Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. We toured both in 2019, along with some others, and Chicago was the only place where all of the tour guides introduced themselves with their pronouns. Also, Chicago seems very eager to get prep school kids who apply ED. The dirty little secret is that if you have an B+ or better average, a high test score, can sound the least bit intellectual/quirky in your essay and are full pay, you have a fantastic shot in the ED rounds. It's the place that prep school kids go when they're smart but have no chance (because they're unhooked or not mind-blowing in any way) at any other T10 or Ivy.

For a friend's DC, I wish this were true. Student with 4.0 GPA (most rigorous classes), 1600 SAT, 2 800 SAT Subject tests, NMSF, Presidential Scholar nominee, varsity athlete, great ECs, etc - rejected in ED. Neither legacy nor hook. Our school usually has 2-5 students going every year and now only 1 in to date. I know all the stats as my DC has been in same classes with this kid for last seven years and just can't believe this happened. "Mom, this is probably the smartest kid in our grade!"

DC looked at both NU and UC. Passed on NU, EAed to UC, and got into ED.

Nice story. SAT subject tests are no longer given.

Anonymous wrote:Agree. We toured both in 2019, along with some others, and Chicago was the only place where all of the tour guides introduced themselves with their pronouns. Also, Chicago seems very eager to get prep school kids who apply ED. The dirty little secret is that if you have an B+ or better average, a high test score, can sound the least bit intellectual/quirky in your essay and are full pay, you have a fantastic shot in the ED rounds. It's the place that prep school kids go when they're smart but have no chance (because they're unhooked or not mind-blowing in any way) at any other T10 or Ivy.

For a friend's DC, I wish this were true. Student with 4.0 GPA (most rigorous classes), 1600 SAT, 2 800 SAT Subject tests, NMSF, Presidential Scholar nominee, varsity athlete, great ECs, etc - rejected in ED. Neither legacy nor hook. Our school usually has 2-5 students going every year and now only 1 in to date. I know all the stats as my DC has been in same classes with this kid for last seven years and just can't believe this happened. "Mom, this is probably the smartest kid in our grade!"

DC looked at both NU and UC. Passed on NU, EAed to UC, and got into ED.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Chicago is more prestigious.

They’re both top 10 schools and highly prestigious, it’s like arguing whether Columbia or Penn is more prestigious. Or Harvard or Yale.

Asking, "Is Chicago as hard to get into as Northwestern?" is more like two country bumpkins arguing which city is more trendy and sophisticated - Brunswick, Georgia, or Alcan, Alaska.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How so?

Speaking in stereotypes of course, and there are plenty of exceptions to the rule, but Chicago tends to attract kids who are intensely nerdy, and take pride in it almost to a fault. It's a very dark, intense, intellectual, borderline sadomasochistic experience, but that also comes with its own brand of specialness. Northwestern tends to attract kids who are a bit more "normal", seeking a bit more of a normal college experience, who excel in the classroom but are also equally invested in their extracurriculars and try to have a social life. Both kids will end up very successful, but perhaps in different ways.

Lol.. Chicago is nothing like this. Not anymore. The big difference is the core vs no core. Evanston vs Hyde Park and nonwoke vs woke Administration. There are tons of finance, consulting and tech types in Chicago, followed by large number of pre-meds. Very pre-professional now. Almost to a fault. They have very strong Div 3 athletics, specially in women's soccer, tennis etc.

Oh BS — my kid is a recent grad and Chicago is exactly like this. (And I’m not the PP).

No her is not. That you don't know this basic thing about the school, tells me your kid s not or he/she rarely talks to you. And thus you have no idea

Yes, my kid is actually a recent grad and, yes, we talked regularly and in detail about the school. I’ve met a number of DC’s classmates as well. Intense, intellectual, and borderline sadomasochistic experience are accurate characterizations and I say this as a person who is intense and intellectual but who really doesn’t get the pride taken in enduring (and bonding over) the borderline sadomasochistic experience. It just doesn’t have to be that way, but the quarter system, the Core, and the ethos of the place conspire to (re)produce this atmosphere. There are lots of good things about the school (cohort that is more cooperative than competitive, smart/accessible faculty, campus resources (museums/libraries/coffee shops/bookstore, DOC films, Folk Festival), and the city of Chicago)), but you shouldn’t overlook or discount the institutional culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol.. Chicago is nothing like this. Not anymore. The big difference is the core vs no core. Evanston vs Hyde Park and nonwoke vs woke Administration. There are tons of finance, consulting and tech types in Chicago, followed by large number of pre-meds. Very pre-professional now. Almost to a fault. They have very strong Div 3 athletics, specially in women's soccer, tennis etc.

