University of Chicago: what kind of student does best?

[Anonymous]

It's damaging to my illusions about Chicago to hear people using "party" as a verb. I associate that with having a social life that centers on ingesting things that affect your central nervous system. I assumed that plenty of Chicago students got messed up but kept on talking about intellectual crap or planning ingenious pranks.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:There are lots of other schools where the students work hard and like learning. It's just that on top of having fun doing that, they also have fun doing the normal things people do in college -- like going to parties. And, yes, of course, they go to movies, play sports, go to a capella concerts, etc., but, really most young people also enjoy parties. The complete lack of that kind of social life is why fun goes to die at UofC.

There are lots of parties here. There are frats. There are dorm parties. There are apartment parties. There are less people who like partying, but the people who do party as much as people at any other school. I said this in my original post.

It's great that you like Chicago, but I've talked to quite a few current students and recent grads who have a very different view of the school.

It's great that you've talked to people, but there is not a 'complete lack of that kind of social life' at Chicago. As you said, young people like to party. Those who want to party can do so at Chicago. You're acting like Chicago students aren't 'normal'.

+100 I actually went to UChicago. And sure, the contingent of "non-party" kids is probably bigger at UChicago than say, UVA. But there ARE parties. There ARE people who participate in that typical aspect of college life. If you want to party, you can do that there. Perhaps less "intensely" than at many schools, but it's not Brigham Young for God's sake.

+1000. I probably have a few years, most likely, decades on you. I lived in Little Pierce and though we studied quite a bit, I and the roommates threw our share of parties. I have quite (smirk) eye raising memories of the Lascivious Ball though I kept my clothes on. Do I need to say more?

It's that old? Wow, I had no idea.,,

Started in the 1960s, banned in 1984, and reintroduced in 2008.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or not. For kids who are looking for a major research university or people who are working at the cutting edge of their discipline, Reed and Swarthmore have little appeal. More similarities among undergrad cohort (though even there I'm kind of skeptical -- Reed vs. Chicago econ for example) than among faculties.

i know Reed and Chicago well. As a percentage, more graduates from Reed go on to get PhD's than from Chicago. The STEM departments at Reed are very well known by major research graduate programs for producing excellently prepared students who have already done significant research as undergraduates. Chicago does best in economics, pre-law and pre-business. Reed also educates many entrepreneurs and artists. Portland is lovely and the Reed campus is safe, but drugs are a problem and it rains a lot. Its cold as hell in Chicago, but the city is amazing in every respect. Reedies tend to be from left-wing intellectual families, while Chicago undergraduates are more politically diverse.

Both schools attract very smart, somewhat quirky dedicated students who are happy to be there and make life-long friendships. I can't comment on Swarthmore, because I know very little about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS visited U of C last month, and loved it. I am from the Pacific NW and don't really have much knowledge of the school. Would appreciate any insights.

Nephew was there only for one year and then transferred out it's truly a boiler room/think tank for a very serious motivated student who will not weaken under the incredibly competitive atmosphere

[Anonymous]

Sadly, the old UChicago character isn't really there anymore. Now it's mostly just clever UMC swots who apply to the top 10-15 colleges and go to the highest ranked one they get into. I think the college churns out critical thinkers but the quirky campus vibe just isn't there anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kids who are seriously into academics and looking forward to college as an intellectual challenge. Kids who are comfortable living in a big city and who can handle public transit, racial and economic differences, and cold, windy weather. Kids who want a broad but intense education.

Basically, have your son look at the Core Curriculum and at the Uncommon Essay topics (U of C's supplement to the Common App). If he's still interested (or even more interested), it's probably a good match. My kid was also attracted by the arts scene both on and off campus (theater, comedy, museums, music).

It's a great university, with a worldwide reputation and amazing resources. But it isn't what the vast majority of American kids are looking for as their college experience.

DC decided to answer question 6 and ran with it. Didn't like the other questions.

6. In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose your own question or choose one of our past prompts. Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids who are seriously into academics and looking forward to college as an intellectual challenge. Kids who are comfortable living in a big city and who can handle public transit, racial and economic differences, and cold, windy weather. Kids who want a broad but intense education.

Basically, have your son look at the Core Curriculum and at the Uncommon Essay topics (U of C's supplement to the Common App). If he's still interested (or even more interested), it's probably a good match. My kid was also attracted by the arts scene both on and off campus (theater, comedy, museums, music).

It's a great university, with a worldwide reputation and amazing resources. But it isn't what the vast majority of American kids are looking for as their college experience.

DC decided to answer question 6 and ran with it. Didn't like the other questions.

6. In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, pose your own question or choose one of our past prompts. Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun.

PP here. Didn't realize this thread was an oldie but a goodie. Hope my info about question 6 gives others an option over U of C's thought provoking but quirky questions. DC preferred not to take a questions from an academic and age peer when DC's is better (in DC's opinion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, the old UChicago character isn't really there anymore. Now it's mostly just clever UMC swots who apply to the top 10-15 colleges and go to the highest ranked one they get into. I think the college churns out critical thinkers but the quirky campus vibe just isn't there anymore.

Are you an alumn?

Current students I know certainly don't fit that mold and wouldn't characterize the school's culture that way. And, while it's true that the 1% will always be overrepresented in schools that cost $65K+ a year, U of C is demanding enough (core, quarter system, rigor) and lacks the everyday brand recognition/wow factor that other highly ranked schools have, that I find it hard to believe it's a magnet for kids who just want to go to the most highly ranked school they got into. Certainly, there will be kids interested in finance who are drawn by the Econ department. But it's one department -- not the whole College. And the undergrad vibe feels very different from Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford. (I don't know Yale well enough to compare.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for your comments re North -- just what my kid was hoping to hear!

FWIW, early reports are very positive. Got a single as a first year. Internal staircases do matter. Not the hangout space that the architect's drawings suggested, but they do create a convenient (i.e. non-elevator) connection between floors in the same house. So the house (vs. the hallway or the building) does function as the primary social unit, at least for my kid. At the building/complex level, facilities are great (e.g. music rooms, foosball/pool/ping-pong). Lots of different/differently attractive study spaces throughout. And a spiffy but expensive cafe downstairs.

[Anonymous]

Greatest college in the nation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, the old UChicago character isn't really there anymore. Now it's mostly just clever UMC swots who apply to the top 10-15 colleges and go to the highest ranked one they get into. I think the college churns out critical thinkers but the quirky campus vibe just isn't there anymore.

Are you an alumn?

Current students I know certainly don't fit that mold and wouldn't characterize the school's culture that way. And, while it's true that the 1% will always be overrepresented in schools that cost $65K+ a year, U of C is demanding enough (core, quarter system, rigor) and lacks the everyday brand recognition/wow factor that other highly ranked schools have, that I find it hard to believe it's a magnet for kids who just want to go to the most highly ranked school they got into. Certainly, there will be kids interested in finance who are drawn by the Econ department. But it's one department -- not the whole College. And the undergrad vibe feels very different from Harvard, Princeton, or Stanford. (I don't know Yale well enough to compare.).

NP here -- My nephew is a current student. Based on his reports, I'd say Chicago still has many quirky kids, but increasingly the school draws kids who would fit right in at any other highly-ranked school.