University of Chicago Top Questions

So the biggest thing I talk about with new students is that the classes are hard. People usually complain about the amount of work that they have and how busy they are. But I think that at every college, you will be challenged and our school prepares you for anything. I spend most of my time in my dorm or at the library when I am not working or at club meetings during the week. But on the weekends, I am downtown, at friends’ apartments and just having fun. The only thing though, is that it is really cold in the winters, but all the free hot chocolate our school provides will make up for it. Despite all this though, I think that the University of Chicago has a lot of the great features that any student would want. We are near a big city, which is easy to get to with public transportation. Chicago is a beautiful city with great shopping, restaurants and other features that any person would fall in love. The class sizes are a perfect size so that you get a lot of attention from your teachers when you need help. There are a lot of resources to help you, whether it is with finding a job or with your homework. U.Chicago has over 300 student organizations in every single imaginable interest you may have and there you will meet some of your best friends Did I also mention that we have $1 Milkshake day every single Wednesday? Yeah, it’s great.

The University of Chicago is a wonderful school if you truly care about academics. Its reputation is widely known for the academic rigor and the prestige that comes with such an elite program. The administration really cares about the students and providing the best environment for students to thrive academically and socially. If you are looking for a small school in a rural setting, this school is not for you. On the other hand, if you love the excitement of a big city and want to be at a large research university that has the resources and opportunities for you to thrive, UChicago is wonderful. I love getting to experience the city and the experiences that come with the location. One thing that I don't like about the university's location is the crime in the surrounding neighborhoods. While I have always felt 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} safe on campus, it is just a hassle to have to thing about the problems that any big city has in certain parts of town. That being said, it is still very easy to access downtown Chicago and the many ethnic neighborhoods by way of the city's wonderful public transportation system. While there is very little school pride when it comes to athletics, people are passionate about their extracurriculars. From debate team to model U.N., people really get into their extra activities. Being such an academically rigorous school, many people spend a lot of time in the libraries. UChicago has a fantastic library system and there are many from which to choose. Whether you like old and prestigious or new and sleek, there are wonderful libraries to enhance the overall studying experience. Overall, I greatly enjoy the University of Chicago. Being from a rural area, I was nervous about coming to a big city and a large research university, but it was the best decision I could have made. It has provided me with opportunities to explore my passions and chart a bright future.

I would not prefer to be at any other school. UChicago provides its students with small classes with lots of personal attention, a diverse and interesting city, a student body committed to intellectual pursuits, a beautiful neogothic campus, an outstanding academic reputation, and passionate administrators with the utmost respect for their students. All that being said, Chicago offers a unique undergraduate experience and it is definitely not for everyone. Chicago is not a "ra ra" school, the students do not feel passionately about its athletic events and students do not party 7 nights a week. For social and intellectual students though, there is a social scene at Chicago. There is a growing Greek life that offers parties to students Greek affiliated and independent. Similarly, while others schools almost demand that their students go Greek in order to have a social life, this is far from necessary at UChicago. Chicago's unique house system also fosters inter-house bonding, especially helpful to those students who are less outgoing. Further, the winters in Chicago are not for the faint of heart. A month of weather hovering around 0 degrees Fahrenheit calls for a student committed to this unique experience.

Although some people claim that UChicago is the place "where fun goes to die", that's definitely been changing over the last few years. The campus is one of the most beautiful in the country--think Hogwarts with a pretty quad. The College at the University, which is for undergraduates, is just the right size--hovering around 5000 students, it's large enough so that you'll never feel bored, but small enough so that you'll be sure to find your place. Hyde Park has a few "college-town" sort of hangouts, mostly in the form of bookstores and cafes, but the real draw is the city of Chicago (a short 20-minute Metra ride away!) University of Chicago is located just blocks from the lake too, which makes for great beach trips during those precious warm days.

The University of Chicago is known, among other things, for its astounding number of associated Nobel Prize winners. These scholars and academics have certainly left an impact on the University, and human life, but they are not what affects me on a daily basis. Instead, each day at the UofC I am even more astounded by the brilliance, diversity, and talent of my peers that is truly "prize" worthy. Sure, this University is populated by superior intellectuals that are aces in the classroom, but that is not what amazes me. Rather, what makes this school truly so unique is the unbelievable drive and talent that students here commit to other pursuits, outside of the classroom. I have a friend who is a committed student and a varsity athlete, as well as a concert pianist. Another has just incorporated a start-up that has gained nationwide, and global attention. Another still as a chef, has cooked with some of Chicago's leading restaurant chefs. One might have also caught drift of a number of web start-ups that have gained attention, and sold, from UChicago undergrads. There are chess masters, esteemed playwrights, international youth diplomats, debate champions, Starcraft whizzes, and nationally renowned classicists. Around each corner, and in each classroom seat is another student with another fascinating talent, skill, or lifelong pursuit. This cannot be the case at just any University. This cannot be the case at more than ten colleges nationwide. Combine this stellar student body with its unabated and unrivaled thirst for knowledge, and you find that there is not any place quite like the UofC. It is one of a kind.

