The quarter system moves fast. Can be enormously overwhelming. So your concerns are not misplaced. It’s is also a place where she is making great friends, participates in intellectual conversations, learning unexpected new things and really challenging herself. Depends on whether this is what your kid wants for himself. Only he can make that call. For my kid it is absolutely the right choice. For another equally talented kid, it would very much be not ok.

I am this poster. Oh and I agree with the previous poster. Apply ED only if your kid is sure. Mine got in RD.

OP. My kid seems sure, but I worry he isn't being realistic about the amount of work/stress. Ugh. I guess having gone this far, we have to leave it to fate. Obviously odds are against him (anyone) getting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is determined to ED at Chicago. I have misgivings: The reputed stress/difficulty, wonky quarter system, and location in Hyde Park. Also, I've been slightly swayed by the endless online hatred towards the school over their incessant marketing, supposed financial dire straits, and that weird "ED Zero" thing also gives me bad feelings. OTOH, DS has two friends there who say it's fun, not that stressful or hard, and generally seem to love it except for a few bad weather weeks. DS attends an extremely rigorous HS that I have to think prepares them for challenging schools as well as any HS can. But still, I am anxious about hitting the ED button and potentially being locked in.
Anyone have a child who is actually at U Chicago and can weigh in? Please no comments on postcards and the like - actual experiences.

You already have the information you need

[Anonymous]

If he goes to a rigorous high school, has spoken to friends that have attended, and has toured, then it sounds like he has his eyes wide open. The kids aiming for this level of school tend to have a lot of maturity and thought in the process. I understand your misgivings, but sounds like he doesn’t share them? If he gets in and it doesn’t work out, nothing is permanent and one can always pivot. Certainly being at such a fine school will make that process easier.

Having gone through it with my kid also shooting for top schools, it’s such a build-up of emotions after many years of hard work, it’s natural to overanalyze and worry about such a big decision. Your kid is going to be fine any which way, sounds like they’ve done a lot and will continue to do so wherever that ends up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he goes to a rigorous high school, has spoken to friends that have attended, and has toured, then it sounds like he has his eyes wide open. The kids aiming for this level of school tend to have a lot of maturity and thought in the process. I understand your misgivings, but sounds like he doesn’t share them? If he gets in and it doesn’t work out, nothing is permanent and one can always pivot. Certainly being at such a fine school will make that process easier.

Having gone through it with my kid also shooting for top schools, it’s such a build-up of emotions after many years of hard work, it’s natural to overanalyze and worry about such a big decision. Your kid is going to be fine any which way, sounds like they’ve done a lot and will continue to do so wherever that ends up.

Very much agree with this. I would have categorized my kid as lazy who just happened to have the luck of having a good brain and squeaking out of high school as valedictorian. But the moment he chose UChicago, he knew he had to work about 500x harder than he had in the past. And so far, it has been going well. Having ownership in the college decision is definitely more motivating for him.

[Anonymous]

What are the sororities like at UChicago?