Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to the internet the average wGPA for accepted students is 4.48. And the average SAT is 1530-1540. It does seem like they really like private school rich kids. But they also really like Questbridge.

I think their weird essays are the way to figure out who they really like. The answer is they like "clever." People who can talk about something random and really analyze it.

+1
My public school kid applied ED. Liked the essay and the core. Had almost perfect SAT, 10+ APs all 5s, highest GPA, strong extra curricular. No idea if would have gotten in to HYP but was certainly competitive and chose Chicago. A lot of these kids so not just a top tier reject school.

+1. The essay was what convinced my kid to apply. Learned about the core and it sealed the deal. Amazing fit for my FCPS public school kid (who did very well in high school). Also an almost perfect SAT in one sitting, 10+ APs, all A’s with the exception of one or two A-‘s. Probably had a lottery chance at HYP but chose to take the chance on Chicago. Great decision. But not going to lie - it’s been humbling. Lots of very very smart kids.

As a leftist myself, with a kid in law school at UChicago, I find myself very impressed with its classical liberal approach to speech and education - anyone can say what they want, but they should be prepared to make an intellectual defense of their views because they can expect to have their ideas rigorously challenged on their merits. But a speaker will not be shouted down or banned from campus because of their opinions.

It is distressing to me that this approach sometimes leads liberals to consider UChicago a conservative institution.

My good friend is a History professor at a liberal arts college. He was offended to hear that UChicago Law School was hosting Jeff Sessions for a lecture. I was disappointed that he thought a law school should ban a former Attorney General of the United States from speaking to law students because of his ideological point of view!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm an alumnus. We talk about it, we'll tell you that it's harder to get in, but that the new kids are much more Harvard types (this is meant derogatorily) not the interestingly intelligent and quirky types we were. Alumni also would have told you that when I was there, and probably 20 years before that, so take it with a grain of salt.

I didn't know there was a "Harvard type." Everyone I know from Harvard is brilliant and incredibly interesting and talented.

There is. It rhymes with "glassbowl".

The actual campus is pretty safe. You do not want to be any where south of Woodlawn dorm.
Hyde park is very cute and pretty safe neighborhood.
In my opinion with the gun violence you are not truly safe any where.

My DD fits the archetype of Chicago students and has the stats and interests to try for it next year. I was wondering how the campus safety/environment is right now (regarding muggings, etc.). She's very interested but I wonder if I should encourage a different direction.

My DD is very normal and loves the academic challenge and the campus and location near the city. Very hard working. Landed very prestigious internship last summer.

Anonymous wrote:I think my kid is pretty smart, he graduated top of his high school and he said being student at u Chicago is a very humbling experience.
It keeps you grounded and after the initial shock he really likes it.

This. It’s not for everyone. You have to be willing to fail a little. Amazing education for the right kid.

Not ultra conservative- or even conservative! just more tolerance for varied political opinions.

I would choose it over Dartmouth or Brown or Cornell or Penn in a heartbeat. Swarthmore and Williams and Reed if you want a small school feel.

I hope my kid gets in. Well, first, I hope he finishes the damn application!

-alum, married to an alum, aunt of an alum

Anonymous wrote:Quirky, smart, leftist, non-athletic, well-off financially, lots from Northeast, enjoy the challenge of rigorous academics.

So funny. The kids I know from the DC area who are there are the opposite of this. Big 3 grads. Anything but “quirky.” Smart yes, but very athletic and definitely not leftist.

Anonymous wrote:No idea, but my kid gets almost a DAILY mailing from them.

If they are uninterested, then tell them to his the "unsubscribe" button. Problem solved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So funny that on page one of this thread someone else said it was full of leftists.

It is not.

Chicago's policy is we are the host of ideas, we don't take sides. Now obviously the school is smart and they don't fall for "there are good people on both sides" crap, but they also don't release statements on every national debate. I'm hearing more top schools wish they went that way.

They know the difference btw free expression and free speech

https://freeexpression.uchicago.edu/history/

Anonymous wrote:It is my understanding it is very popular with high achieving/smart but ultra conservatives students.

Our private HS sends a few every year and we don't even have an ultra conservative family in the school as far as I know. Conservative? Sure. MAGA people who think the election was rigged? None.

Definitely they tolerate all political ideas a lot more than HYP and Brown and free speech is more valued

Anonymous wrote:So funny that on page one of this thread someone else said it was full of leftists.

It is not.

So funny that on page one of this thread someone else said it was full of leftists.

It is my understanding it is very popular with high achieving/smart but ultra conservatives students.