I have met more unique, strange, hilarious, and surprising people at this school than I would have thought possible. Where else could I go to dinner with a Seventh-Day Adventist from Chile, a stuffed animal enthusiast/econ major, a Colombian anarchist, and a South Indian guy in a Jewish a cappella group? I have learned far more about the world and the people in it than I could have dreamed, coming out of small town Ohio. However, these fascinating people are also all brilliant - and, if you allow them to, they will intimidate you academically. Most people at this school come in as HS valedictorians or top students, and very quickly and painful find out, upon withdrawing from their first quarter math class, that their definition of "hard work" needs a reworking (this may or may not be a personal anecdote). However, once you've found your academic niche and can excel in one area, you'll find that you'll begin to enjoy these challenges (or, if you don't, that you're perhaps at the wrong school). The undergraduate population (~5,000 students) is a good size - you recognize a good number of people, but there is a wide enough variety of activity and enough social groups that it does not feel claustrophobic. It is also not so large that you become just a number among thousands. The administration has been working to improve student life on campus (UChicago had very poor student approval in the 80s), and they've added new gym facilities, a career services center, and other student support systems to improve student life. There is some tension between the university and surrounding neighborhoods - Hyde Park is surrounded by very poor neighborhoods and the crime rate is fairly high. Campus police are very vigilant and every attempt is made to ensure student safety, but there is certainly racial and economic tension (a recent controversy broke out when a black student was arrested in the library for refusing to show his ID).

The University of Chicago is very academically rigorous. If you decide to attend UChicago, you have to be prepared for four years of hard work. A UChicago degree will definitely set you apart from other job and graduate school applicants, however. Not only do employers know you are intelligent, but they know how hardworking and creatively thinking you really are. Although work load can be tough here, you will have so many opportunities to explore campus and the city of Chicago. During undergrad, I was a varsity athlete, tour guide, editor-in-chief of a campus fashion magazine, and volunteered for numerous organizations. I also held a few internships during the course of the school year. You really can become involved in different organizations, and make meaningful contributions to them, all while balancing your school work. I think UChicago students are unique from other leading institutions in that way. One aspect of your college life doesn't dominate the rest.

This school is amazing! Many students say that you either love the school or you hate it, but either way you can never deny the great academic institution it is. One of the things that is so awesome about the school is the eagerness and determination that people here have for learning everything they can about the world, and then going out there and changing it. Everyone who has gone to this school or has heard about it knows that it is an impressive place to be at. Population-wise, this school is just the right size, so there is an even number of small classes as well as lectures. The neighborhood around it makes it feel a little bit like a college town, but there's also that urban feel from being so close to the city.

I might say that the best thing about UofC is that it is full of bright people who are ready to share and receive knowledge. It is really exciting in the sense of learning for the sake of learning; however, this learning environment sometimes prevents the university administration to invest in sports. At the end, once they built a library (Regenstein) over the football field. I personally believe that having more competitive varsity teams and more school spirit would make the university more interesting and exciting. Apart from that, the administration led by President ZImmer is doing a great job by being very liberal and respecting different opinions. Recently, the Occupy Movement became a bit of a sensation on campus and unlike some other schools in the East, University Police respected students' protests. The UCPD is very nice and understanding protecting the UofC community.

I might say that the best thing about UofC is that it is full of bright people who are ready to share and receive knowledge. It is really exciting in the sense of learning for the sake of learning; however, this learning environment sometimes prevents the university administration to invest in sports. At the end, once they built a library (Regenstein) over the football field. I personally believe that having more competitive varsity teams and more school spirit would be make the university more interesting and exciting. Apart from that, the administration led by President ZImmer is doing a great job by being very liberal and respecting different opinions. Recently, the Occupy Movement became a bit of a sensation on campus and unlike some other schools in the East, University Police respected students' protests. The UCPD is very nice and understanding protecting the UofC community.