Which is more woke - Northwestern or Chicago?

Kids are woke at both schools, but slightly less at Chicago. Administration is both spineless and woke at NU. The way they have treated their own profs because the woke brigade howled is disgusting. Chicago's admin doesn't allow it's woke idiot students to hold them hostage and bully faculty and students with their "correct thinking"

What does “woke” mean to you?

Anonymous wrote:Harder and better.

If you like the curriculum. My DC said it was like high school over again (went to a classical high school).

Hardly. Chicago does have more regard for free speech than many schools and, while you say it got on the pronoun train early, providing them now is the rule rather than the exception. But you are right in that prep school has an obvious advantage, though given the application process, that is likely more a function of the focus on writing in private schools.

Anonymous wrote:Agree. We toured both in 2019, along with some others, and Chicago was the only place where all of the tour guides introduced themselves with their pronouns. Also, Chicago seems very eager to get prep school kids who apply ED. The dirty little secret is that if you have an B+ or better average, a high test score, can sound the least bit intellectual/quirky in your essay and are full pay, you have a fantastic shot in the ED rounds. It's the place that prep school kids go when they're smart but have no chance (because they're unhooked or not mind-blowing in any way) at any other T10 or Ivy.

+1 Nailed it.

Agree. We toured both in 2019, along with some others, and Chicago was the only place where all of the tour guides introduced themselves with their pronouns. Also, Chicago seems very eager to get prep school kids who apply ED. The dirty little secret is that if you have an B+ or better average, a high test score, can sound the least bit intellectual/quirky in your essay and are full pay, you have a fantastic shot in the ED rounds. It's the place that prep school kids go when they're smart but have no chance (because they're unhooked or not mind-blowing in any way) at any other T10 or Ivy.

Both schools are just as hyper-woke as any other top 50 university. Chicago's conservative marketing/branding is fake b.s.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol.. Chicago is nothing like this. Not anymore. The big difference is the core vs no core. Evanston vs Hyde Park and nonwoke vs woke Administration. There are tons of finance, consulting and tech types in Chicago, followed by large number of pre-meds. Very pre-professional now. Almost to a fault. They have very strong Div 3 athletics, specially in women's soccer, tennis etc.

Which is more woke - Northwestern or Chicago?

Kids are woke at both schools, but slightly less at Chicago. Administration is both spineless and woke at NU. The way they have treated their own profs because the woke brigade howled is disgusting. Chicago's admin doesn't allow it's woke idiot students to hold them hostage and bully faculty and students with their "correct thinking"

Any examples?

Anonymous wrote:I think Chicago is more prestigious.

They’re both top 10 schools and highly prestigious, it’s like arguing whether Columbia or Penn is more prestigious. Or Harvard or Yale.

I think Chicago is more prestigious.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Lol.. Chicago is nothing like this. Not anymore. The big difference is the core vs no core. Evanston vs Hyde Park and nonwoke vs woke Administration. There are tons of finance, consulting and tech types in Chicago, followed by large number of pre-meds. Very pre-professional now. Almost to a fault. They have very strong Div 3 athletics, specially in women's soccer, tennis etc.

Which is more woke - Northwestern or Chicago?

Kids are woke at both schools, but slightly less at Chicago. Administration is both spineless and woke at NU. The way they have treated their own profs because the woke brigade howled is disgusting. Chicago's admin doesn't allow it's woke idiot students to hold them hostage and bully faculty and students with their "correct thinking"

Anonymous wrote:If you go to private school then U Chicago is much easier. Overall they're the same.

+1. Although NU has D1 basketball and football, if you're into that. And the surroundings are literally 1000x safer. Other than that, pretty much the same.