Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 14:25     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion here but I get the charm. Chicago is a gorgeous, rigorous school. It is inside a fantastic major city. If there’s any subject you’re interested in, they have it.


Fully agree, but this is not unpopular. There are a handful of rotten apples that post here continuously to make it seem like an unpopular opinion.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 14:19     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Unpopular opinion here but I get the charm. Chicago is a gorgeous, rigorous school. It is inside a fantastic major city. If there’s any subject you’re interested in, they have it.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 14:10     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


I think word is out at the East Coast privates, and has been for some time. I recall reading a post over a decade ago from a college counselor commenting that the quirky UChicago nerds were being supplanted by the preppy, country club set.


All the matters is what the kids know about the grads from their private school who are currently at that college (and with social media they all know and they all keep up with each other). They think, "well, X, Y, and Z are cool and they're happy there so I can go there too." It doesn't take much.


Disagree. This is a strategic partnership between UChicago and specific east coast privates. Not simply student choice.


Sidwell parent here - nobody is steered towards Chicago unless the student is the first person to identify Chicago as a school of interest. Typically the kids who are steered by their parents or a private CC don’t get in. 🤷‍♀️
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 14:07     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


lol. No! They are prestige hunting and UChicago is a “top 10”. When ivies are clearly unlikely for their DC, ED Chicago.


It’s our resident Chicago hater, sour after their DC was shut out of the T20.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 14:06     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


I think word is out at the East Coast privates, and has been for some time. I recall reading a post over a decade ago from a college counselor commenting that the quirky UChicago nerds were being supplanted by the preppy, country club set.


All the matters is what the kids know about the grads from their private school who are currently at that college (and with social media they all know and they all keep up with each other). They think, "well, X, Y, and Z are cool and they're happy there so I can go there too." It doesn't take much.


Disagree. This is a strategic partnership between UChicago and specific east coast privates. Not simply student choice.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:47     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


lol. No! They are prestige hunting and UChicago is a “top 10”. When ivies are clearly unlikely for their DC, ED Chicago.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:45     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Did they beat HWS? Has Sidwell become the most expensive school for dopes in the US?
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:43     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:Germantown Friends School has 12 (or more) going to Penn. The Quakers have their favorites.


Half of GFS parents work at Penn, though. It’s the biggest employer in the area and it’s financially beneficial for their kids to attend. And there are local publics who also send tons to Penn for the same reasons. It’s also pretty consistent year after year. It’s a little different I think.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:42     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


I think word is out at the East Coast privates, and has been for some time. I recall reading a post over a decade ago from a college counselor commenting that the quirky UChicago nerds were being supplanted by the preppy, country club set.


All the matters is what the kids know about the grads from their private school who are currently at that college (and with social media they all know and they all keep up with each other). They think, "well, X, Y, and Z are cool and they're happy there so I can go there too." It doesn't take much.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:40     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


You are very out of date. Everybody knows Chicago now, especially families of kids applying to college. The school has elevated its profile and expanded its marketing hugely over the past ten years.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:25     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Germantown Friends School has 12 (or more) going to Penn. The Quakers have their favorites.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:21     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


Disagree. I did my MBA at Booth and everyone at my workplace and my kids’ school knew about Chicago’s reputation. This is only my social circle so it might differ from person to person. I live in NYC fwiw.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:14     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


I think word is out at the East Coast privates, and has been for some time. I recall reading a post over a decade ago from a college counselor commenting that the quirky UChicago nerds were being supplanted by the preppy, country club set.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 13:06     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
Anonymous wrote:I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.


You'r talking about Sidwell parents. They know about the University of Chicago. They're probably the most in-the-know about college quality and ranking of any group on the planet.
Anonymous
Post 04/12/2026 12:58     Subject: 12 and counting to U Chicago this year from Sidwell
I wonder if these kids are the children of academics, because honestly, most people on the east coast do not know that University of Chicago has an historical, elite reputation. Most kids know about the Ivies and are all clamoring to get into those, but most think Chicago is some random public school in the midwest.